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* Right to Know Act too late for Crestwood

* Crestwood digs for tainted soil begin Monday; new law aims to inform residents faster

* BP faces new heat from feds over plant

BP is facing new questions about its Whiting refinery from federal environmental regulators, who accused the company Thursday of starting a project to process heavy Canadian oil three years before it obtained the necessary permit.

* Belvidere trio, GM sales sustain big drops

* Hartmarx gets backing

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Bruce W. Black is expected to sign an order signifying Emerisque as the so-called stalking horse bidder — but Hartmarx is still subject to an auction that could break up the company or lead to liquidation.

Hart Schaffner workers, several of whom sat in on the court hearing, have vowed a sit-down strike if Wells Fargo tried to force the company’s liquidation, especially since Wells Fargo took $25 billion in bailout funds.

* AP: tech coming to stop “wholesale theft” on ‘Net

It looks like the Associated Press is getting pretty close to deploying that ‘anti-misappropriation’ technology the news agency has been talking about. Ars got an AP editor to give us some details.

* Mayer Brown associates take big pay cuts to work for clients

* Central Illinois Airports Receiving Grant Money

* East Peoria borrows from TIF to fix roads

* Arts Council cut likely sign of things to come

As Rockford faces pay reductions and hiring freezes, organizations that receive city funding are going to make sacrifices as well, said Ald. Joe Sosnowski, R-1.

Last week, the Rockford City Council slashed one-third of what it gives to the Rockford Area Arts Council, giving the group only $50,000. Sosnowski said he is looking at similar cuts of 30 percent as “the standard for a variety of things we fund.”

“We can’t trim back city payroll, institute hiring freezes and trim employees while at the same time funding organizations at 100 percent,” Sosnowski said.

* Village disbands police department

In a 5-1 vote late Monday, the Roanoke Village Board decided it was not economically feasible for the village to run its own department.

According to Trustee Jerry Hasler, the police department cost the village $150,000 a year. By contracting with the Sheriff’s Department, Hasler said there would be a $54,000 savings to the village.

The central Illinois community has a population of about 2,000.

* Oswego seeks ways to tighten village belt

* Unit 5 union turns down tentative agreement on 3-year contract

* Roosevelt to open pharmacy school in Schaumburg

* Chicago’s handgun ban stands

“It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel and social economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country,” Easterbrook wrote, quoting the late Justice Louis Brandeis.

Easterbrook and the two other judges on the panel that ruled Tuesday are Republican appointees who might be presumed among the most likely to throw out the handgun ban.

But Easterbrook wrote that the Supreme Court has made clear in previous decisions that it reserves the right to overturn past decisions — not the regional appellate courts. So now, gun owners are expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We’re certainly prepared to go to the Supreme Court if we have to,” said city of Chicago spokeswoman Jenny Hoyle. “In the meantime, we will continue to aggressively enforce our ordinance.”

* City IG unloads on Daley’s parking meter deal

* City could have gotten nearly $1 billion more for parking meters, report says

Chicago’s 36,000 parking meters were worth nearly twice as much as the $1.15 billion Mayor Daley got when he rammed through a 75-year lease in a few days without analyzing what the system was worth, the city’s inspector general has concluded.

After a five-month analysis, Hoffman has reached the “conservative” conclusion that Chicago Parking Meters LLC paid the city $974 million less than the system would have been worth to the city if it raised rates by the same amount and kept the meters for the next 75 years.

Instead of buying Daley’s “hurried, high-pressure” argument that the money was needed to fill a gaping, two-year budget gap, Hoffman said the City Council should have conducted its own independent analysis. And aldermen should have considered alternatives, such as a shorter lease with parking meter revenue divided evenly between the city and a private contractor, he said.

A 30-year lease with rate hikes 25 percent lower than those tied to the lease would have produced as much as $396 million, the report states.

* Inspector general lambastes city meter lease

Top Daley aide Paul Volpe immediately fired back at what he called a “misguided and inaccurate” report.

“This was a good transaction that protected taxpayers both in the short and long term,” said Volpe, who was the mayor’s point man for the deal and received particularly strong criticism in the report.

