Thoughts & Musings
Chico’s Education Plan
Just got back from Gery Chico's presentation of his plan to revive CPS. The 15 page plan handout can be found here if you're interested. For those just looking for the bullet points: As the former head of the Chicago Public Schools Gery knows something about...
December 04, 2008
Just a bit of history: Posted at 10:55 a.m. Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) said the lease will help the city during a tough budget time. (Daley plans to spend much of the one-time windfall to shore up the city budget during the next few years.) "I think it is a good...
IL High Schools Failing the College Bound
Eight of 10 public high school juniors in Illinois weren't considered ready for college classes in all subjects based on ACT testing last spring — and many students missed the mark even at posh suburban Chicago schools that graduate some of the state's brightest kids....
From you the voter
I was reading this story here at the Sun-Times about how Chicago compares to other cities (we rock by the way.) And in the comments I found this observation by someone posting as nomoretears: Chicago is fine, and Chicago needs to worry about being Chicago. We just...
CPS is Broke, State not Helping
Two months into the school year, Chicago Board of Education officials Tuesday were already estimating next school year's deficit at $700 million. ... Chicago Board of Education officials Tuesday were already estimating next school year's deficit at $700 million....
Rahm Talks Trash
An interesting bit, shows that Rahm's not just another pretty face: (1) Establish a "benchmark" price per ton after comparing the cost of collecting Chicago's 1 million tons of annual garbage to costs in 10 major cities. (2) Give the city's 1,142-strong, $173.7...
Strong-arm Robbery
At 12:30 a.m., a female Roosevelt University student was robbed of her iPhone in the 600 block of South Michigan Avenue, according to Central District police. (Full story here.) This is the kind of event that troubles me. No camera is going to stop this. And let's...
Why Gutierrez Isn’t Running for Mayor
From the Sun-Times: Convicted political fixer Tony Rezko gave U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez free upgrades on a riverfront town house after the congressman asked for them, Gutierrez told the FBI, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. Gutierrez's comments to federal agents in a...
More Crime Nonsense
Let's start with the premise: Chicago police officials reported today that October crime statistics continued a drop in violent and property crime for the 22nd consecutive month.Total crime dropped by 3.7 percent compared to the same time last year while property...
Subpoenas Deny Hendon
Ooops. State Sen. Rickey Hendon today took himself out of the race for Chicago mayor, a week after revelations that a federal grand jury has issued subpoenas for records on dozens of state grants, some of which he sponsored. (Full story here.) Well another one...
CPS Changing For the Worst
Under the headline "Changes may ease admissions to elite CPS schools" we're told that CPS is now going to reward student who attended failing schools by letting them go to the best high schools in the city. Using U.S. Census data, the district began evaluating all 874...
The Chicago Way
With the election now behind us I'd like to pause on a great little story in the Trib. today. Cook County voters Tuesday narrowly retained four Circuit Court judges who had been deemed unqualified to continue on the bench by several legal groups. Jim Ryan and Susan...
Daley: Fewer Police Next Year
Even on the way out Mayor Daley cannot be straight with us. After weeks and weeks of hammering away telling us that crime is down -- when anyone west of the lake knows it's not -- along comes this half-truth. The city at the end of this year will have about 950...
Illinois Schools Screw it Up
Thousands of Illinois schools are like mediocre students: Most of their pupils are passing — but not distinguishing themselves — on state achievement exams. Illinois Standards Achievement Test results set to be released Friday reveal that pushing students to think and...
SECOND WARD ALDERMAN
The decision has been made: I'm throwing my hat into the ring for Second Ward Alderman. There are other candidates running I highly respect and believe would make excellent public representatives. However, I believe that I can and will, simply, do better. I will...
State Borrows Another $3.4 Billion
Clout Street is carrying a short story about Quinn standing at the bond counter selling your future and mine. As of today the State of Illinois is about $120 Billion in debt. That's around $9,400 for every man, woman, and child in the state. And the Governor's...
CPD May Scrap Entrance Exam
Local NBC is running with this story that the Chicago Police Dept. may Scrap Entrance Exam. Hello insanity my old friend. Dropping the exam would bolster minority hiring and avert legal battles, according to one source, while others confirm that the exam could be...
We’re moving on out…
Today's Tribune has a story about Hookah bars closing in Worth and Palos Hills. Seems the local town folk don't want anyone smoking anywhere in public in their town. Here's the money quote: Havana Cafe owner Ray Salem said he'll likely reopen as a sandwich shop,...
Relocate To Make It
Have you heard of this? According to a recent Pew Research Center study, one in 10 adults between the ages of 18 and 34 said the poor economy has forced them to move back in with mom and dad. Tribune has a story about it here. It's pretty straightforward, kids leave...
The Body Scan Scam
Let the dance begin. Security gurus versus privacy rights advocates are starting the new year off with a very loud public argument on the use of millimeter wave body scans at U.S. airports. The problem is that they're not even debating the right question. Like many...