'What Is Garry Smoking' Wins By Landslide In Patch Poll

CHICAGO, IL -- More than 300 readers took our “scientific” poll in which we asked readers how they felt about Chicago mayoral hopeful Garry McCarthy’s idea of annexing Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn to help Chicago solve its financial problems.

McCarthy suggested to the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board during a mayoral endorsement session that annexing inner tier suburbs such as Oak Park, Norridge, Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, would not only generate revenue for the city, but would also help Chicago gain back some population it lost of people fleeing for the suburbs.

>>> Chicago Mayoral Hopeful Wants To Annex Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park

The idea of annexation did not resonate well with readers, nor with the mayors of those communities and other local elected officials. Dist. 218 board member Robert Stokas called McCarthy’s suggestion selfish and irresponsible.

“Why would any suburban village like Oak Lawn ever want to become part of the City of Chicago,” Stokas said. “Mr. McCarthy’s idea to ‘grab’ safe, fiscally managed towns to fix the mess of Chicago is ridiculous. One of the main reasons I bought my home in Oak Lawn is because it is not in Chicago.”

Stokas went on to say that if annexation ever were to happen “my house would be up for sale immediately.”

Apparently, 88 percent the 378 Patch readers that participated in the Twitter poll wanted to know “what is Garry smoking” when he made his annexation suggestion. Here's how readers responded:

Do you like Garry McCarthy's idea for Chicago to annex Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park?

3% Only if I can wear a wire

5% Can we call dibs?

4% I'll move to Skokie

88% What is Garry smoking?