Well, OK, take it
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP on a property tax freeze vote today in the House…
The measure doesn’t apply to home-rule governments like Chicago and prohibits school districts from getting any more in property tax revenue than they did in 2015 unless voters approve an increase in a referendum.
The House voted 71-31 Thursday on the proposal by Democratic Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo.
Rauner’s call for a tax freeze includes letting local governments control costs by restricting labor-union power and limiting wages on public construction jobs.
But Republicans in favor of Franks’ proposal took the freeze even though it doesn’t include the governor’s reforms.
…Adding… Noting that the bill applies to nobody in Cook and the collars and most others, a Rauner admin official said “The real one failed by 14 votes yesterday.”
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*** UPDATED x6 *** Face reality, please
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House Democrats have introduced their proposal to fund higher education and social services. Click here to read it.
The bill spends way more than the governor has proposed and it relies on lots of generic General Revenue Fund money, which means there is no way to pay for some of that spending.
There’s some speculation that this is a deliberate attempt by HDem leadership to derail everything by making the package too heavy. On the other hand, it could also just be a way to get to the governor to agree to more spending than he has so far. Whatever the case, the Senate can’t make any changes if this bill passes the House because it’s a Senate bill.
* However, I have been told by the governor’s office that there’s no way on Earth Rauner will sign an appropriations bill that doesn’t have a way to pay for it.
Rauner has outlined about a billion dollars in special state funds (subscribers know more), but the Democrats’ bill goes way beyond just tapping those funds. If the Democrats do this, then today’s work could very well be for naught. So, stop it already and make a darned deal.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I’m told the GRF money is “maintenance of effort” (explained here) to obtain federal matching funds. So, it is paid for, they say. Hopefully, this will all get worked out. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for calm.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From a senior administration official…
It appears the Speaker could not accept compromise and at the eleventh hour has tanked a bipartisan plan to save higher education. The governor will veto any plan that spends money the state doesn’t have. In the meantime, members of the majority will go home to their districts for a week to explain why they couldn’t support a bipartisan compromise to fund higher education and social services that the governor said he would sign into law.
*** UPDATE 3 *** The Rauner administration continues to insist that there is way more GRF money in the bill than the maintenance of effort stuff. “They have too much in there,” one top guy said of the Democrats.
*** UPDATE 4 *** In caucus today, House Republican members were asked if they planned to vote for the Democratic approp bill. Nobody raised their hands.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Dems are indicating there could be another approp bill vote if this one goes down. That second bill, if it happens, would apparently spend less money.
*** UPDATE 6 *** Sounds like they will do a stand-alone higher ed approp bill. CSU will reportedly be full funded, schools with big trouble get 50 percent, everyone else around 30ish. Not sure if that’ll pass, though. And not sure if that’s 100 percent accurate, either. There is also word that everything could revert back to yesterday’s levels. Stay tuned.
From now on, all updates on this topic today will be on our live coverage post.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* There’s lots of behind the scenes stuff happening right now, so make sure to follow the live coverage post for updates.
* Related…
* Cash Reserves Exhausted, Hispanic Drug Treatment Agency Closure Looms
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Credit Unions – A Smarter Choice!
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Credit unions exist as member owned cooperative financial institutions. Cooperatives are most often formed to support producers such as farmers, purchasers such as independent business owners, and consumers in the case of electric coops and credit unions. Their primary purpose is to meet members’ needs through affordable goods and services of high quality. Cooperatives such as credit unions may look like other businesses in their operations and, like other businesses, can range in size. However, the cooperative structure is distinctively different regardless of size.
As not-for-profit financial cooperatives, credit unions serve individuals with a common goal or interest. They are owned and democratically controlled by the people who use their services. Their board of directors consists of unpaid volunteers, elected by and from the membership. Members are owners who pool funds to help other members. After expenses and reserve requirements are met, net revenue is returned to members via lower loan and higher savings rates, and lower costs and fees for services. In exceptional years, bonus dividends may be deposited into member accounts as well. It is the structure of credit unions - not their size or range of services - that is the reason for their tax exempt status, and the reason why almost three million Illinois residents are now among 100 million Americans who count on their local credit union every day to reach their financial goals.
