Craig Wall at WLS-TV in Chicago:
Some former Chicago City Council members suggest a lack of civility in the city council is one of the driving reasons for why so many people are leaving. Nearly one-third of the council has left for one reason or another. Former aldermen Tom Allen (38th Ward), Marge Laurino (39th Ward), Joe Moore (49th Ward) and Pat O’Connor (40th Ward) served for more than 100 years combined on the Chicago City Council. They offered some perspective on the mass exodus from the council Friday at the Union League Club, suggesting that it’s more than pandemic fatigue – it’s also how contentious and self-focused people have become. SEE ALSO | Mayor Lightfoot says she has no plans to change amid Chicago City Council mass exodus. “I think there’s a loss of camaraderie and kind of friendship,” Allen said. “While we were on the council, the folks sitting here, we had different viewpoints, but we always were respectful.”