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Afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * More on this tomorrow…
* Crain’s…
Q has really come a long way. * The city is run so poorly on just about every level…
* Background is here if you need it. Rumors have been flying that Paul Vallas’ campaign owes money all over town. They just admitted it…
Vallas made sure to pay himself back the $100,000 that he loaned his campaign. The reimbursement was made on March 20, the same day he claims that Enyia submitted his first invoice. * From a popular Redditor…
Click here and here for a couple of good examples of how the paid blue checkers obsess over metrics. And here’s a taste of the type of posts which are now being promoted up by Elon Musk’s new scheme…
* Press release…
* Press release…
* This comforting sign is just around the corner from the Senate’s temporary chamber…  * Isabel’s roundup…
* News Gazette | Unit 4 board member asks: ‘Are we, Champaign, ready for me — a Black female — to be the school board president?”: “What makes me ready?” Baker asked before rattling off a lengthy list of reasons from a prepared statement, ranging from her commitment to “educational, societal and environmental justice” to to reviewing every district policy “with an equity lens” to filling in as an unpaid substitute teacher in a pinch. “I promise to be board president,” she said, “not superintendent, not mayor, not any of the other roles … and allow the board to be a voice of seven.” * The Southern | Automatic license plate readers are currently being installed in Carbondale: The purchase and installation of the readers was approved by Carbondale City Council last summer. According to documents presented to the city council, the readers will expand the police department’s investigative capabilities by providing more tools to detect vehicles that have been associated with crimes. * Sun-Times | Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s team moving quickly to find interim police superintendent: Among those likely under consideration to replace Carter — at least until Johnson chooses a permanent superintendent — are three newly departed members of the CPD’s leadership team: former 1st Deputy Supt. Anthony Riccio, former Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan and former Chief of Counterterrorism Ernest Cato. * WICS | Bill seeks to create hunger-free college campuses: The bill will give the grants to campuses that meet the requirements for addressing student hunger. This can be campuses that create hunger task forces or have different programs. * Tim Drea and Aaron Gurnsey | Death in Springfield a reminder of continued need to improve workplace safety: Gregory David Fields reported to work at Springfield’s Capital Airport on Monday, April 10, just like any other day on the job for this longtime HVAC service worker. But it was far from just any day at work. An explosion caused blunt-force injuries and cost Fields his life at the age of 55. His wife, children and grandchildren were left picking up the pieces: setting up funeral arrangements, writing his obituary, mourning his untimely passing. * Ollie Idowu | State can, should do more to invest in community health centers: This spring, we are taking action at the Illinois State Capitol. In the recent run of strong state revenues, Illinois leaders have repeatedly and generously invested in core health care services and social service programs; community health centers have been grateful to be a priority. We are now urging the Illinois Legislature to make continued investments in community health centers through two important initiatives. * Kam Buckner | It takes a village to raze a Chicago child — and a village to come together and raise the child again: Being a young person downtown or on the lake is not a crime, and we cannot treat it like it is. Chicagoans are interested in solutions, but it should first be said that when we talk about making sure that young people have things to do in their neighborhoods, it’s not because we want to keep them out of downtown. If you show me a downtown with no young people, I will show you a city that is dying. Young people on the South and West sides should have things to do in their neighborhoods because all kids and teenagers should be able to have fun close to home, no matter their ZIP code. * The Triibe | Marshall Hatch Jr. eyes Brandon Johnson’s county commissioner seat: Marshall Hatch Jr., the 35-year-old executive director of the MAAFA Redemption Project and the son of influential Pastor Marshall Hatch Sr. of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in West Garfield Park, believes he is uniquely suited for this seat. * WBEZ | A Brandon Johnson campaign consultant lost his own Chicago race by 1 vote but isn’t contesting it: Darius Newsome, who worked on Johnson’s faith-based outreach, won 2,245 votes, one fewer than Carmelita P. Earls, for the third of three seats on the Austin District council. Earls, a former Chicago Fire Department deputy district chief endorsed by unions for city cops and firefighters, will take office next Tuesday with two police reform advocates, Arewa Karen Winters and Deondre Rutues. * NYT | The College Board Will Change Its A.P. African American Studies Course: The College Board said on Monday that it would revise its Advanced Placement African American studies course, less than three months after releasing it to a barrage of criticism from scholars, who accused the board of omitting key concepts and bending to political pressure from Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had said he would not approve the curriculum for use in Florida. * Charles Burdick | Why do birds fly In V-formation?: The lead bird cuts straight through an invisible wall of air. This sets up flowing currents of air behind him, and the following birds take advantage of them. The leader’s work is hardest, and after a while he tires and hands over his pioneer work to another bird. He can then relax a little with the help of the currents and sheltering eddies which flow behind the lead bird. * Block Club | New White Sox Mascot? Meet The Stray Sox Park Cat Adopted By Team Photographer: The cat, aptly named Beef, was seen wandering the stadium and swiping snacks from fans. “You don’t expect to see a cat playing center field,” one fan said. * The Hill | They graduated during the pandemic. Now they face their first student loan payments: Graduates for the last three years all had the grace period, as the Trump and Biden administrations extended a pause on student loan payments amid the national health emergency. Now things are about to change: Payments will begin either 60 days after the Supreme Court rules on President Biden’s student debt forgiveness program or 60 days after June 30, whichever comes first.
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- Roadrager - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:41 pm:
I remember way back when pundits and surrogates were gleefully casting doubt on Brandon Johnson’s fitness for office because he had overdue utility bills on a payment plan.
- Mark - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:44 pm:
With Kim Foxx out, this leaves Brandon Johnson as the lone scapegoat for every single bad thing that happens in the city over the next four years.
- Ryan - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:51 pm:
Valid question…why does anyone still use Twitter? Seriously, why?
- B-Lou - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:58 pm:
So who has Toni annointed as Foxx replacment?
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:00 pm:
–why does anyone still use twitter? Seriously, why?–
Because if you use it for things other than “what’s popular”, it’s just fine. My feed currently has some posts about the JUICE mission to Jupiter and its moons, some research on 3D printed aerospace material breakthroughs, discussions on writing better ChatGPT prompts, and some other pretty wonky stuff.
People still can’t seem to learn and accept that social media is a MIRROR of who you are. It merely gives you more of the thing you are already interacting with. The algorithms only work if you RESPOND to them. Are you smarter than an algorithm? If you don’t like what you see, breaking the mirror is hardly the lesson to be learned.
- Hot Taeks - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:02 pm:
Good riddance to the NRA’s favourite State’s Attorney in Kim Foxx who refuses to prosecute illegal gun possession.
Alexa: Play ‘Song 2′ by Blur.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:03 pm:
As Whet Moser tweeted brilliantly about Vallas…
“@whet - maybe he (Vallas) can go on a payment plan“
Chef Kiss brilliant, and a Twitter one should be checking out (especially during these tweeter-times)
- The Truth - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:08 pm:
Not sure that I’d be putting out a press release bragging about…20% turnout…regardless of what happened in other counties.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:08 pm:
Asbestos - wonder how many signs are in the Armory / will be in the Stratton Building?
- Politix - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:14 pm:
I’m a hard left progressive and have been for 30 years. My Twitter FOR YOU section right now is posts from Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy (again), Marjorie Taylor Green and some random twitter-popular incel. I follow none of these people. Useless, toxic app.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:18 pm:
-The leader’s work is hardest, and after a while he tires and hands over his pioneer work to another bird.-
What humans could learn from birds is a lot.
- Used car salesman - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:22 pm:
Free is worth what you paid for it. If the twiterrati don’t like Twitter, they don’t have to use it.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:27 pm:
@Vallas…You know you gotta pay up even when it don’t pay off…give you a couple weeks.
- ANON - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:37 pm:
something really needs to get done about the low turnout in Municipal elections–we should combine them with even year general elections–a two-fer–fewer elections and better voter participation.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:38 pm:
Reference of the day: “owes money all over town”
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:38 pm:
==So who has Toni annointed as Foxx replacment?
