By Steve Rhodes

“Gov. Pat Quinn launched a four-city fly-around Monday to talk up the latest Illinois Lottery ticket benefiting veterans, a move he said was intended to honor those that serve but one that also displays the benefits of incumbency as he runs for re-election,” the Tribune reports.
“[Quinn] scoffed at suggestions that his [taxpayer-funded] tour of the state doubled as a campaign effort, saying he’s held events to promote the veterans lottery ticket for the past decade.

“I’ve done this over and over again over the last decade,” Quinn said. “I think it’s important on Veterans Day to find ways – each and every one of us – to honor our veterans. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

And if it helps me get re-elected, that’s just a happy coincidence!

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Posted on November 11, 2013

By Natasha Julius

The Weekend Desk: Prepared to take some down time since 2006.
Market Update
The bottom dropped out of Women again as their defective Thigh products continued to drag down blue-chip earners.

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Posted on November 9, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

“A Chicago attorney specializing in tax law has been barred from preparing most tax returns for anyone other than he and his family, following allegations that he helped customers – including former Bear Kyle Orton and other NFL players – falsely claim more than $16 million in improper tax credits, according to court records,” the Tribune reports.
“Gary J. Stern consented to the civil injunction order, which was filed earlier this week, without admitting to the allegations against him.
“Stern, currently at Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis LLC, is not allowed to prepare tax returns for individuals, estates, trusts, partnerships or corporations, among others, according to the order. ”
You mean Stern still has his job?

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Posted on November 8, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

1. State Wedding Industry To Get $74 Million Boost From Gay Marriage.
State divorce industry, too.
2. Rahm Defends Ventra Rollout.
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday defended the switch to the CTA’s new Ventra fare card system despite major problems with the program’s rollout.
“Difficulties have abounded, from riders having trouble obtaining Ventra cards to getting overcharged for rides on trains and buses. The card readers also in some cases have failed to recognize the cards, forcing CTA employees to let riders board buses and trains for free.
“The mayor disputed the notion that the Ventra switch has been a debacle.

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Posted on November 7, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

We’ll leave it to others to do the heavy lifting on Charlie Trotter; fine dining is not our specialty around here. But we can offer the uninitiated a glimpse of what Trotter and his restaurant were like through some video culled from YouTube.
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In his last public appearance, Charlie Trotter described himself – surely not for the first time – as an “excellentist.”

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Posted on November 6, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

Is there a quarterback controversy in Chicago? Josh McCown seemed to run Marc Trestman’s professional offense with much more precision than Jay Cutler has. Cutler always seems like he’s fighting whatever system he’s in – reining in his impulses to play backyard gunslinger to fit into a box which doesn’t suit him. McCown last night played like he was Trestman’s long-lost identical twin. Even quarterback guru and TV analyst Jon Gruden marveled at McCown’s ability to come off the bench and run through his progressions in terrifying speed, like he was Peyton Manning with extra sets of eyes on both sides of a head housing a mega-gigabyte brain.
Along the way, Bears fans were treated to a prime example of why having a great offense lead the way in today’s NFL instead of a great defense like in the Lovie years is the way to go: The Bears controlled that game. That’s what you can do when you have the ball. Offense is proactive; defense is reactive. The Bears controlled the game’s tempo and momentum – with a few disruptions like when the Packers’ running game got in a groove and when Mike McCarthy outbolded a bold Trestman with that onside kick call – and in the end, on the Bears’ final, beautiful drive, it made all the difference.

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Posted on November 5, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

1. Cook County Jail chess program vs. CPS chess program.
2. “In many poor countries, psychiatric patients are warehoused, not treated,” a New York Times Op-Ed says.
In a rich one, too.

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Posted on November 4, 2013

By Natasha Julius

If our signature achievement were a bike-sharing program, we’d probably split before the first winter too.
Market Update
It’s true what they say: Money can’t buy taste.

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Posted on November 2, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

“A Grand Rapids [Michigan] man is claiming he helped the FBI locate terrorist Osama bin Laden and should receive a $25 million reward, according to a Chicago broadcast station report,” MLive notes.
“Tom Lee, 63, has hired a Chicago law firm to pursue his interest, according to chicago.cbslocal.com.”
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The law firm? Loevy & Loevy.

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Posted on November 1, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

“A onetime business partner of former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s son was sentenced Wednesday to 17 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme that used a minority-owned company as a front to fraudulently secure millions of dollars in Chicago city contracts,” the Tribune reports.
“Anthony Duffy, who pleaded guilty last year to making a false statement to FBI agents, was president of a firm that performed sewer work for the city under contracts that were awarded to a minority-owned business. Duffy is white.
“Duffy lied to federal investigators about why he didn’t reveal on economic disclosure statements that two of the former mayor’s relatives, son Patrick Daley and nephew Robert Vanecko, were investors in the sewer company. Neither Daley nor Vanecko was charged with any wrongdoing.”

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Posted on October 31, 2013