Visit ASmarterChoice.org to locate a credit union near you!
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Question of the day
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a March 3-8 statewide poll taken by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research for Operating Engineers Local 150…
Now I am going to list a few different types of infrastructure in Illinois. Please tell me if you think each one is in good shape or in bad shape.
“Roads” Total good 38%
Total bad 57%
“Bridges” Total good 36%
Total bad 50%
“Trains like the L and METRA [Cook and collar counties only]” Total good 56%
Total bad 22%
You should check out the whole thing, by the way. Interesting stuff in there.
* The Question: How would you rate your own local infrastructure? Please explain. Thanks.
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* From a Chicago Public Schools spokesperson…
All:
In case you were unable to attend the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board hearing earlier today, below you’ll find a statement from CPS CEO Forrest Claypool on the 4-1 decision to move forward to seek injunctive relief against future illegal CTU strikes.
Statement (Claypool)
“The Labor Board’s important ruling gives Chicago families more certainty that the CTU leadership cannot strike illegally whenever they want, and we are gratified that the Board has taken a major step toward injunctive relief against future strikes.
“Now we return to the bargaining table, in another effort to prevent a strike and the disruption that it would create for Chicago’s students, who are making more progress than ever before.
“We urge the CTU leadership to reconsider the recommendations of the neutral third party, or the deal their leadership previously negotiated and accepted, or the offer to use binding arbitration like police and fire unions. For our part, CPS will continue to use every tool at our disposal to reach a final deal.”
Background
· Three of the five appointees on the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board were appointed by Democratic governors.
· The next step is that the Labor Board will request that the Attorney General take the matter to court.
* Related…
* Outspoken CPS principal known as Emanuel critic ousted from Lakeview school
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* As Democrats and their allies push a “Fair Tax” plan this week, Illinois Issues takes a look back at the Con-Con as part of an interesting explainer piece about why the state has a flat income tax and not a graduated one…
During the debate over the state’s Constitution there were those who backed versions of a revenue article that did not prohibit a graduated tax. However, the issue was not the subject of strong advocacy from the groups that would seem likely supporters. “Chicago Democrats could have provided for a graduated income tax by voting as a bloc,” wrote Fishbane and Fisher. But they did not. “Permitting graduated income tax was not, however, a matter vital to organizational maintenance or enhancement.” In other words, adamant support of a graduated income tax would not have helped the Democrats politically.
Some Democratic did not want to risk backing a different and potentially unpopular tax concept. * But they also wanted to make sure enough money would be available for education and social programs as the state moved away from taxing personal property other than real estate. “Democrats in the Constitutional Convention had a vital stake in the adequacy of state government revenue. They had to ensure a reasonably flexible income tax without appearing to stand strongly in favor of it,” Fishbane and Fisher wrote.
Meanwhile, Republicans argued that voters would not accept a Constitution with a graduated tax rate. David Davis, a downstate Republican delegate, said a graduated income tax would be “absolutely repugnant” to the people in his area.
While many education and labor groups supported a graduated tax, according to Fishbane and Fisher, they did little to lobby delegates for it. “Although major elements of organized labor were opposed to adoption of the new constitution, in part on the grounds that it prohibited a graduated income tax, labor made no significant effort to influence the convention’s decision on the matter.” The 40 delegates endorsed by the AFL-CIO “split almost evenly” on the issue.
* In other constitutional amendment news, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform has looked into what could happen if a remap reform amendment clears the General Assembly and the remap reformers continue pressing on with their own proposal and then both measures wind up in front of voters this November…
If two proposals for redistricting reform end up on the ballot, this simple legislative language could clarify the process for all. It is not uncommon for two redistricting reform proposals to be on the same ballot – it happened in both California and Florida when they set out to give Independent Redistricting Commissions the responsibility of setting General Assembly districts. In California, the language below was included in both amendments. We believe that a similar provision would be very beneficial in any Illinois redistricting reform proposal.
