Welcome to Chicago - the Next Detroit

First the Cubs fall apart in April. Then Jay Cutler and the Bears fail to show up to their expectations, then Chicago loses the Olympics, and now all of its trade shows.

As for the last on that list, it's too easy and lazy to accuse union price gouging at exhibit halls as the only reason... ah that's been goin' on for decades. However, those shows heading for the exits has become a stampede.

The International Plastics Showcase, which has been exhibiting in Chicago since the 1970s, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society waved a giant single finger McCormick Place. And now the National Restaurant Show, a Chicago convention fixture for more than 50 years, is thinking about 86'ing the town as well.

When the food people come to town, they eat out - they spend a lot, and tip a lot. Bye bye.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Derrek Hull, a spokesman for the restaurant show, said, "I'm not aware of any discussion about moving the show as of right now."

"However, what I can tell you," said Hull, "is that we've been through this before ... and the association and all our exhibitors continue to be very vocal. They continue to be concerned about the costs of doing business in Chicago and at McCormick Place."

The association seriously contemplated a move in 2006, but chose to stay after the city wrested labor work-rule changes from unions that work at McCormick Place.

That was chump change. Meanwhile, a task force designed to turn things around for struggling Chicago's convention industry met today. The group is made of staff from several politicians, trade show leaders, hospitality executives, and unions. I love task forces and blue ribbon panels. They're the nice tablecloth that politicians drape over the broken, bloodstained wobbly tables.

Chicago is a loser. It's not just her sports - although Chicago sports are the gangrene of the a dying limb.

Chicago is expensive. Not having a show in Chicago might save you 20 million dollars... which is a number I heard floated around. 20 Million in savings by having a show in Orlando. And in Orlando, you can take the kids to DisneyWorld! But that's not all. How about the nickle-n-dimes that add up in every purchase? How about that damned 10.25% sales tax on all those nice folks coming to the windy city?

10.25% - still. And even after the Mighty Quinn changed the rules for the Cook County veto over the President "Toddler" Todd Stroger... they still can't roll it back, and that's less than 70 days before the Cook County Board Election - as if we won't notice.

Look, even if the Cook County rolled back the tax - it's too late. The damage is done and the collateral damage is everyone who depends on tourists coming into this stupid town to pay our bills, debts, truck scandals, lawsuits against the police, and overpriced parking meters.

Welcome to Chicago - the Next Detroit! Be sure to pull all the copper out of the walls before you leave.

UPDATE: And the toilet keeps flushing - Oprah might be leaving Chicago as well. I know for sure that she's ending her talk show.

The media mogul Oprah Winfrey will end her daytime talk show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show," in 2011 as she prepares to start a cable channel of her own. Read More on Oprah. Okay, I'm only guessing that she'll leave -- but I can't

Todd Explains Taxes

The subject was ever-increasing cigarette taxes, and the guest on WGN-AM 720 Wednesday morning was Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Host John Williams asked: Isn't it unfair to keep targeting smokers with tax increases?

"That is the American way," Stroger replied. "And the way that it's generally done is, you find some group that's small enough where they can't beat you up, and you tax them and you tell everybody else, 'See? We didn't tax you.' "

See?! And who's he coming for next? My guess? It'll be you folks getting drive-thru cheeseburgers.

If that's not enough, another serious threat facing the Cook County taxpayer: Todd is now gouging you for a $400 million-a-year windfall from its unneeded sales tax hike and also wants to increase your debt by more than a quarter-billion dollars.

As Bob from Cook County writes,

"What everyone has known all along; politicians at all levels in Illinois have a license to steal. No other county in America has a budget director as incompetent as Stroger's cousin. No other county in America employs as many dead beats as Cook County. No other county in America pays their budget director more than a doctor makes.

In most states the legislature would step in and threaten to cut off funding until the mess is fixed. Here? The speaker of the house would never do that given he needs the 8th ward vote to make his daughter senator or governor.

We are the next Detroit if this doesnt stop."

