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Symbolism rampant in Thompson Center sale

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Illinois

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Last week, Governor Bruce Rauner said that he had spoken with both Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan about his proposed sale of the state’s Thompson Center building in Chicago, and that both men were “forward leaning and positive” about the plan.

So I checked in with the legislative leaders, and that’s not exactly what I heard.

“The governor and President Cullerton spoke,” said the Senate President’s spokesperson Rikeesha Phelon. Okay, so far so good. At least these weren’t “phantom” phone conversations like the ones Governor-elect Rauner claimed he had with those two on election night last November, but didn’t.

“We will take a look at the specifics of the plan in light of state statutes regarding property control and facility closures,” Phelon continued.

Um, wait. That doesn’t sound all too “forward leaning and positive.” I asked Phelon: Is Cullerton positive about this at all?

“I would say the word is ‘open,’ but under review,” she replied.

Speaker Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown said afterward that he’d allow Phelon’s comments to stand for his guy.

So what’s going on? I’m not totally sure, but the governor now has yet another new “ask” for the Democratic leaders, and as we’ve seen during this excruciatingly long state-government impasse, they’re not in much of a giving mood – and he isn’t either.

The Thompson Center has become a symbol for much that has gone wrong with this state. The skyscraper was a grandiose design with numerous flaws. Its construction heralded the beginning of the move of much of the state’s governmental business from Springfield to Chicago.

Despite its architect’s claim last week that it was designed to represent the “openness and transparency” of state government, it was harshly criticized from the start for including a “private elevator” for the governor’s personal use. Like seemingly everything else in this state, the building was then allowed to deteriorate over the years. It’s infested with cockroaches and had to be sprayed for bed bugs not long ago.

Architecture often involves clashes over ideals, and this proposed Thompson Center sale feels like one more attempt at a dramatic break with the past.

The building’s legendary namesake, 14-year Governor James R. Thompson, actively sought organized labor’s political support – including from the state government union AFSCME – and was the most memorable purveyor of this state’s “Republicrat” politics that our current anti-union governor is now attempting to demolish along with his building.

It’s also fitting that Rauner’s move would get caught up in the current gridlock.

Check out the joint statement released last week by the House and Senate Republican leaders regarding the proposed sale.

“We filed House Bill 4313 and Senate Bill 2187 at the request of Governor Rauner. The James R. Thompson Center is in complete disarray due to years of neglect by previous administrations and better utilizing this asset would benefit Illinois taxpayers tremendously. It has become a white elephant for the State of Illinois. This legislation will enable us to review all of our options to maximize the overall value of the property and secure the greatest savings for taxpayers.”

Notice anything missing? How about a pledge to work cooperatively with others in the General Assembly to achieve the governor’s goal?

For their part, the Democrats are reluctant partly because they see this as a media-motivated sideshow – a way for the governor to show he’s making progress when the government is in reality mired in stagnation.

However, the Democrats have produced more than their share of sideshows this year, with the endless committees of the whole and the staged votes on bills designed to go nowhere.

Governor Rauner also stopped in Quincy last week and claimed he was “negotiating” with the Speaker and the Senate president and making some progress on ending the months-long stalemate.

But I’m told he met personally with the Senate President a couple of weeks earlier and it apparently went nowhere. The governor reportedly brushed off legal questions about the Thompson Center sale during a subsequent phone call with Cullerton as a pesky matter for the lawyers to figure out. Then, of course, Rauner had two bills introduced without asking for assistance.

Governor Thompson had his faults, and he didn’t always get his way. But he never would’ve let a political stalemate hurt this state like we’re seeing now.

I never much cared for the Thompson Center, but in my mind it’s become a sad, dilapidated symbol of a government that, like the man the building was named after, used to work.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:05 am

Comments

Every interaction between Madigan, Cullerton and Gov Rauner never seems described the same from both sides. Does Rauner misread politeness for agreement? Or does he non-accurately describe the interaction as he did election night? Or can these same two questions be asked of the other two people? I cannot see a way forward until all 3 people can describe a meeting the same way.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:16 am
Or maybe they have courteous and pleasant conversations, and one side sees no objections as being positive, while the other sees them as being non-committal. And then there is the natural disinclination of spokespersons to project firm stances unless instructed.

