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* This is a classic version of the old saying that begins “One man’s pork…” The Southern Illinoisan wants the state to spend money to upgrade the Hayes House, which is known as the Southern Executive Mansion…
Unlike the Springfield mansion, the Hayes House doesn’t host any events unless Quinn is in the residence, as it does not meet the necessary requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. And the house will stay that way. “It’s going to remain a residence,” Bourland said. “For ADA, it would need an elevator, and that’s not going to happen.”
Well, we beg to differ.
The General Assembly should find the money to bring the house tastefully into ADA compliance, and it should become another focal point for Southern Illinois events and culture.
And, heck, we’d like the governor and other elected statewide officials to stop down and stay for a few days more often. Have an open house. We’d like to say hi.
Why is this such a classic? Here’s a Southern Illinoisan editorial from the end of May…
There really are only three things, and they must be done in combination, that can get Illinois out of this sucking financial black hole.
The state must first commit to launching no new projects and then making responsible cuts in spending. Then it can ask for more revenues (yes, taxes).
To pretend otherwise is nothing less than posturing for election or re-election.
So, no new projects except for what we demand.
Like I said. Classic.
* Related and a roundup…
* A tax holiday with doom and gloom
* Gov. Quinn to visit region today, receive briefing on TEC facility
* State budget isn’t all that needs fixing
* Bomke, Brauer open to giving up stipends
* Gov. Quinn slashes staff salaries, institutes furlough days
* Facing heat, Quinn cuts top staff pay
* Quinn says raises were needed to fill vacancies
* Statehouse Insider: Why didn’t Quinn just rescind those raises?
* Quinn Names Child Welfare Vet to Head up Youth Prisons
* Dept. of Juvenille Justice merging with DCFS
* Quinn signs teen ’sexting’ legislation
* Quinn signs bills on dog fighting, seniors, vets
* Veto pen wrong way to create open primary
* Our Opinion: Lawmakers should OK open primary bill
* Editorial: Open to the idea of primary change
* Autopsy reports frequent target of new open government law
* Besides dirty carp, what else can we sell to China?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 10:42 am
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Way to make journalism look credible folks. Brutal.
Comment by Ha! Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 10:51 am
well in their defense they did say no NEW projects. The mansion project is a renovation. Its semantics i know but i thought i would point it out.
Comment by Gunner the Runner Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 10:56 am
I’m a big architecture and history buff, but not every old house is worth saving, and even fewer require the state to step in to do so.
Have the locals put any skin in the game — labor, money, etc? The google doesn’t yield a whole lot of information on the Hayes House.
I remember Big Jim was the hero back in the day, getting the state to pony up for the house, the DuQoin State Fair and The Hambletonian.
By the way, I enjoy immensely my trips to Southern Illinois. It’s a beautiful part of the country.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:00 am
Classic Southern Illinoisan.
Comment by Deep South Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:12 am
chicago is the capital of the state.
repairing a building no one uses. No thanks.
Comment by shore Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:32 am
Let the House reflect Illinois.
During the Thompson years, it shown.
During the Blagojevich/Quinn years, it is neglected.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:41 am
ADA was enacted 20 years ago. Public buildings should be compliant by now. This shouldn’t be a big deal, we shouldn’t have to finagle ways to make public buildings accessible for all.
Comment by Way South of the Border Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:42 am
We don’t sell the Hayes House for what reason?
Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 12:27 pm
The Southern Illinoisan back at work again. The state should sell the DuQuoin fairgrounds.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 12:54 pm
Every time I think that our Governor can’t get more disconnected from the real world he does something that proves me wrong!
In the latest chapter of “How I stepped in it.” by Pat Quinn, he has reduced the pay raises of his top 35 yes - people from 20% to 10%; and then is asking everyone else who didn’t get pay raises or who got their last pay raise cut in half to 1% to shoulder the cost of those top staff increases by taking a bigger cut in their salary.
“Pat Quinn Everyman” the “peoples” Governor has become the Governor of the elite.
The “other guy” isn’t any better but I guess at least he is not the incumbant.
Shore@11:32 Only to people east of 355 and north of Rte 80.
Comment by Irish Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 1:07 pm
You’d think they’d know what they are writing.
Comment by Greg B. Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 1:09 pm
The Illinois foster care population has shrunk drastically since the mid-nineties, when it hit its peak at 51,000 during a major foster care panic. The current population could probably be reduced substantially if DCFS improved its permanency rates, which are still troublesome. In addition, recividism in the child maltreatment population continues to be problematic.
All this adds up to DCFS having much less to do than in the 90’s.In order to preserve the bureaucracy, a lucrative source of contracts and political patronage jobs, work must be found.
Does DCFS have the technical and professional
workforce skills necessary to improve the quality of care for youth in correctional institutions.
Historically, they haven’t. During the foster care panic of the mid-nineties, after a number of deaths and other disaster in DCFS-run shelters, DCFS got out of the direct institutional care business. Now, I guess, it’s back. Have things
improved enough at DCFS so they can take this on without compromising their already troubled child protection response and their struggling permanency effors. Probably not but I suppose we’ll have to learn that from repeat experience. Doing a worse job for more kids would not be
a positive outcome, however politically appealing the merger may appear to Quinn and Stermer who will no doubt advertise this merger in the coming campaign as a an example of their devotion to children.
Comment by cassandra Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 1:10 pm
After reding the article of the DJJ-DCFS merger I can’t help but wonder…did Quinn forget the Legislators have to vote to approve this? This is a disaster in the making. These kids have been through all the programs before they were sentenced to prison. These are not poor abused kids these are criminals. Watch the news at night and see what age is killing…robbing…raping…ect. a judge has placed them in prison to protect society NOT because they needed a counselor.
Comment by state worker Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 1:54 pm
Keep in mind that the Southern Illinoisan also wholeheartedly supported STAR BONDS for Marion too.
Comment by Ronbo Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 3:40 pm