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Read the whole thing, but blogger Elwood Grobnik makes a lot of good points.
I’ve been by G Rod’s house twice in the last two weeks, as we’ve been spending our Sundays going to open houses in Albany Park. […]I have to admit I was a little surprised by what I found. Unfortunately, the presence of cops in unmarked cars sitting on the block sort of discouraged me from taking pictures of G Rod’s digs, so you’ll have to take my word for it the Blagojevich place on the corner of Richmond and Sunnyside is not a mansion. I mean it’s a nice place and all - sizeable for a city home, probably four bedrooms, a little bigger than its bungalow neighbors - but it’s eighty years old and looking like it needs a little work. I’m quite certain the Governor’s Mansion in springfield is a much more lavish affair.
I bring this up because this governor has taken a lot of flack for a lot of things - and he’s earned most of it. But one of the oddest things he’s taken fire for is living at home. Many downstaters - who were key to his election in 2002 - have taken affront that his family prefers to stay at their own digs in Chicago rather than move into the Governor’s mansion.
When Jerry Brown was elected governor of California, but decided not to move into the Governor’s Mansion, he was hailed as a hero and an antidote to some of the waste and bloat of the Reagan years. But G Rod, instead of turning his fairly modest middle class home into a PR coup, has flubbed the whole thing and gotten burned.
I also agree that the governor shouldn’t be forced to live in that mansion. Why should his kids be stuck in that little apartment upstairs while the tourists are roaming through the place for hours on end? Why should he pull his daughter out of school to put her in a school in the state’s “company town” where everyone knows she’s the big boss’s daughter? The mansion isn’t the White House. There’s no office there. Jim Thompson moved much of state government to Chicago decades ago.
Yet, Blagojevich still gets hammered on this issue.
UPDATE: I should make it clear that I strongly believe he ought to be in Springfield a lot more often, particularly when the legislature is in session.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 3:17 am
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Why not just make Springfield and Chicago co-capitals of Illinois, like Springfield is the legislative capital, while Chicago is the executive capital. It works for Bolivia.
Comment by Bolivar Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 4:20 am
Well , as they say it’s part of the job !! And the living quarters for the gov. & family within the mansion is quite nice !! It’s that Spfld is the place & seat of our state gov’t & the big building with the dome on top is STILL the capitol. I’m sure we’d all like to work from home …but it’s not always the case & certainly NOT when your governor. It ain’t bad “public housing” if you ask me ! They make an analogy to Thompson … at least he engaged the process & was “home” & in town when it mattered … unlike our current {not by me} guv !!!
Comment by anon in the sticks Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 5:30 am
This is issue remains one of the most overblown things Rod has to deal with. As a long time Springfield resident, I know this is “the issue” the Sangamon County GOP loves to talk about. It shows the small minded thought process of a town made up of state workers who think they have a God given right to a taxpayer funded job. It has always been known that none of the govs made the mansion their real home, including Saint Edgar who lived even further out in the sticks in Sherman. The place really is a historical site that does lend itself to a family raising young children there. But hey, don’t let things like that get in the way of good anti-Rod bash. I’m sure millions of Cook county voters care about Springfield’s hurt feelings. By the way, will JBT be running ads that say, “I won’t live in Chicago and I’ll move state jobs to Springfield from Chicago”. Can’t wait for that to run in Cook County.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 6:04 am
can someone give a cite for “it’s part of the job?” is it in the illinois constitution? or is anon in the sticks elevating an expection to a requirement?
(the state is acquiring this wonderful property in peotone that would make for a lovely new state capitol! and it’d be a *lot* closer to the demographic center of the state!)
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 6:26 am
I doubt that where the Gov lives will be a deciding factor in the general election. While it may be a big deal in the patch, most of those voters will go for Judy anyway. Good luck to Elwood finding anything affordable in Albany Park!
Comment by The original Bill Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 6:38 am
The comparison to Jerry Brown and the California Governor’s mansion isn’t quite right. When Reagan was elected governor, he and Nancy moved out of the 1903 mansion after three months, calling it a firetrap. Then Governor Reagan ordered the building of a fancy new mansion, at a cost of $1.3 million — back in 1967, when that was a lot. When Jerry Brown ran against Reagan, he swore he’d never live in the new mansion, and sold it after his election.
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 6:48 am
The issue is symbolic of the Gov’s attitude for Southern IL. He is too good for us. His kids are too good for us and his wife is too good for us. The job is in Springfield and the problem is the Job is not being done. Talk to anyone in the legislature from either side of the isle, talk to legislative research, they will tell you the process is dead. Since the governor is not in springfield participating in the legislative process we end up with half written, poorly thought out legislation because there is no process. Good news is that it makes it easier to undo once he goes to the klink.
Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 6:51 am
“I mean it’s a nice place and all - sizeable for a city home, probably four bedrooms, a little bigger than its bungalow neighbors - but it’s eighty years old and looking like it needs a little work.”
- Um, obviously the person who wrote this has no idea about Chicago real estate. A four bedroom home within the city, even at 80 years old, is worth over one million dollars. No “middle class” family could afford it. By city standards, Rod’s home is LAVISH!
Comment by CityKid Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:04 am
seems that I remember a couple years ago the gov closed an orphanage and thus displaced 100 + kids. Then came out and said he did not want to move his daughter to Springfield. All “OUR” kids are special, however what about those displaced orphans??? They are even more “Special” except to ROD!
Comment by can't imagine Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:25 am
Where the Governor decides to live IS important and it is NOT overblown when it is the taxpayer’s money that is picking up the tab for his workday commute. That is, when the governor decides to put in a days work where his job is located and that is still in Springfield.
If the governor wants to live in the Chicago burbs and commute back and forth to work then he should pick up the tab and not the state taxpayers. I don’t know of any private sector company that pays for their employees commute to their work location. To state that other governors did not make the mansion their home entirely misses the point. The other governors that were mentioned at least showed up for work, especially during the all important budget sessions, no matter where they lived.
Comment by Sound Reasoning Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:43 am
why are these good points? he simply isnt doing his job and while he living in his “modest” home in chicago he is wasting taxpayer money flying back and forth…that his when he decides to engage. cant believe you fell for this.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:45 am
I’ll admit that, although I have probably made the occasional snarky comment about Rod not living in the Mansion, it really doesn’t matter. At least, not any more than Bush staying at his ranch in Crawford. For Bush-bashers, the ranch represents the President’s disengagement from reality, and has – fairly or unfairly - become perceptual liability at times. For Rod-bashers, the Chicago bungalow represents Rod’s party’s lack of regional balance, which – fair or not – could become a liability for him in this election. But Rich is right, there are some very legitimate reasons by the Gov may choose to stay put on a permanent basis. However, it should be noted that at least Edgar, Thompson, and Ryan – who all may have kept up residence in their respective hometowns as well - made it a point to be there during session…..something that that I think Rod could and should do for both symbolic and practically reasons. And since he spent long months away from his family while he served in the GA and US House, I don’t think it’s a harsh or unreasonable request.
Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:51 am
Has the author even been in the mansion? He states that it doesn’t have an office. ???
And he certainly hasn’t been in the living quarters…
Where the Governor lives does resonate downstate and we do care.
Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:53 am
Governor Blagojevich spends as much time as Thompson or Edgar did in Springfield, probably more. His office is on the 16th floor of the Thompson Center in Chicago. That is where he goes to work. I don’t blame him for choosing what he and his wife feel is the best enviroment to bring up his family and I don’t think that the electorate will either.
Comment by The original Bill Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:59 am
Elwood had some interesting points. My own thoughts are that I don’t care whether he lives in Chicago or Hooterville, Illinois as long as he is always “on the job” and he is at work on time. If his commuting is causing the taxpayers to get shorted as to the Governor’s work performance, then I have a problem with it. Also, the cost of his commuting from Chicago to Springfield should not be passed on to the Illinois taxpayers. Let Rod drive his own personal car back and forth from Chicago to Springfield each day. It would do him some good to see what it costs the taxpayers personally to fill up at the gasoline pump. Let Rod deal with the traffic congestion on Interstate 55 each morning and each afternoon in Will County going from I-80 to Weber Road. Let him contend with the enormous truck traffic on I-55 that comes and goes each day into the country’s largest intermodal shipping yard just south of Joliet, Illinois.
One or two truck overturns on his way to work where he is forced to sit in line for an hour while they clear the wreckage from the road will make him appreciate living closer to where he works. That isn’t even mentioning the cracked windshields that he gets to replace from the rocks thrown up by this enormous truck traffic.
Welcome to the real world, Rod & Patti. Yeah Patti, I know, “Let them eat cake.”
Comment by Beowulf Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:04 am
It’s just another slap in the face to down state voters. Like others have said, he gives us the feeling he is to good to live among us “common folk”. It’s sounds more smug if he has to fly down to Springfield rather than walking to the Capital, plus the plane ride is free to him. Or, maybe he feels out of place away from the protection of his Chicago bosses.
