Morning shorts
Friday, Feb 22, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Bill would limit disclosure of names of HIV-positive students
* RTA Shows How It Can Rein-in Transit Spending
But now, the RTA can veto big-ticket capital projects. It’s added a five-step process before new train track gets laid or major bus terminals get built.
To make this work, the RTA can also wield another new power; it can now demand strategic planning budgets from the CTA, Metra and PACE.
* Better safe than sorry, trustees say
That ruling — by the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, San Diego, in Lexin vs. Superior Court — found that trustees, who often are participants in the retirement systems on whose boards they serve, can be criminally liable if they approve a contract that tangentially provides them a personal benefit.
* City proposes Navy Pier HQ for USOC
* The Same Mistakes, Endlessly Repeated
Last week the Chicago Reporter’s Kimbriell Kelly reported on Chicago’s “gray drain”, a mass exodus of elderly residents who simply cannot beat back the developers any longer. According to the Reporter piece, between 1990 and 2006, the City lost 15% of its elderly residents, a shocking decrease.
* Gov. Blagojevich sends letter to President Bush appealing denial of disaster aid to flooded counties
* IEMA officials promise cleanup help
* On Illinois tax forms, residents can donate to veterans care facilities
* Hundreds rally against hate at ISU
* Drug-possession charge filed against Cook County prosecutor
Charges have been filed against a Cook County assistant state’s attorney who was arrested while possessing what police say they believe were packets of heroin.
* Big bucks in control of deer herd
* Hastert returns to his humble beginnings after historic career
* Front-Runners Join Fray Over Hastert’s Seat
* Health-care system broken, doctors tell candidate, senator
* National Dem targets three Illinois congressional races
* Friday Beer Blogging: Space Edition
- some guy - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:02 am:
More on ISU -
http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=98994
More on Budget -
http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=98880
- Angry Chicagoan - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:32 am:
RTA is going to need to rein in transit spending if this horrific governor gets his way on capital: his transit allocation is even more derisory than I thought, and would leave $2 billion in desperately needed and already-promised federal matching funding for other states to take away from us.
http://www.chicagopubli
cradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=18875
- Leroy - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:09 pm:
>City proposes Navy Pier HQ for USOC
Where I come from, that is called a bribe….
- Anon - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 3:19 pm:
Now THIS is an interesting political alliance:
http://www.chicagotribune.co
m/news/local/chi-foreclosures_22feb22,1,2997666.story
- The Mad Hatter - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 3:57 pm:
I’m a veteran myself, and frequently donate to help vets at Manteno. Under no circumstances will I send one penny of my tax dollars to the check-off funds on the state tax forms. Prior to Governor Elvis I could be relatively certain those funds would go to their intended targets. Since he’s taken office, he frequently “sweeps” those funds clean to support his pet projects, most of which are intended for the sole purpose of making him look good.
- Johnny USA - Saturday, Feb 23, 08 @ 5:02 am:
I like how we place the blame for “gray drain” on private developers. Is Ramsin completely blind to the fact that the City of Chicago is raising taxes and fees at an incredible rate?
Ask yourself this Mr. Ramsin: Why are those elderly in poverty? Why are the even vulnerable to the developers in the first place? We have an entire class of people in the city that are enslaved by it.
What I find most galling about your article is the fact you use the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag as your symbol.
I recommend you take the time to see who is actually doing the treading, sir.
- PCC - Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:04 am:
Sorry, but I can’t really muster a whole lot of sympathy for seniors “forced” to take million-dollar windfalls by cashing out and leaving town. How do we know they’re not retiring to Florida, or moving to be closer to suburban children? We don’t — the article shows correlation, but not causation.