By Steve Rhodes
“You don’t close Lake Shore Drive,” a source experienced in snow emergencies tells John Kass. “If you close the drive, then you’ve paralyzed the entire North Side. There’s no place for the traffic to go, and those people can’t get home. It’s not ‘Why they didn’t close the drive sooner?’ The question is why they lost control of the drive in the first place.”
I don’t know if it was possible to keep Lake Shore Drive open – and drivable – but it’s an entirely reasonable line of questioning, especially given that the monster waves we were warned of never materialized.
An even better line of questioning, raised by Kass, is this: Where was the world’s greatest mayor?
I watched Channel 2’s Jay Levine, for example, badger mayoral chief of staff Ray Orozco to no end. Why Orozco didn’t finally just clock Levine I can’t say, but I would’ve. And y’all know I think the media fails to ask tough questions.
I didn’t find Levine’s questions tough, though; I found them gutless. How many times can Orozco said he made the best call he thought he could make?
It’s not like he hired Angelo Torres – as far as we know. (To my knowledge, Levine hasn’t pursued that line of questioning with the mayor.)
Now, contrast Levine’s approach to Orozco to this.
Anyway, Kass is right; Daley didn’t appear on your TV screens for the post-mortems yesterday for a reason. Classless to the end.
From The Beachwood Tweetdeck
Last night on @BeachwoodReport:
* Wind chill advisory in effect; will get even colder than #Rahm’s dark heart.
* Only one left on shore of Lake Michigan is some dude named Bodhi waiting for his set. #blizzard #snomg #pointbreak #swayze
* Experts: Expect #LakeShoreDrive baby boom in nine months.
* City learns Wendy’s sea salt no better on roadways than the kind from McDonald’s they usually use.
* Rivals accuse #Rahm of pandering for demanding that all pizza delivery in the city resume immediately.
* City: Streets will be cleared according to who sent you.
* ComEd donations restore power to #Rahm.
* #Rahm unable to claim dibs with furniture in storage; supreme court re-opens residency case.
* #Rahm: Don’t blame me, I’m still only pretending to be mayor.
* CTA rails on time, so sense of normalcy yet to return.
* Wayward accordion buses blamed for #LakeShoreDrive mess; next year CTA will use ukelele buses.
Facebook Feed
More from John Kuczaj:
Wow, they we sure correct about this blizzard being life-threatening snow. When I went outside to shovel today, I saw a huge snowdrift that spelled out “I’m Going to KILL You”.
News You Can’t Use
Channel 2 actually “polled” viewers yesterday about what local sports personality they would most like to be snowed in with.
Mystery Flights
I’m still trying to find out more about the three international flights that landed at O’Hare in the middle of the blizzard even though all other flights (presumably) were canceled.
I Was Not On The List
Lou Malnati’s sends free pizza to reporters across the country as promo for The Chicago Code.
Most Depressing Headline Ever
“Snowed In? Start Working On Your Taxes.”
*
TIM: Oh brother. Hell, why not start working on your will while you’re at it? Or suicide note.
Detroit Dodges Worst Of Storm
Relieved they didn’t turn into “another Chicago.”
He Lost His Heart At Wounded Knee
What’s next, a revelation next week that his leg was amputated at halftime?
Song of the Moment: Lake Shore Drive
It’ll take you up or down.
Rahm: Too Big To Fail
Stay off of my court; I’m playing a blood sport/Whaddup, Winnetka? Bye-bye Bridgeport.
Beergarita, anyone?
Leinenkugel’s Prepares Football Fans For An Unforgettable Wisconsin-Style Big Game Party.
The Possibly Mob-Related Mystery Of My Fake Chicago Hedge Fund Manager’s Voluntary Imprisonment
Fearing something – or someone – on the outside.
Art For The People
A Chicago story brought to you by TV Land.
Groundhog Day
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The Beachwood Tip Line: We got you, babe.
Posted on February 3, 2011