The [Monday] Papers

By Steve Rhodes

“Friday was supposed to be Chuy’s Big Day,” the Tribune editorial board opined on March 13th.

Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, the man who forced Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to defend himself in an April 7 runoff election, had promised to release his fiscal blueprint. With scarcely three weeks left in the campaign, Garcia was finally prepared to spell out his plan to rescue the city’s finances while somehow sparing its taxpayers.
It turns out he doesn’t have one.
At a testy news event that lasted less than 30 minutes, Garcia provided no specifics about where he’d find the money to balance the city’s budget, much less to pay for all the new spending he’s promised.
He didn’t explain how he’d pay down the $27 billion debt owed by the city and its schools, or how he’d address unfunded pension obligations totaling nearly $30 billion. Instead, he said he’d name a working committee to start looking for solutions and report back 90 days after the election.

Yeah, what a terrible idea that was.
Ahem.
“Facing the biggest city budget hole in recent memory, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday that he will hold three town hall meetings in the coming weeks to hear ideas from residents on how to close the gap,” the Tribune reports.
Rahm Emanuel was re-elected 165 days ago.
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Of course, this is all political theater so when Rahm tells everyone the bad news he can say, hey, these were your ideas!
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“The public budget meetings will be the first for Emanuel since August 2011, his first year in office.”
To be fair, he lost his sweater and didn’t find it again until he was forced into a runoff.
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“Predecessor Richard M. Daley staged public forums each year.”
At least he showed up and didn’t listen in person.
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“Nearly two weeks ago, aldermen met with Budget Director Alexandra Holt to discuss ways to plug the budget hole.”
So, approximately 141 days after Rahm’s re-election – or 51 days after Chuy’s commission was scheduled to report back.
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“Residents can also provide ideas via social media during the meetings by using the hashtag #ChiBudget2016.”
Also, before and after! That’s how Twitter works.
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The conclusion of that Trib editorial from March:
“The takeaway from Friday’s disappointing presentation is that Garcia doesn’t like to make those tough decisions – or doesn’t want to own them before the election.”
And Emanuel clearly doesn’t want to own them after the election.
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Which of the three hearings will the Tribune attend? Eager to hear them beg Rahm to bring us a world-class hurricane.
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Compensating Workers
“Hoist Liftruck, a manufacturer of heavy-duty forklifts, plans to move around 300 jobs from southwest suburban Bedford Park to East Chicago, Ind., and says it will create hundreds more positions in the Hoosier State over the next few years,” Crain’s reported earlier this month.
“Hoist [said it] will save $1 million annually on workers’ compensation-related costs, a significant sum for the firm.”
On the premiums, presumably, if true. But if it is, is that because companies in Indiana are allowed to cheap out workers injured on the job?
Sounds like a great reporting opportunity with a chance for at least a modicum of funding.
Anyone wanna partner up?
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East Chicago: Like Chicago, but with more Rauner.
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The Fight For Dyett
Hunger Strikers Stand On The Shoulders Of The Payton 16, the UNO 13 And The LAZ 40!
Quagmire & Burt Reynolds Together
At Comic Con Chicago 2015. We have photos and video.
Schwarber’ll Be Selling Cars Soon
In The Cub Factor.
Show Me A Hero
A Q&A with David Simon.
Man Of The Year Michael Jordan Tipped 20%!
Now with fresh comments.
Televangelists Gonna Televangel
Reviews, anyone?
Ned Ventura Or Robin Gutteridge?
In The White Sox Report.
Slow Your Roll, Bears Fans
Everyone needs to try harder to avoid drawing too many conclusions from pretend games.
The Weekend In Chicago Rock
Featuring: Signal-to-Noise, Rasputina, Eliza Rickman, Sheer Mag, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lateralus, Disturbed, Chicago, Seth MacFarlane, Failure, Luke Winslow King, Black Diamond, Earth, Wind & Fire, Vinyl Theatre, Chayanne, and Lauren Anderson.
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BeachBook

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The Beachwood Tip Line: Reality theater.

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Posted on August 24, 2015