Posted by Barton Lorimor
From the Daily Herald…
State Rep. Sandy Cole has shut down her longtime legislative office in Grayslake, claiming the state is behind on rent payments.
“My old landlord wants someone who will sign a one-year lease and pay monthly, (on) the first of the month,” the Grayslake Republican said in an explanatory e-mail. “He is just a small business guy who owns one building that he has built out himself.”
Now that she’s out of the office at 137 Center St. - space she’s rented since being elected to the legislature in 2006 - Cole said she’ll be working from home for about a week. A new legislative office is being set up at 34121 N. Route 45 in Grayslake, Cole said.
I’m sure there are some state legislators out in Comment land that can tell a similar story.
I spoke to Cole this afternoon. She said she has already moved into the new location. The phone number has not changed.
- A.B. - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:02 pm:
Every landlord gets upset about that with the state legislator offices. Truthfully, they have every right to get upset.
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:21 pm:
And republicans claim to be fiscally responsible? She cannot even pay her bills on time!
Just move into a government building in the area. DOes Grayslake have a DMV? Set up shop in an empty cube or window.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:41 pm:
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:21 pm:
“And republicans claim to be fiscally responsible? She cannot even pay her bills on time!”
Seriously? Seriously?
Put the blame on Dan Hymes or Pat Quinn, if you want, but don’t blame legislators for not paying the bills. You should also talk to some of the government staff who have been owed, individually, over $10k in unreimbursed expenses, sometimes for over six months.
But I guess we should really give Hynes and Quinn some props. Interest free loans!
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:47 pm:
@Wumpus:
That is just a stupid comment. She doesn’t have a state checkbook to write checks from. Her payments are paid just like any other state agency payments.
@Cinci:
It’s dishonest to “blame” Hynes for not paying bills on time. He cannot pay with money he does not have.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:54 pm:
D-
Yeah, Hymes is probably the only statewide official actually trying hard to do his job.
- downstate hack - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 1:59 pm:
You can blame Governor Quinn and the entire legislative delegation. While the Dems especially Madigan deserve most of the blame because he has had a super majority for the last four years and got us into this mess with Blago, the republicans have proposed no real solutions. They are all to blame.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 2:22 pm:
I know several legislative people who are getting hit with the same situation. Welcome to the current pleasure of working with the state of Illinois. It may be the Reps office, but any group doing business with the state and who has to pay salaries or buy products to fulfill signed contracts has faced this issue for a long time.
- Bill - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 2:38 pm:
Hack,
Madigan does not and did not have a super majority. Not that that matters.
- seriously? - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 2:42 pm:
If you’re saying that Hynes can’t pay because he doesn’t have the money, but Quinn is supposed to?
The blame clearly falls on the Legislature. They abdicated all responsibility for passing a budget, and had Gov Quinn not stepped up to the plate and made hard choices, we would be in a far worse situation.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 2:50 pm:
Man walks into an office building to see an office space for rent for his business. The price was reasonable, and it came with the rented furniture. Man asks the owner, “When can I move in, it’s a great space and I can’t beleive it comes with some office furniture.
“You can move in right away, it is ready to go. Do you have first and last month’s rent?”
Man looks down, pulls out a letter and hands it to owner. Owner gets so mad, he takes one of the chairs and throws it against the wall, making a huge hole. Man asks, “What’s the problem, the letter states that I am approved for a state grant, who to call and confirm payment, is there a problem”
Owner asks, “Is that the signature of state Rep (insert any name)?”
Man, “Yes, why?”
Owner says, “How do you think this space got vacant, THIS was state Rep’s (insert name here)”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 2:52 pm:
the joke was mine ….
- BigTwich - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
Moved into a new office? I guess Rep Cole did not have trouble finding a landlord who did not want a years lease and pay monthly on the first of the month.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 3:05 pm:
BigTwitch,
I heard Rod is taking tenants at the Ravenswood house…
- BIG R.PH. - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 4:23 pm:
Why didn’t she do the “right thing” and pay her own rent?
It’s her office!
Just another example of how out of touch our Politicians are.
Nov 2 is coming. Vote da bums out!!
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 4:33 pm:
Given everything that’s going on in the public arena, I’m non-plussed at my own indifference.
Maybe she should run for the GA and do something about it.
- TwoFeetThick - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 4:40 pm:
Seriously, Big RPH? I assume then you would have no problem paying rent to your boss for your office cubicle. Should you also pay your boss for your business expenses, like using your phone and powering the lights?
Would it make you happy if all government officials/employees worked for free? Sheesh.
- Jack - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 4:44 pm:
I give her credit. Heck, I’d give her even more credit if she just decided to open her parlor as her permanent office. Once people start seeing things like this, we can begin to appreciate the dimensions of the problem here.
- Robert - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 4:59 pm:
tough to blame Hynes for this - I bet some would be more ticked off if state reps’ legislative offices are getting their bills paid faster than social service providers
- colt 45 - Wednesday, Sep 1, 10 @ 5:01 pm:
that really stinks. her office was in a great location in downtown grayslake. easy to get to, plenty of parking and a much needed tenant in that part of town.
- G. Willickers - Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 12:34 am:
this article makes no sense. she (or the state, whatevs) can’t pay the rent but she can get a new office within a day?
wha?
most of the other leges are doing the right thing and paying the rent out of their campaign funds or even their own personal savings.
why doesn’t sandy cole step up to the plate and do that too?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 2, 10 @ 1:41 am:
It’s every other office in the state too as far as I know. Offices like the area IDNR, aren’t paying rent to small business owners who are left to wrestle with the choice of evicting long-time tenants in hope of finding new ones that actually pay rent versus holding out hope the State will pay its bills so the local building owners can pay theirs. It’s nothing short of a HUGE embarrassment. The voters who keep re-electing most of this crew and the voters who stay at home are just as culpable as those that are elected and keep failing to act responsibly.