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*** UPDATE *** From Congressman Jackson’s office…
Like millions of Americans, Congressman Jackson and Mrs. Jackson are grappling with soaring healthcare costs and are selling their residence to help defray costs of their obligations. The Congressman would like to personally thank everyone who has offered prayers on behalf of his family.
* Unsurprisingly, this move is causing a heckuva lot of speculation about Congressman Jackson’s future. Lynn Sweet…
The Washington D.C. home of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) is for sale, according to several local real estate listings. The asking price for the red brick Victorian row house, just off DuPont Circle, is $2.5 million.
The sale comes as Jackson is recovering from bipolar depression–we’re told at this home–that has forced his absence from Congress since mid-June and treatment at the Mayo Clinic and a facility in Arizona.
While the official residence for the Jackson family is on Chicago’s South Side, their home here is a family base for their two children, who attend a private school here.
* Tribune…
The Sept. 8 real estate listing, posted on the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, says the home was built in 1921 and has four bedrooms, three full baths, two half baths, five fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen, a sun room and a rooftop deck with a Jacuzzi.
It notes that the sellers “need to find a home of choice.”
* Crain’s…
Around the time of the for-sale listing, Mr. Jackson left the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where he was diagnosed with Type 2 bipolar disorder and was being treated for gastrointestinal problems related to weight-loss surgery in 2004.
“He is at home in D.C., convalescing with his wife and children,” his Chicago chief of staff, Rick Bryant, said at the time. “We hope to see him back to work on Monday.”
That Monday would’ve been Sept. 10. But he hasn’t been seen on Capitol Hill then or since.
* Politico…
Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters on Wednesday that he had spoken to Jackson Jr. two or three weeks ago and did not know anything about his house being listed for sale.
* Greg Hinz…
One source in the middle of lots of political maneuvering says there are “strong indications” that Mr. Jackson will retire, either before the November election or shortly after.
That source says Ms. Jackson is interested in getting the job.
If the vacancy were to occur before November, the person to fill it would be chosen by Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios, who holds a majority of the weighted vote in Mr. Jackson’s 2nd District on the South Side and in the southern suburbs.
If the vacancy were to happen later, Ms. Jackson would have to run in a special election.
Jackson’s people have not yet responded to any of my inquiries. I’ll let you know if they do.
* Meanwhile…
An opponent of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in this fall’s election called for the congressman’s resignation on Monday, saying Jackson is unfit to serve the district.
Anthony W. Williams, a write-in candidate of the 2nd Congressional District, complained Jackson is out of touch and outright absent from the district — an absence, he argued, that began well before his June 10 health leave.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 1:54 pm
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the house is pretty expensive considering his kids are in a private school. Kirk and Schakowsky, elected with a few terms of him, who don’t have school age kids have much more modest homes. Blago, also elected around the same time, also had much more modest dwelling in dc. Makes you wonder where the dough is coming from for jjjjjr.
Comment by Shore Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 2:21 pm
Shore, I saw the story in the Tribune and believe they reported that he bought the home in 1998 for less than $600K. So the dough is coming from the home’s appreciation. $600K plus whatever improvement they’ve made over the years isn’t terribly out of the norm. Heck, it’s tough to find a single family home in my neighborhood for less than that, especially one that’s nearly 3,000 square feet.
On the other hand, based on the photos, $2.5 million is a wildly optimistic listing price.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 2:26 pm
If Ms. Jackson gets the job, she’ll still need a place to live in DC.
Maybe they’re just looking to cash out. DuPont Circle used to be a pretty rough neighborhood but has taken off with gentrification.
The DC housing market didn’t get whacked like other places in the country. Many highly paid buyers, very tight inventory in good neighborhoods in the District.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 2:42 pm
So is Mayo in-network for federal employees? That would be a question worth answering; it would give us at least some sense of direction as to what’s actually going on.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 2:54 pm
47th, that makes sense, but $600k is still a lot for a junior congressman in his early 30s in 1996. Not sure if the obama’s were even worth that much then.
So Jackson’s story is that he needs to sell the house to pay for his mayo visit. After his truthiness last summer, the chances are in 24 hours we’ll get a different story.
Comment by Shore Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 3:06 pm
Well we know he won’t retire to take on a job in interior decorating.
Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 3:17 pm
Is the reference to Joe Berrios correct? He is from the 31st ward on the city’s north(west) side. Jackson’s district is southside Chgo and into Will County.
Comment by Orland (D) Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 3:20 pm
Orland, it’s County Chairman who appoint, and obviously Cook has the weighted vote over Will and Kankakee.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 3:34 pm
I lived in DuPont Circle 20 years ago and it was yuppie upscale, similar to Lincoln Park. It is within walking distance of Georgetown. When was it rough?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 3:46 pm
DuPont started flipping in the 80s, kind of like Wrigleyville.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 3:49 pm
Rich, more importantly, just realized, it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 4:00 pm
ARRRRRRRRRRGH!
Hmmm, perhaps Triple J will be walking the plank so his wife can become Congressman.
Another scurvy plan brought to you Jackson Inc. With a possible assist from Berrios Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Madigan Inc.
ARRRRRRRRRGH!
Comment by IrishPirate Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 4:13 pm
I think Ms. Jackson would be a great Congresswoman, and would represent her district splendidly.
I hope she gets the seat.
Comment by Mortimer Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 4:16 pm
I am SO incredibly sick of these “dynasties” thinking that public offices are assets that can just be handed down to the next family member in line (e.g., the Stroger debacle). Whatever her merits, I hope Ms. Jackson doesn’t get the seat.
Comment by ChicagoR Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 4:38 pm
Agree w/ ChicagoR here. What unbrideled arrogance on the part of these people to think they can cast a wish, and disenfrachise their ” consitutents”. Mortimer, do I detect sarcasm in your statement?
Comment by Mr.Big Trouble Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 4:58 pm
===to think they can cast a wish, and disenfrachise their ” consitutents”.===
Who is being disenfranchised? Whatever happens will have to be done through the electoral process.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 5:06 pm
guess those kids won’t be going to school in DC anymore. when does Sandi find the time to govern her ward?
Comment by amalia Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 6:20 pm
As much as anything perhaps those opponents of the new ACA might take note that even an MC might have to sell his home to pay for medical costs and I bet they have pretty decent insurance
Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 10:22 pm
Steve, that is what they are saying is the reason.. Have to take everything coming from the Jackson camp with a grain of salt IMHO…
Comment by Oneman Wednesday, Sep 19, 12 @ 10:32 pm
Shiver me timbers! Might thar be a retirement a-brewin’?!
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 12:19 am
I can understand taking “everything coming from the Jackson camp with a grain of salt”. I will say that I know from experience that this type of medical treatment can be extremely expensive, especially with extended inpatient psychiatric treatment. A couple of days in a middling downstate hospital runs north of $6K, several weeks at Mayo could easily break 6 figures. Mental health treatment is not covered on par with physical health treatment. If medical expenses do play a significant role in the sale, I hope the Congressman will be upfront and public with the cost of his care to help bring this aspect of our health industry to light.
Comment by Colossus Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 9:15 am