Daley’s Chicago Wants F-16s, Too

While the Cessna 150 was “threatening” Washington, D.C., Chicago Mayor Richard Daley wasn’t taking any chances. According to the Chicago CBS affiliate, emergency officials in Chicago were “put on notice” about the Washington alert. Chicago officials took an “immediate defensive stance” (whatever that means). While his staff was manning the ramparts, the enigmatic mayor was gearing up his public-relations machine. “We need the same protection as Washington, D.C.,” Daley said, and he means F-16s. “We do not have any jets here. This city does not have a military force,” he said. “I mean, this is in this day and age after 9/11,” he said. “That this can take place is very sad comment.” Daley didn’t forget to take credit for making the city safer by destroying Meigs Field. He told reporters the incident in Washington (somehow) shows his decision to tear up Meigs was correct. He also renewed his call to ban small aircraft flights over downtown Chicago and suggested that anyone violating a Chicago no-fly zone face fines in the order of $500,000.