My Blog

Author: Jimmy

  • BGA on the Size of the City Counsel

    The BGA is not the first, nor the second or third, to write about reducing the size of the city counsel.  But in this story here they do a better job than just about anyone I’ve seen. The wrap-up is equally important.  These ideas need champions who will talk about them and bring them to…

  • Why Is Illinois So Corrupt?

    Chicago Magazine has a great story about corruption in Illinois. Big truth here: Of course, most generous donors don’t give merely out of purity of heart. “Those large sums of money from all kinds of special interests—they’re invested for a purpose,” says Adlai Stevenson III, the former U.S. senator and two-time unsuccessful candidate for governor…

  • Meeks vs. Tax Law

    Meeks says he’s long been mindful of the rules laid out by the Internal Revenue Service, but it’s clear he chafes at restrictions that prevent churches and other charitable groups from endorsing and contributing to political campaigns. “I am running for office, and you know that. … I can take all the money I want…

  • FOP vs. The People

    The stage is set for a confrontation over Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis’ upcoming plan to reallocate police resources from lower-crime districts to those that need more officers.  Days before the plan is expected to be unveiled, the Fraternal Order of Police is serving notice that it intends to strictly enforce a union contract that…

  • Parent to Blame for Education Problems?

    An Associated Press-Stanford University Poll on education found that 68 percent of adults believe parents deserve heavy blame for what’s wrong with the U.S. education system — more than teachers, school administrators, the government or teachers unions.  Only 35 percent of those surveyed agreed that teachers deserve a great deal or a lot of the…

  • Illinois, Worst for Retirement

    The list, with Illinois leading the pack, comes from website TopRetirements.com. According to John Brady, president of TopRetirements.com, the 10 states earn this dubious distinction largely because of three factors: fiscal health, taxation and climate. (Full story here.) Fiscal health?  We’re bankrupt. Taxation?  We’re taxed to death. Climate?  We’re heading into 5-6 days below freezing.…

  • Little do to in Property Tax Battle?

    In an article with technical problems over at the Sun-Times, Terry Savage writes under a headline, “Little you can do in property tax battle”: While home values are down, many homeowners are shocked by the increases in second-half-of-the year tax bills. Fingers are pointing at the assessor’s office, the Cook County Board and the state’s…

  • Berrios Puts Family on Payroll

    Just days into his tenure as Cook County assessor, Joseph Berrios has hired his son and sister to work for him. … Carmen Berrios, the assessor’s sister, is director of taxpayer services at Berrios’ new office. She is making about $86,000, the same salary she made at the Board of Tax Review, where she headed…

  • Fioretti Anti-Building Protection

    Powered by a solar-powered device akin to a car battery, the fences send 7,000 volt jolts every 1.3 seconds into the hands of people who touch the fences, which have never proved fatal in the states and cities that allow them…. The systems are allowed in California, other major cities and Illinois suburbs including Bolingbrook,…

  • Post Objection Blogging

    I’m back!! Had a little hiatus from posting there.  Turns out that Alderman Fioretti’s guy objected to my petitions so I had to get some legal work done in order to stay on the ballot.  But I think I have all that behind me now; we should be rolling full steam ahead. Also, just as…