By Steve Rhodes
I was a bit taken aback yesterday when Gov. Pat Quinn, appearing on the Chicago Tribune Live sports panel show, called the USC the University of Spoiled Children. Quinn went to Georgetown for his undergraduate degree and Northwestern for law school.
And guess what?
Just 10 percent of Georgetown students qualify for federal Pell grants for low-income families and just 14 percent of Northwestern students qualify. Meanwhile, 22 percent of USC students qualify.
Don’t you love facts?
Burke’s Work
Speaking of spoiled children:
“Quinn declined to answer when asked if he interviewed anyone else for the position. Asked whether he spoke with Alderman Burke before making the appointment, Quinn answered, ‘I talk with everybody.'”
So actually he did answer.
Branding Iron
“The Illinois Secretary of State’s office will study the possibility of placing corporate logos on license plates under a measure Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law Thursday,” the Tribune reports.
Also under consideration:
* Corporate logos on legislation
* Corporate logos on Pat Quinn’s suits
* Corporate logos on the state flag
* Corporate logos embedded into the brains of every Illinois resident via discount laser surgery
Some Things Never Change
“As he left the event, the former mayor took off his suit jacket and offered a ride to his former press secretary Jackie Heard, who was on hand to cut short reporters questions. ”
Police Chase
In light of the city’s $6.5 million settlement this week with the family of an 8-year-old boy killed by a speeding unmarked police car, Michael Miner posted the Reader’s 1997 story by since-laid-off Tori Marlan about the incident. It’s a remarkable, though depressing, piece of reporting.
A Facebook friend who posted the piece asked how the two officers involved were still employed. Good question.
One of the officers ended up on the Arlington Heights police force where he is also accused of wrongdoing.
I wasn’t able to locate the other.
*
From Marlan’s story:
“Mayor Daley appeared on TV later that day narrating how the gunman had aimed his weapon at people on the street.”
But there was no gunman.
I wonder if Daley ever apologized to the family.
*
Maybe he tried but Jackie Heard cut him short.
Teamsters vs. Teachers
“In his move to target expensive union practices, Emanuel has so far ignored a major one highlighted in the spring by the city inspector general’s office,” the Tribune reports. “The city watchdog said Chicago is spending far more than it should for Teamsters members to drive other city workers to job sites and then sit in trucks while their colleagues work.
“‘Simply from the standpoint of looking for low-hanging fruit, that contract has built into it $18 million in waste,’ said Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who said he is still waiting to hear from the new administration on his report.”
Huh. I sense a Chicago Coincidence coming.
“The only major union to endorse Emanuel’s candidacy, the Teamsters have stood beside the new mayor and spoken out in favor of his economic plans – even those that could send public jobs to private contractors. The Teamsters also have pumped tens of thousands of dollars into Emanuel’s massive campaign fund.”
P.S.
Rahm in a letter to city employees on July 20:
“On the campaign trail and since being elected, I have talked to many city employees who said furloughs were demoralizing and disruptive. So, on June 30, I allowed them to expire – for union and non-union members alike. It was the right thing to do. ”
Ferguson, releasing a report on furloughs and overtime pay the same day:
‘Furloughs have been a valuable tool for the City. They have provided the City with savings when we desperately needed them.”
The Rich Are Who We Thought They Were
White men.
Chicago’s Hidden Neighborhoods
Brought to you by Geoffrey Baer.
The Week in WTF
Joe Walsh, Chicago State, and our political ho’s.
The Week in Chicago Rock
You shoulda been there.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Trade bait.
Posted on July 29, 2011