The same “blind spot” that triggered Gov. Bruce Rauner’s timid response to a racist cartoon prompted his veto of a bill rewriting a school funding formula that “punishes” poor and minority students, Mayor Rahm Emanuel charged Wednesday. […]
“Everybody that looks at that cartoon can see that cartoon for what it says. And that same blind spot led a governor to a veto of an education bill that doubled-down on the failure of the most inequitable funding of education. It’s wrong and it’s time the Legislature override the governor,” the mayor said Wednesday. […]
Emanuel made those remarks after joining forces with mayors from Democratic suburbs to turn up the heat on the General Assembly to override the governor’s veto of a school funding reform bill that the governor has condemned as a “Chicago bailout.”
Robert J. Nunamaker, mayor of Fox River Grove, was asked why he was supporting a bill that would give $300 million to the Chicago Public Schools.
“We’re smart enough to know that Chicago is the economic driver of northern Illinois and, if Chicago is sick, we all catch cold someplace along the way. And Chicago is not gonna be great without good education. You have to see through that,” Nunamaker said.
* Not everyone sees the cartoon as racist, however…
==“We’re smart enough to know that Chicago is the economic driver of northern Illinois==
While Chicago is indeed the economic driver, CPS graduates are not driving. How many downtown doctors, lawyers, IT professionals were educated in CPS vs suburban school districts? Chicago’s been outsourcing the education of their talent pool for decades now.
==And Chicago is not gonna be great without good education.==
NY and LA seem to be doing just fine with not-so-great school systems.
The Mayor is merely completing the obvious political impact between the Governor’s self-inflicted fiasco regarding schools and the obvious political impact of a cartoon image that cannot be unseen from the Governor’s BTIA.
- Franklin Delano Bluth - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
I am trying really hard to think of someone who worships the sound of their own voice more than Maze Jackson.
Genuinely believe he is the worst human being in Illinois politics.
Don’t write off Illinois’ children graduating from CPS and then expect to be considered credible on this issue. That’s not being politically correct, it is recognition that one cannot broadly stereotype a hundred thousands of people as permanently hobbled.
That kind of mentality is what’s hobbling our children.
I think Rauner should have signed SB1 and been done with it, but it annoys me when CPS or Rahm cry that the only reason people are being mean to Chicago because s because they are racist. As if Chicago/CPS has never been handed a sweet deal, and never mishandled finances. Chicago muddied the water themselves, usually purposefully so. None of that is the fault of the kids, and they shouldn’t be penalized, but crocodile tears annoy me.
===Genuinely believe he is the worst human being in Illinois politics.===
That’s…absurd. Yep, can’t think of anyone worse in all of Illinois politics. You’re riding a very thin line. The attempt to discredit maze and charles after they had the guts to call out what they saw as an echo chamber is disheartening, as is your comment.
Maze - whatever. His job was to be controversial and boost morning ratings, which he is doing.
But Charles is lending his credibility to this now? He knows how TIF works and that it doesn’t take a penny from cps kids or impact the levy. Maybe city hall can send him a list of the cps projects funded by tif.
Yeah it’s a fun program to beat up on morning radio - but you would think someone with Charles background would know better.
This is really rich coming from a guy who spent 5 million of taxpayer money to bury a story which would have tanked his reelection. Rahm- you are simply an awful person who doesn’t deserve to be calling other people out when you yourself are unethical in every way
The naval gazing over that ridiculous political cartoon has reached peak cray-cray. Historically, political cartoons by their nature are meant to dig, annoy, and offend. Books have been written about them. History students have learned to better understand both the good and ugly of past societies from them. But until very recently no one has tried to silence them or censor them or expect anyone and everyone to opine on them publicly. They’re cartoons for heaven sake. Don’t like the perceived message of a cartoon then come up with a counter cartoon to refute the “message”.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
Responsa-you are right on target. This was my comment last week. Political cartoons offend because they tell the truth. If there wasn’t truth in it no one would be fighting so hard to condemn it.
–But until very recently no one has tried to silence them or censor them or expect anyone and everyone to opine on them publicly. –
That’s ludicrous, professor. History shows just the opposite.