SECTION 5. Competing, regulatory alternative.
A. In the event that another measure (“competing measure”) appears on the same ballot as this act that seeks to adopt or impose provisions or requirements that differ in any regard to, or supplement, the provisions or requirements contained in this act, the voters hereby expressly declare their intent that if both the competing measure and this act receive a majority of votes cast, and this act receives a greater number of votes than the competing measure, this act shall prevail in its entirety over the competing measure without regard to whether specific provisions of each measure directly conflict with each other.
B. In the event that both the competing measure and this act receive a majority of votes cast, and the competing measure receives a greater number of votes than this act, this act shall be deemed complementary to the competing measure. To this end, and to the maximum extent permitted by law, the provisions of this act shall be fully adopted except to the extent that specific provisions contained in each measure are deemed to be in direct conflict with each other on a “provision-by-provision” basis pursuant to Yoshisato v. Superior Court (1992) 2 Cal.4th 978.
…Adding… The criss-cross game is in full swing…
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Prince dies at 57
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is just so shocking…
The artist known as Prince has died … TMZ has learned. He was 57.
Prince’s body was discovered at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota early Thursday morning.
Multiple sources connected to the singer confirmed he had passed.
The singer — full name Prince Rogers Nelson — had a medical emergency on April 15th that forced his private jet to make an emergency landing in Illinois. But he appeared at a concert the next day to assure his fans he was okay. His people told TMZ he was battling the flu.
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New CUB Poll: 84% Oppose Exelon Nuclear Bailout
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Nearly 1,900 people responded to the recent Citizen’s Utility Board survey about Exelon’s push to bailout its nuclear plants. Here is how CUB put it:
“Exelon says keeping its nuclear plants open will fight climate change—and they need economic help. Opponents say Exelon just wants bigger profits.
Should Illinois give unprofitable nuclear plants more money if it helps fight climate change?
No: 1,583 (about 84 percent)
Yes: 298 (about 16 percent)”
—————————————————
Illinois still has no budget, the state’s finances and services are in shambles, the social safety net is being decimated but Exelon STILL wants the Legislature to pass a huge BAILOUT.
Just say no to the Exelon Bailout.
www.noexelonbailout.com
BEST Coalition is a 501C4 nonprofit group of dozens of business, consumer and government groups, as well as large and small businesses. Visit www.noexelonbailout.com.
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Change or die
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* When I went out to spring training in Arizona last month I decided to rent a car instead of relying on Uber and taxis because the ballparks are so spread out and I was staying a week. It would’ve cost a whole lot more.
But, I gotta tell you, the actual rental experience was so bad that I almost walked out of the airport. I got into Phoenix late on a Friday night. I was tired after a rough week. The line was unbelievably long. They only had a couple people working behind the counter. And instead of processing drivers through as quickly as possible, they made everybody endure a long sales pitch on everything from the type of car (I had rented the cheapest, but they were just sure I wanted a better one), to insurance (”This is a no-fault state, so your insurance probably won’t cover the rental” the agent darkly warned), to GPS, to… I can’t even remember now because I tried to block it out of my memory to avoid hurting my otherwise very enjoyable trip.
* I get that everybody has to make money and that it may be tough to convince employees to work late on a Friday night, but I kept pointing at the long and ever-growing line behind me and pleading for those other customers while I had to wait out the endless and useless corporate-mandated sales pitches.
It took over an hour to rent that car. Somebody else I ran into who arrived the same night said she had to wait three hours. I cant remember if it was the same rental company.
This wasn’t an unusual experience, either. The only time I’ve ever zoomed through an airport rental car line is when I’ve been in a small city or got lucky and beat the rush.
