A foiled photo opp

I was the Chair of the Devon Development Committee in 1982 when the 50th Ward Alderman announced a clean-up campaign on Devon Avenue.

The staff person from the Northtown Community Council (NTCC) invited me to a photo session held in a Devon Avenue store with the Alderman, the Chamber of Commerce, and NTCC.

When I arrived, the Democratic Ward Committeeman, who had no reason to be there, was present. And he was very surprised to see me. He was going to be in the picture, too, even though he had no role in the clean-up and had nothing to do with the provision of city services.

Apparently, the photo session was set up to benefit the Alderman’s upcoming campaign. The publisher of the Lerner News, a supporter of the Alderman, intended to run the photo in an upcoming issue.

Well, the picture was taken, but it never appeared in the newspaper. And I ran against the Alderman in the next election.