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* More on this tomorrow…


Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx says she will not run for re-election. We sat down with her for an in-depth exclusive interview @chicagotribune https://t.co/XnAsDIdi5v

— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) April 25, 2023

* Crain’s

President Joe Biden strengthened his Illinois connections as he formally launched his 2024 re-election bid with a three-minute video early today.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is one of his campaign co-chairs, while Quentin Fulks, a former political adviser to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, will be the principal deputy campaign manager for the president’s campaign. […]

Fulks will be deputy to Julie Chávez Rodríguez, who will be campaign manager after serving in Biden’s White House as senior adviser to the president and director of the office of intergovernmental affairs.

Q has really come a long way.

* The city is run so poorly on just about every level

The 14th District police station is one of several in the city where asylum seekers could be seen camping out Monday evening as Chicago-area shelters reach capacity. […]

A Venezuelan mother who spoke to WGN, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Anngimar, said she has been taken back and forth between the 8th and 14th District police stations with her two daughters. […]

Anngimar said they’re waiting to be transferred to a shelter, but in the meantime, those they contacted over the City’s 311 helpline instructed them to stay at the police station to avoid missing pickup or transfer.

* Background is here if you need it. Rumors have been flying that Paul Vallas’ campaign owes money all over town. They just admitted it…


In a new motion filed yesterday in Vallas' lawsuit against a campaign consultant, we learn that Vallas—who repeatedly touted his decades of budgetary expertise—needs the money back because other campaign checks are now bouncing. pic.twitter.com/2bhSubUjdD

— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) April 25, 2023

Vallas reported that he had $1.7 million cash on hand as of March 31, four days before the election. And he's reported receipts of at least another $1.3 million since then.

According the lawsuit, only the final $200k wire xfer to Enyia was executed after March 31.

— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) April 25, 2023

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

There are really two main issues that make the new Twitter verification system a complete nightmare.

The first is the userbase. Very few normal users are willing to pay for a free social media site. Moreover, the main “selling point” of the service is to boost post visibility. The service inherently appeals only to people who both a) care extremely deeply about their posts being seen, and b) make posts that inherently are unappealing to other Twitter users (since people with appealing/interesting/funny/not-weird posts would be able to naturally grow an audience on the platform if they want to). So pretty much every single blue check is a hyper-online weirdo who is deeply bad at posting, despite being obsessed with twitter metrics.

The second is that verified replies get promoted to the top of every post. You have to scroll through all the blue check replies to get to even the most popular non-blue check replies. This is true even for blue check replies that have zero engagement, are completely off-topic, or are just straight up spam or scams.

As a result, if you’re looking for relevant discussion on a popular tweet, you have to first scroll past the thoughts of some of the most terminally online, inherently unlikeable people on the planet. So normal users are constantly exposed to the most off-putting segments of the userbase.

It’s like if Reddit incentivized every antisocial weirdo to post as much as possible to get their money’s worth, and then forced every user to sort by controversial. It’s a horrible structure that makes the product practically unusable for non-weirdos. Which is just how Elon likes it I guess.

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…


Fat

— John G 🐰 (@realgunsmok) April 8, 2023

What are your public worker pension obligations, tubby?

— Steve Smith (@SteveSm50389024) April 25, 2023

* Press release…

County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek announces DuPage had the highest regional voter turnout in the 2023 Consolidated Election compared with suburban Cook, Lake, Will, Kane and McHenry counties. DuPage County had 20.33% voter turnout, nearly three points above the next-highest county.

“A top priority of mine has been to increase voter turnout. In order to achieve that, voter access must be optimized. I wanted citizens to be tripping over voting opportunities,” Kaczmarek says. “The combination of actively promoting mail voting, doubling early voting locations, and DuPage being the only Illinois county to offer “Vote Anywhere” on Election Day made a difference.”

Today DuPage County sent certified results to the Illinois State Board of Elections that 124,033 ballots were cast from 610,092 registered voters – 40,842 mail, 21,890 early voting, and 61,301 Election Day ballots. DuPage beat its own recent consolidated election turnout high of 18.93% in 2013.

“A number of factors influence voter turnout including heated races and referendums with aggressive campaigning. Like DuPage, every county has their own races and campaigns driving turnout,” Kaczmarek says. “I believe advancing voter access deserves credit for DuPage’s turnout being comparatively high.”