* Bloomberg…
Taxis aren’t the only ones that may be stressing out about Uber Technologies Inc. Transactions from the ride-hailing startup have surpassed rental cars among American professionals, according to Certify, the second-largest provider of travel and expense management software in North America.
Uber accounted for 43 percent of ground transportation transactions expensed through Certify last quarter, while rental cars had 40 percent. Ride-hailing services, with Uber at the forefront, overtook rental cars for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2015 and have since widened their lead, according to a study by Certify published on Thursday.
While an Uber or Lyft Inc. fare costs much less than the average rental car booking, the data show the changing preferences among business travelers. Rental car transactions have fallen 15 percentage points in two years. The decline isn’t quite as steep as the one experienced by taxis, which fell 23 percentage points over the same period. Taxis accounted for 14 percent of ground transportation transactions in the first quarter of 2016.
“It really comes down to convenience,” said Robert Neveu, president of Certify. “The ability to hail and pay efficiently—that convenience factor is huge, and we’re seeing it change the habits and behaviors of our users.”
Not shedding any tears.
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* Subscribers know more about what could be in this higher education funding plan if it ever sees the light of day…
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who represents Illinois State University and whose daughter is a student there, assured the crowd that conversations are taking place across aisle to come up with a solution. He encouraged them to speak with their legislators.
“We need your help,” Brady said, adding that it will ultimately take agreement from House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and Rauner to move a plan forward.
Speaking later, Brady said rank-and-file lawmakers are working on a plan that would blend Fortner’s and Mayfield’s proposals in an effort to win bipartisan support.
* It’ll actually do more than than Rep. Fortner’s bill. Community colleges were also in the mix as of late yesterday. But it ain’t soup yet.
Members made significant progress yesterday, but there’s still some resistance behind the scenes today as some members demand that Chicago State University receive its full annual appropriation - which isn’t going down well with others who have universities that are only receiving a portion of their annual funding.
* This basically empty Senate bill, which is currently in the House, might be the vehicle, as might this one, so keep an eye on them.
Using a Senate vehicle means both chambers can pass the legislation in one day. The Senate President canceled Friday’s session yesterday, but that could change depending on what happens today.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Click here for the latest numbers I could get. The last two columns contain what I believe is the current proposal along with the percentage of each institution’s “normal” approp. CSU gets the highest percentage among universities, at 40 percent. MAP grants would be funded at 43 percent. Everybody else is around 30-31 percent. But some CSU backers are still reportedly holding out for full funding.
*** UPDATE 2 *** A big meeting has wrapped up and I’m told CSU advocates emerged with full funding for the campus. “We’ll see if it holds up,” said a Black Caucus member.
Also, I’m told they’re using SB 2059 as the vehicle.
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* Common Cause Illinois…
Over the past week, two proposals have been filed in the Illinois General Assembly to reform how district maps are drawn in Illinois. Common Cause is a national leader on redistricting reform as was demonstrated by our work to pass meaningful redistricting reform in California. Common Cause Illinois believes that a mapping process can be developed that is non-partisan, effective, and supports the protection of minority voting rights.
Here in Illinois, Common Cause continues to be a supporter of the Independent Maps campaign and their attempt to place an amendment to voters on the 2016 ballot. In the same spirit, Common Cause Illinois has analyzed SJRCA0030 (Sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul) and House Bill HJRCA 58 (Sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks). A summary of our analysis is below.
Senate Bill SJRCA 30
SJRCA 30 falls far short of the democracy reform Illinois residents deserve. It does not address the primary problem with redistricting in Illinois: the conflict of interest in allowing legislators to manipulate their own districts and congressional boundaries for political advantage. This bill does not prevent partisan gerrymandering and only removes politicians from the process under extraordinary circumstances that are unlikely to ever occur. Despite the addition of some neutral standards and public hearings, politician control over the process means that standards will be interpreted for maximum self-interest and public input can be ignored without consequence. With the prospect of strong reform on the ballot this November, we are asking senators to go back to the drawing board and draft a bill that will truly give Illinois residents a voice in their own representation.
