-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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Here is an organization based in the Chicago suburbs that raises awareness on heroin addiction. LTM Foundation. http://www.ltmfoundation.org http://www.facebook.com/www.LTMFoundation.org I believe they have or can find speakers that will speak at local schools. In addition to what’s mentioned below a few common paths to heroin addiction are: First alcohol, then marijuana, then heroin. Or, opioids are used to deal with pain due to an injury or illness, the opioids become too expensive or are cut off, so the person moves on to heroin. Maybe more awareness and thought about the heroin issue will better raise awareness on another issue, that… Read more »
There’s been quite a bit of publicity about the heroin problem by the police, schools, and press in general around Chicagoland for at least 3 years.
The problem is its inexpensive, highly addictive, readily available (here’s your marijauna and I’ll toss in a freebie, the first one’s one me), and like many illegal narcotics, the new strains are more potent than previous generations.
Educate yourself and spread the word.
Just like pensions add it to the list of problems the general public underestimates.
Someone should look in to how this got out of control so quickly. the Illinois Crime Commission was talking about this problem three years ago, but school principals. board members and others across the North Shore stuck their heads in the sand and would not admit there was a problem in their affluent towns. Now the bad guys have a toe hold and are much harder to get rid of. And who is paying the price– the kids.
Hellen, I think you hit on it. There has been reluctance to admit to it, perhaps even to believe it’s there even in prosperous school districts. The stories are absolutely gut-wrenching, as I have learned from the Illinois Crime Commission.