“We do not force things through City Council,” said Volpe, who also appeared to suggest Hoffman was out of his depth in analyzing the deal. “I’m sure the inspector general or his team have never conducted a project like this.”

Even as they were voting for the deal, aldermen complained they had little choice because Daley already had built $150 million from a parking meter lease into his budget before a winning bidder emerged. Now some council members say they made a mistake in voting for the deal and want the city to back out.

* What report on meter deal is really saying

No matter what you thought you read or heard elsewhere, Hoffman did not, repeat did not, report Monday that the city of Chicago could have gotten an additional $1 billion more for leasing its parking meters.

Nor did he say that the city should have received an additional $1 billion for leasing the meters. He didn’t say that taxpayers were cheated out of $1 billion or suggest that somebody made an illicit $1 billion profit.

What he said was that the city leased the parking meter system “for $974 million less than its value to the city,” a narrowly drawn point that was being misconstrued as soon as he made it. […]

That was the broader point Hoffman was trying to make Tuesday — that if we’re going to do these megabillion-dollar deals that give up control of public assets for generations, we might at least slow down and analyze what we’re doing, consider all the consequences and explain it to the people. And maybe next time, don’t pass a budget based on revenue from a deal where nobody has seen the details.

* Inspector: Chicago bungled meter deal

* Daley’s meter debacle

* Meter is running on city’s loss

* Sparks Fly Over Chicago’s Parking Meters

* Don’t jump the gun on Ald. Isaac Carothers, Mayor Daley says

On Tuesday, Daley sided with Carothers, his longtime ally.

“People are concerned about these allegations. But in America, you’re innocent until proven guilty,” the mayor told reporters after Carothers was a no-show at the unveiling of Chicago’s annual crackdown on summer crime.

The mayor characterized the allegations against Carothers as “serious.” But he said, “He has a right to defend himself.”

Asked how he felt about Carothers wearing a wire to record conversations with developers and elected officials, Daley said, “I don’t know anything about that.”

* Are Aldermen Taking it Easy on Carothers?

* Daley nephew’s bad deal for pensions

* Al Capone, Chicago Mayor ‘Big Bill’ Thompson shown together in photo

* More than 1,100 will start getting layoff notices this week

More than 1,100 city employees — none sworn police officers or firefighters — will start receiving layoff notices later this week after organized labor refused Mayor Daley’s demand for 17 days off without pay and comp time instead of cash overtime.

* Daley Denies Lay-Offs are Coming - Yet

DALEY: There’s a lot of rumors going. We’re still talking to the unions about this crisis.

A labor unions spokesperson would only confirm talks with the mayor’s office continue. The city is considering ways to close a $300-million budget shortfall.

* Chicago to flood streets with more cops

* City Council cracks down on street performers

The License Committee approved the crackdown championed by Natarus’ successor, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), with no dissenting votes or testimony. There was only applause from dozens of business and residential victims.

“I might as well have these bucket boys in my office. I literally can’t work in my office. You can’t hear yourself think. You can’t do anything,” said Dr. Diana Goldstein, who has an office on the seventh-floor of a building at 200 S. Michigan Ave, across the street from the Art Institute.

* Chicago aldermen consider cracking down on ‘bucket boys’ and other loud street musicians

* Cop found guilty in bartender beating

* Officer Valadez shooting: No good comes in imagining worst

* Study: Half of HIV carriers unaware of infection

The Chicago study found that more than 17 percent of gay men in Chicago have HIV; 39 percent did not get tested in the last year because they were worried about the result.

Almost 600 gay men from across the city were tested for HIV/AIDS and interviewed about their lifestyles, including questions about drug use and number of partners. Ninety-one of the subjects tested positive for the virus.

Thirty percent of gay black men in Chicago tested positive, the study showed, while Hispanics and white men had rates of 12 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively.

A quarter of blacks aged 18-24 tested positive. More than 37 percent of blacks aged 25-34 - the highest of any age group - tested positive. The numbers are similar to national figures.

posted by Mike Murray
Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 8:46 am

Comments

I thought the point of the parking meter deal was to sell revenue supposed to be coming in in 2065 so we could have money now in 2009, when we need it the most.

Daley was pretty clear about this. Not sure what Hoffman’s point is.

