As reported in The Chicago Sun-Times: A guide for downtown growth through 2020 that calls for $15.6 billion in public works was endorsed Thursday by the Chicago Plan Commission. The Chicago Central Area Action Plan would allocate most of the spending for transportation projects. The most expensive would be a $6 billion West Loop transit …
National Taxpayers United of Illinois issued this statement today: Without liability protection, a Chicago 2016 Olympics will put Illinois taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars, according to the president of Illinois’ largest taxpayer organization. “Chicago submitted its bid details to the International Olympic Committee in February ballyhooing its financial strength, with organizers saying …
Thanks to our friends at Chicago Clout… And the song has already made news! Sing Along: Same ol’ names makin’ headlines Same ol’ crew stealin’ from the kitty Slitherin’ snakes through departments of our city Mayor Richie Daley tells us wrong from right It’s hard to do when he’s on the next flight He’s hangin’ …
As reported by CBS News Chicago: If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you’re out of luck. The City of Chicago is basically closed for business on Aug. 17, a reduced-service day in which most city employees are off without pay. …
David Greising, the business reporter for the Chicago Tribune, made some excellent points today: “This is a good thing for our bid,” Pat Ryan was saying the other night, after Bronzeville neighborhood citizens grilled Olympics officials for nearly three hours about costs and risks of staging a Chicago Olympics. A root-canal look on his face, …
As reported by Greg Hinz in Crain’s Chicago Business: The giant agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier has had to tap the state treasury to avoid defaulting on tens of millions of dollars of bond payments. Using a special provision in state law, the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority last month quietly obtained …
As reported in the Chicago Reader by Ben Joravsky: With Mayor Daley essentially asking for a blank check to pay for the Olympics, the taxpayers of Chicago could use a little boldness from their City Council. But Manny Flores, one of the few aldermen occasionally willing to stand up for good government, seems to be …
As reported in the British Columbia Globe & Mail: When the world descends on Vancouver in six months for the 2010 Winter Olympics, another kind of convergence will quietly be taking place. A cross-Canada security force will gather to keep those crowds under control, and disaster at bay. “It’s the largest security operation, ever, in …
As reported by the Chicago Tribune online: A veteran City of Chicago building inspector was arrested today on a charge of pocketing $1,000 from a contractor who was cooperating with authorities in an ongoing bribery probe. Jose Hernandez approved electrical wiring, plumbing and ventilation work at a single-family residence on South Throop Street even though …