“Of course, with DuPage being the leader, there’s plenty of room for turnout growth. Ultimately it is the responsibility of citizens to participate in democracy. I vow to continue helping citizens to not take their precious right to vote for granted,” Kaczmarek adds.

* Press release…

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today announced the grand opening of the Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP) designed to assist low-income and very low-income homeowners with health, safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency repairs to their homes. HRAP will provide $15.3 million to preserve existing affordable housing stock, provide investment in underserved communities, improve the health and well-being of occupants, and help people with disabilities stay in their homes and communities. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $45,000 to cover necessary repairs through a five-year, forgivable loan. […]

HRAP will be administered locally through 36 local government and nonprofit organizations with experience operating and administering homeowner rehabilitation assistance programs. To be eligible, homeowners must be at-or-below 80 percent of the Area Median Income based on household size, current on their mortgage payments, and the property must be single-family.

* This comforting sign is just around the corner from the Senate’s temporary chamber…

* Isabel’s roundup…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:30 pm

Comments

  1. 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.

    Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:41 pm

  2. 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.

    Comment by Mark Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:44 pm

  3. Valid question…why does anyone still use Twitter? Seriously, why?

    Comment by Ryan Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:51 pm

  4. So who has Toni annointed as Foxx replacment?

    Comment by B-Lou Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 1:58 pm

  5. –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.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:00 pm

  6. 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.

    Comment by Hot Taeks Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:02 pm

  7. 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)

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:03 pm

  8. Not sure that I’d be putting out a press release bragging about…20% turnout…regardless of what happened in other counties.

    Comment by The Truth Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:08 pm

  9. Asbestos - wonder how many signs are in the Armory / will be in the Stratton Building?

    Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:08 pm

  10. 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.

    Comment by Politix Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:14 pm

  11. -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.

    Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:18 pm

  12. Free is worth what you paid for it. If the twiterrati don’t like Twitter, they don’t have to use it.

    Comment by Used car salesman Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:22 pm

  13. @Vallas…You know you gotta pay up even when it don’t pay off…give you a couple weeks.

    Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:27 pm

  14. 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.

    Comment by ANON Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:37 pm

  15. Reference of the day: “owes money all over town”

    Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:38 pm

  16. ==So who has Toni annointed as Foxx replacment?
    ==

    Rumor is Risa Lanier.

    Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:38 pm

  17. ==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.

    Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:39 pm

  18. Your mama is like Vallas’ debts.

    Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:40 pm

  19. Actually it wasn’t a rumor it was “analysis” by Russ Stewart.

    Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:43 pm

  20. I don’t live in Cook County so outside looking in, but Foxx not running again seems like a win for the county.

    Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:47 pm

  21. 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

    Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 2:58 pm

  22. ===per Russ Stewart ===

    C’mon.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:02 pm

  23. 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.

    Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:04 pm

  24. =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.

    Comment by Chicago Voter Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:09 pm

  25. 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.

    Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:11 pm

  26. Russ Stewart is the “Mush” of political pundits

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:16 pm

  27. 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.

    Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:16 pm

  28. @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.

    Comment by Just Another Anon Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:17 pm

  29. 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.

    Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:18 pm

  30. 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.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:20 pm

  31. ==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.

    Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:23 pm

  32. ==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.

    Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:25 pm

  33. Joe Ferguson tweeted about it. I can only think of a few less qualified candidates temperamentally.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:29 pm

  34. 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?

    Comment by low level Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:29 pm

  35. 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?

    Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:36 pm

  36. ==Joe Ferguson tweeted about it. I can only think of a few less qualified candidates temperamentally.==

    Spot on. Ferguson is a complete joke.

    Comment by low level Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:38 pm

  37. 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

    Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:48 pm

  38. 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.

    Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 3:58 pm

  39. @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.

    Comment by Gravitas Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:02 pm

  40. 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.

    Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:17 pm

  41. ===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.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:22 pm

  42. Honestly, CCSAO was probably the right job for Lightfoot all along.

    Comment by de Gaulle Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:35 pm

  43. 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.

    Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:47 pm

  44. @- 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.

    Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:51 pm

  45. 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?

    Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 4:59 pm

  46. 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

    Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 6:27 pm

  47. 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.

    Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 6:44 pm

  48. === 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?

    Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 6:48 pm

  49. 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

    Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 7:21 pm

  50. 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.

    Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 9:24 pm

  51. ===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.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Apr 25, 23 @ 10:43 pm

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