A Chicago politician has been compared to Tiffany Henyard, the ousted mayor of Dolton, for “gallivanting” around Nashville while her district was “devastated” by severe storms and significant flooding.
Democratic Alderwoman Stephanie D. Coleman’s appearance at the 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in a gorgeous yellow dress, gold jewelry, a massive watch, and an expensive-looking Chanel vanity bag sparked outrage amid the thunderstorms in her city.
The 37-year-old showed off the stunning costume in a series of social media posts, including one in which she twirled her dress around on the street and strutted along a corridor like a runway model.
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As Coleman “pranced” around Music City, the Windy City was devastated by numerous thunderstorms over a 17-hour period on August 16 and 17, according to the New York Post.
Parts of Chicago, particularly Coleman’s Ward 16, which includes portions of the Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, New City, and West Englewood neighborhoods, saw severe flooding and destructive winds as a result of the storms.
Her voters, who were left to deal with flooded streets and homes, took to social media to express their frustration about her escape from the dangerous storms.
“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.
According to the National Weather Service, the flooding was caused by up to 2 to 3 inches of rain in Ward 16. On August 18, the area received an additional inch of rainfall.
Algonquin, Illinois, northwest of Chicago, had wind gusts of 70 mph, and the Chicago suburb of Joliet received the most rain, with over 6 inches of rain flooding the area.
Meanwhile, according to the Post, when Coleman returned to Chicago, she offered many links for her people to request 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 office personnel also coordinated the distribution of emergency flood kits.
Coleman, dressed in a white and blue maxi shirt dress and matching sunglasses, admitted in the announcement video that her ward had been “devastated by the recent floods.”
Coleman, according to the 16th Ward website, is the daughter of former Alderman Shirley A. Coleman and Pastor David Coleman. She went to Emmanuel Christian School and Chicago Military Academy-Bronzeville before receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University and a Master’s of Science Degree in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.
Throughout her college years, she received various distinctions and awards. Beyond her academic achievement, she served as a mentor to young students, providing advice on financial aid, enrolling in classes, and personal growth to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood.
She learned the importance of prioritizing constituents’ concerns from her mother, former Alderman Shirley A. Coleman. She became the youngest member of the Chicago City Council in 2019 when she was 30 years old.
She also became Chairwoman of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus and began playing an important role in supporting the operations of the Chicago City Council as its Assistant President Pro Tempore.