Comment by Johnny USA Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 8:53 am
Daley may be a lot of things but stupid is not one of them. I’m sure he got every penny possible from this deal. The public face may be 1.5 billion but additional hundreds of millions off the books will no doubt find their way to friends and family

Comment by Hank Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:03 am
Hank is partially right, although I not so sure about not stupid part. It does seem that whenever the city “bungles” one of these deals someone close to Little Dick gets rich.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:11 am
Since when did David Hoffman become an economist? Better yet, when did the role of the City Inspector General become a policy making one? His report has a section called “Alternatives that solve short-term budget problem.” Sounds to me that if he has a better idea for how the City should run, he should put his name on a ballot. Otherwise, his views on policy rank up there with Ben Joravsky’s or Dick Simpson’s: a private citizen expressing a private opinion. He should get back to doing what his job is, which is rooting out corruption.

Comment by Al Swearengen Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:13 am
== There was only applause from dozens of business and residential victims. ==

*Victims* of street performers? LOL.

Take a breath, Fran Spielman…..

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:15 am
Johnny USA - how convenient to know that the City in 2065 won’t need the money as badly as we do today.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:18 am
====Johnny USA - how convenient to know that the City in 2065 won’t need the money as badly as we do today.====

In 2065, they can lease it again for another 75 years if they need money. And it gives them plenty of time to plan better. LOL

Comment by Mike Murray Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:31 am
Leroy,

Try doing business in some of those Michigan Avenue offices and then come back with your “victims” comment. They are a major problem. You literally have to yell to be heard at times (particularly in some of the older buildings on South Michigan) and I can’t imagine being in one of those offices full time.

I had to be amused that Fioretti is pro-bucket boy. We can always count on Bob.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:36 am
chicago school economists posting on the meter deal today- sadly.
privatizating public assests is what the US, through the IMF, forces developing countries do in order to receive loans. looking at our gini coefficient (a measure of inequality), this country is now in the developing country range. (developing countries are in part defined as having extreme economic inequality between people) this country is not as “developed” as our rhetoric suggests.
we need the money today in chicago because of the extreme misuse of our tax dollars. this is not the “city that works”- far from it.
what kind of yahoos are working on the city council?? you all didn’t even have the brains to question and learn about this gigantic deal before you voted on it??
the woman/man that runs against daley is going to beat him. as long as they are not a hack like him, which, observing chicago politics, likely will happen. so, this rant is not even really worth it, because nothing is ever really going to change around here. too many folks interested in keeping the status quo, the status quo.

Comment by b-dogg Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:41 am
And who is to say that parking meters will even be on streets in 2065? We didn’t have them 50 years ago. The value of the entire system may be worthless. That is one of the risks that the private contractor is taking on.

You can’t simply multiply years times revenue to figure out what an asset is worth. With all due respect to this DePaul teacher who gets quoted ad absurdum about his view that the system was worth more, the system was worth what the market would pay. The City had a number that they thought was a minimum they needed to reach, but you can’t tell the potential bidders that number or you won’t get one penny more ! That’s not lack of transparency, that’s fiscal responsibility. And it is not surprising that the Inspector General, or Scott Waguespack, or Joe Moore can’t grasp this, why should they? There job is not to run a GAO office.

Comment by Al Swearengen Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:42 am
Skeeter - I haven’t noticed any recent vacancies on Michigan Avenue lately, which I would expect if this problem was preventing commerce.

What’s next, people complaining about the noise in office buildings around O’Hare?

And I scoff at people being ‘victimized’ by this. The city is a noisy place. Deal.

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:50 am
You should look into that vacancy rate, Leroy. Don’t assume.

Also, you might want to look closer at that O’Hare issue. You are way off on that one too. Take a look at government spending on noise reduction. Again, don’t assume.

Moreover, the City also have gang violence, robberies, and corruptuion. Should we just “deal” or should we work to solve those problems?

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:55 am
===And I scoff at people being ‘victimized’ by this. The city is a noisy place. Deal.===

You have obviously never had a group of loud bucket drummers banging outside your window for hours on end. Perhaps some of us could come over to your residence and demonstrate how annoying this is?

