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* Tom Dart: Vigilante or Hero?

Why one Chicago sheriff is defying the courts and refusing to perform evictions.

* Foreclosure court can buy you some time

* Chicago Unemployment Rate Jumps to 8.2 Percent

* Illinois Poverty News Weekly

* Chicago hospital rethinks criticized program

University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer says the school’s medical center is rethinking an existing program that redirects patients to other nearby hospitals and clinics on Chicago’s South Side.

* MGM Mirage Facing Breakup

* States Seek Best Strategies on Obtaining Broadband Stimulus Funds Close-to-Home

* Following Stimulus Cash Not So Easy

* Recession ‘probably’ will end in ‘09: Fed chief

* Downturn may increase child abuse: top cops

* Road salt prices: No price-fix, attorney general says

No price-fixing or other illegal conduct by road salt suppliers was found.

“What we have learned is that procedural improvements to the procurement process are absolutely necessary,” Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan said.

Madigan recommended that the Illinois Department of Central Management Services work more closely with municipalities to lock in competitive road salt prices.

* Madigan urges better way to buy road salt

In early February, Madigan urged the management agency to work closely with municipal officials in crafting new procurement procedures and to consider some improvements. Among the recommendations Madigan’s office specifically urged the department to make were:

* Capitol Ideas

States Oversee Spending of Stimulus Funds; State Finances During the Great Depression; NCSL Project to Reduce Health Disparities in States; States Start Own Economic Stimulus Plans; and State Unemployment Rates Continue to Rise

* Pontiac prison news is welcome; study is needed

* Willis should have asked us about Sears

* Daley, Jackson rail against gun violence after 28th CPS death this school year

* Cops arrest 41, seize 18 guns

Chicago Police announced Sunday an effort between gang enforcement and gang investigation units on the South Side resulted in 41 arrests and the seizure of narcotics, 18 firearms and $75,000 in cash.

* New Olympic slogan: ‘Let Friendship Shine’

* Critics target reuse of building site soil

Chicago environmental activists urge delay of proposed law change

* Schock pushes for Republican revival

* Schock featured on Today Show

* DuPage election commission to comply with transparency rules

* What’s your Facebook status? After changes, some of us don’t know anymore

* 340,000 enjoy Irish Parade

posted by Mike Murray
Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 8:43 am

Comments

The Bernanke interview was refreshing.

Very good p.r. for himself, and I think helpful in inspiring confidence.

After the Master of the Universe Greenspan, it’s good to see a Fed Chair come down from Mt. Olympus and talk straight. His anger over AIG seemed sincere and his explanation as to why it was still necessary to bail those cheap hustlers out was simple and reasonable.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 8:59 am
What sorta odds do I get if I bet against Bernanke the recession will end in ‘09?

I’m not a financial expert, but even I know they “wise men/masters of the universe” haven’t figured what to do with the toxic assets.

I’m not a financial genius, but I don’t see people or institutions worth $100 million or more buying “assets” where it’s not clear what the value of the underlying “assets” are.

Banks were allowed to write fraudulent loans. Everybody knows this. They wrote loans against properties that had little or no value, because their were no consequences for the bankers writing the fraudulent loans. They got paid the same on a $100,000 loan whether the underlying assets were worth $100K or more or if the assets were worth nothing.

Until the toxic assets are sorted out, good loans from fraudulent loans, the only institutions that are big enough suckers to buy the toxic assets are the big governments of the world.

Bernanke and the other “wise men” (like Obama’s guy Geithner) want to pretend the toxic assets are merely suffering from a depressed real estate market. If the economy bounces back there’s no more toxic asset problem.

If that’s true, the fraudulent loans are an insignificant part of the toxic assets, why is everyone involved so reluctant to audit the value of the assets?

The charitable answer is that the assets valued at the depressed price level would reveal the banks are insolvent. (Think about that, the best case scenario is that the major banks are insolvent.)

The more pessimistic case is that an audit of the toxic assets will reveal that the banks own enough bad paper that no realistic bounce in the real estate market will make them solvent.

