Harold Washington was model for this... 

Hardly a day goes by in Chicago without someone telling us that they “heard” that Substance “lies.” How do they know? Someone called them. Or told them. Or they just “heard.” The people charging us with “lying” are usually getting paid $100,000 or more per year working for Arne Duncan (example, “Chief of Staff” David Pickens), Mayor Daley, or Marilyn Stewart (whose field reps and other staff spend more time lying about “dissidents” than they do servicing members).

It’s time to set the record straight. More than six months ago, Substance offered to run a lengthy on-the-record interview with CTU president Marilyn Stewart. I told the CTU publicist that this offer was ongoing. As we have reported regularly, Stewart and her staff refuse to return Substance phone calls or clarify issues when we ask.

Some of Stewart’s less resourceful supporters simply go around saying that Substance is “racist” because we criticize her and she is a black leader, etc., etc., etc., etc.

For half a year, Stewart has had an opportunity to speak for herself in the pages of Substance. We have repeatedly asked CTU to make Marilyn Stewart available for a Substance interview. The terms are the same we have always offered (see above: Harold Washington in January 1983, interviewed by George Schmidt). (a) The interview must be scheduled before the 15th of the month. (b) We will return a complete transcript by the 20th, so that (c) it can be returned to us by the 25th for publication the following month.

Copies of the exclusive January 1983 interview with Harold Washington (conducted before he became a “serious” candidate for mayor) are available for $2 from Substance.