Lori Lightfoot made history on Monday when she was inaugurated as mayor of Chicago making her the first openly gay, black woman to hold the title.
Lightfoot, who was joined by her wife Amy Eshleman and 11-year-old daughter Vivian, delivered her inaugural speech to a crowd at Wintrust Arena.
“For years, they’ve said Chicago ain’t ready for reform. Well, get ready, because reform is here,” Lightfoot said. “I campaigned on change. You voted for change. And I plan to deliver change to our government.”
Lightfoot also vowed to cut down on the corruption in Chicago.
“When public officials cut shady backroom deals, they get rich and the rest of us get the bill. When some people get their property taxes cut in exchange for campaign cash, they get the money and … we get the bill,” she said. “These practices have gone on here for decades. … Stopping it isn’t just in the city’s interest. It’s in the City Council’s own interest,” Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot was joined on stage by outgoing mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Sens. Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley.
