Morning shorts
Friday, Oct 31, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Feds urge quick decision on EJ&E rail purchase
* More problems for ethanol plant investors
* State Releases School-by-School Test Scores
* Only 3% who barely pass math reach 20 on ACT
* Lack of IMAGE test hurts local districts
* CPS plans more ‘turnaround’ schools
Many suburban educators say that there should be an asterisk next to this year’s No Child Left Behind results.
The state eliminated the Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English from this year’s tests, which forced students new to the English language to take the same standardized tests as everyone else.
As a result, suburban schools that serve many English-language learners saw their test scores take a hit, especially in reading.
* New students offer schools new challenges
* Group to introduce fund to assist low-income homeowners
* Gambling foes rally opposition to Southland casino
* New Illinois Tollway chief named
* Tollway authority picks new chief as former CEO fights to get new job
* Daley doesn’t remember receiving Gutierrez’s letter that lobbies for developer, aide says
* High rate of no-shows leads to garbage cuts
Mayor Daley is shrinking 80 more garbage crews from two laborers on a truck to one to solve a vexing absenteeism problem that sidelines nearly one-third of all laborers every day, a top mayoral aide disclosed Thursday.
“Thirty percent of my laborer work force doesn’t come to work. It’s either [on] duty-disability, restricted duty [or] absent no pay,” Michael Picardi told aldermen during City Council budget hearings.
* Aldermen gripe louder about Daley budget cuts
The mayor’s budgets often have passed with the support of all 50 aldermen, but this year nobody is happy with plans to lay off almost 1,000 city workers. Daley said the cuts are necessary to erase a $469 million budget shortfall.
“This budget is becoming to me more and more unacceptable,” Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) said as she questioned Picardi.
Added Ald. George Cardenas, among Daley’s most loyal allies in the council: “I cannot support this budget as it stands. There is a lot of fat in that budget, there’s no doubt.”
Council members worried about the effect of budget cuts on garbage pick-up and other services provided by Streets and Sanitation, the largest City Hall department.
* Friday Beer Blogging: Halloween Edition
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 9:55 am:
Chicago Police Chief Jody Weis feeling heat for endorsing Obama: http://www.suntimes.com/ne
ws/politics/obama/1
252391,CST-NWS-weis31.article
- Deeda - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:03 am:
The schools should get rid of the Unions, and get a merit system. Many teachers who only like the job because they get the summer off and not really care about the kids should get paid less. Many of my sons teachers offer summer tutoring for a small fee. Those teachers care for the students.
- Snidely Whiplash - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:10 am:
They only have to keep “forgetting” for a few more months, until Obama gets Fitz out of the district for them.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:42 am:
Former mayor of Niles pleads guilty in federal court to kickback scheme. http://www.chicag
obreakingnews.com/2008/10/ex-niles-
mayor-pleads-guilty-to-kickback-scheme.html
- Cassandra - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:47 am:
One has the impression that a lot of aldermanic relatives and friends work for the city, and union and other rules would make it difficult to protect at least some of them from losing their jobs if the layoffs take place. Daley is likely counting on a last minute fix as he wails about these
fantasy layoffs.
So I suppose some money will magically be found–even if they have to raid the hundreds of millions going into TIF’s annually. Now, that would actually be a good idea.
Chicago residents just love to pour money into city government. So if all else fails, they’ll cave to a tax increase.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 10:58 am:
I think the ax is being aimed at Streets and San, the historic home of clout and the Outfit. The Streets and Sans chief was on Fox News this morning saying that on any given day, 30% of the department’s workforce doesn’t show up — sick days, leave without pay, work-related injuries, but not including vacation. That costs $19 million a year to replace those bodies.
- Wumpus - Friday, Oct 31, 08 @ 12:24 pm:
Looking at the school info, you can see all the money to compare area/by area.