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CHICAGO
Community activist and civic leader Salman Aftab has opened a campaign office at 6349 North Western Avenue in Devon Jan. 19 toward Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s re-election. Among the notables who attended its inauguration were 50th Ward alderwoman Debra Silverstein, her husband state senator Ira Silverstein, 49th Ward alderman Joe Moore, City Colleges Dean Manuel Medina and Farah Khan from Chicago Public Schools. Aftab had also hosted a lunch meeting in honor of Emmanuel in Greektown Jan. 13.
Aftab told Desi Talk that they would be mailing materials in Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, etc., to South Asian voters and also making door-to-door calls based on a new voter list. A website, southaasians4rahm.com, has been specifically created for this purpose and volunteers are being sought. The campaigners hope to invite Emmanuel to speak at Desi community events.
At the lunch, Emmanuel had outlined his accomplishments over the last four years before several Chicagoland Muslim community leaders, who endorsed his innovative initiatives in the areas of economic growth and education. The latter in turn appreciated his handling of the Muslim community.
Emmanuel had showcased the state-of-the-art corporate and technology hub, improved transit system, increased enrollment in the City Colleges and his efforts to make Chicago a world-class city and destination, thus boosting the tourist industry and resulting in a better job market.
Emphasizing his administration’s appreciation of Chicago’s diversity, Emmanuel made overtures toward the Muslim communities. Thanking the Mayor for his foresight, leadership, inclusiveness and openness to advice, Aftab noted his appointing South Asians and Muslims in key administrative positions and initiating the annual tradition of hosting iftar at City Hall to honor the holy month of Ramadan. He had extended good wishes and support on behalf of the South Asian and Muslim communities for the upcoming mayoral elections, confident that Emmanuel would continue to ensure “justice and equity for all the residents of this great city.”