Just sayin…

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:00 am
I can see Daley is certainly generating the bad press today. I love the Hoffman bashing. How dare he state the obvious which is that the never ending meter deal is a debacle of unprecedented proportion in a City of debacles.

By the way, when is Volpe’s head going to roll? Da Mare can’t swallow this one whole.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:03 am
“We’re certainly prepared to go to the Supreme Court if we have to,” said city of Chicago spokeswoman Jenny Hoyle. “In the meantime, we will continue to aggressively enforce our ordinance.”

Yeah, we can see how well that ordinance is working out for you.

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:41 am
Since when did Paul Volpe become a financial expert?

If this deal was so great why did the City Council only have two days review it, then vote on it?

Comment by Tollway Joe Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:52 am
===Perhaps some of us could come over to your residence and demonstrate how annoying this is? ===
I’m in. I just got a new bass bucket.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:04 am
Al, allow me to dissemble your arguments:

“And who is to say that parking meters will even be on streets in 2065? We didn’t have them 50 years ago. The value of the entire system may be worthless. That is one of the risks that the private contractor is taking on.”

Using your logic, the city should simply lease each and every asset to a private company since it “may” be obsolete at the end of said lease, the arbitrary terms of which are proffered by the city. It’s not as if parking space will become less valuable in the future. If anything, the opposite is true, and if so, the city can and should set rates that balance optimize supply and demand.

“Since when did David Hoffman become an economist? Better yet, when did the role of the City Inspector General become a policy making one? His report has a section called “Alternatives that solve short-term budget problem.” Sounds to me that if he has a better idea for how the City should run, he should put his name on a ballot. Otherwise, his views on policy rank up there with Ben Joravsky’s or Dick Simpson’s: a private citizen expressing a private opinion. He should get back to doing what his job is, which is rooting out corruption.”

You’re twisting words and assuming facts not in evidence. The IG is not advocating a particular policy; they’re suggesting possible alternatives that were not considered by the administration or the city council.

The proof is in the pudding, Al. Everyone outside of Daley and a handful of his sycophants has admitted that this deal stinks, from a feckless and ill-prepared contractor to a failure of the administration to consider the financial and logistical impact on its citizens to terms of the deal that appear remarkably titled in favor of the operating entity.

And frankly, I find the arugments made by the likes of Hoffman and Joravsky much more compelling than what little City Hall empirical data has presented in defense of the deal. Perhaps that’s because it was a short-sighted boondoggle meant to shirk responsibility for good governance by funding a corrupt and bloated administration, the city’s long-term future be damned.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:58 am
“Perhaps that’s because it was a short-sighted boondoggle meant to shirk responsibility for good governance by funding a corrupt and bloated administration, the city’s long-term future be damned.”
Amen brother (or sister)

Comment by b-dogg Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 3:03 pm
I can’t speak to the “bucket boys”, as they are modern invention woven from the cloth of Madison Ave. marketing as street performers go. I can remember when kids like that used to hang out on Rush St. and along Division in the summer months, and shine shoes for those trekking between night life hot spots. It’s gotten to the point where even honest poor kids don’t want to really work for a living anymore either.

I can say from first hand experience however from my days in the world’s tallest building, that the guy out on Adams St. with the saxaphone, that only new; When the Saints Go marching In, Strangers in the Night, and the theme music from The Flinstone’s had me to the point where I became concerned that my friends and neighbors were going to be seeing me on the 10:00 news, in some sort of a hostage situation. I even dreampt one night that I was reaching out to Russ Ewing, in order to arrange my surrender to the police.

To their credit however, I do believe they are one step above that guy that used to raom the south loop in the wheel chair soliciting donations, who would then go on to publicly berate and harass people that gave to little, or refused any donation at all. I once had him follow me; screaming obscenities the entire way, from LaSall & Van Buren, all the way to Harrison & Dearborn, before I could duck into one of my favorite watering holes which was never retro-fitted to become ADA compliant. That guy could become downright nasty when he wanted to.

Anyways; I would not want the bucket brigade banging outside my window either. As to organizing a percussionist posse however in order to replicate the experience for the benefit of those less fortunate, Bill I think you should stick with the status quo, and stay home and just beat it by yourself, as usual.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 3:24 pm