You can start your research with the Adams/Jefferson race of 1800. Strong, at times violent, reactions to controversial political cartoons has been the rule, not the exception, throughout American history.
And you might want to look up the word “censor,” too, before you try using it again.
- Michael Westen - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:51 pm:
Maze made a lot of money off the Governor and his peeps during the Dunkin campaign. Don’t expect Maze to do anything to interrupt the gravy train.
==Don’t write off Illinois’ children graduating from CPS and then expect to be considered credible on this issue.==
At $17,000/student (per the numbers from yesterday’s post), I’d hardly say any CPS student has been written off.
- Veil of Ignorance - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
The Mayor never misses an opportunity to try improving his well-earned, damaged relationship with communities of color…while taking zero political risk on the issue. How’s that federal court consent decree coming along Mr. Mayor?
Here is the problem for Rauner, the fact that he has to point to Black folks who say it was not racist means its creating trouble. What racial controversy are any of his Democratic challengers dealing with. . .NONE!
I believe it to be racist, but this is subjective and the bigger problem for Rauner is that discussion is even taking place and has lasted over a week.
OMG…two Black conservatives…and that is what they are….have their opinion. That somehow absolves those who see it differently? This sounds like, well Charles says it isn’t so it isn’t. Try this…put three cartoons all next to each other and see if you see a theme from this cartoonist. The panhandling black kid, the black legislator who is tatooing the tax increase on a poor white voter and the black panther cartoon. Real easy to see a theme with this guy and the IPI. And these aren’t the only ones. He uses race to stir the pot a lot. So pardon me but I could care less what two black folks on the radio say. Especially those two. If you listen to their show they sound just like Omarossa. You know Omarossa…the Black lady who proves Trump isn’t racist. /s LOL!
Gee ThunderFred, does that mean that all a racist has to do to get a pass on his racism is to find one black guy to say that the racist isn’t racist? Nice system.
===But Charles is lending his credibility to this now? He knows how TIF works and that it doesn’t take a penny from cps kids or impact the levy. Maybe city hall can send him a list of the cps projects funded by tif.
He knows how it works which is why he can make the comment. TIF withholds money from CPS students. The LaSalle/Central TIF brought in $40 million in 2016. CPS’ share of that would have been $21 million but they get $0. That’s absolutely taking money from CPS students.
And as for CPS projects…buildings are nice, but that means little. The money isn’t going to the classroom where it needs to go.
It’s great that the TIF district is doing so well, but it’s at the expense of non-TIF districts which grow no more rapidly, and perhaps more slowly, than similar municipalities that do not use TIF.
Or how about the simple fact that LaSalle/Central was founded in 2006? Are you going to try and claim that the Loop was blighted at that time? Of course not. But they get around that because of “excessive vacancies” or “overcrowding of structures.”
Maybe someone should ask Rahm to respond to this afternoons jury verdict against the City of Chicago for $146 million arising out of an Ohare injury. I am sure Rahm can just write a check.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 6:06 pm:
People: “That cartoon is racist”
Maze Jackson, Charles Thomas, other African Americans: The cartoon isn’t racist, it just describes what is happening.
People:…That’s just their opinion.
The fact that Charles Thomas is so fired up about this should tell you something
- Chris Widger - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
To repeat a comment: Rauner can learn from Rahm, the master of pretending he hasn’t seen recorded evidence of racism against black youths.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
==“We’re smart enough to know that Chicago is the economic driver of northern Illinois==
While Chicago is indeed the economic driver, CPS graduates are not driving. How many downtown doctors, lawyers, IT professionals were educated in CPS vs suburban school districts? Chicago’s been outsourcing the education of their talent pool for decades now.
==And Chicago is not gonna be great without good education.==
NY and LA seem to be doing just fine with not-so-great school systems.
- Kudos - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
Wow, props to Charles Thomas.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
The Mayor is merely completing the obvious political impact between the Governor’s self-inflicted fiasco regarding schools and the obvious political impact of a cartoon image that cannot be unseen from the Governor’s BTIA.
- Franklin Delano Bluth - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
I am trying really hard to think of someone who worships the sound of their own voice more than Maze Jackson.
