By Steve Rhodes
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday introduced and defended his plan to cut a 20-year deal – potentially worth $270 million to the city – with a clout-heavy partnership that includes the French company that holds Chicago’s controversial bus shelter contract,” the Sun-Times reports.
“After introducing the new ordinance at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Emanuel was asked why he didn’t put the digital billboard plan out to bid to see if he could get an even better deal for taxpayers.
“‘We have 1,300 billboards, and we get $1 million. Here, we’re talking about 34 billboards and you get $15 million. I didn’t need to go to Harvard business school to know that’s a better deal and it’s the right deal for the city,’ he said.”
No, but you might need to go to Harvard to decipher what the hell he’s talking about.
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While the billboard contract wasn’t put out to bid, the city did form an evaluation process to review proposals.
In other words, the Rahm just privatized the public bidding process.
Junior Joke
Jesse Jackson Jr. Votes Absentee.
That’s okay. His wife does her job absentee too.
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“Jackson’s campaign is making decisions based on what the doctors say,” the Sun-Times says.
We have yet to hear from a single doctor – even in a written statement.
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Lampe confirmed to me in August that Sandi is calling the shots.
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“It’s all about him getting healthy right now,” Lampe told the Sun-Times.
But he could have just stopped at “It’s all about him.” Or her.
Hipster Hash
First ward alderman Joe Moreno told Fox News that New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was wrong to pass on a visit by Barack Obama just because the logistics of setting up a photo-op in the midst of massive devastation could hinder relief efforts.
“C’mon, this is not the worst catastrophe,” Moreno said.
Well, it’s not as big a catastrophe as a Chick-fil-A in the ward would be, but it’s still pretty big.
Class Gas
“Chicago Public Schools officials said Wednesday that half of the district’s schools are underutilized with nearly 140 more than half-empty, and that those numbers will play a key role in deciding what schools to close or consolidate,” the Tribune reports.
“‘We’ve got too many buildings and too few children,’ district CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said during a conference call with reporters to discuss a draft of guidelines for school closings and related actions.”
We have schools where class sizes are entirely too small!
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Alternate: The problem with CPS is the schools! If we could just get rid of those . . .
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“[T]he research shows that when a school is closed it further destabilizes a community.”
That’s okay, we have too many communities.
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There’s never an egg-timer around when you need one.
Class War
“A developer wants the city to chip in $11.3 million for a new high-profile project in Hyde Park as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s first foray into special taxing districts,” the Tribune reports.
“Emanuel wants to provide city incentives by setting up a tax increment finance district.”
Which takes money away from schools.
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Alternate: We’ve got too many buildings . . .
Too Many Mental Health Patients
On that too.
Urban cleansing almost complete.
Global Solution
“World Business Chicago on Tuesday named 18 new members, bringing the total number of directors to 64,” the Sun-Times reports.
Because one thing we don’t have enough of is World Business Chicago directors.
Underwear King Invites You To Party
Chicago billionaire has a dream.
Duran Duran Chicago Chicago
Ambassador East for the band, Crown Hyatt for the crew.
The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report
Funyons & Obscenities.
Video Of The Day
Batman visits a Chicago music store and hilarity ensues.
Public Service Announcement On Behalf Of Men
Most of these aren’t secrets and we have absolutely no interest in the ones that are.
Cosmo: Offending men and women (nearly) equally.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Sling the hash.
Posted on November 1, 2012