Comment by South of I-80 Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:04 am
Another part of the issue, as grand ole partisan says, is not just the living situation…it’s the straight-up fact he is rarely in Springfield, especially when the legislature is in town. It just compounds the feelings that he is out of touch with the rest of Illinois…which I believe he is.
Comment by SalukiDog Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:06 am
- the Patriot - Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 6:51 am:
“The issue is symbolic of the Gov’s attitude for Southern IL. He is too good for us. His kids are too good for us and his wife is too good for us. ”
If you really feel that way, see a therapist. Your low self esteem is not our problem.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:10 am
I’m curious as to whether his daughter attends one of the Chicago public schools or if she is in a private academy.
Comment by Bluefish Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:17 am
As a downstater, I think the issue is way overblown. Most do not care where the Governor lives but we do care very much that he is missing in action. If the Governor would show he is a leader and that he is willing to work with the Legislature AND his state agencies you would not even hear about the mansion. However, given his unwilingness to work with and in Springfield and to not even willing step foot in his agencies all the while using both them for PR pops….well, the mansion becomes the easiest avenue to criticize. But I think it is really the lack of leadership that makes the mansion issue a convenient target……..
Comment by Larry Mullholland Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:23 am
He has a free place to stay in Springfield that is part of his work situation. Why not use it? Many families live in one location while a spouse works in another town/state. Like it or not, Springfield is the capital of the state where he choose to run for governor. The state’s business of policy, service and budget is mostly done in Springfield. Family can live anywhere, but the governor needs to spend significant time (50%+) in Springfield to do the state’s business, press the flesh, and work with the GA. Is living in Springfield mostly PR and symbolic? Sure, but it is part of the job. If I told my company I want to live 3 hours away the answer would be “Great, as long as you are here 8:00am to 5:00pm M-F.”
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:30 am
“Why should he pull his daughter out of school to put her in a school in the state’s “company town†where everyone knows she’s the big boss’s daughter?”
Yea, cause I’m sure up here in Chicago nobody knows who her Daddy is.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:43 am
Citykid should do some more research:
Albany Park real estate
Comment by City Adult Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:50 am
The reason Blagojevich chose not to live in Springfield has nothing to do with family conveniences. As with everything this guy does, he did it for political reasons.
He decided to use Springfield just as Brown used Sacramento and Walker used his Dodge. He wanted to demonstrate that he was a different governor, one that didn’t play by the old corrupt rules. Not living in the Governor’s Mansion was used as a political signal that he was indeed a uncorrupted virgin governor like Brown and Walker.
He wanted to be seen as a people’s governor. Thats what his reelection slogans mentions. Not living in the Mansion was pandering to this image. He wants to be seen as pro-family, and using family as his crutch against moving to Springfield enforces this image too.
Chicago is where the money is. Before he threw his family under the bus, he needed them. He needed Mell’s connections to start funding his reelection. It worked; he’s filthy rich and has raised over $2400 an hour while governor. Being in Chicago gives him access to all his corrupt cronies.
Not living in the Mansion fits his lifestyle. He created a posse worthy of a hip hop star and got his jet. He luxuriated in his new found fame until he was exposed with his decadent trip to the 2004 Democratic Convention. Cruising in Chicago surrounded by his “buds” in his blacked out SUV was cooler than being Flav O Flav. For a geek loser from the South Side, he loved it.
Blagojevich has proven to us all that he is willing to sell his family out for political hay. He sold out his father in law when it suited him, so he has no qualms throwing family under a bus when he wishes. His choice in demeaning Springfield was a political calculation, wrapped in the lie that he is doing it for his children.
Its also sheer arrogance. We have other public servants fighting terrorists in Iraqi summers, living seperately from loved ones because of their job requires it. But Blagojevich considers Springfield too challenging a location to do the job he actually worked hard to get elected to?
It is a big deal. Blagojevich is thumbing his nose at taxpayers, living off our largess, to accommodate his petty demands. Not living in the Governor’s Mansion was a political ruse to smear state government’s image, keep his tap into political funds, and live like royalty. What I find unbelievable is how anyone could possibly swallow the line of bull that Springfield was the corruption capital of Illinois, and not Chicago.
He has to go!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:58 am
actually, Just Observing, in Chicago the big boss doesn’t have any daughters in school. Daley’s are all grown up.
Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:58 am
CityKid, that’s a ridiculous assumption. First, I doubt if if any 4-bedroom homes like Blagojevich’s in that neighborhood are worth a million bucks. Second, even if they were, he’s had that house for a number of years.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 9:09 am
First, to “bored now” @ 6:26 am:
“Can someone give a cite for “it’s part of the job?†is it in the illinois constitution? or is anon in the sticks elevating an expection to a requirement?” Yes, bored, it IS in the Constitution: Section V, Article I of the Illinois Constitution provides: “The Executive Branch shall include a Governor * * * They shall * * * maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office.”
