Amtrak blogging
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
On the train to Spfld, the (mostly) civilized way to travel. Sick of that drive already and it’s only February.
unless I get a lot more comfy with this mini keyboard, you can expect a fairly light blogging morning.
Not a lot happening anyway. Just bills in committee.#
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Fear mongering or reality?
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
You never really know whether a bureaucracy threatens shutdown to scare lawmakers into action, but this could really hurt if it’s true.
The Chicago Transit Authority’s staff will recommend a standby plan for deep service cuts and possible fare increases next month, and the CTA board will adopt a final plan in April in case the General Assembly fails to provide more funding, officials said Monday.
“We wanted to give you a heads-up because the craziness will begin very shortly,” CTA Chairman Carole Brown told the City Council’s Transportation Committee.
The CTA board must approve a backup plan well in advance of July 1, the date the cuts would go into effect barring legislative action, because of certain labor and other requirements mandating 60 to 90 days’ advance notice, Brown said.
CTA officials planned a 20 percent cut in service for January but delayed action at the urging of elected officials who said they would work for additional funding from the General Assembly in the spring session, now under way.
But the risk is that the transit authority’s financial situation will be even worse if Springfield does not act.
Because only the last six months of 2005 would remain in which to reduce spending, “we are looking at 40 percent service cuts in July if there is no action,” Brown said.
40 percent? That seems excessive, but I see so many empty CTA buses roaming the streets in search of passengers that much of the cuts could be accomplished without a huge amount of pain. But not all. Definitely not all.
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New concert venue for Chicago
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
An outdoor concert venue on Lake Michigan is a good idea for Chicago, especially if it helps pay for a new park. But I still kinda miss the airport.
The Chicago Park District is likely to approve a deal Wednesday that will allow concert promoter Clear Channel Entertainment to build a new 10,000-seat music venue on Northerly Island, the former site of Meigs Field.
The venue is described as “an open-air boutique amphitheater.” It will be located at the northern end of the peninsula, occupying about 6 of its 91 acres, and the Park District says it could generate $800,000 a year to fund further development at the site.
I’m going to see these guys with these guys tonight, and even though the venue will be super-intimate, an outdoor show right on the lake might be even cooler - especially since I could walk home. There’s also a little-known but great little public beach right next door to the proposed site, so concert goers could party there before heading to the shows. The possibilities are endless.
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Conspiracy theory
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
As promised in today’s Capitol Fax, here is the link to the Illinois Civil Justice League’s contention that the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform is a trial lawyer front group.
As a result of an intensive investigative study by the Illinois Civil Justice League, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and its partners – the Justice at Stake campaign and Illinois Citizen Action – have been exposed for what they are: a concealed campaign to restrict judicial election education to only one voice – the voice of the Trial Lawyers.
And here’s the ICPR’s response:
The Illinois Civil Justice League wants the public to believe we were part of an elaborate and diabolical plot to help the campaign of the judicial candidate opposed by the Illinois Civil Justice League. That plot exists only in the fertile imagination of the conspiracy theorists at the Illinois Civil Justice League.
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform is a respected, non-partisan watchdog organization that works to increase public awareness of how political campaigns are funded in Illinois. The staff and members of ICPR’s board of directors represent a wide range of political opinions and different political party backgrounds. We have one thing in common: a strong belief in the need to reform the Illinois election system and the importance of a well-informed electorate.
Unlike the Illinois Civil Justice League, ICPR does not endorse candidates. ICPR does not assist or work against any candidates for public office. ICPR does not contribute cash to political campaigns.
Finally, here’s a list of articles and info on the “Six degrees of Kevin Bacon” game, referenced in the same story.
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His way
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
My dad went to Sen. Denny Jacobs’ retirement party last night and filed this brief report. Dad was supposed to send photos, but they haven’t shown up yet. I’ll post them if they arrive.
With Frank Sinatra singing “My Way” as background music, Denny said goodbye.
Denny was half sick with the flu and sad at the end of 32 years of politics but it was an evening spent with family and friends. Obama called in his repects and thanks. Lane Evans was there along with the other Democrats of NW Illinois. The first two rows were family members and the local press was out in force. Tonight was the end for Denny and Wednesday night will be a party celebrating the beginning for his son Mike.
Man, I’m gonna miss Denny Jacobs.
UPDATE: A friend of mine from the area sent me this e-mail:
We had fun tonight and your dad took about 50 pics with his digital!
Denny delivered his first speech reading from text (about 15 minutes). The place was packed (about 250) w/ lots of media.
Tomorrow around noon the five county chairs will caucus to make their choice.
If all goes as expected, Mike Jacobs will be sworn in as State Senator on Wednesday afternoon in downtown Moline
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Much better
Monday, Feb 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
Eric Zorn has moved to a new, much bloggier format. The new site has an RSS feed, permalinks and comments may be addedsoon. Plus, it looks so much cleaner than his old site. The link is updated on the right.
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Rod, Rod, He’s our man….
Monday, Feb 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
The first media report about the governor’s southern Illinois trip is positive.
Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY’-uh-vitch) toured southern Illinois today to publicize economic success stories.
The governor joined cheerleaders and local politicians in a pep rally to celebrate construction of a new coal-burning power plant. And he posed for pictures with executives of a trucking company opening a new terminal in Illinois.