==
Rumor is Risa Lanier.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:39 pm:
==With Kim Foxx out, this leaves Brandon Johnson as the lone scapegoat for every single bad thing that happens in the city over the next four years.==
She’ll have a replacement, y’know.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:40 pm:
Your mama is like Vallas’ debts.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:43 pm:
Actually it wasn’t a rumor it was “analysis” by Russ Stewart.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:47 pm:
I don’t live in Cook County so outside looking in, but Foxx not running again seems like a win for the county.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:58 pm:
List of people thinking of running for SA…. per Russ Stewart - Risa Lanier, Brendan O’Leary, Eileen O’Neill Burke. Per Mary Ann Ahern - Dan Kirk, Joe Ferguson, Richard Boykin
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:02 pm:
===per Russ Stewart ===
C’mon.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:04 pm:
I think that with Foxx’ low approval ratings you’d expect someone a lot less reform-y to replace her. But I think Johnson’s victory should give you a little pause about that.
- Chicago Voter - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:09 pm:
=List of people thinking of running for SA…. per Russ Stewart - Risa Lanier, Brendan O’Leary, Eileen O’Neill Burke. Per Mary Ann Ahern - Dan Kirk, Joe Ferguson, Richard Boykin=
Richard Boykin is the new Roland Burris.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:11 pm:
Whoever the next Cook County SA is, and I don’t care if they’re a progressive or an iron fist, they’re going to run into a lot of the same problems as long as Tim Evans is still running the show at one of the slowest court systems in the nation.
The problem ain’t one person.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:16 pm:
Russ Stewart is the “Mush” of political pundits
- Stuck in Celliniland - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:16 pm:
Despite the asbestos work in part of the Howlett, near the temporary Senate chamber, it’s still business as usual and employees still going to work there each day. No WFH as far as I know. Those employees whose workstations were displaced due to construction are in temporary quarters.
Surprised SEIU and other unions have not objected to this.
- Just Another Anon - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:17 pm:
@Chicago Voter You mean he’s the new Centralia High School High Dive Champion from 1952? I’m pretty sure Roland has that on his tombstone too.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:18 pm:
well, you could also say that Mary Ann Ahern has issues….the entire Podgorski poll thing missing $ from Vallas. whatever. names out there, passing on info.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:20 pm:
Musk is like Trump, an ultra privileged man-brat who does not abide by democracy. He said he would step down as Twitter CEO if he lost the election but doesn’t honor the results.
The more the right attacks Pritzker, the more the ILGOP remains a super minority party.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:23 pm:
==I’m pretty sure Roland has that on his tombstone too.==
I actually tried to look for Roland’s mausoleum one time when I was in Centralia last summer, then I realized it was in Chicago.
Surprised that Roland hasn’t built a second mausoleum in Centralia. Or perhaps his own version of “Looking for Lincoln” and put up “Looking for Roland” signs all over Centralia for landmarks from his youth.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:25 pm:
==it’s still business as usual and employees still going to work there each day==
As opposed to what?
==No WFH as far as I know==
I’m surprised you even come out of your house.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:29 pm:
Joe Ferguson tweeted about it. I can only think of a few less qualified candidates temperamentally.
- low level - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:29 pm:
Foxx has been a fiasco. I voted for her in 2016, not in 2020. Criminals do not fear her and the result is no deterrence. Very grateful she has decided to hang it up.
As for twitter, what do you expect? Why give the imbeciles more publicity?
- SOIL M - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:36 pm:
The lead bird cuts straight through an invisible wall of air. This sets up flowing currents of air behind him, and the following birds take advantage of them.
This is the answer to a 2 part question that I used to ask goose hunters. Most could answer this part, but some couldn’t.
The second part of the question most could not answer correctly:
Why is one side of the V longer than the other side?