Do the people in Chicago care? No, not at all. Do the people in Springfield and downstate care? YES! If he hadn’t ignored downstate the past three years (the folks who carried him thru the primary in 2002), it wouldn’t be such an issue. Bottom line: he’ll lose more votes downstate on where he lives than he will gain in Chicago. If the poll #s are close as we approach November, and they are really weak downstate, I look for Rod to change his mind and move into the mansion (only to move out again after the election, even if he is reelected.)!
Yes, the REAL issue is that he’s missing in action most of the time. But REAL issues and politics are often not related (if they were, John Kerry would be President–virtually all the polls showed that more peole agreed with Kerry on the issues, but they liked W better!). To most of the downstate electorate, where he lives is more important. It will make the “missing in action” charge resonate!
Comment by IVOTE! Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 9:47 am
People who think that the Gov is “misssing in action” and other such nonsense are believing what they read in the downstate papers and on blogs. He is quite involved ,one by one, his innovative programs are getting passed.When it comes right down to it, downstaters, if they bother to vote at all, will not be a factor in the race. If your main issue is where Rod lives you probably shouldn’t vote.
Comment by The original Bill Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 10:00 am
RICH YOU MEAN LIKE RIGHT NOW!!!
Comment by JUST OBSERVING Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 11:18 am
There are so many issues that are real and important to the state and this is not one of them. Vote for or against him on how he does his job not where he lives.
Comment by The Deal Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 12:24 pm
Original Bill — Downstaters will not be a factor in this election??????????????????? I can’t believe you said that! Where would Rod be if it weren’t for downstate voters in 2002? With a spread of 2%-5% in most of the polls, a couple of downstate counties could certainly make the difference if they go heavily toward Topinka. Not “missing in action” ?? I can’t believe you said THAT either! Where is he now and where has he been the last couple of weeks when it’s time to craft a real budget? Where are the hundreds of applications for executive clemency that have been sitting on his desk for months and months? Where are hundreds of appointments to various boards and commissions he is supposed to make but hasn’t (oh, wait, he DID appoint Sister Muhammed. . .)?. Where has he been when agency after agency is audited to find phony numbers, misspent funds, improper contracting ann hiring practices, etc.? (If you don’t think he directed this stuff, you have to admit at least that as Govenror he is RESPONSIBLE for doing something about it!) Virtually anyone around or near state governemnt (even some of his cabinet officers) will tell you he (and Lon and Bradley) have little invovlement or interest in actually governing! He is the chief executive officer of this state, but has no CLUE! Not even the great Blagojevich PR machine and $15 million can spin it any other way!
Comment by IVOTE! Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 1:26 pm
The Governor decided to live in Chicago, not Springfield. It was his decision; he’ll have to deal with it if it becomes election fodder. But, let’s leave his daughter, his daughter’s school, and the rest of his personal life out of the comments. He’s the elected official, not Patti, Amy, or Annie.
If we want to bring personal lives into the election, let’s start with Judy and some of her personal issues. I think that’s fodder worth talking about, too.
Let’s have at it….
Comment by B Hicks Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 1:31 pm
Actually the ‘missing in action’ charges are correct and appropriate and they are thoroughly documented for anyone that would care to review the public record. These charges do not have to come from ‘downstate newspapers’ as the information can be obtained from the State of Illinois’ own official records.
However, those charges are getting off the discussion of the Grobnik blog article. The real point to consider is for a governor who doesn’t do anything without considering how it will contribute to his poll numbers is he so adamant about retaining this residence because it is the right thing to do for his family or is it because he thinks it contributes to his outsider image.
Comment by Sound Reasoning Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 1:50 pm
ivote…. calm down,dude. You sound like a repub representative. It will all be over soon. Another few months and we can all relax and enjoy another 4 years of the leadership of the honorable governor Rod Blagojevich. Try not to expect too much from him right now. After all, the Cubs will be home this weekend. He has to get ready.
Comment by The original Bill Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 1:50 pm
“Rich, i know youre a stones fan. Are you inserting the word “Governor” in place of the word “devil” to imply that the Governor is evil?
