Somehow the Tribune and the Sun-Times neglected to mention that Ald. Arenda Troutman served as a Democrat when she was on the city council. That is Troutman (D-20th) that never shows up in the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times Articles about her guilty plea, something that the Tribune carefully included in the Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) indictment story for example.
Tribune Story HereThe mayor’s favorite pool boy—airport operations boss Dave “Pool Boy” Ochal—is at it again, throwing his vast political clout in the faces of his neighbors after the storms knocked out power this week.
Ochal’s Far Northwest Side neighborhood was without power for two days in the summer heat. Neighbors dug into their own pockets to pay for emergency generators and shipped their elderly, including some who required oxygen therapy, to live with friends and family who had power. Then neighbors said they witnessed a political miracle Wednesday night:
Read More...These are dangerous times we’re living in. Dangerous times for Americans who want to keep their inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Government is growing at an alarming rate and paying itself hefty salaries.
In Grover Norquist’s book, Leave Us Alone, he writes:
“In 2004, the average wage-and-benefit package for a private-sector worker was $51,876. The average federal worker earned $100,178 in wages and benefits. (For wages alone, private sector workers earned $42,635 and federal employees took home $66,589.) Total wages and benefits see federal workers taking in almost twice as much each year.” Besides the wage disparities, government leaders are telling us, the private citizens, what we can do, when we can do it, and what we have to give up.
If we sell our homes, we now have to pay our local government a sales tax on the sale. If we own a car, ... Read More...
Despite a tough U.S. economy, McDonald’s Corp. posted an 8 percent gain in July same-store sales on Friday as hungry consumers worldwide lined up for breakfast items and the classic Big Mac sandwich.
Many consumers have cut back on eating out amid economic weakness and rising gasoline prices, but business at the Golden Arches held up well in July, especially in the U.S.
Read More...State Senator, and Reverend, James Meeks launched himself back onto front pages Monday, by encouraging students in inner-city neighborhoods to skip the first day of school. The reason for the protest is something Meeks has harped on for years: inequities in school funding.
We should give Meeks credit for being persistent. But unfortunately we can’t give him credit for being effective, or even honest, in his protest. Meeks loves to make enemies out of suburban schools spending decadent amounts of cash on computer labs and sports facilities, while inner-city kids struggle for books and decent teachers.
But this obsession with the suburbs is the tip off that Meeks’ primary motivation is political. Why? Because there are inequalities within the City of Chicago that are just as great as the inequalities between city and suburbs.
A 2005 Chicago Catalyst study of school budgets found that some schools in Chicago, like ... Read More...
Before leaving Chicago State University, embattled university president Elnora Daniel signed off on spending more than $18,000 to publish a tribute book honoring herself, a glossy coffee table publication featuring pictures of Daniel posing with lawmakers, university staff and her family.
The 52-page soft-cover book looks like a personal photo album, with minimal text and no photo captions. There are pictures of Daniel at a grant ceremony with President George W. Bush, smiling at U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and accepting state checks from Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, who funneled millions of dollars to Chicago State under Daniel’s leadership.
The last page features a photo of Daniel and five family members dressed in formal dinner attire and standing next to an elaborate staircase. Daniel’s university-financed family travel was the subject of a stinging state audit that found she spent more than $15,000 to attend a leadership conference aboard a Caribbean ... Read More...
