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* Gov. Rauner again bad-mouthed Chicago yesterday, bemoaning the city’s “failure of government in Chicago to reduce crime, to bring down the taxes and create more jobs.” But the Sun-Times noted this at the bottom of the story…
Despite Rauner’s claim that the city has failed to reduce crime, Chicago Police statistics in June showed the city has seen its 16th consecutive month of declining violence. The city saw 79 fewer murders and 270 fewer shootings in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, police said.
* And then there’s this…
A $169 million industrial complex is planned for the Southeast Side, according to NorthPoint Development, the Kansas City company that will build the project just north of Ford’s Torrence Avenue plant on the site of a former Republic Steel mill. […]
NorthPoint estimates the project will create more than 1,300 permanent jobs and says about 650 construction jobs will be needed for the duration of the project.
The 2.2 million-square-foot project is to include six industrial buildings, each ranging from 215,000 to 600,000 square feet, and would be the largest industrial park in Chicago, according to the mayor’s office. […]
Each of the six buildings would house one or more firms. Hagedorn said they are expecting 10 businesses to operate from the complex.
* And this…
A private equity firm plans to buy a smattering of brands, including the U.S. rights to Pillsbury baking products and the Funfetti brand, from the The J.M. Smucker Co. for $375 million, the Connecticut-based Brynwood Partners announced Monday.
To manage those brands, Brynwood intends to create a new company, Hometown Food Co., that will be headquartered in Chicago, said Henk Hartong, chairman and CEO of Brynwood Partners. The office will employ about 40 people, said Hartong, who declined to provide an exact location for the office until the lease is finalized.
“Chicago is the center of the universe for (consumer packaged goods),” Hartong said in an interview Monday. “We want to recruit the most talented management team that we can.” […]
Once final, this will be the largest deal yet for Brynwood, which is making a name for itself as a firm that acquires lagging businesses from food companies, also known as “corporate carve-outs.” [Emphasis added]
* And this…
By one count, more than 50 high-rise buildings were under construction as the year began. The pace of construction starts has slowed lately, but the booming redevelopment of downtown will be creating jobs in Chicago for years.
To civic boosters, this is good news. But for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, facing a tough re-election battle, the downtown construction boom is a political mixed bag. When construction cranes spring up like midsummer weeds in the 312 area code, a mayor with a reputation for favoring downtown at the expense of the neighborhoods will have some explaining to do. Lori Lightfoot, Paul Vallas and other mayoral contenders no doubt are laying plans to use the construction boom against the mayor. Even Emanuel’s energetic pitch for Amazon’s HQ2 and its bounty of 50,000 jobs has been criticized by opponents.
When the critique comes in, Emanuel will be ready to strike back, and one of his favorite counterpunches likely will be the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund. It’s a program that takes the downtown boom and turns it into cash for businesses on the South and West sides. Chicago’s building codes limit the density of construction projects. But under the program, developers can “purchase” the right to ignore the density caps downtown. […]
With 80 percent of the funds earmarked to those South and West Side neighborhoods, Emanuel will be able to use the program to parry thrusts from mayoral contenders claiming he has ignored the neighborhoods. He’ll also surely mention major investment in the Red Line and in CTA stations throughout those neighborhoods, while his opponents will wonder—with good reason—why he has not made more progress addressing crime or fixing the crises in Chicago Public Schools.
I’m not at all saying that everything is well in the city. At all. I’m just saying that this constant bad-mouthing is really getting old.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:01 pm
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==this constant bad-mouthing is really getting old.==
Why in the world would anyone want a man leading the state who clearly has disdain for the state? What kind of a leader engages in attacks on his own state?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:04 pm
Not much of a work force and lousy transportation options, too.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:08 pm
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us …
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:11 pm
The most likely reason crime is down is that we’ve had two really rainy months in April and May. Still, we barely understand why crime goes up or down, and to take credit for reductions (or assign blame for increases) is the height of irresponsibility.
Comment by Chris Widger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:13 pm
Rauner’s first term consisted of Rauner himself badmouthing Illinois during the entire 99th GA, in hopes to get any of his Turnaround Agenda passed. Rauner failed.
These 18 months consisted of wearing an Illini hat as a prop, using Fox News to be close to Trump, without saying the word Trump, and left-handedly say C-U needs fast rail so people can get in and out of C-U because lining there… can’t get a company with more than 6 people to make it.
What will be different in a second term?
How much more berating of this state should Illinois as an entity take?
Rauner is not a fan of Illinois, just ask him.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:13 pm
Every time he badmouths the city all I hear is that ad with people from the adjacent states thanking the Governor.
Thank you, governor you got to win Chicago to win, keep talking.
Comment by Annoyance Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:13 pm
==Rauner is not a fan of Illinois, just ask him.==
If you’re supporting Illinois, you are the problem.
