Chicago's first black woman mayor Lori Lightfoot told aldermen and other city power brokers assembled at her inauguration Monday that she plans top-to-bottom reforms in the nation's third largest city.
'For years, they've said Chicago ain't ready for reform,' said Lightfoot, speaking minutes after her swearing-in at the Wintrust Arena. 'Well, get ready, because reform is here.'
During the ceremony, Lightfoot stole a kiss from her wife, Amy Eshlema, and their 11 year-old adopted daughter, Vivian. She is also the city's first openly gay mayor.
She spoke about curtailing some powers of city council members to lessen temptations for corruption and that structural changes to reduce gun violence would be among her top priorities.
Hours later, she signed an executive order limiting aldermanic prerogative, a custom that allows each alderman to direct zoning and period decisions in their ward.
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Lori Lightfoot (right) kisses wife Amy Eshleman after she was sworn in as Chicago's 56th mayor by Judge Susan E. Cox (left) during an inauguration ceremony at Wintrust Arena in Chicago
Lightfoot waves to the crowds as she is officially sworn into office on Monday
Lightfoot (center) and her wife, Amy Eshleman (center left) greet constituents during an open house at City Hall after Lightfoot's inauguration Monday afternoon
Lightfoot made history in April when she defeated a longtime political insider to become the first black woman and openly gay person elected to lead Chicago
Among her toughest challenges — and perhaps the one most scrutinized by those outside the city — will be overhauling the beleaguered Chicago Police Department.
Lightfoot isn't the first incoming Chicago mayor to have pledged to overhaul a department accused for decades of abuses. But with a court-monitored plan, or consent decree, recently approved by U.S. District Judge Robert Dow, she has the best chance of actually getting it done.
Lightfoot, who made history in April when she defeated a longtime political insider to become the first black woman and openly gay person elected to lead Chicago, signaled days before her inauguration that she's serious about transforming the 13,000-officer force by appointing top staffers with histories as strong police-reform advocates.
Even with court backing, Lightfoot faces obstacles to enacting the meaningful changes that protesters sought after the 2015 release of video of a white officer shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.
She told those assembled at her inauguration that she meant what she said on the campaign trail about top-to-bottom reforms
Mayor Lightfoot (right) kisses her daughter Vivian as her spouse Amy Eshleman (left) looks on
During her innauguration speech, Lightfoot spoke about curtailing some powers of city council members to lessen temptations for corruption
'I believe she's a true reformer,' said Phil Turner, who like Lightfoot, is a former federal prosecutor in Chicago. 'But there's a difference between trying to reform police and reality. She is up against a lot of entrenched forces.'
The fiercest resistance will come from
