No McPier special session required
Friday, Sep 9, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers about this development on Wednesday…
Talks with McCormick Place labor unions to achieve work-rule changes at the convention center are progressing well, making it unnecessary call a special legislative session next week, Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stated in a letter to be sent to legislative leaders today.
The letter reports that negotiations between the state, the city, McCormick Place officials and the unions are producing “significant progress” toward an “amicable solution.”
The goal is to achieve show-floor changes that would cut exhibitors’ costs and make Chicago more competitive with lower-cost rivals such as Las Vegas and Orlando. The convention center supports more than 66,000 jobs and $8 billion in spending here each year, the letter states.
“All parties involved in the discussions agree that a negotiated rather than legislative solution is the preferable course of action at this time,” the letter stated. “Should progress on our talks fail to continue in the future, a legislative solution may be appropriate at a later time.”
That’s really good to hear. We don’t need any more drama.
* In other business news, we should know soon if CME Group’s headquarters is leaving Illinois…
CME Group Inc. on Thursday elevated its threats to leave Illinois, making clear for the first time that it is considering the possibility of moving its corporate headquarters out of state.
Executive Chairman Terrence Duffy told Reuters that he will decide “shortly” whether to keep CME Group headquarters in Chicago. He said other states were trying to attract the company and that he expects to have proposals from those states in hand in two weeks. […]
In several instances, companies have used the threat of a departure to negotiate tax incentive packages from the state. The Tribune reported that CME Group was seeking a request for a change to its industry’s corporate income tax formula. Since then, the company has kept the pressure on.
* Taking lemons and making lots of lemonade…
Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to close the Tinley Park Mental Health Center would put nearly 200 employees there out of work and force 75 patients to find new quarters.
But if the state-owned land where the mental health center and the adjacent Howe Developmental Center sit is redeveloped, it could be an economic boon for the village of Tinley Park, officials said. […]
If no other state agency needs the property, nearly 400 acres of land in the prime location just off Interstate 80 could become available.
It’s no secret Tinley Park officials have coveted the land for years.
“The village is extremely interested in that land and its potential development,” Mayor Ed Zabrocki said Thursday. “Getting the land back on the tax rolls would be a major impact for school districts, the village and park district.”
* Roundup…
* Jobless picture in Illinois remains dim
* Jobless series (Part 4): Unemployment part of routine
* llinois AG’s office goes after gas utilities for rate hike requests
* Village opposes ComEd legislation, sets up public meeting on outages
* ComEd President to become utility’s first female CEO
* IEPA denies mega-dairy’s water certification
* Dems: Illinois would get millions under Obama plan: It says 260,000 Illinois businesses would receive a payroll tax cut while cuts to workers’ payroll taxes would save a typical Illinois household around $1,640. The analysis also says tens of thousands of jobs would be created or saved in Illinois through more than $4.5 billion in investments in transit projects, school construction and refurbishing vacant and foreclosed homes. There’d also be more money for police, firefighters and teachers.
* Illinois seeks to make truck routing safer
* Urich: Tax credit could be shifted - Peoria city manager says funds could help aid Pere Marquette revitalization
* Illinois Jobs Tour coming to Olivet: Joining Moore on the panel will be Bruce Rauner, Principal, GTCR LLC; Ed Murnane, President of the Civil Justice League; Marc Levine, a budget and pension expert; and Kristina Rasmussen, executive vice president of the Illinois Policy Institute.
* NASCAR-themed carwashes make national debut in Chicago area - Locations in Romeoville, Matteson and Aurora to roll out ahead of Sept. 18 race in Joliet
* Owner of Gino’s East may bid for Giordano’s
* Chicago wiener war ends in hot dog truce
- Fed up - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 2:08 pm:
That land in Tinley Park would be better used if the state sold it to a developer. It is mostly vacant now. Cook Co. Would also see a nice revenue bump from an increase in property taxes. The state could take over some space at the Oak Forest hospital about 3 miles away if there is a need for the services the Tinley Park facility provides. Consolidating these two under used facilities would make a lot of sense. Cook co has been trying to close Oak Forest but the state hospital board won’t let them.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 2:20 pm:
Re: McCormick Place.
When will Quinn inject himself into the proceedings and botch things up?
Re: CME
Wonder if Madigan’s dinner will pay any benefits…
Re: Tinley Park
I’m sure that was Quinn’s plan all along.
Re: Obama plan
Again with the “saved” jobs? Come back when you have a truly measurable metric.
Re: Food
Hopefully Gino’s uses their much superior recipe. And everyone knows the best hot dog is Vienna.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 2:34 pm:
–CME, along with other companies, including Caterpillar and Sears Holdings, have made income tax complaints, suggesting they might look elsewhere for a home.–
Caterpillar didn’t complain about the income tax, because they don’t pay it. They specifically cited workers comp. Caterpillar also never suggested they were moving out of state. It’s chairman specifically said “we’re here to stay.”
Are there any editors with any institutional memory left at the Trib?
- Reyray - Friday, Sep 9, 11 @ 2:54 pm:
CME should move. We’re traders….best bid gets the trade! Move as much as we can.