By Steve Rhodes
It’s not easy being me.
Let’s see what’s in the news.
1. “Hoping to retain its newly recaptured muscle car supremo status, GM unveiled the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show.”
My most beloved car was my first – a 1975 green Camaro. Jensen speakers in the back. Rocked.
2. “Chicago’s Left Blows Its Big Chance,” Laura Washington writes.
Yup.
“Del Valle is the only true progressive and coalition builder in the race. In his long political career as a state lawmaker and as city clerk, Del Valle has forged a solid record on liberal causes. He was the first non-African-American to join the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, where he served for 15 years. His authentically grassroots campaign has emphasized neighborhood-friendly postures on public education, community policing and economic development.”
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In today’s updated Beachwood Mayoral Odds, I write:
“[Del Valle has] gotten surprisingly little support from so-called Lakefront liberals and progressives; would also have made for the best ‘minority consensus’ candidate. Clearly the only scandal-free candidate whose background on the education committee in the General Assembly as well as a stellar test run of sorts in the admittedly small city clerk’s office should have meant more than it has. His neighborhood-centric platform is just what Chicago needs but powerful interests and the hypnotized masses seem hell-bent on perpetuating the Potemkin Village of China-loving Chicago [by electing Rahm].”
3. From the Facebook feed of WGN Radio News Director Charlie Meyerson:
“Ran into Rahm Emanuel at the L station around 5:30 p.m. He happily shook my hand. Things got chilly when I told him I’m a reporter and started posing questions. Asked to name his biggest concern of the campaign, he said it was that WGN reporters would interfere with his meeting and greeting voters. I reminded him we’re part of the process, too. And then my train arrived. I can hardly wait for our next meeting.”
4. “Chicago emergency management officials defended the city’s expansive network of cameras following a scathing report from a leading civil rights group that raised concerns about the loss of privacy, a lack of regulation and fears the technology could violate the First Amendment,” AP reports.
Here’s what caught my eye:
“City officials have been tight-lipped about how many cameras Chicago has in place . . . ACLU officials said the city declined to give the group information on the cameras, including a tour of its operation center, statistics on crime and cost estimates.”
So, secret government.
But what’s so funny is how great the camera network is – until it’s convenient for it to not be so great.
“In its report, the ACLU outlined three specific technologies that exceed the powers of ordinary human observation and increase the government’s power to watch the public: zoom, facial recognition capacity and automatic tracking.”
Jose Santiago, executive director of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, issued a statement saying the cameras don’t have all of those technologies.
He obviously refused to elaborate.
Just trust him.
5. “Del Valle: Parking Meter Deal Violates City Ethics Law.”
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“Del Valle said companies that worked on the deal, including the law firm of Katten, Muchin, Rosenman donated a combined total of $29,000 to Emanuel’s campaign.”
That’s really not a much – but there’s a reason they gave that money to Rahm and not Miguel.
6. “Rumsfeld Wanted Afghanistan To Do Things The Chicago Way.”
For example, residency would be determined by “intent.”
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I know it’s not the same thing, but reading that reminded me of this.
7. “Twelve years ago, city workers heaped 65,000 sandbags into piles creating walls to prevent high winds from spilling Lake Michigan onto the Drive,” Chuck Goudie reports. “They did this three days before the storm hit. Last week’s blizzard came with even earlier warnings.
“Last week’s blizzard came with even earlier warnings.
“On the day of the ’99 storm, the Drive was closed to traffic due to blinding whiteout conditions. Snow plows were diverted to other roads.
“As was the warning last week, in 1999 forecasters cautioned that if sustained heavy winds came from the northeast, Lake Shore Drive would be submerged. But back then pumps supplied by the Army Corps of Engineers stood ready near the Drive.”
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And again:
“Monday, the I-Team asked Streets and Sanitation officials why the same preparations for Lake Shore Drive weren’t made this year but received no reply.”
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We have a secret government in Chicago. They watch us with technology they will neither describe nor explain, but we are not allowed to watch them. All questions are put in a tube and flushed into Lake Michigan.
Given Rahm Emanuel’s anti-public campaign, it looks like we’re in for at least another four years.
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Let me ask you something, Chicago: Is someone putting a gun to your head?
8. Extreme Urban Sledding.
9. A Pimp and a Hustler.
10. Carmelo Coast to Coast.
11. Joel Osteen To Hold “Night of Hope” At Wrong Chicago Ballpark.
12. Yo La Tengo Does Seinfeld At The Metro.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Countersurveillance.
Posted on February 9, 2011