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This just in… * Spin Sister news * Daley admits defeat * ICC approves rate hike *

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Illinois

* 1:15 pm - A Spin Sister returns to the spotlight…

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has named former Deputy Governor Sheila Nix to the Chicago Transit Authority Board.

The 46-year-old Oak Park resident left the Blagojevich administration in June, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.

Nix served as deputy governor from December 2006 to June 2008. […]

The governor appoints three of the seven Chicago Transit Board members. The appointees are subject to the approval of Mayor Daley and the State Senate.

The governor said recently he plans to shake up the CTA board.

* More on Nix’s appointment…

Nix, who left her $135,000-a-year post with the administration in June, will replace Nicholas Zagotta, who was appointed by Blagojevich in 2004 to complete a term that ended in 2007. The board consists of seven members, with three appointed by the governor, and four by the mayor.

* 1:18 pm - Mayor Daley will abandon plan to extend TIF district’s life…

Facing apparent opposition from Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Daley administration is abandoning efforts to extend the legal life of the massive Central Loop tax increment financing district, which covers a wide swath of Chicago’s commercial heart.

The decision means the district automatically will sunset on Dec. 31 — and it means that the more than $111 million it has been throwing off each year for development projects instead will return to the regular property tax pool. […]

As recently as late spring, the city was talking to legislators in Springfield about passing a bill to give the district another 12 years of life, an action that potentially could have helped the mayor raise cash needed to host the 2016 Olympics.

But, says Mr. Arnold, “the environment in Springfield is not conducive. So we made a decision to let the Central Loop TIF expire.”

Translation: Getting needed support from Mr. Blagojevich would have come with a political price tag, which Mr. Daley wasn’t willing to pay.

I’ll bet.

* 1:36 pm - Ameren customers need to brace themselves…

The Illinois Commerce Commission today approved a rate hike for most customers of the Ameren Illinois utilities by a 5-0 vote.

ICC officials were still working on the details of exactly how much the increase would be, but it is believed to be similar to a staff proposal that called for an overall $163.6 million delivery rate increase.

* AARP response…

“For older adults and working families already struggling with the soaring costs of basic necessities – this new rate increase adds on to their piling financial concerns,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director. “Ameren’s CEO makes $2 million a year. That’s not a company that is struggling and certainly they do not need to increase their rates on the backs of older residents and families.” […]

“AARP is very disappointed in the ICC’s decision to put the interests of Ameren above the needs of consumers,” added Gallo. “Once more, the ICC has ignored the people of Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:17 pm

Comments

Messing around with Daley’s plans for the Olympics has ITS political price and guv is going to pay it. “Cuckoo” is just the beginning - a mere parakeet compared to the vulture circling the guv.

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:28 pm
In this economy, Daley’s going to need that $100 million for something other than Michigan Avenue planters.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:29 pm
Did the post cost Sheila $25K.

Comment by Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:37 pm
For Daley to hand over his favorite pot of gold, the administration must truly be desperate.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:38 pm
How much transit or Board experience does Ms. Nix have? This Gov is an insult to IL. Maybe she will push to have his name on all of the buses and trains like the Tollway has done.

Comment by Anon But Sensible Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:41 pm
Bob Kerrey, Blair Hull, Rod Blagojevich….what a pedigree of losers! I’m sure she will provide an independent voice for the CTA.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:03 pm
I applaud Governor Blagojevich’s appointment of Sheila Nix to the Chicago Transit Authority. Perhaps this appointment will allow for better continuity between the Governor’s Office and the transit administration in Chicago. Constantly agitating the public about transit reductions does not benefit anyone!

Comment by Black Ivy Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:13 pm
It is so sad that we cannot even find fresh faces for these scheme…everyone was so tired of Giggles …anyone notive appointee Leonis did not get the heave ho?
Hey what happened to selling the lottery.

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:15 pm
I wonder how much taxpayer money Sheila Nix will be collecting. These appointments are a joke.

Comment by fed up Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:25 pm
Very few people understand what needs to be done at the CTA more than Ms. Nix.

The last thing this state needs is a rubber stamp over there for the status quo. Governor is showing he wants to shake things up and get people to notice this nearly-invisible board.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:26 pm
I ought to give this one a chance. It’s easy for me to impeach any move this governor makes. I don’t know a whole lot about Ms. Nix. That’s not to say of course that she won’t be worth anything on the CTA board.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:27 pm
Agree - Like Rich has said, the Governor certainly has a habit of getting people to pay attention to things they used to ignore.

Seems like he wants Sheila Nix to be a more active member than his previous picks. That’s generally a good thing.

Maybe now we will find out about all those $100 million cost overruns at block 37. Didn’t the board approve those projects before? Why don’t they make CTA Lobbyist in Chief Huberman fess up on that.

