Entries associated with the tag "Joe Moore":

Tom Tunney's stealth attempt to repeal the foie gras ban just passed in the City Council 37 to 6.

Joe Moore was pissed. After what some say was Tunney's "unprecedented" end run around regular procedural rules, he scolded the council for not allowing a debate on the matter: "Today it happened to me. Tomorrow it could happen to you."

"Thank you Alderman Joe "Foie Gras" Moore," replied the mayor with a dismissive rap of the gavel.

Over at Hot Doug's the only Chicagoan busted under the ban, Doug Sohn, says he'll bring back his foie gras-duck sausage as soon as he sees the law on paper.

Lack of space prevented me from writing about an exciting side project of enfant terrible Albert D'Angelo, the subject of this week's Omnivorous, who's been variously described by colleagues as the Criss Angel of the kitchen, an overprivileged carpetbagger cynically trying to make a nut on Chicago's shiny new reputation as a culinary capital, and the next Next Food Network Star. D'Angelo, who first attracted this sort of attention in Manhattan's underground restaurant scene, has taken that concept to another level by starting an artisanal foie gras farm in an abandoned candy factory on the west side.

Naturally, he wouldn't tell me where it was, but he says his unnamed investor budgeted "significant outlays to discourage government interference." He did introduce me to the magnificent prizewinning male Muscovy duck (pictured) who sired the first flock of ducklings, numbering several dozen so far. D'Angelo named him Joe Moore, and says the livers of his offspring should be ready for Tuesday night's first seating.

There's an extra item on the agenda of this morning's last minute City Council meeting on affordable housing. Last week 14th Ward alderman Ed Burke--he of the trans fat ban--announced his intention to introduce a parliamentary maneuver that will rescue the repeal of the fois gras ordinance from the Health Committee, where it's been gathering dust for months, and bring it before a full vote of the council.

A few weeks ago a council member on the Health Committee told me that when Joe Moore's initial foie gras ban was before the council, aldermen were besieged by calls from activists--not necessarily Chicago residents--urging them to pass it. This weekend Moore mustered his troops, sending out the e-mail below urging his followers to call the mayor and Burke in protest. Note the qualifier "If you live in Chicago," indicating those on Moore's mailing list aren't necessarily Chicagoans, let alone residents of the 49th Ward.

"Dear Friend,

"I got word late yesterday that Chicago Alderman Edward Burke has announced his intention to call for a *City Council vote on to repeal Chicago's ban on the sale of foie gras.*  The vote is scheduled to take place early Monday morning.

"As you may recall, Aldermen Bernard Stone and Burton Natarus introduced an ordinance a few months ago to repeal Chicago's historic ban on the sale of foie gras, which passed the City Council last year.  The ordinance was referred to the City Council Committee on Health, chaired by Alderman Ed Smith.  Alderman Smith has been a staunch supporter of the foie gras ban and has so far refused to hold a hearing on the repeal ordinance. Alderman Burke confirmed that either he or a colleague may invoke a little-used City Council rule that permits an alderman to move to "discharge" from committee any proposed ordinance that has been in a City Council committee for more that sixty days.  To be successful, a motion to discharge a matter from committee requires the support of a majority of those voting on the issue.  If the motion is successful, the matter is brought to the floor of the City Council for a debate and vote.  To become law, the repeal must obtain 26 votes, i.e., a majority of the City Council.

"Mayor Daley's former chief-of-staff, Sheila O'Grady, just became the new Executive Director of the Illinois Restaurant Association and is pushing to have a vote taken on the foie gras ordinance before the new City Counciltakes over next week.  She likely has Mayor Daley's support.

"Alderman Ed Smith informed me he will strongly oppose any attempt to discharge the foie gras repeal ordinance from his committee.  Alderman Stone, one of the co-sponsors of the repeal, also told me he will oppose the motion to discharge.   As I indicated, a motion to discharge a matter from committee over the strong objections of the committee chair is almost unheard of.  Alderman Smith is well-respected among his colleagues, and it is likely that a majority of the City Council will oppose the motion to discharge out of respect for Alderman Smith.

"Nevertheless, we can't take anything for granted.  *We need to flood Mayor Daley, Alderman Ed Burke and other members of the City Council with calls opposing any effort to repeal the foie gras ban.*  The City Council meeting begins 8:30 Monday morning, so you need to call this weekend.

"Call Mayor Daley at 312-744-5000.

"Call Alderman Ed Burke at 773-471-1414.

"If you live in Chicago, also *call your Alderman's neighborhood office.*

"Finally, if you are able to do so, please attend the City Council meeting on Monday at 8:30 a.m.

"Please pass this e-mail on to others who may be interested in defeating thisattempt to roll back the progress we have made.

"I will continue to keep you informed.

"Thanks for your continued support.

"Alderman Joe Moore"

Back in September, 42nd Ward alderman Burton Natarus introduced a bill to City Council that would have effectively repealed Joe Moore's foie gras ban. Cosponsored by Bernard Stone (50th), James Balcer (11th), and Brian Doherty (41st), it has languished in the council's Health Committee (of which Moore is a member) ever since. Pro-foie activists such as Didier Durand, who actively campaigned for Moore's opponent Don Gordon, hoped that a Moore defeat would shake things up. That didn't look likely when Natarus lost outright in February, and things seemed even more complicated by Stone and Moore's tight runoff races. Now that they've both survived, I checked in with Stone to see if Natarus' bill has too.

"I'd still like to repeal it," said Stone, meaning the ban. "Now that the elections are over I'm gonna talk to [committee chair] Ed Smith about calling it up." At blogtime the Health Committee has not set a date for its next meeting, so stay tuned.