House Bill HJRCA
HJRCA 58 provides a promising path forward for ending the unfair manipulation of legislative and representative districts in Illinois. Common Cause strongly supports the bill’s creation of an independent commission tasked with drawing General Assembly districts after hearing public testimony in open meetings around the state. We are working closely with Rep. Franks to improve the criteria that will guide the drafting process, strengthen conflict of interest provisions, and ensure the greatest possible independence from political leaders, protect minority voting rights, and strengthen the ability of Illinois voters to elect candidates of their choice. We commend Rep. Franks on this effort and look forward to a continued collaboration to end political gerrymandering in Illinois.
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With friends like these…
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
[House Speaker Michael Madigan’s millionaire tax surcharge] failed 68-47, after Madigan could not gather his 71 Democratic members needed to approve the legislation. Still, the move allows his loyal Democrats to send out campaign mailers saying they supported taxing the rich. Indeed, just minutes after the vote, Madigan’s office sent out a press release declaring “Illinois residents again ignored by House Republicans.”
[CTU President Karen Lewis], after her speech, praised Madigan, saying he is “somebody that’s trying to get things done.”
“But not ideological, and not stuck in the mud,” Lewis said. “Not ideological at all.”
Madigan assumes ideological postures as events fit. So, a few years ago, he stood with Bruce Rauner and others to ram through education reforms. His campaign committee was boycotted at one point by AFSCME, the IFT (to which CTU belongs) and the IEA. And now, with union leaders lining up at his door begging for help, he’s Walter Reuther.
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A heavy lift for a questionable outcome
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Fran Spielman dumps all over the mayor’s Lucas Museum scheme…
At a time when the marathon state budget stalemate has cut off funding to vital social services, state universities and college scholarships to needy students, Emanuel wants to spend political capital, greatly diminished by his handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting video, to keep the Lucas Museum in Chicago on a lakefront site he hopes Friends of the Parks will agree not to challenge.
Specifically, the mayor wants to persuade Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Democratic legislative leaders and a General Assembly paralyzed by partisan politics to raise five tourism taxes and authorize $1.2 billion in new borrowing to expand McCormick Place. […]
While his top aides were outlining the five tax increases, Emanuel was insisting that there would be “no taxpayers’ support for this effort.”
The mayor can say that with a straight face only because the tourism taxes he wants to extend would be used to expand McCormick Place. Never mind that the expansion would not be necessary if he wasn’t planning to tear down McCormick Place East to make way for the Lucas Museum.
* Joe Cahill at Crain’s piles on…
There may be good reasons to tear down McCormick Place East, the oldest part of Chicago’s lakefront convention complex. But clearing space for “Star Wars” mogul George Lucas’s Museum of Narrative Art isn’t one of them.
Desperate to keep Lucas from taking his museum elsewhere, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is prepared to sacrifice an important economic asset without a well-developed plan to replace it. Late last week, he proposed building the museum on the lakefront site of McCormick Place East, also called Lakeside Center.
The proposal came amid strong indications that a lawsuit filed by advocacy group Friends of the Parks will delay indefinitely, if not block outright, Emanuel’s original plan to put the museum on a parking lot north of the landmark convention hall. The 71-year-old Lucas, meanwhile, apparently is growing impatient to start construction on a museum he hopes to see completed in his lifetime. Emanuel also has high hopes for the Lucas Museum. He believes it would draw throngs of visitors and generate big money for the city.
Perhaps it will. But conventions already draw millions and generate big money for the city. It’s one of our most important industries, a major source of jobs for people around the region and a wellspring of revenue for local hotels, restaurants and myriad other businesses that serve conventions and convention-goers one way or another. And Lakeside Center is an integral part of that industry.
* But one influential group has weighed in today…
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce: Lucas Museum Net Positive for Chicago
Chicago, IL - The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce continues to be a strong supporter of McCormick Place and the Lucas Museum. McCormick Place is a critical economic engine and the Lucas Museum will deliver long-term benefits for the people of Chicago.