Comment by Chris Widger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:14 pm
I guess Pillsbury and Funfetti will be a lot better off without them Smuckers…
Good for us.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:18 pm
Bashing Chicago is essentially a dog whistle. It plays well to the people who are likely going to vote for the Governor anyway.
Comment by thunderspirit Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:18 pm
Easy to bad mouth when you’re not in charge.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:19 pm
Smart move by uncle Bruce. Not many votes in the City of Chicago. Much better saying good things about vote rich downstate!!!! Oh wait …
Comment by Wow Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:19 pm
– “failure of government in Chicago to reduce crime, to bring down the taxes and create more jobs.”–
So who wants to pony up for the Discovery Partner Institute?
As the C-U episode revealed, he can struggle hiding his contempt for the state and its people.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:23 pm
“Rauner is not a fan of Illinois” I would say he is a fan of Illinois, but not a fan of Cook County/Chicago. He won every County in voting in the State of Illinois, accept Cook. Not sure when the last time he was even in Chicago, seems to spend time where his voter base is
Comment by Silicon Prairie Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:23 pm
Is this a Pritzker press release?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:25 pm
I’m confused.
Rauner doesn’t like the Champaign area.
He doesn’t like Chicago.
That much is clear.
Yet he apparently loves Illinois — and (apparently) wants to be governor. But I’m not clear *what* he loves about Illinois?
Quincy? Quad Cities? Carbondale? I mean, are those areas what he’s looking for?
Winnetka — I know. I got that. But where else?
Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:27 pm
So why did he clout his daughter into a *gasp* Chicago Public School if we’re so lousy?
Or did we just become that way during his term in office?
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Back in 2014, Citizen Rauner was quite vocal that it was the Illinois governor’s responsibility to reduce crime and create jobs. He said Quinn failed at it.
I wonder what made him change his mind about gubernatorial accountability, four years later?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:28 pm
===Bashing Chicago is essentially a dog whistle. It plays well to the people who are likely going to vote for the Governor anyway.===
I agree. In my neck of the woods, the people who love the Chicago bashing are going to vote for Rauner no matter what he does. Seems odd bashing a city of potential voters to please his already assured voters.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:29 pm
==Not sure when the last time he was even in Chicago, seems to spend time where his voter base is==
Dude he lives on Randolph St, literally overlooking the Bean.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:30 pm
===Winnetka — I know. I got that. But where else?===
Inverness, Kildeer, that nice part of Schaumburg, Kenilworth. That’s about it. Oh yeah, Glencoe, can’t forget that metropolis. No, not Metropolis, though.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Reduction in crime, construction and business strong, people working. As a life long down stater I have become accustomed to people constantly griping about Chicago, I always say without the city Illinois would be Arkansas.
I for one am glad to see Chicago showing signs of growth and economic strength. I am sick of Podunk states like Indiana claiming to be better than IL!
Comment by Uncle Ernie Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:43 pm
==Not sure when the last time he was even in Chicago, seems to spend time where his voter base is==
You can’t be serious. He and his top peeps all work the great majority of the time out of their Thompson Center offices.
You didn’t really believe that livin’-at-the-fairgrounds, movin’-into-the-mansion gag, did you?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:45 pm
‘Gov. Eeyore’
Nice touch!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:45 pm
–Winnetka — I know. I got that. But where else?–
Kenilworth is nice.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:48 pm
==Not many votes in the City of Chicago.==
Well, he only needs about 20% of ‘em to win.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:49 pm
=== I’m just saying that this constant bad-mouthing is really getting old.===
It’s not just that it’s old, it’s delusional. As hard as he tries not to utter the name “Donald Trump” he sure seems to parrot a lot of his style. When you don’t like the narrative, just disregard the truth and make one up!
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Chicago is so bad that Rauner owns homes there and clouts his kid into Payton prep.
Comment by Flynn's Mom Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 2:01 pm
Rauner is out and about all the time in Springfield
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 2:09 pm
Rauner is a fan of Illinois. Remember, he wore that Illinois blue and orange hat in a parade last week. There’s your prima facie evidence. /s
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 2:29 pm
–The most likely reason crime is down is that we’ve had two really rainy months in April and May.–
How’d you land there, professor?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 3:04 pm
===If you’re supporting Illinois, you are the problem.===
Rauner also is supporting the idea of Amazon coming here because Illinois is a great place.
Rauner is part of the problem there, too, LOL
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 3:08 pm
Wordslinger - seriously no transportation options or are you being sarcastic?
Comment by denisquared Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 3:56 pm
denisquared, try to keep up. It’s what BVR said about Champaign. It was snark.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 4:04 pm
Crime down. Only because they are. Tracking it differently. If they have a shooting and only the car gets hit, they classify it as a damage to vehicle. They try and link shootings together can classify it as only one. It all comes down to how they want to report it.
Comment by Bad state Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 5:21 pm
1.4% is the antithesis of Eeyore. Where Eeyore was depressed and unmotivated, 1.4% revels in the disparagement and actively damaging Illinois.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jul 10, 18 @ 7:32 pm