I completely agree with you "Bob." Last one out, please shut off the lights. Or, you could try this gathering I heard about. Be sure to gesture loudly expecting to make a stand on the issue.... (unlikely, but you'll feel like you did something for about 3 hours afterward.)

John Stroger - Tits Up

Stroger never recovered from a debilitating stroke he suffered a week before his March 2006 Democratic primary victory. He never made another public appearance. After he retired, Democratic Party leaders picked his son, Todd, a few months later to replace him on the ballot.

Thanks to 'J from Chi Town' who sent me the article (here)

I wonder if Todd was getting tired of hiding the body, or if he really did 'just' die?

Inappropriate Race Card played in Cook County Insanity

The Cook County Board has settled into a nice Friday, 5PM traffic pattern over the budget. You know, gridlock, anger, name calling, finger waving...yeah, the middle one! The Cook County Board meeting has all the language and intelligence of a playground full of 5 year olds! President Todd "my friends call me Urkel" Stroger admits he doesn't have enough votes to pass his Crazy 888 million dollar proposal for NEW massive Cook County sales taxes. It appears that county commissioners are now considering cuts in programs and services. And, like a bunch of 5 year olds not getting what they want, the name calling and stupid slap fighting is in full swing!

And then BLAM! There it is! The Race Card played! ... for no good reason.

"Budget would pass 'if Todd was a white man'"

Commissioner William Beavers said "if Todd was a white man, he wouldn't have half these problems," further alleging "this is a remake of the Harold Washington days" at City Hall, where racially fueled votes often ended in 29-21 decisions.
"Who's gonna control the county -- white or black -- that's all this is," he said.

Beavers railed on that one of Stroger's top critics, Commissioner Tony Peraica, "hates everybody who's black ... all black elected officials," going on to say Peraica used to beat up black people growing up in the Bridgeport neighborhood.

Peraica and others say the comments are not only untrue, they're born of a desperate frustration that Stroger can't pass a 2 percentage-point sales tax hike or other increases.

"Todd Stroger's credibility -- which has nothing to do with race -- is at a low ebb," Peraica said. "He needs to build up that credibility."

Even Commissioner John Daley, a Stroger ally, was surprised by Beavers' words, defending Peraica. "It's wrong for anyone to play the race card," he added.

Yet, prompted by a reporter's question, Beavers yelled not to forget that he's "the hog with the big nuts and I'm gonna tell you what it is."

When commissioners voted to make cuts to county Recorder Gene Moore's office, cuts Moore said he supports, Beavers implied Moore wasn't smart enough to understand the cuts and Republican commissioners must have used racial intimidation to get him to agree. (or MAYBE common sense, that the increases are WRONG without making cuts, or even a budget for anyone to see BEFORE the increases are asked for? Nope, that ain't it - Quick play the Race Card!)

Name-calling continued as Commissioner Liz Gorman, county Republican Party chairman, ripped into fellow Republican Peraica unprovoked, reading from a list of insults, calling him a "loser," "pathetic, pathological liar," an "abusive weasel" who is "no man," and an "ineffective leader" who has "no substance."

A shocked Peraica said Gorman has "no self-respect" and her attack was "abominable" and "despicable."

Then, Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno joined in and called Peraica "a jerk."

The attacks were the most noteworthy thing to come from a nine-hour meeting designed to help fill a $239 million budget deficit. About $1 million was cut Tuesday. Oh man! Wipe the sweat from thy brow! A whole Million out of a 3 BILLION dollar budget! Wow! Better get another box of erasers for the next meeting gang!

Though Todd 'Urkel' Stroger wants to pass his $3 billion budget by Friday, even he conceded that's not likely. He said commissioners are "afraid" and need to show "common sense" in approaching the budget. Allow me to translate, drop a pair and pass my Crazy 888 increase, damn it!

