Emanuel Defends Diversity Of His Top Aides
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel deflected criticism on Monday that his cabinet lacks racial diversity.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, according to an analysis by the Chicago Sun-Times, of the 30 highest-ranking members of Emanuel's cabinet, nearly two-thirds are white. Five are black, three are Hispanic, two are Asian, and one is Arab. The remaining 19 are white.
It's a stark contrast to the city's overall racial breakup, in that no one racial group makes up more than a third of the city's population.
The mayor said he looks at things another way.
"I look at diversity of experience, diversity of race, diversity of ethnicity, as well as diversity of results," the mayor said.
"I've also made … 60 percent of my appointments onto boards and commissions are minority; 60 percent," Emanuel added. "Second, you can also look at my staff. Of the 14 most senior people, 10 of them are women. That also is diversity."
Emanuel also noted the heads of the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Housing Authority, the CTA Board, and the City Colleges of Chicago are all African-Americans.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports
