-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Refusing to be influenced by parents, city leaders, or science, the Chicago Teachers Union today reiterated their steadfast commitment to drinking coffee in yoga pants.
Residents say that the city government allowing Southside Recycling to open is another example of Chicago prioritizing profits over the needs of the people – and catering to the needs of white residents over those of black and Latino communities.
“Remote learning doesn’t have to be a hard thing,” said Judai Smith, a junior at Kenwood Academy. “It could be accessible. Students can pass. It’s about providing the support that is needed, and I don’t think CPS is really focusing on that… It idolizes a specific type of student, and if you’re not that student, you’re bound to fail.”
The state is telling providers to expect fewer shipments; This first-dose shortage is expected to last until March.
Rep. Keith Wheeler said delaying the agreed-upon tax credits in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession will end up hurting the state’s economy in the long-term. “The tax credits only become available after the work has been fully completed. So there’s no risk to the state for a company not meeting its requirement, as the state has already captured the withholding tax prior to the credit being issued.”
Jim Dey: “One hundred of Illinois’ 102 county state’s attorneys oppose the legislation…Few of those provisions have been the subject of substantive public discussion, not even in the legislature. Instead, the debate has devolved into a shouting match between woke social-justice advocates and those who argue the legislation is anti-police and anti-public safety.”
Citywide, the vaccination rate in Chicago’s majority-Black or Latino zip codes averaged 5%. Majority-white zip codes averaged 13%. Four of the city’s majority-white zip codes exceeded 20% initial vaccination, while the highest rate for any majority Black or Latino area was 12%. Chicago is not alone. The data shows similar trends in Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas.
State Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, said the governor needs to work with local lawmakers on such issues and he isn’t. “Legislation says that any job has to be moved to Sangamon County unless it has a good reason not to. So we’re asking for an understanding with what’s happening, not only with the corrections center, but also the jobs for the (James R.) Thompson Center.”
“The pharmaceutical companies don’t suffer, because they claim they are producing the vaccines as fast as they can, regulated by government. The politicians don’t suffer because they are getting fat donations from the pharmaceutical robber barons…What’s left is a paucity of vaccines, not enough to handle the hundreds of millions of people who need it, regulated by each state which decides who gets what.”
“(Bob) Dunn’s company, Landmark Development, wants Springfield to approve $6.5 billion in state financing over 20 years for the construction and operation of the transit hub…However, Landmark still hasn’t been able to justify the need for the transit hub. In the post-pandemic world, the work-from-home segment of the labor force will be sizable. Mass transit ridership is sure to take a long-term hit…”
There are 425 people drawing off the General Assembly Retirement System, ranging from $122 a month to $18,000. At 16% funded, state Rep. Mark Batinick said GARS is the worst of the state’s five public sector pension funds.
Distortion and dishonesty are endemic in Illinois government, but rarely as blatant as what is being said to defend CRTLS — the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards now pending for Illinois K-12 schools.
Chicago’s financial woes stem largely from out-of-control pension promises. More than 68% of the city’s total debt burden stems from unfunded pension liabilities and nearly 2% comes from unfunded liabilities for retiree health insurance, meaning fully 70% of the city’s debt is related to retirement benefits.
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