Simple solutions are usually neither
Thursday, May 4, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune editorial board writes about the latest impasse wrinkle of Mayor Emanuel blocking Gov. Rauner’s bid to sell the Thompson Center…
We’re left to presume that Emanuel’s remarks had more to do with his sour relationship with Rauner and “Don’t give the governor a win,” the unofficial motto of Illinois Democrats.
Rauner vetoed an Emanuel-backed, much-needed pension package in March that would have eased the city’s financial crunch, and he hasn’t stormed to rescue Chicago Public Schools from its need for pension relief.
Tit for tat. Rauner needs Emanuel to get the Thompson Center deal done; Emanuel throws up a roadblock. Politics and revenge play into what could be a partnership benefiting all taxpayers.
Here’s an idea: Get city and state lawyers in a room — or better yet, Emanuel and Rauner — and you could have a deal in an afternoon. That would be the mature solution. Instead, petulance all around.
Getting them into a room together for an afternoon would be a good idea. No doubt. People should act like grownups.
But there are far too many other issues out there to be resolved first, and neither man has direct control over all of them.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 9:40 am:
“People should act like grownups.”
That’s so last century, Rich.
– MrJM
- Juvenal - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 9:49 am:
=== Instead, petulance all around. ===
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” - Matthew 7:3
- Nickname - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 9:51 am:
Man, just sprinkle in some lawyers from the DOT and then you’d have a real party!
But seriously, how is not wanting to foot the bill for rebuilding the station petulance? If this is such a good deal for the State, it isn’t unreasonable to have them foot the bill for the externalities. If the only way to make it a good deal is to pocket the profits and make someone else pay the resulting expenses, then it really isn’t a good deal.
- Galena Guy - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 9:57 am:
I’m with Nickname on this one, but it appears that the Tribune will do and say anything to support Rauner.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 10:06 am:
The Tribune was wrong about Social Security, isolationism, Dewey/Truman in 1947, Medicare and Medicaid and it’s wrong about Rauner now.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 10:08 am:
This just in: tronclodytes down on petulant tantrums, favor mature discussions.
What an epiphany. I’m sure we’ll see this conversion reflected in all future scribbles.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 10:09 am:
If the actors in the budgetary dance can’t decide its best to get together and talk, pushing a meeting here for some resolution seems like a premature ask and priority confusion
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 10:11 am:
If the Trib ed board had got the Katrina they petulantly prayed for, that probably would have taken care of the Thompson Center.
- DuPage - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 10:28 am:
-@ Nickname - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 9:51 am:
===pocket the profits and make someone else pay the resulting expenses===
That reminds me of the Rauner nursing home deals.
Rauner said he was going to run the state the way he ran his private sector business, so this fits right in.
- Chicago Bars - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 10:32 am:
I lol’d at “Tronclodytes” Wordslinger. Thanks and cheers!
- Just Me - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 11:07 am:
This is so stupid. We have a potential win-win here and all anybody can talk about is a lose-lose.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 11:41 am:
Ever since 2015, we’ve had a governor more focused on his political enemies losing, than anyone, including his own part, winning.
Rauner mode of operation is revenge, attrition and siege. It’s anarchy, OODA-loops, and lies.
Petulance would be an improvement.
- Dick Butka - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
I don’t see why it’s so controversial that Mayor Emanuel wants to know who’s going to pay to replace or renovate the Clark/Lake CTA station.
If Rauner insists on tearin’ down the JRTC, it will inconvenience thousands of commuters every day. The least Rauner could do is make an effort to secure state or federal funds to keep the thing open. I’m not saying the city shouldn’t chip in at all, but you can’t just get rid of Clark/Lake station.
- DuPage - Thursday, May 4, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
I heard on the news the CTA paid ($$$tens of millions$$$) toward the construction of the stations under the Thompson center. Rahm wants the CTA paid back if this work will have to be re-done. At this rate, Rauner could give the building away for free and send a check for a few hundred million to pay back everyone else’s costs. Bottom line, building gone, tons of money gone, and ongoing rent on facilities to replace the office space that is now in the Thompson center.