- Al Podgorski/Sun-Times Media
- Karen Lewis, the only union leader in at least 20 years who had the guts to defy a powerful mayor, joins Mick and Ben at the Hideout on May 6th.
Last month’s inaugural edition of First Tuesdays—the Mick & Ben talk show at the Hideout—was so successful that we were thinking of retiring then and there to live off the pension Tim Tuten promised us.
We being Mick Dumke and I, the hosts of the aforementioned show.
And Tim Tuten being the Hideout’s co-owner, who probably didn’t realize he was paying us a pension. Told you not to mix Guinness with McClelland’s, Tim.
Anyway, we’ll be back on May 6 for show number two. To equal the opener—which included former alderman Dick Mell’s eye-opening explanation as to why City Council members sell their souls to the mayor—we have decided to call on Chicago’s very own Jackie Brown!
That would be Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis, of course—the only union leader in at least 20 years who had the guts to defy a powerful mayor.
Hold it! Explanation time for the kiddies in the crowd . . .
Jackie Brown is the great 1997 Quentin Tarantino flick in which Pam Grier plays this supercool airline stewardess who outfoxes Ordell Robbie, a notorious tough guy played by Samuel L. Jackson.
So if we’re really going to stretch the metaphor, Mayor Rahm would be the Samuel Jackson character. Only shorter.
I actually think Rahm might look good in a Kangol.
It should be quite a conversation. We can talk all things schools, of course—but also pensions, crime, and who’s going to run against Rahm. Will it be Karen?
Also, reefer. I mean, Mick’s the cohost. You know he’s gonna find some way to work marijuana into the discussion.
And for all you Rahm lovers looking for equal time, Mick promises to play the role of skeptical reporter, asking me such pointed questions as “Hey, man, do you ever actually leave your house?'”
As a special bonus we’ll ask Karen to talk about a few of her favorite moments with Mayor Rahm.
As a matter of fact, we’ve obtained a never-before-released transcript of one of their first exchanges. Here’s a sample:
Karen: Now, sooner or later, they’re gonna get around to offering me a plea deal, and you know that. That’s why you came here to kill me.
Rahm: I ain’t come here to kill you . . .
Karen: No, no, it’s OK. It’s OK now. I forgive you.
Oh, wait. That’s from Jackie Brown. Never mind.
The Hideout’s at 1354 W. Wabansia. The show starts at 6:30 PM. It costs $5.
Mick promises to sing the opening chorus of the Bobby Womack classic “Across 110th Street.”
“I was the third brother of five—doing whatever I had to do to survive . . . “
See you on May 6!