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Money for nothing

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* Apparently, new hiring practices ain’t cheap…

The Daley administration has awarded more than $153 million in contracts over the past two months for testing, recruiting and hiring city employees.

* And this appears to be throwing good money after bad…

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger already spends more than $1 million a year on public relations, but that apparently isn’t enough.

Stroger is set to bring on a p.r. consultant, records show, to help improve his image and that of the hospital system he runs.

But one critic wonders why Stroger needs outside consultants, as he’s got 15 employees on his p.r. staff now, and an independent board will take over hospital operations in just a few weeks. […]

“The need for yet another p.r. consultant or staffer for President Stroger is ridiculous,” Stewart said.

* Considering all the bad press he gets, he truly does need a different PR strategy. But that will only work if the consultant can convince Stroger to shut his mouth. And going to meetings like this will certainly test his limits…

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger will meet with secession-minded Palatine folks at the end of the month.

Stroger agreed to come to Palatine for a meeting at 7 p.m. April 30 at Harper College’s Wojcik Conference Center to answer questions about the 1 percentage-point sales tax increase approved Feb. 29.

Palatine officials responded to the tax increase by exploring ways to sever ties with the county.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 8:57 am

Comments

“But that will only work if the consultant can convince Stroger to shut his mouth.”

Spot on ! Like they say, you can lead a horse to water….

Comment by PR or No PR... Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 9:31 am
I always though that on the stump Stroger was terrible but when he gives a calm sit down interview I would say he’s better.

Comment by Levois Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 10:00 am
Todd is the best thing Daley has going for him.

From Shakman to Sorich to consultants, the city’s hiring practices are a scandal measured in the tens of millions of dollars.

Todd hires a couple of buddies and a consultant.

Who’s going to get more grief?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 10:06 am
Rich,

More and more, Cook County resembles a failed state, i.e. cronyism plus economic collapse.

– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 10:09 am
$153 Million outside of his own Human Resources people!!!!

My, that would have bought a who lot of wrought iron fences!!!

Smoldering Pork, Batman, we are in the wrong business.

Yes, Robin, but we had to funnel so much of that into the Mayor’s campaign funds.

Comment by Truthful James Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 11:19 am
Can we secede from Chicago too?

Comment by Chicago Guy Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 11:52 am
Cook County is really nothing more than a tax vacuum to suck outside tax dollars into Chicago.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 12:55 pm
If Palatine figures out how to secede from Cook County, or even plausibly threaten to do so unless changes are made in County government, they should
be able to make tons of money consulting with the many other Cook suburbs who would love to do the same thing.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Apr 7, 08 @ 1:01 pm