Thoughts & Musings
Illinois’ $13 Billion Deficit Took Years to Produce
The legislative session that began today as the House convened will take aim at a budget deficit of at least $13 billion, including a backlog of more than $6 billion in unpaid bills and almost $4 billion in missed payments to underfunded state pensions. The fiscal...
Abu Dhabi Shares Profits From Parking Meters
In fact, a Chicago News Cooperative investigation has found that investment arms of the oil-rich Abu Dhabi government hold more than a 25 percent stake in the company that privatized the city’s 36,000 parking meters. German financial company Allianz also has a large...
Parking Meter Rates Going Up
The rates will soon go up for people parking in the city. Electric pay boxes will begin charging $5 an hour in the downtown area, up from $4.25.And it will cost $3 an hour to park on streets outside the downtown area. The rate increase will go into effect Jan. 1. ...
Your in Debt, Your Children are in Debt
Tribune ran a great story this week about how the city is hopelessly in debt. The story is worth reading and can be found here; but what's really interesting is a chart (actually a series of charts) attached to the story. Here's what you need to know: Chicago's cash...
Yes Virgina, People Flee High Taxes
The results of the 2010 Census are coming in and show: First, the great engine of growth in America is not the Northeast Megalopolis, which was growing faster than average in the mid-20th century, or California, which grew lustily in the succeeding half-century. It is...
U.S. Attorney’s Office Disclosure
[T]he entire annual $32 million budget of the Chicago U.S. attorney’s office [is covered by collections.] ... The U.S. attorney’s office here collected from criminals and civil defendants three times as much money as it spent in taxpayer dollars this year, bringing in...
Mendoza: Advertising on City Stickers
The flip-side of Chicago’s 1.25 million city stickers would carry advertising to generate $15 million-a-year — enough to hire 100 new police officers and give motorists a modest break — under a plan proposed by the frontrunner for city clerk. State Rep. Susana Mendoza...
Meeks unsure who’s a “Minority”
Mayoral challenger James Meeks scrambled Thursday to put out a political fire touched off by his suggestion that only African Americans should be eligible for city contracts set aside for minorities and women. (Full story here.) Of course the Reverend knows what a...
Aldcreature’s Son Get 100k+ job at Water
The son of former Ald. Bernie Hansen 44th has been promoted to a $103,632-a-year job in the city’s Department of Water Management — six months after he was put on unpaid leave for a DUI arrest that stripped him of the driver’s license he needed to do his job. Paul...
Bad Judge is Soft on Crime
Relatives of a teenager shot to death in Evanston in 2007 were angered Wednesday when a judge sentenced the killer to just 10 years in prison. ... Cook County Circuit Court Judge Larry Axelrood also sentenced Wright to five years in prison for aggravated discharge of...
Trib’s Sad Story on Child Abduction
The man in the Chevy Impala tried to stop 15-year-old Lucero Blanco three times before he got out of the car and came after her on foot. ... After police picked the man up, mother and daughter both said they recognized his impounded 2005 Impala as the car that had...
Rosemont Homeowners get $3,000
[S]uburban Rosemont is offering its homeowners $3,000 grants. The village may not have landed the big casino, but it has lots of commercial development and relatively few residents. Mayor Brad Stephens likens this year's grant — the village has parceled out money for...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...