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* Disability activists urge quick closing of Howe Center in Tinley Park

* Group: Deaths show Howe Center should close

* Howe Developmental Center update

Now that a new governor is in office, some advocates for the developmentally disabled hope that the closure of the William A. Howe Developmental Center in Tinley Park, a Chicago suburb, will happen as soon as possible.

Representatives from several advocacy and disability groups delivered a petition today to Gov. Pat Quinn containing 1,500 signatures and a report detailing recent incidents of abuse and death at Howe. Advocates urged his support and immediate action to close the facility.

* Daley Aide Anticipates More Layoffs

The city of Chicago has announced an additional $9 million in cuts to try and balance its budget this year.

Chicago’s finance chief Paul Volpe says the newest cuts are not personnel related. He says the city can save about $9 million by reducing some purchases and renegotiating contracts. But he says the city is more than $50 million in the hole so far this year.

* Budget Woes: Cutbacks Coming For City Workers

Budget Chief Of Staff: Shorter Work Weeks, Unpaid Holidays May Not Be Enough

* Chicago’s Jumping Jack reprieve aids politically connected security firm

When aldermen recently spared the city’s Jumping Jack program from budget cuts, they declared a great victory for children who love bouncing on the inflatable playgrounds at thousands of fair-weather events across Chicago’s neighborhoods each year.

The last-minute maneuver by a City Council afraid of a voter backlash also represented a big win for the politically connected company the city hired to run the pro- gram.

* Chicago ticket amnesty ends Saturday

* Chicago takes on BPA

* Chicago’s Recycling Bin Overfloweth

* CPS to review abuse claims

New boss Huberman wants closer look at five years of student allegations

* County budget deal: No tax hikes, borrowing

Cook County commissioners reached a tentative agreement on this year’s $3 billion budget that requires no new taxes or borrowing, commissioners said.

The savings come mainly from a 4 percent across-the-board cut in non-health-related spending and a 2 percent cut in health-related departments, said commissioners Forrest Claypool and Michael Quigley.

Board President Todd Stroger wanted to borrow money to cover a shortfall his administration most recently projected at $84 million. But opposition commissioners said that between last year’s county sales tax increase and expected money from the federal stimulus package, no borrowing was needed.

* Fingers crossed on Cook budget

* Cook County road signs raise eyebrows

* Secession vote on ballot

Three northwest suburban townships are asking residents whether they want to secede from Cook County. The referendum questions in Palatine, Barrington and Hanover Townships on the April 7 ballot won’t be binding. And even if they were, a majority of votes from all of Cook County would be needed to allow the renegade townships to form their own county or join another.

* CN, Norfolk Southern to share Midwest tracks

* Another lost fight for south burbs

* New CEO for parent of Sun-Times

* Illinois disaster planning needs to include the poor

* Callahan gets nod for statewide post

Durbin wants former 18th District candidate to lead rural development

posted by Mike Murray
Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 9:26 am

Comments

So Stroger wanted to borrow again? Didn’t he just borrow (seemingly) a few months ago? Didn’t they just raise taxes within the past couple years?

As for Secession, Who would want to join anything with Hanover Township? Seriously! Barrington is barely worth letting join.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 9:43 am
Carlos Hernandez Gomez of CLTV was on a roll last night on Chicago Tonight. he spoke of the problems at County and to whom to assign blame by saying “pick a Stroger.” he also spoke of Mayor Daley and Chicago citizens by terming them “his subjects” almost without any trace of snark. funny but also sad.

Comment by Amy Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 9:46 am
when the financial markets are at their lowest in 20 years is the time to make sure you meet your pension obligations, not default on them. Money in now will (presumably) grow and keep the fund solvent. idiots

Comment by chicago way Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 9:56 am
===Money in now will (presumably) grow and keep the fund solvent. idiots===

Like it grew yesterday?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:00 am
You missed The Iceman’s endorsement of Toni Preckwinkle (reported in the Hyde Park Herald). This may be both the first and last shoe dropping as the machine establishment abandons Todd for someone they think will look better but still do them proud.

Comment by Redbright Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:27 am
Did the Mayor and all the Aldermen take their unpaid furlough days last year?

Comment by HV in HP Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:29 am
The pension business is long view, Rich. As in the three Civil War widows who met President Clinton. Really long view.

Comment by countryboy Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:30 am
Redbright, the machine going for Toni over Todd? maybe the Iceman, but he’s just about out of the game.

Comment by Amy Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:38 am
Amy - When did Butler ever have steam? He’s been the machine’s guy from the get-go. Supporting Toni is not a brave act of a dying man; it’s the first shot across the bow by a person others aren’t likely to criticize.

Comment by Redbright Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:47 am
I thought a decision had been made to go ahead and close Howe. Apparently not.

Four years into the Democratic Blago administration, the center lost its federal certification. Patients there were actually dying prematurely, and a number of these deaths were deemed preventable.

This is costing real money. If I’m reading these articles correctly, Illinois taxpayers have to make up for $30 million in lost Medicaid funding annually plus $40 million in federal funds over an unspecified period. So, at a minimum, over two years of non-certification, we will have paid $100 million in costs we should have been able to bill to the feds. Amazing.

So we are paying an extra $100 million to maintain
a substandard facility for some of the most vulnerable of our citizens in order to save 750 AFSCME jobs and thus not jeopardize any of AFSCME’s hefty “campaign contributions” to Dem pols.

Crazy.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:56 am
if you are implying that the machine will go for Toni, i dispute that.

Comment by Amy Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 10:58 am
John Daley earlier stated he wouldn’t support Stroger’s borrowing plan even if he didn’t have a conflict of interest. He and Rich may be setting the stage for a break from the longtime, ironclad Daley-Stroger alliance. They know Stroger is toxic and if Rich stands by him enraged voters may not forgive him in 2011.

Comment by Independent Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 11:02 am
Plus, with the $100 million we could have saved (so far) at Howe if it were being run properly, we could have bought each of the 200 plus residents a nice condo and maintained it for life.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 11:21 am
We might have been able to put them in a condo, Cassandra, but who would have paid for their healthcare needs?

Not that I’m defending Howe or the ASCFME jobs, I’m just saying…

Comment by Lynn S Wednesday, Feb 11, 09 @ 11:08 pm