Genuinely believe he is the worst human being in Illinois politics.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
Don’t write off Illinois’ children graduating from CPS and then expect to be considered credible on this issue. That’s not being politically correct, it is recognition that one cannot broadly stereotype a hundred thousands of people as permanently hobbled.
That kind of mentality is what’s hobbling our children.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:03 pm:
I think Rauner should have signed SB1 and been done with it, but it annoys me when CPS or Rahm cry that the only reason people are being mean to Chicago because s because they are racist. As if Chicago/CPS has never been handed a sweet deal, and never mishandled finances. Chicago muddied the water themselves, usually purposefully so. None of that is the fault of the kids, and they shouldn’t be penalized, but crocodile tears annoy me.
- Kudos - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
===Genuinely believe he is the worst human being in Illinois politics.===
That’s…absurd. Yep, can’t think of anyone worse in all of Illinois politics. You’re riding a very thin line. The attempt to discredit maze and charles after they had the guts to call out what they saw as an echo chamber is disheartening, as is your comment.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
–NY and LA seem to be doing just fine with not-so-great school systems.–
I have no idea what sort of bong-hit point you’re trying to make there, but public education is a core organizing purpose of the state.
ARTICLE X, SECTION 1. GOAL - FREE SCHOOLS
A fundamental goal of the People of the State is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities.
The State shall provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services.
Education in public schools through the secondary level shall be free. There may be such other free education as the
General Assembly provides by law.
The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education.
- Slats G - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
Maze - whatever. His job was to be controversial and boost morning ratings, which he is doing.
But Charles is lending his credibility to this now? He knows how TIF works and that it doesn’t take a penny from cps kids or impact the levy. Maybe city hall can send him a list of the cps projects funded by tif.
Yeah it’s a fun program to beat up on morning radio - but you would think someone with Charles background would know better.
- CrazyHorse - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
Powerful stuff from Charles Thomas.
- RIJ - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:14 pm:
Whew - I thought my White Guilt was out of order because I saw the satire message of Illinois reality in that cartoon. I’ve been so confused.
As Haymitch told Katniss, “Don’t forget who the real enemy is.”
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:23 pm:
This is really rich coming from a guy who spent 5 million of taxpayer money to bury a story which would have tanked his reelection. Rahm- you are simply an awful person who doesn’t deserve to be calling other people out when you yourself are unethical in every way
- Responsa - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
The naval gazing over that ridiculous political cartoon has reached peak cray-cray. Historically, political cartoons by their nature are meant to dig, annoy, and offend. Books have been written about them. History students have learned to better understand both the good and ugly of past societies from them. But until very recently no one has tried to silence them or censor them or expect anyone and everyone to opine on them publicly. They’re cartoons for heaven sake. Don’t like the perceived message of a cartoon then come up with a counter cartoon to refute the “message”.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
Responsa-you are right on target. This was my comment last week. Political cartoons offend because they tell the truth. If there wasn’t truth in it no one would be fighting so hard to condemn it.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
I thought Maze lined up with Rauner, especially when Ken Dunkin made his play for Rauner’s support.
As such, “Maze defends Rauner group” doesn’t come as much of a shock.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
–But until very recently no one has tried to silence them or censor them or expect anyone and everyone to opine on them publicly. –
That’s ludicrous, professor. History shows just the opposite.
You can start your research with the Adams/Jefferson race of 1800. Strong, at times violent, reactions to controversial political cartoons has been the rule, not the exception, throughout American history.
And you might want to look up the word “censor,” too, before you try using it again.
- Michael Westen - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:51 pm:
Maze made a lot of money off the Governor and his peeps during the Dunkin campaign. Don’t expect Maze to do anything to interrupt the gravy train.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
==- Responsa - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:30 pm:==
TV shows have been made out of tweets, so what?
TMZ and Bossip have tv shows, so what?
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
==Don’t write off Illinois’ children graduating from CPS and then expect to be considered credible on this issue.==
At $17,000/student (per the numbers from yesterday’s post), I’d hardly say any CPS student has been written off.
- Veil of Ignorance - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
The Mayor never misses an opportunity to try improving his well-earned, damaged relationship with communities of color…while taking zero political risk on the issue. How’s that federal court consent decree coming along Mr. Mayor?