Really cannot tell much of anything from this.

Comment by walker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:31 am
Tne govenor’s continued claims of ongoing negotiations and progress are kind of creepy.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:34 am
The Thompson Center has a unique design and not much else in its favor.

And there is ==rampant symbolism== at the moment.

Very well said, Rich.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:36 am
Rauner has done this repeatedly.

He has a binary mind. You either are a friend or an enemy. There is no in-between. There is no middle ground with Bruce Rauner.

In politics, everything is in-between. Everything is in fluid. Government is an open system. Brilliant politicians know when to ask for an in-betweener’s support on an issue. In politics, all options are open and temporary. That is how governments work.

But Rauner, as Former Governor Edgar affirmed last week, has no government experience.

Are we detecting a problem in how a guy like Rauner could think in-betweeners support him? Yes, it seems that Rauner doesn’t understand this.

As a campaigner, Rauner was vague. He didn’t tell us about his binary, black or white world. He didn’t tell us that as governor, he would force Illinois into a partisan nightmare. You cannot be a governor crafting a bipartisan compromise if you see things as Rauner apparently does.

So - it seems that you are either a friend of Bruce Rauner, or you are an enemy. He will either shower you with $2000 a pop for your campaign, or shower everyone with television ads filled with untruths about you. He doesn’t seem to know any other way.

That makes Bruce Rauner a big problem for all of us. He can’t be a governor for all Illinoisans, because if you tell him “no”, you fall into his “enemy” column and slated for political and personal destruction.

No wonder ILGOP has been behaving frightened and walking around on eggs after Rauner bought the nomination. As in-betweeners, they are waiting to see if Rauner succeeds.

He isn’t!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:40 am
The Thompson Center has grown on me over the years. When I’m there, talking to govt employees, or workers downstairs, or visitors, I feel like we are all “one of the people” under a wild shared dome. You can see people walking on all levels from all levels, and spot people many floors away. It’s a cool place and we shouldn’t take it for granted.

Comment by State worker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:42 am
As you say, this proposal - complete with the press sideshow - is a distraction.

Sad. There’s so much an outsider business Governor could do to make State government more efficient and save taxpayers money. The Illinois Purchasing Code comes to mind, along with CMS and CDB. But selling off an asset is all the dream team can come up with.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:43 am
So here’s something relatively simple that actually has some public and Democratic support, and the superstars still can’t coordinate with the House and Senate Dems?

Still not seeing the genius of this Goldberg clown.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 10:57 am
“Well, when my people called their people, someone answered the phone and that WAS a conversation and because it was polite, it qualifies as ‘forward leaning and positive.’l

Comment by Union GOP'er Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:09 am
==In politics, everything is in-between. Everything is in fluid. Government is an open system.==

VMan: Don’t always agree with your specifics, but your insights are always worthwhile to ponder.

Comment by walker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:15 am
Perhaps some kind of trade. Sale of the Thompson center for help with Chicago’s pension problem. It would be a win for both sides.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:28 am
So is the Picasso statue included in the sale?

Comment by illini Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:45 am
Could it be Rauner did not actually make the phone call himself? Therefore, he does not know first hand what Cullerton or Madigan actually said. This could be how there are two points of view on what was said.

Comment by Mama Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:46 am
Not the all seeing eye so maybe it was missed,
but has anyone picked up the phone and asked
Governor Thompson why he thought a new building
was needed and just how scattered were the state’s offices in Chicago? Speaking of offices
how about one that most of us never visit,
The Illinois Film Office. We have one of the
best theatre markets, one of the largest concentration
of college students, and we draw back thousands
of recent graduates all just as a side effect of
their efforts in the Thompson Center.

Comment by Illinoisvoter Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:56 am
The Governor needs a new Translation app. on his smartphone when he texts Madigan and Cullerton. They seem to be speaking different languages.

