Emanuel gives London mayor tour of Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel played tour guide on Friday, showing the sights to Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London.

The tour included the troubled Englewood community, where the two mayors declined to talk about the problems there.

"It's great to be here with my good friend, Rahm. What's important is that we learn from each other," said Mayor Khan.

The Muslim mayor of London, hosted by the Jewish mayor of Chicago. It is a message to the rest of world about hope.

"I'm taking Sadiq to my Temple tomorrow. We are going together to pray," said Emanuel.

Chicago, with its strong cadre of international corporate headquarters, is rookie Mayor Khan's first stop on his tour of U.S. cities. He visited the Merchandise Mart's 1871 technology incubator as he focused on promoting London as a place to do business for both new and established companies.

"To re-assure friends in America, businesses, students, tourists, innovators, investors - that London is open," said Khan.

In the afternoon, Emanuel took Khan to the soon-to-be-opened Whole Foods Market in economically-depressed Englewood.

"We have nothing. We need stores, restaurants. I would say everything," said Englewood resident Sherman Russell.

The mayors dropped in on a training session for new employees at Whole Foods.

But during his public remarks, Emanuel did not mention out-of-control gun violence in the South Side neighborhood.

Mayor Khan walked away from our camera after hearing that ABC7 wanted him to comment on it.

Earlier, Mayor Khan's media representative had agreed to do a brief interview, but after we told her the subject matter, he declined to speak with us.

Mayor Khan continues his Chicago visit on Saturday, before heading to New York.