Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot to make last stop on listening tour ahead of inauguration day
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The historic inauguration of Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is one day away.
Lightfoot's last stop on her listening tour will be Sunday morning at Resurrected Life Church International on the city's Northwest Side.
Lightfoot began the tour in 2018 just days after she announced her candidacy for mayor.
On Saturday, Lightfoot attended the South Shore Works 4th Annual Summit, where she shared part of her vision for the city.
In her remarks, the former federal prosecutor called on adults to be strong role models for young people.
Lightfoot also joined the "Mother's March: Disrupting Violence" in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Saturday. The event brought together numerous community organizations protesting gun violence and calling for peace.
Lightfoot said more broadly than violence issues, Chicagoans need to see each other in a new way.
"People all over the city, no matter where they live, they just want a decent life," Lightfoot said. "They want to be respected. They want to be heard. They want their neighborhoods to be safe."
Lightfoot will replace Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who decided not to seek a third term in office. She met with her transition team on Friday, to review the over 100 page report prepared for her.
Sunday Lightfoot chose a West Side church as her last public event before becoming Chicago's next mayor.
"The West Side is very important to me, I want to make sure we are here in present and people are seeing us we thought this would be a good place to come," said Lightfoot.
With an agenda that is focused on equity in all neighborhoods, Lightfoot asked the congregation to unite together to make it happen. She was joined by her wife Amy Eshelman, their 11-year-old daughter and Lightfoot's 90-year-old mother Ann, who stood up to a standing ovation.
Proud of her family, the normally unflappable Lightfoot chocked up talking about her late father.
"I feel my father with me every day, particularly these last few days, I'm grateful," said Lightfoot.
The last few days have included ruffling a few feathers inside City Council. Lightfoot plans to limit the power aldermen have in their wards over zoning, licensing and permits.
With a mandate for change, she promises to clean up government with the help of 32-Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack. Lightfoot wants him to become the chairman of the powerful Finance Committee.
"A lot of us for decades have been trying to see what is behind the closed doors, behind the big curtain and she is going to bring a lot of that to light," said Alderman Waguespack.
Lightfoot will be sworn in as the 56th Mayor of Chicago on Monday. Live coverage of the inauguration begins at 10 a.m. Monday on ABC7, abc7chicago.com and our news app.