Comment by Tommydanger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:08 pm
“So is the Picasso statue included in the sale?”

The sculpture in front of the Thompson Center is “Monument with Standing Beast” is by Jean Dubuffet.

The Picasso (untitled) is in front of the Richard J. Daley Center.

And the red steel sculpture the Kluczynski Federal Building plaza is Alexander Calder’s sculpture “Flamingo”.

And yes, they all “look like something my grandkid could do.”

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:11 pm
I gladly stand corrected. OK, I live in Southern Illinois - give me a little credit for remembering the sculptures - definitely had my facts wrong. Thanks for the info,

Comment by illini Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:17 pm
The sculpture could probably be moved to millennium park. It would fit in nicely with the rest of the interesting art in that park.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:18 pm
I can recall when the (now-named) Thompson center first opened. The hype was that all State agencies that couldn’t fit in the (now named) Bilandic Center would be consolidated under one roof, and the old building sold.

That never happened. Instead some significant cash at a later date was poured into the Bilandic Building.

Is it true that Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton’s offices were moved to the Bilandic Building a few years back?

As a regular visitor of the Thompson Center, I will not miss it should the wrecking ball find its way over there.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:19 pm
Additional symbols of failure: lottery ads all over the TV, but we can’t pay prices over $600; pole banners in downtown Springfield touting the state museum. And the governor has the nerve to say we may have a budget in 60 to 90 days. This from the guy who succeeds at everything he does.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:21 pm
Rauner : Governing :: Thompson Center : Office buildings

Comment by aunt_petunia Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:22 pm
But if it gets sold, we can’t tell any more jokes about governors who live in glass skyscrapers.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:37 pm
Sell a building, get a one-time influx of cash, and then rent space instead, costing more in the longrun. He really is shaking up Springfield.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Just a couple of observations. It has been many years since I was in the Thompson Center. Illinois tends to build things, but not maintain them very well. When was this building ever modernized or rehabilitated? From what I have read and heard, the state would be lucky to get a portion of what they have in the property from its sale. Other than state offices and a little retail, what other use can be made of it?

Comment by Old Sarge Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:44 pm
I think even Helmut Jahn would concede this was not one of his better projects. It was ill conceived and suffered from temperature control issues from the day it opened. Good riddance!

Comment by DuPage Don Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:56 pm
“When was this building ever modernized or rehabilitated?”

They emptied the buckets after it stopped raining.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Robert The Bruce + 1

Comment by MurMan Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:09 pm
The sale of the run down filthy Thompson Center should be discussed after we have a State budget…Bruce needs his press pops and has to talk about something I guess…

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:18 pm
I watched the Thompson Center being built.

I felt at the start, there was too much wasted space and the state did not or should have needed it. Also it never looked particularly efficient to me.

Not with the state finances literally all in default, the building needing massive amounts of deferred maintenance, the thought of selling it seems like an avenue that should reviewed quickly.

Hard to imagine that the best use is demo it and start over with private group running and taking the risk.

Maybe some of the Trump people might take a shot?

Comment by Cannon649 Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:21 pm
Sell it.

Comment by Tone Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:28 pm
Decatur’s already lappin’ it up. The Decatur paper loves them some Bruce.
http://herald-review.com/news/opinion/editorial/state-should-sell-the-thompson-center/article_84469d6e-a333-58aa-9baa-46dc9a1855f9.html

Comment by C IL Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:30 pm
maybe he could sell it to one of his compadres and rent it back…

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Robert the Bruce, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Sure the cost will be higher leasing in the long run but then state workers will be more productive in non-dilapidated buildings.

Or the state can pay the massive cost to renovate when the state is broke.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:57 pm
Thompson no angel he approved auto dealers close on Sundays
Thompson stuffed his own pocket with a State pension of over $150,000 each year

Comment by better days Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:40 pm
The Thompson Center stands for and because of everything that is wrong with Illinois. It is a symbol of the clout, cronyism and corruption that have dominated Illinois politics since anyone alive can remember. Not only did ex-gov. Thompson get the final approval of the design of this engineering and architectural monstrosity but, despite the standing dictate that no government building shall be named for a living person, he managed to get the eyesore named after himself. I hope his over-sized ego crumbles along with the walls of his monument to himself. He must be a pretty good lawyer, though. Otherwise, he would’ve been serving time with Ryan and Blagoyovich. I wonder if the Center could be converted into a minimum-security prison for all of Illinois’ criminal politicians. Now, THAT would be symbolism.

