mercredi 23 décembre 2009
Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
mardi 22 décembre 2009
New Life for Aldermanic Petition?
Too often, discussions of Chicago's budget deficit focus on selling civic assets: With the Skyway and parking meters leased, perhaps the water system is next.
This is precisely backward. We have finite infrastructure, so instead of leasing its assets for generations to come, Chicago should cut its liabilities and unload its excess. What does the city have way more of than it needs?
Aldermen. And alderwomen.
Half of the City Council should be eliminated.
Not literally, of course. But if Chicago wants to save tens of millions of dollars a year, one strategy is dead obvious: Go from 50 wards to 25.
This idea is not solely mine: A local blog, Second City Cop, rallied its readers to petition for a non-binding referendum on this topic in the 2010 primary, and its volunteers got more than 11,000 signatures — in about three weeks. And there is a Facebook page dedicated to "Reduce Chicago Alderman," and they don't mean a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Such a change would require the state Legislature to amend Section 21-26 of the Revised Cities and Villages Act of 1941, which set our current number of wards, but it could be done.
- User Name: librewonk@doodyge.net
- Password: makefree4
Say What Now?
- State Rep. Monique Davis owes the Chicago Board of Education close to $500,000 in rent, back taxes and fines for a South Side building she has been using rent-free as a legislative office for 7 years, according to a report from the school system's inspector general.
The school district has taken legal action against the long-time Chicago legislator, suing her for $83,737.35, according to court documents filed in November. The district is not seeking compensation for property taxes and associated fees.
Shouldn't there be an Ethics "investigation" or something by her peers in Springfield? Oh wait...Illinois. We forgot.
Shutdown #3
- The City of Chicago will be shutting down early for the Christmas holiday, as part of Mayor Daley's plan to save the cash-strapped city money.
City Hall, public libraries, health clinics and most other city offices will be closed on Christmas Eve as those city workers are being forced to take the day off without pay.
Police and Fire Department operations are not affected and will remain fully staffed. Any other worker needed to provide for the public's safety will also be on the job.
As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009: Aug. 17, the Friday after Thanksgiving; and Christmas Eve.
The city expects to save $8.3 million.
More Vaccine Recalls?
- Drugmaker MedImmune is recalling nearly 5 million doses of swine flu vaccine because the nasal spray appears to lose strength over time, federal health officials announced Tuesday.
The vaccine recall is the second this month caused by declining potency and comes as public health officials urge millions of Americans to get vaccinated against swine flu.
Yet Another "Missing" Found
An Oak Brook college student who disappeared after she left a River North bar early Sunday has been found safe.
- O’Connell became tired at the bar and left her friends, according to a flier. She told them she was taking a cab back to Oak Brook, where she lives. She was last seen outside the bar at 3 a.m. Sunday.
Arbitros bajo sospecha
¿Se acuerdan de Brazenas?
OFF TOPIC: LPND EN CRITICA DIGITAL



