Chicago - A message from the station manager

The [Friday] Papers

By Steve Rhodes

“Bruce Rauner delivered another $1.5 million of personal funds to his Republican challenge to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s re-election bid, bringing to nearly $10 million the amount he has tapped his wallet for since launching his campaign in March 2013, records showed today,” the Tribune reports.
“With his latest contribution, Rauner has given his campaign nearly $9.6 million. Rauner, an equity investor from Winnetka, is possibly the wealthiest candidate to seek statewide office in Illinois.”
Seemingly related:
“Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf refused to clarify where Rauner stands on the issue of corporate tax avoidance.
“But in an e-mailed statement he blamed Quinn for presiding over an uncompetitive economy.”


LOL
Poll: Foreign Policy No Longer Obama Strong Point.
*
Obama: The President Without A Strong Point.
Rahmcast
“Chicago is projecting the smallest budget gap since 2008 even as it forecasts that the deficit will almost double by 2017 amid growing pension obligations,” Bloomberg reports.
“The outlook for the third-largest U.S. city, released with an annual report, forecasts a 2015 deficit of $297.3 million, $100 million less than projected a year earlier after the city reformed two of its four pension funds. That shortfall will rise to $587.7 million by 2017, and that gap doesn’t include obligations to Chicago’s two underfunded retirement funds.

“By making the tough but necessary choices over the past three years, we are able to continue chipping away,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in an e-mailed statement today. “While a $297 million budget shortfall is substantial, we are making progress in righting the city’s financial ship.”

The statement wasn’t available for follow-up questions.
*
Instead of statements, I wish the mayor’s press office would at least e-mail audio clips to the media so we could hear Emanuel actually say these things. And also so I could doctor one into him saying “No fucking comment.”
*
Emanuel also urged residents to call 911 a lot – like every fucking day.
*
P.S.: Yes, I understand the higher 911 surcharge is per phone account, not per call (or at least that’s the way I think I understand it), but c’mon, for comedy.
Pot Brownies
“Aldermen took steps Tuesday to further limit where medical marijuana dispensaries could be located in the city,” the Tribune reports.
In their ward offices, for example, right next to the voter registration cards.
*
I’d like to see food trucks given permission to sell medical marijuana. Also, the regular kind.
Blame Comcast
This column 50 percent less funny and newsworthy due to last night’s Comcast outage. Feel free to send them a nasty note.
–
The Beachwood Radio Network
Weekend podcasts are in production!
–
The Week In Juvenile Justice
Including: Chicago Teen-On-Teen Violence, Juvenile Detention Suicide, CPS Loophole, Dallas School Plot, Minnesota School Plot, and Irish Ire.
–
The Political Odds
Chances Rahm, Quinn win re-election? O’Connor wins indictment? The Lucas Museum wins the lakefront? In The Political Odds.
TrackNotes: Junkies In Narcissistic Denial
Racing can’t unite on anything – even cynicism.
Beachwood Photo Booth: Window Dressing
Factored pairs.
The Week In Chicago Rock
Featuring: Courtney Barnett, Phantogram, Strand of Oaks, Stephen Marley, Interpol, The Bangles, Disclosure, Altered Perceptions, K.K. Rampage, Doyle Bramhall II, and Jesse McCartney.
–
BeachBook
* Wild Hare To Host First Live Music In Three Years On Friday Night.
In your backyard and in your face, Lincoln Park.
* Craigslist Peoria: Dude Selling Air Guitar.
Slightly used.
* America Loves The Bears (To Go At Least 9-7).
“Of course, the opinion of the public should never be trusted.”
* Fermilab Installs Huge Magnet For Dark Matter Experiment.
Why not just use Rahm’s soul?
–
TweetWood


Not to mention his former chief of staff.
*


*


*


No wonder he looked so unhappy.
–
The Beachwood Tip Line: Credible.

Permalink

Posted on August 1, 2014