The [Friday] Papers

"House Speaker Michael Madigan swatted down a Republican effort Thursday to uncork stalled ethics legislation that would weaken his grip on power and curtail campaign donations from political parties and other legislative leaders," the Sun-Times reports.

Huh, that's funny. Just a few days ago Madigan was calling Republicans "non-participating do-nothings."

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Not that the ethics legislation was a partisan Republican package.

"That proposal, favored by government watchdogs and a reform commission appointed by Gov. Quinn, was left out of an ethics package passed last year."

The Daley Show
Trib headline: "Daley Hopes To Shift More Cops To Beats."

Or look good "trying."

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"Mayor Daley on Thursday ordered a 'comprehensive management review' of the Chicago Police Department to make certain 'every dollar possible' of its $1.2 billion a year budget is spent fighting crime," the Sun-Times reports.

"Twenty years ago, Daley spent more than $1 million on a police consulting study, only to ignore Booz Allen & Hamilton's most dramatic recommendations."

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Maybe that $1 million should have just been spent on jobs.

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Apparently the Civic Consulting Alliance of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago will perform the study pro bono.

How very civic of the Commercial Club.

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"On Thursday, the mayor made it clear that station closings would not be on the table in the new study - not after the city has spent tens of millions of dollars in recent years replacing many district stations.'

Crazy Idea: Maybe the study should have come before spending tens of millions of dollars on new stations.

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"New police facilities become community anchors," Daley said.

Really?

Maybe so in neighborhoods I am not familiar with, but I always thought community anchors were parks, fieldhouses, schools, diners, bars, and art spaces. Not cop shops.

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I can't help but wonder if this move - along with the mayor's belated attempt to do something about his crappy compliance office - is at attempt to shore up Daley's sinking approval ratings and/or even the result of some polling ahead of a re-election campaign.

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You know what would get Daley re-elected by a landslide? Ripping up the parking meter deal.

Dis and Dat
Our very own George Ofman on Derrick Rose, Devin Hester, the Olympics and more.

Chicagoetry
My Hell is a deep Christian well
in a raw field
just beyond the edge of the last suburb

- Son of St. Francis of My Ass

It's On!
As big as it gets.

The Beachwood Valentine's Day Guide
Yeah, right.

Save The Newspaper!

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(h/t: Steve Bartin, Newsalert)

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The Beachwood Tip Line: Save Ferris.

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