Alderman Richard Mell nearly came to blows last week with Budget Committee Chairman Carrie Austin (34th) during a disagreement over redistricting. In language laced with profanity, sources said, Austin accused Mell of being a racist and treating African-American aldermen like “plantation n------.” A police officer was summoned to restore order, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Council floor leader reportedly told Mell to shut up because he was exacerbating racial tensions.