Cheerleaders? I wonder what their cheers were.
OK, let’s keep the comments clean on this one, please. We’re starting to get a bad reputation, although I stuck up for y’all in comments.
UPDATE: That new trucking terminal looks like a big win for Illinois and a loss for that allegedly pro-business state of Missouri (from a press release):
USF Holland Inc., an operating company of USF Corporation (Nasdaq: USFC - News), announced that it has broken ground on a new terminal in Edwardsville, Illinois which will serve the southern Illinois and St. Louis Metro area. The terminal will replace an older, smaller terminal in the USF Holland system. […]
The new 102 door St. Louis facility, which is located in an industrial park in Edwardsville, Illinois, will replace an 84 door operation located across the river in the city proper of St. Louis. The terminal will be ready for operation in the second quarter of 2005.
The taxpayers had to pony up, though.
“USF Corporation wishes to acknowledge Gov. Blagojevich for the financial assistance provided by the Opportunity Returns program,” said Thomas E. Bergmann, Chief Executive Officer of USF Corporation.
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Top Ten List
Monday, Feb 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
Attorney General Lisa Madigan released her annual top ten list of consumer complaints. (From a press release)
For the fourth year in a row, telecommunication complaints involving wireless phone service, Internet service, Internet auctions and other related problems topped the list of Illinoisans’ consumer gripes, logging 3,538 complaints, or 15 percent, of the state’s 24,050 consumer complaints. Credit issues ranked second on the list with 3,325 complaints, or 14 percent, and home improvement issues ranked third with 2,895 complaints, or 12 percent of all complaints lodged with Madigan’s office in 2004.
The Top 10 consumer complaints of 2004 are as follows (figures do not reflect all complaints):
CATEGORY # OF COMPLAINTS
1. Telecommunications 3,538
2. Credit 3,325
3. Construction: Home Improvement 2,895
4. Promotions and Schemes 2,411
5. Motor Vehicle: Used Auto Sales 1,324
6. Mail Order: Catalog 1,158
7. Business and Professional Services 1,019
(alleged fraudulent business consulting,
fraudulent financial planning, invoice
scams, among other complaints).
8. Financial Services 900
9. Motor Vehicle: Non-Warranty Repair 834
10. Motor Vehicle: New Auto Sales 703
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Quinn the Green
Monday, Feb 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
February 7, 2005
Dear Editor,
Next week, the Illinois General Assembly will consider legislation to require government agencies to inform residents of any toxic substances in their water or soil. One might think our government is looking out for us already, but that hasn’t been the case.
Just ask Jana Bendik.
This brave, previously healthy Downers Grove teenager was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a disease linked to toxic chemicals. For years, Jana cooked with, washed in and drank poisoned water. This tragedy is compounded by the awful fact that state government bureaucrats knew for 10 years about the toxic hazard in Bendik’s water, but never told her family.
A recent investigation showed that hidden toxins, hazardous materials, and medical waste products often seep into groundwater without local residents knowing about it. And there are countless toxic hot zones across Illinois in unsuspecting residents’ backyards.
That would change, though, under the proposed “Toxic Chemical Disclosure Act†(House Bill 290), the top environmental reform bill facing the General Assembly this session.
Sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), this reform would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to use individualized notices, an easy-to-use online database, and newspaper announcements to warn citizens living within 2,500 feet of hazardous waste and toxic contaminants of their proximity to the deadly substances. Much of this information is already available to the public, but government bureaucrats have dropped the ball in getting the information out to those who need it most.
Thanks to our Illinois Constitution, the people of our state are among the only in the country to have an express right to live in a “healthful environmentâ€. The Toxic Chemical Disclosure Act is a commonsense way to help us carry out this fundamental constitutional mandate. No resident would be left in the dark about the poisons in their midst again.
If you agree with our fundamental right to know when there are deadly contaminants in the water we drink, cook with or bathe in, please visit our website www.CleanWater.il.gov and contact your state legislators to urge a “yes†vote on HB 290, the Toxic Chemical Disclosure Act.
Sincerely,
Pat Quinn
Illinois Lieutenant Governor
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Back south
Monday, Feb 7, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
The governor is in southern Illinois again visiting his new bestest friends (From a press release):
**Governor’s Public Schedule**
For Monday, February 7, 2005
SPRINGFIELD – Taking action immediately on his plan to continue building on the state’s impressive economic progress, create new jobs and maintain Illinois’ reputation as a place to do business, Gov. Rod Blagojevich will visit three Illinois communities and make major economic announcements.
WHO: Gov. Blagojevich
WHAT: Promotes vital southern Illinois project
CITY: Nashville
WHERE: Nashville Community High School
1300 S. Mill Street
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
- - -
WHO: Gov. Blagojevich
WHAT: Announcing major new expansion project
CITY: Edwardsville
WHERE: Gateway Commerce Interchange
24 Gateway Commerce Center Dr. East
TIME: 12:30 p.m.
- - -
WHO: Gov. Blagojevich
WHAT: Unveiling Opportunity Returns Southeast region plan
CITY: Effingham
WHERE: HN Automotive
Manufacturing floor
1500 Heartland Blvd.
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
- 30 -
Expect more glowing coverage here.
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