Commissioners will meet again Friday. I don't know anything about Peraica. Maybe he's a Klan Grand Wizard or something? What the hell do I know? I'll tell you this much - It looks like everybody is blaming him for being some sort of tattletale on the playground. "You're taking away our Crazy 888 M! Because of stupid Peraica, we have to be accountable for all that money! He went and told the voters on us! Whah! "

I have to say, that who knew reporting on something as stupid as the Cook County Board meeting would have generated so much entertainment? It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye, my gym coach used to say. Maybe it was my dad. All I know is that I wasn't allowed to cry unless it was bleeding or broken.

Playing The Race Card

I've seen the Race Card used many times. I've seen it used effectively when it needed to be played to force true justice. I've seen it overplayed, and become watered down. I've seen it used when it absolutely should not have. I've sen it used in the wrong game (Mr. Michael Vick- I'm talkin' to you!).... and then there's this time.

Todd can't get his budget passed because his budget is wrong. He's asking for more of MY money when he can't account for the money he's already TAKEN from ME. His ability to get a budget passed has nothing to do with the fact he wears glasses, is right handed, or has two brown eyes, okay, Mr. Beavers? And to compare the Late Harold Washington and Todd Stroger is a great injustice to the memory of a man who actually lead people, and worked very hard to be and keep the position that he held. Shame on you Mr. Beavers. Shame on using Harold Washington and Todd Stroger in the day, let alone comparing the two. Your race card ought to be revoked.

The People's Republic of Illinois

Urkel be Raisin' my taxes... Again!
1 Billion dollars in new taxes if you live in Chicago.





Todd "Tax Man, Fortunate Son, King Todd, King George, Eatin' yr Fud', Urkel" Stroger announced an 'ambitious' $888M Plan.

Urkel is going to triple the sales tax and double the gas and parking taxes to pay for 1,130 new county jobs and cover rising costs... don't worry, those new jobs will be fully pensioned and the best benefits your patronage can buy.

The taxes are part of a $3.2 billion budget Urkel unveiled Wednesday, including a 2 percentage point hike in the sales tax that would bring Chicago to a combined rate of 11 percent—never mind that the exact same proposal was rejected by the County Board two weeks ago. Taken together, by 2009 the proposed tax increases would generate $888 million. Even though it still falls short of their projected budget. Of course, without cutting the fat, the cronies, even pretending to give a rip about the people. They haven't even balanced the checkbook yet.

Urkel also proposed Wednesday a 2.8 percent increase of the property tax levy to fund the highly corrupt, backward managed, always in debt Forest Preserve District. The Forest Preserve meetings used to be held before the County Board meetings, but because they were televised, and took over three hours to cover all the corruption, they simply moved the meetings. Now Board Meetings are about 20 minutes. Problem solved!

What's the best part? It comes right on the heels of King Daley II's proclamation of the Corruption tax that raises fees, property tax, gas and sales tax. (See Below) And let's not forget that 10 cent water bottle tax for the Yuppies. Yeah, they're going through with that.

On top of the State raising my taxes, but hiding it by celebrating they've put a cap on my property tax to only 7% - and only for 3 years! They're also got their eye on the sales tax and income taxes too.

It's a perfect storm of tax!
State, County, City oh my!

And still there is no funding earmarked for the CTA, METRA or PACE. (Illinois Public Transit groups for those of you lucky not to be living here) Now since the group running the mass transit are patronage knuckleheads that have been given those jobs they have no flipping idea how to manage anything... naturally they're screaming that they'll just shut it down if they don't get their funds from the State.

Which, of course, only pisses off the working people of the city who actually use the damned thing. When it runs. Blue line is so slow now because of disrepair I don't know anyone who depends on it anymore. Even the most ardent supporters of mass transit refuse to sit on the urine train for an hour plus ride downtown.

Solutions?
Probably none. There's slim to zero chance that there will be a revolt at the polls.
And what are you going to do, vote the Democrats out? HAHAHAHhha..... oh, you don't get it? Perhaps you've never heard of THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF ILLINOIS?
There were some Republicans here, a long, long time ago. I think we've got a couple famous ones. Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Grant, Ronald Reagan. You might note that most of these guys did their best work out of state.

