Talk of the neighborhood: ‘She fell for it. Sucker.’

Well this is my fourth post in a small frame of time and it's time for me to go to bed, but before I do, I just have to post this. Cal Skinner asked me to post a little about Ald. Troutman's background on Illinoize in light of the news that broke on Tuesday. Now how about a little about Chicago's 20th ward and how her constituents view her. From the Sun-Times.

First how about the 20th Ward...

A collection of poor communities still riddled with empty lots, boarded windows and street crime, the 20th Ward is on the fringe of the booming real estate market in Kenwood and Hyde Park.

How about her constituents? What are they saying?

"It's the talk of the neighborhood. At the currency exchange. Down at the church at 64th and Kimbark where they serve hot meals. Everywhere. That's all people talking about," Woodlawn resident Brian Reynolds said. "She should've known. She shouldn't even spit on the floor. The feds were waiting for her to do anything. She fell for it. Sucker."

Many neighborhood folks called Troutman "greedy" and said she's nearly invisible around the ward except during election time. ...
"No wonder we don't have anything getting built on empty lots over here. [Developers] aren't paying her the right price," Reynolds said. "It looks like that to me."

At Daley's Restaurant, a modest diner decorated with Chicago political memorabilia at 809 E. 63rd, William Lee, 70, said Troutman's troubles should come as no surprise.

"The dirt always comes out in the end. Politics is a rotten game," he said.

Charles Martin chimed in from a neighboring booth: "And if the feds want you, they get you."

I wonder if this means that she's gonna lose. It seems if you have powerful backing you won't but things can happen. It's great to see that people are talking in the 20th Ward of Chicago. This will really pump some excitement into the Aldermanic races next month.

Hat-tip to the Second City Cop Blog for the link to the Sun-Times story.