Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
I just turned in a freelance op-ed for Crain’s that should go up tomorrow (or early next week) and there’s nothing left in the tank for a column today, so too bad. Besides, I have other money-seeking activities to attend to.
Here’s what we’ve got elsewhere on the site today:
Posted on May 16, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“If state lawmakers were to approve the slots, Chicago would become the first U.S. city outside Nevada to offer gambling at an airport,” the Tribune reports.
“Currently, only McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe International Airport offer slot machines.
“In both those airports, the blinking lights and ringing bells of the slots are visible on the terminals, greeting travelers as they walk off a plane. The Emanuel administration, however, does not envision the same kind of atmosphere in Chicago.
“If this does move forward, it will not be like Las Vegas where slots are visible as soon as you walk off a plane,’ said Sarah Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the mayor. “Any slot machines would be in a secured, separate area similar to a private airline club – where individuals can access, but they are not readily visible to people traveling through the airport.”
Isn’t being readily visible to people traveling through the airport the whole point? Otherwise you might as well put slots in Arby’s.
Posted on May 15, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
Obama’s America.
Worst. Administration. Ever. blog.ap.org/2013/05/13/ap-…
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) May 13, 2013
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Bush and Obama road movie: Dumb & Worse.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) May 13, 2013
Posted on May 14, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Now under investigation by two state agencies, the United Neighborhood Organization is also facing tough questions on Wall Street from investors who lent tens of millions of dollars to help pay for the rapid expansion of UNO’s charter-school network,” the Sun-Times reports.
That’s right – charter schools are a Wall Street play. Get it now?
Posted on May 13, 2013
By Natasha Julius
Would it be naive to wish everyone a Happy Working Mothers Day? Probably, right?
Market Update
In a free and fair market, Shitty Ideas would fail on their own lack of merit. In a less free and fair market, failure isn’t always an option.
Posted on May 11, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Emanuel on Wednesday did not directly answer questions about whether his proposed settlement was financially linked to free Sundays, time extensions and the 35-cent-per-transaction pay-by-cell program,” the Tribune reports.
What is the mayor hiding? Remember, when he announced the new meter deal he left the podium before reporters could ask a single question. And he’s been just as squirrely ever since. What’s the deal?
“Ald. Patrick O’Connor, 40th, the mayor’s floor leader, said the council cannot unilaterally decide to break apart the deal.”
That doesn’t appear to be true. Our parking meter overlords don’t seem to care much about the swap of free Sundays for extended hours, though it’s likely to net them even more gobs of money than they’re already getting.
Posted on May 10, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Church leaders took a ‘leap of faith’ Wednesday and got behind Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s compromise plan to charge non-profits for city water, after some last-second lobbying that ended with unanimous City Council approval,” WBEZ reports.
“The city will now charge non-profits based on a sliding scale, determined by their net assets. Groups and churches with less than $1 million in net assets will still get free water, while groups that are worth more than $250 million would pay full price.”
That actually sounds like a pretty good plan, but taking a leap of faith in Chicago is like betting it all against the house in Las Vegas: It’s just not realistic to think you’re going to be rewarded.
Posted on May 9, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“CPS officials on Tuesday mostly dismissed the conclusions by independent hearing officers that the district should not close 11 schools, without addressing safety concerns and questions about the academics at the receiving schools,” Sarah Karp reports for Catalyst.
“Speaking on background, the officials said that the hearing officers – who concluded that CPS did not comply with state law and therefore should not close the schools – either did not understand or over-stepped their role.”
Perhaps they should visit today’s city council meeting to get a better idea of what is expected of them.
Posted on May 8, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Chicago Public Schools has already admitted it overstated the capital savings it could achieve by closing 54 schools. Parents say they have no proof the new numbers are right either.” – Lutton and Karp, bringing the goods.
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“[Parent Ali] Burke says she’s sure of one number at this point: her trust in the school district is at zero.”
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Meanwhile . . .
“Independent hearing officers are opposing 14 of the school closings proposed by Chicago Public Schools officials, citing safety concerns and the district’s failure to show students would be going to better schools,” the Tribune reports.
Posted on May 7, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Richard Herman doesn’t have to do much teaching as part of his $212,000 faculty job at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,” Jodi Cohen reports for the Tribune.
“When he resigned as chancellor after a high-profile admissions scandal, he made a deal to teach just two classes a year in the College of Education, where a professor typically teaches four.
“But Herman’s class this semester was canceled for low enrollment – the second time that has happened since 2011. His biography on the College of Education’s faculty website is blank. Herman, who lives in Chicago, said through a university spokesman that he goes to campus about once a week.”
Posted on May 6, 2013