We've had a couple other Republicans, but they're harder and harder to find around here. What's worse, is that the ones that stick around make these other idiots look good.

So let's just imagine you could vote for alternative Democrat, or something?
You'd have to start with Daley. Uh, unless you've never heard of Chicago - that's just not going to happen.

Then you'd have to move on to the entire Cook County Board - starting with Todd Urkel Stroger and all the other high priests of the Cook County Temple Board.

Then you've got to get Speaker Madigan and Governor Blagojevich (pronounced Bag-o-shhh*t, again for you outatowners) out the State House.

CITY
Daley. The Machine. The Pharaoh. King Daley II.
Read Mike Royko's book The Boss. That's about his pop. It'll only take one long EL ride and you'll start to understand how "Chicago Works." Let's boil it down. People don't complain about the corruption since the garbage is picked up. That's the Chicago way of governing.
The only way a mayor gets voted out around here is if you f*ck around during a snowstorm and don't plow the streets, ask Bilandic. The last Republican to sit in the Mayor's seat? That would be Al Capone's stooge William Hale Thompson... in 1931.

COUNTY
Todd Urkel Stoger. Now here's a poor man's Oedipus. Except that his mother is the Cook County Board? I don't know - I'm not that smart. Again, let me boil down a whole lot of history from the last two years. His dad, John Stoger had been Cook County Board of Commissioners president since 1994. One week before the primary in 2006, dad had a stroke. But, since Todd wanted to keep his father's 'privacy', he failed to disclose that his dad was kind of in a Castro-like coma. He won. While in a stroked out. In a coma. Probably dead (unconfirmed since no one has seen him since).

Todd kind of tap danced about his dad's condition, pretty much trying to figure out how to play it. Would his dad come back to his post? Is he well enough to be a candidate? "Ah, surrrrreee..."

Then Alderman William Beavers mysteriously produced a letter of John Stroger's resignation, which was unsigned. It was a ploy to prevent an interim president to take over the empty board seat. Then, 5 days later, after the media went ape sh*t, Todd came out with a scribble that he swore was his dad's signature.

At the same time John Stroger submitted his resignation, it was announced that Beavers would assume John Stroger's County Commissioner seat while Todd Stroger, if elected, would take over the County Board presidency. This announcement came four days after the deadline for third-party candidates to file for the Board presidency race.

The Cook County Democratic Central Committee (a collection of 80 county Democratic party leaders also known as "ward committeemen" or "township committeemen") overwhelmingly chose Todd Stroger to replace his father as the Democratic candidate for Cook County Board president for the Nov. 7, 2006, election.

He won a "close" race in the general election. This means it wasn't a complete and total landslide.

STATE
State government has been down right boring since Evil Santa Claus left... (oh, that would be the one who killed nuns and children, our pal, the honorable, the convicted and sentenced by a Federal Jury, George H. Ryan.) Well, he did get Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's career going, so there's that bonus...

Lately Speaker Madigan has been suing Gov. Bag-o-stuff and not balancing their checkbook either. There's no real state budget, and they're fighting over how much more to raise taxes. They're all Democrats. They fight each other worse than their opponents. Lucky for them George Ryan burnt the house so far to the ground that he took down every Republican with him.

Which is kind of how Obama won the Senate seat, and looks so popular - but that's another history lesson. It's got all kinds of sex and depravity and religious kooks... perhaps that's a posting for later? It would tarnish some of the Obama legacy if only they all knew...?

What's to be done? Tax revolt? Attack them at the polls and run them into the lake? Carpetbagging Republicans? Nope. Most likely nothing...

...but I'll tell you this, there will be a population of people who will vote with their feet. They know it's not worth the fight to stand up to decades of corruption and waste and tax hikes to cover their mess.

The people will simply move. They'll move out of the city. They'll move out of Cook County. They'll continue to move out of this state.

A lot like Lincoln, Grant, and Reagan.