[VIDEO BELOW]

 Hi. I’m Rahm Emanuel.

My father came to Chicago as an immigrant from Israel.  I was born here – and my wife Amy and I raised our three children here.

I spent six years in Congress representing Chicago.  Then President Obama asked me to serve as his chief of staff.  It was a great honor to work for him, but I’m glad to be home.

Chicago’s a world-class city today because of Mayor Daley’s leadership.  He deserves our appreciation.

But we’re facing tremendous challenges – from attracting jobs to improving our schools to making ALL our neighborhoods safer.

To be the city we want to be, we can’t have gangbangers taking the lives of our schoolchildren.

And to be the city we want to be, we can no longer accept business-as-usual.  In attacking our budget deficit, there must be no sacred cows.  We should be guided only by the need to protect our neighbors and ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted.

We need leadership that’s tough enough to say no when it needs to be said, and smart enough to know what government should do — and also what it can’t do.

There’s another thing we’ve learned over the years:  To keep Chicago moving forward, every community must participate.  This city belongs to all of us, and every person has a role to play in building its future.

So as I prepare to run for mayor, I’m going to spend the next few weeks visiting our neighborhoods – at grocery stores, L stops, bowling alleys, and hot dog stands.

I’m calling this the “Tell It Like It Is” tour, because I want to hear from you — in blunt, Chicago terms — what you think about our city, and how the next mayor and you, can make it better.

You can also send a message directly to me at ChicagoforRahm.com.

City government belongs to you, so I’m calling on all Chicagoans to participate. With this election, we have the chance for a fresh start and a new beginning.

In the months ahead, I look forward to earning your support.  Leading Chicago would be a great responsibility and a tremendous privilege. I hope to see you soon. Thanks.

(YWN Desk – NYC)