Apr 10 2008
Fox Chicago Sunday: Good Obama-Wright discussion
* Hour long special in ten minute segments, see sidebar after first video
Archive for the 'Chicago' Category
Apr 07 2008
Stroger Quashes Justice
crossposted from the Chicago Daily Observer:
Cook County Public Defender Ed Burnett is facing a “catch 22” and it’s time to let the public know about it.
For more than a year Burnett has been trying to get County Board President Todd Stroger to supply the funding his office needs to hire more public defenders. Instead, for more than a year, the Public Defender has seen his budget cut, Attorneys and support staff slashed to nearly half the level they were at five years ago. Burnett has been forced by Stroger to watch his staff cut to bare bones while the public’s need for more public defenders rose… [read more]
Apr 03 2008
Peraica Calls out Alvarez on HDO
Tony Peraica, challenging Anita Alvarez in a open seat Cook County State’s Attorney race, held this press conference today attacking her close links to Hispanic Democratic Organization (known as the “HDO”).
It’s important to note the HDO has nothing to do with fighting discrimination or racial progress; according to most Chicago reformers it operates more like street gang. They have a reputation as thugs and drug dealers feeding off patronage from city hall (for details see Frank Avila’s “Chicago Clout” series on google video).
Mar 31 2008
“No Cook County Taxes” Free downloadable poster/graphic
Protest Cook County Sales Taxes in style. These are perfect for your blog, stickers, or a nifty sign on your gas station.
This graphic is available in six styles(Click on “PDF” and “GIF” format to download):
1. Cartoon Style (GIF and PDF)
2. Plain Style (GIF and PDF)
3. Plain Style with underline (GIF and PDF)
4. Rockwell Font with underline (GIF and PDF)
5. Cartoon Style with underline (GIF and PDF)
6. Cartoon Style with underline and X through county (GIF and PDF)
Mar 28 2008
Chicago Settles for $12 Million on Patronage
Crossposted from Chicago Tribune:
A court-appointed official on Thursday gave an accounting of how hundreds of victims of political patronage at City Hall will share in a $12 million settlement and expressed concern that Mayor Richard Daley’s administration still has not disciplined several supervisors who abused the city’s hiring process…
Brennan said a single individual, a longtime city laborer, received the $100,000 maximum. Her report does not provide names of those getting awards, and Brennan declined to identify the laborer.
“He’s a gentleman who worked at the city for decades in one of the lowest-paying positions and was unable to get out of that position because he did not support the favored political candidate,” Brennan said in an interview. “He suffered significant damages.”…
A total of 1,424 people got an average award of about $8,400 after submitting evidence they were harmed by the city’s actions between the beginning of 2000 and the end of last May.
Mar 25 2008
Mortgage Crisis - Panel Video [America's Future Foundation]
Last week’s America’s Future Foundation (AFF) roundtable discussion in Chicago is now up on a tabbed video player. Details and video hyperlink below:
MARCH 20 ROUNDTABLE AT BUCKTOWN’S CHAISE LOUNGE
AFF Chicago Roundtable, March 20: The Subprime “Crisis” with Hoenig, Henderson, and Mian
AFF Chicago is hosting its second roundtable on March 20th at the Chaise Lounge in Bucktown. Join roundtable panelists Jonathan Hoenig, M. Todd Henderson, Atif Mian and moderator B.T. Remmert for a discussion about the history and fallout of subprime lending.
Are consumers or banks to blame for the subprime fallout? How have subprime loans affected the U.S. economy? What should the U.S. government do - if anything - to protect lenders and / or home owners? Panelists will give a 5-7 minute introduction to their positions and B.T. will then open the floor to your questions and comments.
Mar 17 2008
2nd Amendment Alert
Stop Government Gun Grab
I thought I’d pass on this message from the Illinois State Rifle Association:
Larry Suffredin and his cohorts on the Cook County Board are up to their old tricks again.
In order to justify passage of gun control ordinances designed to close all gun shops and ban and confiscate most guns owned by citizens of the county, the Cook County Board is conducting a telephone poll where callers can vote for or against the gun control ordinances.
Like everything else in Cook County, this poll is probably rigged. So, it’s very important that you do the following:
1. Call 1-312 -603-6400 and select Option #1 when prompted. At the next prompt, select Option #1 again. Then, when prompted to vote on the gun control ordinance, press #2. Update: Listen to the prompts for changes.
2. You should also forward this alert on to all your gun owning friends and have them vote too.
3. You should also post this alert to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF COOK COUNTY TO VOTE!
Let’s beat Suffredin at his own game! And, save your guns.
Mar 13 2008
Harvey Dent Rally in Chicago
I observed a Harvey Dent Rally outside Chicago Union Station on the way home from work. Honestly, I wish he was running for president.
I too, believe in Harvey Dent.
Mar 13 2008
More Chicago Taxes
Another Chicago Tax… and you can’t move away from this one
Chicago properties will have to pay an additional real estate transfer tax. It amounts to $3 per thousand off of the selling price, and billed to the seller. It’s billed to the seller because, as the Chicago City Council discussed last night, the real estate buyer already pays $7.50 per thousand to the city.
These tax dollars will be directed to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).
(source: Gary Washburn, “Alderman agree on transfer tax” Chicago Tribune: 3/13/08… can’t find hyperlink)
Mar 06 2008
My Co-Worker’s Cab Driver
About this Video:
A recent cab ride here in Chicago turned out to be worth much more than the ride itself. The cab driver slipped in to a 20 minute rant on the Democrats and government in general.
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Eric threw this on my desk earlier this week for minor production… I dropped a floating box over the cabby’s head.
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