And why should the bankers want to face reality? Their getting paid multi-million dollar bonuses for avoiding the problem. Isn’t our version of capitalism grand?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 9:13 am
Dart is going out of his way to “make news” in non-traditional ways for a sheriff. First, refusing to do evictions. Then, suing Craigslist (isn’t it usually the State’s Attorney that sues people)? So - QOTD - what office is Dart running for?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 9:23 am
some viewers of sun am tv told me that he’s running for sheriff again. i’ve heard county bd. pres. i’ve also heard ag. bet he’s just happy anyone is talking about him.

Comment by Amy Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 9:40 am
Saw that Dart interview on ABC7 Sunday morn. I thought he gave the stardard “keeping my options open” answer to the question about his future.

What is he doing? I’m not sure — and I don’t think he is either. Every Dem politician in the state is basically in a holding pattern waiting to see what Lisa does (and to a lesser extent, what Bill Daley does.) I have a feeling there is going to be less movement than most people think.

I do think Dart is one of a few people I can see as a future mayor. But I don’t think Richie’s going any where for a while.

Comment by Sam E. Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 10:07 am
Tom Dart is trying to be fair to people who have been paying their rent, but by no fault (and unknowingly) are evicted due to the complete fault of the landlord, and it comes as a complete surprise, unlike an individual homeowner who knows they have not been paying their mortgage and have recieved notices from their lender. It must be sad to kick people out who have paid their rent on time each and every month, and the eviction due to the landlord is a complete surprise. These people should of had some type of notice so at least they could do some sort of planning to move, or at least not pay the last months rent they could use to hold another apartment (deposit).

Comment by Third Generation Chicago Native Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 10:14 am
Dart is interested in “anything” that will move him up the chain of public office holders.

This guy is a real “showboat”.

Comment by MOON Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 10:15 am
MOON, you think every Dem who doesn’t kiss the Speaker’s behind and ask for permission to run is a showboat. Dart is a dedicated public servant who would be an excellent candidate for higher public office including AG or Governor. He works hard, does what he thinks is right regardless of who it offends,and is honest.

Comment by Bill Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 10:29 am
I agree with Bill.
Tom Dart was elected to operate the Office as he sees fit. If he makes news doing it, so be it. He has chosen to take this route regarding foreclosures, as he can. I agree with Mr. Dart! You do not casually throw families out of their homes! I am pleased that he ensures that every opportunity to prevent this action is considered. I would not want him doing otherwise. So, he ends up looking like a hero to some - big deal. It is wrong to assume he is doing this merely for political reasons anymore it is to assume that other public officials focus solely on politics while performing their jobs. Dart should be given the same deference.

Bernake may be right - but even if the Great Recession ends, it doesn’t mean an economic renaissance will occur. We have borrowed too much money and spent too much money just to have the recession end as it had in 1982, or 1958. We have blown Trillions we didn’t have. This will hurt us in the long run.

I expect a very very slow recovery.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 10:49 am
The choice between Ben Bernanke’s opinion of the state of the country’s economy and Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney’s is stark. As the repubs slide further toward the dark side, they seem well on their way toward making the national GOP a reflection of the IL repubs.

It appears to be a primer of what to say if you don’t want to be a viable party. Anybody have any thoughts on what to call the new party after the GOP Whigs out?

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 10:55 am
PJW, Dixiecans (excluding Virginia).

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 11:11 am
BILL
I have know Dart personally and politically for the past 15 years. Based on first hand knowledge I think without a doubt he is a “showboat”. I do not know what the Speaker thinks of Dart nor do I care! This is my opinion, like it or lump it!

VM

Dart was not “elected to operate the Office as he sees fit”. He was elected to carry out the constitutional requirements prescribed for that office. Also, note that after getting all that publicity he has now backed off his stance on the matter!

I also understand the pain that these poor people feel under the circumstances resulting from foreclosure. If there are injustices then it should be addressed through new laws,not ignoring existing laws!

Comment by MOON Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 11:18 am
If we get the Olympics and the slogan is “Let Friendship Shine,” I’m assuming that a reconstituted “Up With People” will play a major role in the Opening Ceremonies. The Brady Kids and Partridge Family, too.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 16, 09 @ 1:24 pm