Comment by Tar'n'feathers Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:50 pm
“Look, a kitty!”

The fate of the Thompson Center is irrelevant to the massive damage that is being done to the state right now in service of one hostage-taker’s personal vendetta.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:55 pm
Wordslinger, that building is symbolic of how bad state government has been run. This was all occurring pre-Rauner. It’s just that Rauner wants to disassemble the Thompson Center. Which, in a way, is also symbolic.

Now competent leadership could very well sell the building off, but they’d also have an alternative of a better state building, or a privately owned building the state leased for that matter, in its place.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:17 pm
– Maybe the Trump people will take a shot.–

It’s a failed office building. How would Donald Trump change that? Turn off Fox and save what’s left of your brain.

The loonies who think it’s the next casino are just that, too.

That would take legislation not only authorizing a Chicago casino, but legislation requiring it in that failed office building in tnat location.

And investors who would wish to risk their money in a failed office building at that location as a casino.

coo-coo

It’s a tear-down. You’ll get one-time money for the land.

Small potatoes, given the current crisis.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:20 pm
SIH, symbolism is swell if you’re Fellini.

Rauner, for just FY16 alone, has willfully created some real major problems that didn’t exist a year ago in pursuit of a reactionary and unobtainable political agenda.

Right now, he’s looking like the symbol of a reckless, disengaged dilettante. And that sort of thing can stick.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:33 pm
“I think even Helmut Jahn would concede this was not one of his better projects.”

Have you seen the eyesore that Jahn designed for Shure Electronics in suburban Niles? Birds are routinely killed when they fly into the huge glass wall that is attached to the South end of the building for no apparent reason.

Comment by After Further Review Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:51 pm
- Wordslinger - Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:55 pm:

“Look, a kitty!”

The fate of the Thompson Center is irrelevant to the massive damage that is being done to the state right now in service of one hostage-taker’s personal vendetta.
===============================================

Now,wordslinger,you have it all wrong.
Rauner is the hostage.Just ask him,he will tell you so.
That being said,your description is right.

Comment by btowntruth Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 5:32 pm
word, I need stronger glasses. I thought you wrote “Cellini.”

That would be some symbolism right there. Say what you want about Bill, but his buildings have stood the test of time much better than the JRTC.

And Louis, I know you’re obligated to shill for the boss, but there’s no vast conspiracy behind why the Bilandic building was kept/renovated after the JRTC was finished. First, the judicial branch flat refused to move. Secondly, the JRTC took so long to finish that the State had several hundred more Chicago employees in 1984-5 than it did in 1980, when original space plans were done. In 1985, the State had the 300,000 sf Bilandic plus over 2 million square feet of leased space in Chicago-think all of that was gonna fit in the 925,000 sf SOIC? I don’t think so.

I am not happy with Rauner for pulling this diversionary stunt but the building wouldn’t be a wreck if the Blago/Quinn “administration” had put ten cents into maintenance.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 6:41 pm
AA, that’s pretty good, with the Fellini/Cellini.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 6:55 pm
Illinois’ credit rating status being just above junk bond status is a perfect metaphor for those of us who live in Madiganstan:
Junky school funding ststem✔️
Junky political parties✔️
Junky judicial appointment process✔️
Junky district map drawing procedure✔️
Junky outlook for solution to budget impasse✔️

Comment by DuPage Don Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:47 pm
Wordslinger - what part of “demo it” do you not understand?

I never stated or implied that Trump would build a casino there. He could build his own office building or use it for a reality show backdrop.

The building was never a good idea from several perspectives and it has progressively declined over the years. Now it is more than likely a drain of the state.

Cheap shots add nothing.

Comment by Cannon649 Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 3:24 pm