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This just in… Daley throws down

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* 3:20 pm - Mayor Daley was asked today about the recent lack of communication between himself and Gov. Blagojevich, and countered with a long laundry list of budgetary hypocrisy from the same governor who had offered National Guard troops to quell the city’s “out of control” violence problem…

Mayor Daley ridiculed Gov. Blagojevich today for offering state troopers and National Guard equipment to combat Chicago crime the governor called “out of control” at the same time the governor is cutting the state’s law enforcement budget. […]

“The last call I got was [after] his press conference, where he said he wanted to help us in regard to law enforcement. Then, I read that he cut: $4.8 million in the Ill. Department of Corrections community-based re-entry program for ex-offenders; almost $3 million from the Ill. State Police; $100,000 out of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force; $7 million [out] of the Department of Juvenile Justice; $600,000 out of the Ill. Violence Prevention Authority and $1.2 million out of a diversion program for non-violent offenders,” Daley said.

“What help can he give me? What help is he talking about? Fine, he has a budget crisis. But, don’t make a statement and have a press conference, then try to call everybody and say, ‘Oh, we want to work with you.’ State Police have no money. They’re being cut. … This has nothing to do with politics. But, let’s get the facts straight.” […]

But, the mayor added, “He’s not pressuring me. He’s hurting people. … Everybody has a tough budget. [But], you have to set priorities. Okay, then he set his priority. But, he can’t help anyone. This whole idea of sending the State Police up here—what was it for? They were telling us their budgets were being cut.”

* The response…

The governor’s spokesman Lucio Guerrero acknowledged that the mayor’s list of law enforcement cuts was accurate. But, he insisted that there is still plenty of wiggle room in the budget to follow through on the governor’s offer to help fight crime in Chicago.

“The cuts we made were to create a balanced budget. But, it doesn’t mean we’re not able to find creative ways to help out,” Guerrero said.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:23 pm

Comments

Daley articulated his point and did so while providing actual facts to support his stance. (Insert blind squirrel/acorn adage here)

If this doesn’t send a message to Blago that he really should keep his mouth shut and get out of the way, nothing will.

Comment by The Doc Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:31 pm
I like that Lucio uses “we” a lot, I get the feeling he is spinning his own “inner-circleness” with the same breath that he is putting words in the Governor’s mouth. Pre-emptive resuscitation

Comment by Captain Flume Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:33 pm
==insisted that there is still plenty of wiggle room in the budget to follow through on the governor’s offer to help fight crime in Chicago==

Sure, there’s plenty of useless programs we can cut to help Chicago….such as…..?

Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:35 pm
am I the only I we who thought of this line from Full Metal Jacket when it comes to the mayor helping the governor on the capital plan

“sir does this mean Ann Margret isn’t coming?”

Comment by oneman Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:43 pm
So the Gov cuts programs which help to reduce violence from criminals being reintorduced back into society; reduces the support for law enforcement units that would be responding to violent crimes; then promises to find wiggles in the budget to fix the crim problem he just created,

In short, he is willing to come up with a way to close the barn door after he has set the horses free…. perhaps he should have found this wiggle room to avoid cutting these programs and help keep the violence down from the beggining

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:57 pm
Democrats have made this State a bigger mess than under George Ryan.

Comment by Lee Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 3:57 pm
Ryan was a good governor just a bad crook. Blago is just bad at both.

Comment by Leave a light on George Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 4:03 pm
for all those who keep saying it’s Madigan versus the world…it now appears like it’s Madigan and Daley in one corner vs Blago and the republicans. As Rich has pointed out, as long as Daley sticks with Madigan, forgetaboutit.

Comment by Thanks for taking my call Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 4:05 pm
Uh Oh ! Looks like guv has stepped on his testicular virility. Not a smart move to mess with Daley &/or Madagin, but then guv isn’t thought to be smart.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 4:26 pm
I suppose the governor’s logic is that if you have less state law enforcement personnel then there is a substantially smaller need for programs to deal with criminal recidivism, juvenile offenders, corrections or substance abuse due to the smaller level of enforcementat the state level. Therefore he now has “wiggle room” in the budget for state law enforcement assistance for Chcago at the city level. PRICELESS!

Comment by curious george Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 4:46 pm
There the mayor goes, confusing the situation with facts. Oneman….thanks for the start of a great weekend with the Ann Margaret comment. Classic and spot on!

Comment by Justice Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 4:57 pm
The fact that Daley feels a need to say this publically about the Governor of Illinois bodes ill for the rest of us.

I sure wish the Illinois GOP was alive to see this.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 5:02 pm
===I sure wish the Illinois GOP was alive to see this. ===

Priceless.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 5:03 pm
He’s gonna send Da Mare some free “Reform and Renewal” banners, since they aren’t getting the use they once did with Rod.

Comment by Gregor Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 5:08 pm
Where is the federal prosecutor–how much longer can IL stand this man’s “leadership”?

If you recall, I posted that da Mare was not going to appreciate this right after yet another episode of Rod’s diarrhea of the mouth…

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 5:18 pm
I wonder why Daley is surprised. After all, this buffoon is a product of the Chicago Machine and they probably would have put him up for the presidential run if he hadn’t fallen apart as governor. Lucky thing for Obama.

Comment by Disgusted Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 5:42 pm
for all those who keep saying it’s Madigan versus the world…it now appears like it’s Madigan and Daley in one corner vs Blago and the republicans. As Rich has pointed out, as long as Daley sticks with Madigan, forgetaboutit.
I wouldnt put the repubs with blago but thats a nice way for the Dems to try and spin the mess they made of the state. Its blago and Jones vs Madigan and Daley the GOP has no dog in the fight and isnt even relavant.

Comment by fed up Saturday, Aug 2, 08 @ 12:19 pm