Comment by pro Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:31 pm
So did the city budget hole just get $111M smaller? If so, super. I think developers would build in the loop without the incentives, and if not, so be it.

Comment by James the Intolerant Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:55 pm
There is will be no additional $111M hole in the city budget, because TIF spending is from the Special Tax Allocation fund, off budget. Chicago has over 150 TIFs from which it collected over $500M in 2006 taxes. About half of that money came from of the CPS school levy.

When the CPS chiefs go to Springfield to ask for more state aid, they don’t have much to say about why and how Chicago sucks away $250M of their tax money with TIFs. That has to put an aircraft-carrier sized hole in CPS chiefs’ credibility.

Comment by Anon III Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:39 pm
I thought Ms. Nix was fairly competent, especially considering the overall quality of Blagojevich exec staff and high level cabinet agency appointees, which, need I add, is not inspiring.

I don’t think we need all CTA board members to be transportation experts but we need somebody who can read a budget, speak out on the waste and poor management which is epidemic in the CTA, and demand much higher quality equipment and services for CTA consumers. Ms. Nix has the qualifications to do so…we’ll have to see if she has the guts.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:48 pm
I’d like to add that I am presently in Europe and have spent quite a bit of recent time on the Paris metro and the London underground. Everything works.
Trains are frequent. Stations are clean. Employees are plesant and informative. The CTA so doesn’t come
close.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:59 pm
Anon III, I believe James was indicating (hoping?) that the funds siphoned off into the Central Loop TIF district will now be available for the city’s GRF beginning in calendar year 2009. I’m curious if Mayor Chucky will consider sunsetting some other TIF districts before the expiration date to help plug the hole, although I’m not sure if he maintains the statutory authority to do so.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:01 pm
Chalk up a win for the childern.

Chicago schools will have an large infusion of cash collected in the City of Chicago.

’bout time

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:07 pm
Doc: Only the portion that pertains to the City of Chicago property tax levy will return to the City general revenues. I don’t have that percentage.

Comment by Anon III Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:07 pm
The Central Loop TIF was enacted in the 80s when there were parts of the Loop that were blighted. The TIF was largely successful as one can see from today’s central district. Today the district meets neither of a TIF’s criteria, that an area is blighted and that development would not occur but for use of the TIF. There is no language in state law extending TIFs to Olympic bids.

It’s great news that TIF will not be extended, and I hope future TIFs are reserved for truly blighted areas and not used as discretionary honey pots.

Comment by Independent Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:08 pm
===Mayor Chucky===

Let’s not be parrots, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:16 pm
Let’s hope this leads to an extensive review of Chicago TIFs and their tax impact before Chicago officials come to state taxpayers asking for bailouts of schools, etc.
Rather than march on Winnetka, perhaps the good Rev. Sen should march on the TIFs.

Comment by Frank Booth Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:26 pm
I hate Chicago TIFs. My neighborhood is in one and our Alderman just uses it to funnel money to developers who just happen to have contributed to her campaign. I would much rather that money go to the school district and the city’s general budget then build a slum housing unit.

Comment by It's Just Me Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 9:14 pm
If I’m not mistaken, the appointment has to be ratified by the Senate and Da Mayor. I suspect she’ll serve a couple of months until both of those parties have a chance to critically evaluate the qualifications. Even if Emil is able to force a yes vote in committee and the full Senate, the Mayor won’t go along. Rod has no political chits left, I don’t care how many more months he has left in office. His term is basically done when the next Senate President is elected.

Comment by DzNts Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 10:46 pm
Sheila Nix is a-ok with me. Smart and tough. And she can walk to the El. What more do you want?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:09 pm
It doesn’t matter that he picked Nix, her own opinion is likely not going to be relevant: the point he made publicly the other day in a fit of pique is he wants all his appointees to be in lockstep with whatever Rod wants at the moment, and he thinks he somehow can build a voting majority on the CTA board. He will not even get close, the system is in Daley’s favor. Nix can cash the checks and do whatever she wants, it is not going to matter in the final tally, unless somebody can get to Da Mare’s appointees. She should actually feel a little guilty for being Rod’s enabler and leading him on that this will make a difference.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:54 pm
Nix may be Blago’s choice but she has ties to the mayors office also. The gov has to appoint somebody so Daley can’t just reject his picks out of hand. Her connections will see her through.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 12:05 am
Maybe she can clean up the corruption within CTA Management. Management positions have tripled since 2004. It is a complete joke. All management positions this year recieved a 20% raise and a $20,000 bonus immediately following the bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature that help funded the CTA and Pace. Also, many of these management positions are do nothing jobs and are being filled with new non-experienced people.

Comment by cta employee Sunday, Oct 12, 08 @ 6:49 pm