WILLIAM J. KELLY: Mayor Lightfoot, you and I may have gotten off on the wrong foot. Reporter William J. Kelly dot com. I'm a veteran reporter in the city of Chicago, Emmy award-winning TV host, radio, print journalism. I should be sitting over there with my colleagues but I'm standing over here because on a weekly basis I was going viral asking you obvious questions. And instead of answering them, you told me that crime was down. My videos went viral, millions of views, comments, likes and shares. And it was hurting your reelection campaign. So you revoked my media credential. That should never happen happen in a free country. And I'm asking the city council to take the media credential process away from the next mayor of Chicago and the next superintendent of police and put it in the hands of the Constitution.
What you've done to the city of Chicago— I feel like this is more of a victim impact statement than an actual public comment. What you've done to me is nothing compared to what you've done to the city of Chicago the city I was born and raised in, the city that I love with all my heart. You became mayor. The people of Chicago elected you. You shut down our schools, you shut down the churches, you shut down the businesses. You did the one thing I thought could never happen. As somebody who was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago I never thought I would see in my life I would ever see the city of Chicago brought down so low as you have managed to bring it down. Shame on you.
That is a legacy that you are going to have to carry. Future historians are going to have a hard time understanding how you are, how you ever even became mayor of the city of Chicago. I intend to write that book. I intend to make sure that at least there's some possible way for the city of Chicago to move forward. I hope that you realize what damage you have done to the city. I hope that after today's city council meeting you will pack your suitcase and get the hell out of my city.
MAN IN SUIT AND TIE AT MICROPHONE: Mr. Kelly. Mr—
WOMAN'S VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: There was a whole pandemic raging—
WILLIAM J. KELLY: You are a pandemic. You are a pandemic. Thank you.
Thank you for doing the tedious work of transcribing these verbal exchanges. Eventually the videos will disappear, but your work will endure and be seen by future generations. This is such a pivotal point in history.
Speaking of Mayor Lightfoot:
In a Public Comment, William J. Kelly Rips into Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot at Her Final City Council Meeting
(Hat tip: https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/shenanigans-friday-march-17-2023)
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1636449273570279424/pu/vid/1280x720/36pqxheSJODpkR3c.mp4?tag=12
March 17, 2023
Same speech, different camera via
https://twitter.com/Williamjkelly/status/1636192717117042689
March 16, 2023
TRANSCRIPT
WILLIAM J. KELLY: Mayor Lightfoot, you and I may have gotten off on the wrong foot. Reporter William J. Kelly dot com. I'm a veteran reporter in the city of Chicago, Emmy award-winning TV host, radio, print journalism. I should be sitting over there with my colleagues but I'm standing over here because on a weekly basis I was going viral asking you obvious questions. And instead of answering them, you told me that crime was down. My videos went viral, millions of views, comments, likes and shares. And it was hurting your reelection campaign. So you revoked my media credential. That should never happen happen in a free country. And I'm asking the city council to take the media credential process away from the next mayor of Chicago and the next superintendent of police and put it in the hands of the Constitution.
What you've done to the city of Chicago— I feel like this is more of a victim impact statement than an actual public comment. What you've done to me is nothing compared to what you've done to the city of Chicago the city I was born and raised in, the city that I love with all my heart. You became mayor. The people of Chicago elected you. You shut down our schools, you shut down the churches, you shut down the businesses. You did the one thing I thought could never happen. As somebody who was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago I never thought I would see in my life I would ever see the city of Chicago brought down so low as you have managed to bring it down. Shame on you.
That is a legacy that you are going to have to carry. Future historians are going to have a hard time understanding how you are, how you ever even became mayor of the city of Chicago. I intend to write that book. I intend to make sure that at least there's some possible way for the city of Chicago to move forward. I hope that you realize what damage you have done to the city. I hope that after today's city council meeting you will pack your suitcase and get the hell out of my city.
MAN IN SUIT AND TIE AT MICROPHONE: Mr. Kelly. Mr—
WOMAN'S VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: There was a whole pandemic raging—
WILLIAM J. KELLY: You are a pandemic. You are a pandemic. Thank you.
2:57
[END]
# # #
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
William J. Kelly's rumble channel is https://www.youtube.com/@citizenkelly8999
His website is http://reporterwilliamjkelly.com/
Thank you for doing the tedious work of transcribing these verbal exchanges. Eventually the videos will disappear, but your work will endure and be seen by future generations. This is such a pivotal point in history.
Thank you for your kind words. May it be so.