In its first ten years, the museum is projected to create thousands of construction jobs and over 350 permanent jobs. Attracting nearing 1 million visitors to Chicago, the museum could bring $2 billion in spending and generate $120 million in new tax revenue.
Investing in a revitalized McCormick Place and Lucas Museum is a net positive for the city. We will gain a state of the art cultural attraction and an improved convention center complex to enhance the lakefront and the economic climate of Chicago.
…Adding… Oy…
Add the agency that runs McCormick Place to the list of state funding beneficiaries being held hostage by Illinois’ ongoing budget stalemate.
Buried in the details unveiled yesterday of a new proposal to replace the convention center’s east building with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art was a troubling revelation for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority: The state owes it a lot of money.
McPier, as the agency is more commonly known, gets up to $15 million each year from the state’s general revenue fund that it uses to lure major events by offering them discounted rent.
For its 2016 shows, the agency and Choose Chicago—the city tourism bureau that actually books the shows—have committed $11.2 million in such incentives. But the state, which is mired in an ongoing battle over its 2016 budget, has not appropriated that money.
…Adding More… The CFL has also weighed in…
Statement from Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez regarding Mayor Emanuel’s plan to move the Lucas Museum to the current site of McCormick Place East
The Chicago Federation of Labor supports Mayor Emanuel’s plan to demolish McCormick Place East to make room for the Lucas Museum. Bringing this museum to Chicago will have a positive economic impact on our city and, more importantly, our working families. Having this one-of-a-kind museum in Chicago will allow our convention and tourism industry to be even more competitive, bringing new business and attracting more visitors to our world class city. The biggest benefit we will see is through the creation of thousands of short-term and long-term jobs for working men and women. It is estimated that approximately 8,000 building and construction trades jobs will be created to perform this work from start to finish. But the job creation doesn’t stop there. Construction jobs typically carry a five to seven multiplier, meaning for every one construction job that is created, five to seven new jobs are created throughout the rest of the workforce. In this case, many of these jobs will fall in our convention and tourism industry, including hotels, restaurants, and airport workers, to name a few. Chicago has the most skilled workforce in the country, so this is a tremendous opportunity for us to grow our economy and create additional jobs for the hardworking men and women of the Chicago area.
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What is wrong with people?
Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One of the most disturbing things you’ll see in a while…
Surveillance video released Wednesday captures the last moments of a popular hotel cocktail server who was punched and knocked unconscious, landing in a Near North crosswalk. The video also shows more than a dozen bystanders failing to come to his aid in the nearly two minutes before a cab accidentally drove over him.
Marques Gaines, 32, died at an area hospital after the incident about 4:20 a.m. Feb. 7 outside a 7-Eleven store in the 400 block of North State Street.
Attorneys for the family released grainy footage from a Chicago police pod camera that captures Gaines falling to the ground after a heavier man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants and white sneakers apparently knocked him out with a single right-hand punch. Gaines, who had just bought chips inside the 7-Eleven, could be seen running away from his pursuer before he was struck.
Especially troubling for Gaines’ family was that bystanders didn’t help as he lay in the crosswalk. At least one person believed to be a 7-Eleven employee called 911. Others walked past him without trying to pull him out of the street or block traffic.
Within seconds of the punch, a half-dozen people gathered around Gaines, including two men who appear to have rifled through his pockets. Gaines’ family said his cellphone and debit card were stolen. After a minute, the group and his attacker left the scene and as seconds tick away, individuals and groups of people walked by Gaines without trying to pull him out of the street.
Yes, it was really late at night, so people in that area were likely intoxicated and not behaving well. And, yes that one particular block (State and Hubbard) can be a bit rough at times. And it does look like somebody tried to drag him out of the street and failed.
But, man. That video will chill you to the bone.
* Related…
* Grim milestone: More than 1,000 people shot in Chicago this year
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