I believe the way I describe the problems in Chicago is that it’s a metropolitan area. I’ve said that everywhere. The uneducated child is not just my problem, it’s the state’s problem. It’s also the federal government’s problem. – Richard M. Daley
Why should a city be mandated to do something by the federal government or state government without the money to do it? – Richard M. Daley
I’m one who demands a lot from people. I’m not afraid to look at alternative ways in city government. That’s what I’ve done in my two years and will continue to do in the next four. – Richard M. Daley
People have to be confident about their sites. We’re confident, number one, because under my administration we’re managing our airports better than we’ve ever done before. – Richard M. Daley
I enjoy getting things done. My philosophy is the edge, the edge of something. There’s where we have to go in local government, in not only the philosophy but the creativity in people around you. They have to go to the edge. – Richard M. Daley
So you keep raising these taxes, and all of a sudden the business community says, ‘Why are we here? We can go someplace else and use their phones.’ That’s one of the problems that directly affects the business community. – Richard M. Daley
We also need people like social workers, volunteers, the Christian Industrial League, drug treatment programs to make sure you are getting them a job. That’s what you have to do. Otherwise, we just keep stepping around these things. – Richard M. Daley
We are going to sign a treaty with Mexico. We are competing internationally. We need another international airport for international cargo, international travel, international businesses. – Richard M. Daley
You go out there and ask them what their future is today. If we don’t build that today, there’s nothing. – Richard M. Daley
I’ve very proud to be mayor of our great city. It’s a city with a heart and a soul. Chicago has a unique spirit. Our business community wants to give back. – Richard M. Daley
There has been loss of steel manufacturing. Those people need jobs. Where you have to build the third airport is where people are. So you’re right; if his site isn’t playable, then our site is right next to it. – Richard M. Daley
Well, the problem of the federal government is that they print money and go in debt. That’s their national policy, Democrats and Republicans it doesn’t matter. And this is where I differ. – Richard M. Daley
That area environmentally is a waste. You can’t do anything. I don’t care if the Sierra Club goes out there. It is fully polluted! You’re not only going to work to clean up the environment, but also you will put people to work. – Richard M. Daley
I’m the one who gets called up about a problem. I’m the one who gets called up about the street lighting and the abandoned car. I’m the one who gets blamed if the police don’t arrive. I’m the one they blame if a city truck is broken down. – Richard M. Daley
It has to be because unemployment problems in northwest Indiana are similar to those in southeast Chicago. – Richard M. Daley
They really do a disservice because these men and women came out of the Depression, they came out of the war. – Richard M. Daley
First National Bank laid off 1,000 people; where do they go? There are no jobs for them. So we are having serious economic problems in this country. We are in a real economic crisis. – Richard M. Daley
They knew that Roosevelt and the Democratic party made a difference on them, on their quality of life issues, and they believed in that. But today it is completely different. – Richard M. Daley
My dad came out of the Roosevelt era and the Depression. One person and one party made a difference in his life. That’s what everybody forgot when they called my father and other people political bosses. – Richard M. Daley
The spirit of the Olympic movement is great for young people because it teaches them about the training and discipline required to compete. Even if they don’t make the teams, they can rededicate their lives to the art of sport, discipline, and physical fitness. – Richard M. Daley
I don’t fight the suburban areas or collar counties. I get along with them; they’re former Chicagoans anyway. – Richard M. Daley
And then for the first time in history a Cook County state’s attorney was reelected for a third time. – Richard M. Daley
And the political system is changing rapidly in this country, and we better realize that. The elephants or donkeys are not what younger people look to. They look at individual candidates’ philosophy, and I think it’s a different time and a different generation. – Richard M. Daley
I think the state has some serious problems. Just look at the layoffs going on across the state, not just in Chicago. It affects the middle class. It pushes people down. – Richard M. Daley
You have nothing coming into a major metropolitan area to relocate or locate your business and employees. And you can go across the country and you’ll see that. – Richard M. Daley
That’s an economic development program in the metropolitan area. If they don’t see that, and you don’t get these things done, then you’re competing with Texas and California and Atlanta; then you really have problems. – Richard M. Daley