- ThunderFred - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:13 pm:
Trigger Warning: Watching Charles Thomas’ comments on this topic will damage the smug satisfaction of those participating in the echo chamber.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
–Trigger Warning: Watching Charles Thomas’ comments on this topic will damage the smug satisfaction of those participating in the echo chamber.–
Why’s that? Is there some inherent reason you can’t disagree with Charles on this issue?
- allknowingmasterofraccoondom - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
these guys hit the nail on the head. The cartoon was not racist.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Cannot blame Rahm. It is gonna be Six Degrees of IPI until the governor denounces the cartoon.
Same thing happened with Obama and Rev. Wright back in 2008.
Can anyone recall the last good press day that Rauner had?
- wndycty - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:34 pm:
Here is the problem for Rauner, the fact that he has to point to Black folks who say it was not racist means its creating trouble. What racial controversy are any of his Democratic challengers dealing with. . .NONE!
I believe it to be racist, but this is subjective and the bigger problem for Rauner is that discussion is even taking place and has lasted over a week.
- Sideline Watcher - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:41 pm:
OMG…two Black conservatives…and that is what they are….have their opinion. That somehow absolves those who see it differently? This sounds like, well Charles says it isn’t so it isn’t. Try this…put three cartoons all next to each other and see if you see a theme from this cartoonist. The panhandling black kid, the black legislator who is tatooing the tax increase on a poor white voter and the black panther cartoon. Real easy to see a theme with this guy and the IPI. And these aren’t the only ones. He uses race to stir the pot a lot. So pardon me but I could care less what two black folks on the radio say. Especially those two. If you listen to their show they sound just like Omarossa. You know Omarossa…the Black lady who proves Trump isn’t racist. /s LOL!
- TominChicago - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:41 pm:
Gee ThunderFred, does that mean that all a racist has to do to get a pass on his racism is to find one black guy to say that the racist isn’t racist? Nice system.
- MacombMike - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:54 pm:
===But Charles is lending his credibility to this now? He knows how TIF works and that it doesn’t take a penny from cps kids or impact the levy. Maybe city hall can send him a list of the cps projects funded by tif.
He knows how it works which is why he can make the comment. TIF withholds money from CPS students. The LaSalle/Central TIF brought in $40 million in 2016. CPS’ share of that would have been $21 million but they get $0. That’s absolutely taking money from CPS students.
And as for CPS projects…buildings are nice, but that means little. The money isn’t going to the classroom where it needs to go.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:59 pm:
===money isn’t going to the classroom===
Can’t have a classroom without a building.
- MacombMike - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 5:09 pm:
===Can’t have a classroom without a building.
I never pegged you for a TIF defender, Rich, but I guess you still have a few surprises up your sleeve.
Perhaps you’d like to tell the kids that their actual education means little…that their physical school is more important.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 5:09 pm:
===The LaSalle/Central TIF brought in $40 million in 2016===
And that’s way more than it brought in a few years ago. So, apparently, it’s working http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/tsd/DocumentLibrary/ChicagoTIFSummary2013.pdf
- MacombMike - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 5:23 pm:
Perhaps you should do a little reading. Rich.
http://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/articles/tax-increment-financing
It’s great that the TIF district is doing so well, but it’s at the expense of non-TIF districts which grow no more rapidly, and perhaps more slowly, than similar municipalities that do not use TIF.
Or how about the simple fact that LaSalle/Central was founded in 2006? Are you going to try and claim that the Loop was blighted at that time? Of course not. But they get around that because of “excessive vacancies” or “overcrowding of structures.”
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 5:36 pm:
Maybe someone should ask Rahm to respond to this afternoons jury verdict against the City of Chicago for $146 million arising out of an Ohare injury. I am sure Rahm can just write a check.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 6:06 pm:
People: “That cartoon is racist”
Maze Jackson, Charles Thomas, other African Americans: The cartoon isn’t racist, it just describes what is happening.
People:…That’s just their opinion.
The fact that Charles Thomas is so fired up about this should tell you something
- A Jack - Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 6:53 pm:
I wonder how Maze Jackson would feel if he was depicted with exaggerated features and his hand out begging for money from Rauner.
The problem is where do you draw the line?