Comment by anon Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 3:00 pm
The original Bill — for the record, I’m not a Republcan rep. In fact, I’m a loyal democrat who is disappointed and deeply embarassed that my party got the Governor’s office for the first time in 26 years, and ended up with a BOZO like Rod Blagojevich. The only “democratic ideals” he believes in is getting reelected. He makes promises with no intent to keep them, the leaders in his own party make him sign “memoranda of understanding’ in an attempt to hold him to his promises. He is an embarassment to the party! “Leadership”?? He probably can’t even spell the word! But, to the subject of the Blog — about the only promise he has kept is to not live in Springfield! Overall, it will cost him more votes than he makes on it. Once he figures that out, he’ll be living at the mansion!
Comment by IVOTE! Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 3:21 pm
Original Bill - it’s all well and good to propose initiative after initiative, “for the kids”, cheap drugs, yadda, yadda, yadda. But just in case you can’t count (product of Chicago schools?)
THERE IS NO MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL THIS CLAPTRAP. The state of Illinois BROKE. Hell, the country is also broke and both are the biggest debtors in the western world.
Comment by Ex-Newfie Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 5:32 pm
Taxpayers also pay for the one or two state police that sit outside the house 24 hours a day in unmarked cars and the the nearby apartment rented as the base for the police. Those expenses are probably more significant that the commuting.
Comment by Ethel Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:51 pm
Elwood is trying to hide the facts.. I live a few blocks south of the Gov. and make it that way occasionally.. first of all Blago is sitting on a 500k+ house.. most of the houses over there are going for 600-800k..and even so houses over a million dollars. I think Blago is smart enough to not use the extra money he is getting from contracts to upgrade to a $1 million + house.. the average citizen does not have a house over a half million dollars so dont try to pretend that Blago is living ‘middle class’.
Comment by Tony Soprano Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:02 pm
What it all comes down to folks is a gov. that ran as a leader for all of Il. As soon as he was elected he ran back to Chicago and has stayed there for the most part. We know downstate has about as many votes as a big ward and a couple of collar counties,but we would like to feel like we have a little say in what goes on in the state. The little county I live in voted big for Rod and what has it recieved in return? A few temp.jobs and a couple of big shots got their kids jobs. No new industry,no new infrastracture.How much are they spending on the Dan Ryan? O well I guess we will stay out here in the sticks with our low crime rate and wait for Judy to save us.
Comment by NIEVA Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 8:27 pm
The original Bill wrote:
Governor Blagojevich spends as much time as Thompson or Edgar did in Springfield, probably more. His office is on the 16th floor of the Thompson Center in Chicago. That is where he
goes to work. I don’t blame him for choosing what he and his wife feel is the best enviroment to bring up his family and I don’t think that the electorate will either.
I’m not sure what you are smoking but to claim that Governor Blago spends as much or more time in Springfield as previous Governor’s is absurd. Governor Blago spends more time in Chicago on a continual campaign than governing the state. I say we give him a good reason to stay in Chicago in November . . . don’t give him the choice to live in the Mansion.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 9:45 pm
FYI -
According to public record, the house cost $505,000. That’s a pretty good price for a house in his neighborhood when they bought it. More than mine is worth. But everything in Chicago is more expensive (see Housing Bubble, e.g.).
“the average citizen does not have a house over a half million dollars so dont try to pretend that Blago is living ‘middle class’.”
Nobody pretends he is living “middle class” now. We don’t pay our Governors middle class salaries. We don’t pay our Congressmen middle class salaries. We don’t pay our State Reps middle class salaries.
He isn’t independently wealthy. He has been on the Government dole for most of his grown-up life, and has seen pay increases with position increases (sound familiar all you state workers out there?).
I can only hope to one day be able to afford a $500k house. And when I can, you can be sure as hell that I will buy it.
Do I care that the Governor doesn’t live in a museum? Not really - life goes on. Do I care that recent Governors have run the state, policy and services out of Chicago instead of Springfield? Not really - it seems more efficient to work closer to the center of gravity of the people if you truly are working for the people.
But what do I know… I live in the Chicago area. My opinion doesn’t matter on this board.
Comment by JohnR Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 11:51 pm
I remember seeing GRod outside of his house jogging during coverage of the campaign on TV. The windows of his house all needed painting. I thought it looked tacky. I mean, couldn’t he afford to paint his windows, on his then-Congressman’s salary? Too busy brushing his hair, I guess. Pathetic! It struck an image with me that stuck and fits. Rough around the edges…and flaky.
Comment by Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois Wednesday, Apr 5, 06 @ 1:06 am
Anon 3pm, that is more than just a little paranoid, isn’t it? Especially since it’s the title of the blog post I excerpted. Remove tinfoil hat, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 5, 06 @ 4:25 am