Chicago -
By Natasha Julius
No tricks. No treats. Just the uncompromising eye of the Weekend Desk.
Market Update
President Obama this week will welcome 2,000 Washington, DC-area children to the White House for trick or treating this season. In a nod to the harsh economic times, each child will find their goodie sack stuffed with $160,000 in federal stimulus money.
Posted on October 31, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
“Not surprisingly, schools with more than 90 percent poverty rates dominated the bottom of the pack [in test scores],” the Sun-Times reports.
If it’s not surprising – if it’s such received wisdom – why don’t we see this connection made more often in the media?
The statistical correlation might lead one to think that the best education reform strategy is a jobs program.
Posted on October 30, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
I’ll be at CommuniCamp today but I’ve prepared a column in advance. Maybe one the things we’ll talk about is how to cope with former Tribune editors spreading into our ecosphere and sucking up resources.
1. “I’ve known Warren since we were both reporters at the Sun-Times in the mid-70s,” Michael Miner writes. “I have great respect for him. But I think the message his appointment sends, to the Reader and to Chicago, is more ambiguous than Gilbert may realize. What we have is the appearance of one former Tribune managing editor, O’Shea, looking out for another.
Posted on October 29, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
“Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday tried to offer up a scapegoat for the puzzle of why property tax bills are soaring as home values are plummeting: Cook County Assessor James Houlihan,” the Tribune reports.
“As he promoted a modest city tax relief program, Daley also lashed out at the assessor, accusing him of not doing his part to keep a lid on tax bills expected to arrive in mailboxes the next few days.
“‘The thing I can’t understand (is) this whole assessment deal,’ the mayor said. ‘Now, no one’s value is going up in the city . . . I’m asking him how he does it’.”
The mayor was not only playing dumb, as we shall see, but engaging in a deceit designed to protect him politically that will end up only adding to the city’s budget woes.
Posted on October 28, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
1. Oh for godsakes! Could you be any more of a buzzkill?
2. Oh for godsakes! Could you be any more of a tool for saying this?
“Is there even a shred of evidence that a legislator is under the thumb of a legislative leader because of campaign spending? I don’t see it. I see members elected from competitive districts vote in the best interests of their district, which is often counter to the way the legislative leader votes.”
3. Oh for godsakes! Jesus is watching, Rickey. And boy is He pissed.
Posted on October 27, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
1. “The primary problem with the Lovie Smith coaching philosophy and persona reveals itself in games like Sunday’s Bears debacle at Cincinnati,” our very own Jim Coffman writes in SportsMonday.
Find out what he means.
Posted on October 26, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
The Weekend Desk Report staff is on a retreat in an undisclosed location that serves beer. They will return next week.
The [Friday] Papers
1. Former Tribune writer John Cook writes it so I don’t have to.
2. They’re all coming back from the dead; I guess the zombie trend is for real.
3. “Where The Wry Things Are.” About our very own Mike Knezovich.
Posted on October 24, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
1. Former Tribune writer John Cook writes it so I don’t have to.
2. They’re all coming back from the dead; I guess the zombie trend is for real.
3. “Where The Wry Things Are.” About our very own Mike Knezovich.
Posted on October 23, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
Ugh. I am having a brutal morning. And I know posting has been light this week, but it’s gonna keep on being light! At least until tomorrow.
Here’s one funny thing, though: Eric Emery’s Over/Under. Recycled Styrofoam peanuts and The Cedric Benson Hoax are involved.
Posted on October 22, 2009
By Steve Rhodes
Here’s my favorite part of Lon Monk’s plea agreement:
“Beginning prior to Blagojevich’s election as governor in 2002, Defendant had conversations with Blagojevich, Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko, and Christopher Kelly individually and collectively about how the four of them could make money from their control over the State of Illinois government. Those conversations included a number of specific ideas for making money, such as through operating businesses that would get state money or receiving fees from people who did business with the state. As a general matter, Rezko was responsible for trying to set up the money-making arrangements and Kelly and Rezko were the most knowledgeable about how the plans would work. Defendant understood that Blagojevich and Defendant would use their power and authority in state government as needed to assist whatever plans Rezko and Kelly put in place to make money. Defendant further understood that he would share in the money that was made, but that those funds would not be disbursed to Blagojevich or Defendant until after they were no longer in government.”
Posted on October 21, 2009