- low level - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:38 pm:
==Joe Ferguson tweeted about it. I can only think of a few less qualified candidates temperamentally.==
Spot on. Ferguson is a complete joke.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:48 pm:
Not my race but I think Chicago really dodged a bullet when Vallas lost. I think it shows his character when he made sure he paid himself and stiffed others. I hope he and Pat Quinn just leave.
And not voting is a choice too. There are enough ways to vote so by not voting that is what you want
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:58 pm:
the thing to pay attention to with Foxx is the way she managed her office. it’s not the Jussie thing, it’s the management, how she treated those who worked for her, scapegoated, ignored ethics recommendations, took longer to charge high profile case than Alvarez did. Foxx is going out on a low note with a smarmy speech attacking people. don’t want to be seen as bad, stop acting like it.
- Gravitas - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:02 pm:
@Oswego Willy:
Russ Stewart’s predictions redefine “Opposite Land.” Recently, he had an incumbent alderman ticketed for defeat. A week later, his column explained how the individual was reelected.
Thankfully, he is not handicapping horses.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:17 pm:
Would love to know how deep a financial hole Vallas has dug for himself. Of course, none of that is his fault… nothing ever is.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:22 pm:
===Paul Vallas’ campaign owes money all over town===
They look at ya different when you owe money and you can’t fundraise as “Mayor-Elect”
Vendors should know better.
Cash, money up front, or certified check.
- de Gaulle - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:35 pm:
Honestly, CCSAO was probably the right job for Lightfoot all along.
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:47 pm:
I haven’t used Twitter since the Musk takeover. I missed it a bit at first, but my language skills are much better with the extra time. Also I do run a mastodon server if I get lonely.
I voted for Kim Foxx both times. I liked the fact that she did not go in for overcharging people. I will be looking for the same prosecutorial style in the next SA election.
Whoever replaces her has to deal with the same juror pool anyway. No SA wants to have cases go to court and rack up losses because the jury doesn’t trust the system or the evidence.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:51 pm:
@- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:47 pm:
===I don’t live in Cook County so outside looking in, but Foxx not running again seems like a win for the county.===
Seems like a win for collar counties as well, as criminals don’t stop at county lines. The people that opened fire inside a crowded Oak Brook shopping center spilled out from Cook County. What was the gun battle about? Someone was mad about what the other one said on social media. Insane.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:59 pm:
I remember thinking and likely posted here that I preferred Johnson as naive and inexperienced over Vallas who I felt was playing the voters through lies and misrepresentations even though he was much more experienced. It turns out the inexperienced and well intended Johnson was also the better manager, business man, and leader. How about that?
- Regular democrat - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 6:27 pm:
If u look back a few weeks Russ stewart did have the scoop that she was not running. Calling him mush is a little harsh lol
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 6:44 pm:
Russ also predicted a Vallas win. It’s hard to keep your finger on the pulse of the city when you live in Park Ridge.
- Betty Draper’s cigarette - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 6:48 pm:
=== Seems like a win for collar counties as well, as criminals don’t stop at county lines. The people that opened fire inside a crowded Oak Brook shopping center spilled out from Cook County. What was the gun battle about? Someone was mad about what the other one said on social media. Insane.===
That was Foxx’s fault? Why?
- Regular democrat - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 7:21 pm:
Every once in a while he gets a good scoop. A guy cant write about chicago politics from across the street in Park Ridge? Im
Sure you will read his column tomorrow
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 9:24 pm:
Valid question…why does anyone still use Twitter? Seriously, why?
—————————————————-
I do.
It is for me a good place for breaking news.
And for some sports news, some (some) good commentaries, and I have been able to connect with people in the media, sports, and entertainment fields.
And there are a LOT fewer local know it alls in my area on there than on my Facebook feed.
That being said it is NOT perfect.
I will never pay for a blue check.
Elon doesn’t need the money.
And they are letting more trolls and clowns back on twitter since Elon has been “running” it.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 10:43 pm:
===Quentin Fulks, a former political adviser to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, will be the principal deputy campaign manager for the president’s campaign.===
Sigh.