-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Pollster Matt Podgorski, of the political consulting firm M3, said, “The big takeaway that we saw is that Chuy Garcia and Paul Vallas basically flip-flopped spots. Now I’ve got Paul Vallas in first place with 26% and Chuy Garcia in second with 19%.”
Chicago’s Latino community is a historically overlooked player in local politics but is expected to be important in the mayoral race, with Jesús “Chuy” García the perceived beneficiary. Despite making up roughly 30% of the city’s population, Chicago’s Latino voter turnout tends to be much smaller than that of Black and white residents.
“Well, of course. Let’s be honest about it. When that information is found, it diminishes the stature of any person who is in possession of it because it’s not supposed to happen. … The elected official bears ultimate responsibility,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said.
“(The list) outlines a highly skewed 42-book list of mandatory reading for every public elementary, middle and high school student,” Beth Feeley wrote in a 2021 column for the Chicago Tribune. “Not every book on this list reflects the critical race theory-inspired ideologies like those of included authors Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo. But 42 books — almost 10,000 pages — on race? The reading list will dominate the curriculum.”
Jim Dey: “The rule at ComEd, the filing asserts, was to do whatever it took to keep the powerful Chicago Democrat happy. In return, ComEd knew from experience, (former Speaker Michael) Madigan wouldn’t block ComEd-favored initiatives in the legislature. But what happened if ComEd couldn’t make Madigan happy? Company officials didn’t want to find out…”
“While the San Francisco committee is not the only group taking a flexible view toward reparations eligibility — Evanston also did — such interpretations leave unclear where to draw the line. Presuming one is drawn, the massive payouts would be invidious and give rise to new grievances, especially among immigrant taxpayers with no generational link to slavery.”
“Since we came into office we’ve been using every fiber of our muscle to make this inherently-regressive system less painful for communities like Pilsen, which have been at the epicenter of the gentrification,” Fritz Kaegi said, promising to work on long-term solutions.
“Guilt by association is an ugly thing. Never forget that politics in this hyper-partisan era is like an NFL game without referees. And that is on a good day.”
“In Illinois, for instance, only 1 in 5 students performs at grade level in either math or English. In Chicago, the results are even worse, and those for black students are worst of all. Among Chicago’s African American students, only 1 in 10 performs at grade level. These results would have been damaging 50 years ago. In today’s economy, they are devastating. What can be done? The easy answer – more funding – is wrong.”
Tom Weitzel retired Riverside Chief of Police: If law enforcement leaders cannot stay out of the political fray and refrain from making purposefully inflammatory statements for their own personal gain, the profession is doomed.
In 1967, when many campuses were inflamed and the University of Chicago was under internal pressure to announce opposition to the Vietnam War, the university produced the Kalven Report, which said campus free speech and the academic mission depend on a “heavy presumption” in favor of institutional neutrality regarding political matters:
Wilson in his closing statement during the debate said if elected mayor he’ll remove the handcuffs on police officers so they are empowered to catch suspects fleeing to avoid arrest. “Somebody run, chase somebody by foot or car, that police officer should be able to chase them down, and hunt them down like a rabbit, okay,” Wilson said.
A Hilton hotel near O’Hare International Airport sold for 50 percent of its previous valuation this week, marking a giant loss for its international owner.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent, while nonfarm payrolls were almost unchanged, down by just -800 in December, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a measure that would change guidelines for how defendants who are unfit to stand trial are placed in proper care. The measure, however, is being criticized by the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association.
Illinois voters rejected a proposal in 2020 to change the state’s flat income tax to a graduated tax. There are currently discussions to try the measure again. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, however, said that’s not on his radar.
Alderman Debra Silverstein (50th) sent a newsletter on Monday, asking to hear from neighbors about the impact of recent violence. The kind of violence that takes the life of an 18-year-old just sitting in his car. The shooting in West Ridge on Sunday is the latest deadly example.
“Taxes due should be paid, but government should not be able to seize a home, sell it, and keep the proceeds above what it is owed. Examples of this behavior are not uncommon. In addition to Minnesota, 12 other states allow home-equity theft, including New York, Illinois, Alabama, and Nebraska.”
Matt Paprocki, of the Illinois Policy Institute: “In 2021 Illinois received more new business applications than any other Midwestern state, but only 6.7% of those applications were expected to result in business formation within one year of applying…There are too many compounding costs specific to the state that present challenges. Illinois has the third-most cumbersome regulatory code in the United States with 278,475 individual restrictions and requirements.”
Chris Davis, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said small businesses have struggled with supply-chain issues, inflation and finding workers. Mandatory paid leave would be “one more tax imposed on them by the state of Illinois that’s just going to be difficult to manage.”
“A painful truth is that conventions have bounced back faster nationwide than in Chicago. After collapsing in 2020 for obvious reasons, attendance across the country ticked up slightly in 2021, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. At the same time, attendance was still sinking at McCormick Place, as Illinois’ COVID-19 shutdowns persisted.”
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation made some adjustments since the last round, with a goal of improving its social equity candidate reach. Among them, the online applications are a little bit more bare bones and the fee has droppped to $250 from the $2,500 that it was in the last round.
“I have seen this happen in the summer, but nothing like what I just saw. This is not okay,” added Barrie Newman. (With video)
SIGN UP HERE FOR OUR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER