Daley: No Rift with Stroger

CPR:

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is downplaying a reported rift with Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

There was a lot of talk earlier this week of a political fallout between the Stroger and Daley families. The two sides used to be allies, but there were signs the relationship was getting rusty when the mayor's brother, a powerful county commissioner, helped repeal a sales tax increase, angering Stroger.

Afterwards, Mayor Daley sided with his brother, calling the sales tax negative, questionable, and detrimental. But at a press conference today on a different topic, Daley said his comments had little to do with politics.

Another story from the Sun-Times:

Mayor Daley said Friday he would not be drawn into a political battle with embattled Cook County Board President Todd Stroger over which politician has raised taxes the most.

Earlier this week, Daley joined his brother, County Board Finance Committee Chairman John Daley, in supporting the full repeal of Stroger's one percentage point increase in the Cook County sales tax.

The mayor called the increase “very detrimental” for both retailers and consumers. He said county commissioners "realized what an impact it had upon everyone in Cook County — a very negative impact. . . . It was strictly something that, I think, they had to do."

Stroger responded by reminding reporters of all the taxes Daley has raised.

Here are some more stories pertaining to city and county politics.

•  Daley, Organized Labor at Odds Over Budget Cuts - CPR
• Sheriff Tom Dart Troubled by Talk of More Budget Cuts - CPR
• Chicago Moves Nearer to Goal of Creating 100 New Schools - CPR 
• Stroger likely to wait 'til Monday on sales tax veto decision - Clout St