A progressive Chicago politician is facing backlash for galavanting around Nashville as her district was “devastated” by severe storms and heavy flooding.
Alderwoman Stephanie D. Coleman (D) showed off in a glamorous yellow dress, gold jewelry, a bulky watch and an expensive Chanel vanity bag during her trip to the 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Coleman, 37, flaunted the dazzling ensemble in multiple social media posts, several including her twirling her dress around on the street and strutting through a hallway like a runway model.
As she “pranced” around Music City, the Windy City was ravaged by multiple thunderstorms over 17 hours between Aug. 16 and 17.
The storms brought major flooding and devastating winds to parts of Chicago, including Coleman’s Ward 16, which encompasses parts of the Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, New City, and West Englewood neighborhoods.
Her escape from the dangerous storms sparked backlash online from her frustrated voters, who were left dealing with flooded homes and streets.
“If you are a 16th Ward resident, are experiencing severe flooding, and you can’t get ahold of your alderman to get help, we found Stephanie Coleman for you,” the Chicago Centarian, a Chicago-based blog, commented on X.
“Coleman is in Nashville, TN, filming herself prancing around, indulging in a pathetic fantasy she is a runway model,” it added.
“Crazy. This is what represents Chicago citizens,” one commenter wrote.
“Tiffany Henyard vibes,” another wrote, referencing the ousted mayor of Dolton.
One angered resident shared a video of flood water rushing through their closed front door and down to the basement, blaming the disaster on the local politicians too busy with international policy to fix the “failed infrastructure.”
“Failed self-serving system and infrastructure … Instead of debating international politics and individuals’ personal preferences, local politicians should prioritize addressing municipal concerns, including persistent flooding and the ineffectiveness of the billion-dollar deep tunnel project … and crime … just maybe,” the exasperated X user posted.
Coleman has represented the 16th Ward on the city council since 2019 and was elected as Chair of the Chicago Black Caucus in 2023.
She is a member of the Democratic and Chicago Progressive Reform Party.
Coleman touts herself as being elected the youngest African American woman on Chicago’s City Council.
Ward 16 experienced up to 2 to 3 inches of rain that caused the flooding, the National Weather Service reported.
The area received another inch of rain on Aug. 18.
The highest rain total came around the Chicago suburb of Joliet, which was flooded with over 6 inches of rainfall, with 70 mph wind gusts being measured in Algonquin, Ill., northwest of Chicago.
In her return to Chicago, Coleman provided several links for her constituents to receive flood assistance.
“I know many of you are still recovering from the devastating floods flashes. Please know that my office and I are here to support you,” she wrote on Facebook.
Coleman’s staff also organized for emergency flood kits to be handed out of her office.
In the announcement video, Coleman – wearing a white and blue maxi shirt dress and matching sunglasses – acknowledged that her ward had been “devastated by the recent floods.”
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