By Steve Rhodes
Preparing for The Move continues.
Posted on February 25, 2020
The [Monday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
As I mentioned last week, things will be touch-and-go this week because I’m moving next weekend.
Hey, I just got “last week,” “this week” and “next week(end)” into the same sentence!
Posted on February 24, 2020
The [Friday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
So, per Thursday’s column, here’s a little more about Laura Ellman, who sounds like a state legislator you may want to party with:
Posted on February 21, 2020
The [Thursday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
Assignment Desk: Who is Laura Ellman? Because, at least today, we love her.
State Senator Laura Ellman proposes a new bill to lift the 1911 era prohibition that bans drinking on trains. I’m just surprised to learn that I’m apparently an outlaw. I thought that was the whole point of taking the train.
— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) February 20, 2020
Posted on February 20, 2020
The [Wednesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
So much nonsense causing so much despair.
If we can’t even get Blago right, what hope is there for anything else?
To his amateur apologists – including some prominent members of the media:
An unremorseful Blago continues to lie to the public, steadfastly claiming his innocence. You can believe him or you can believe the voluminous evidence. From the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals: pic.twitter.com/O2v8z5P5kM
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 19, 2020
This one isn’t even close. Head over to @BeachwoodReport for the world’s best Blago commentary, then come back here for bonus coverage. I’ll wait.
Posted on February 19, 2020
The [Tuesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Key to the massive $1.3 billion taxpayer subsidy for Sterling Bay’s Lincoln Yards megadevelopment was a 36-page report declaring that the project met the requirements to get the money,” the Tribune reports.
“As Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration promoted the record tax increment financing deal at a November 2018 public meeting inside a church, a planning official introduced the author of that report as ‘the city’s TIF consultant.’
“The consultant took the microphone and said the report was done ‘on behalf of the city of Chicago.’
“What the administration and consultant didn’t tell the crowd: Developer Sterling Bay had both picked the consultant and paid the firm. And that consultant also had been retained by a Sterling Bay subsidiary to lobby City Hall on the final terms of the Lincoln Yards agreement.”
Sterling Bay: The Houston Astros of Chicago.
Posted on February 18, 2020
The [Monday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city ‘will not be bullied’ amid reports that federal immigration authorities will deploy specialized teams to sanctuary cities across the country to help boost immigration-related arrests,” WTTW-TV (amid others) reports.
“The New York Times reported last week that President Donald Trump will deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactical units from the U.S.-Mexico border to nearly a dozen so-called sanctuary cities including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.”
From the Times:
“The Trump administration is deploying law enforcement tactical units from the southern border as part of a supercharged arrest operation in sanctuary cities across the country, an escalation in the president’s battle against localities that refuse to participate in immigration enforcement.”
It’s almost as if the President of the United States is deploying his private security force of brownshirts in a low-key civil war.
But then, it’s not different in kind, only degree, than what his predecessor did.
From Sunday:
OTD in 2016: pic.twitter.com/tD4dkEXmxM
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 16, 2020
Posted on February 17, 2020
The [Thursday] Papers
The [Wednesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
I had the pleasure of a looooong breakfast this morning at Lou Mitchell’s for the first time in at least 10 years, with friends on a trayover (train layover), and I am pleased to report that it hasn’t changed one bit. A treasure.
Posted on February 12, 2020
The [Tuesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
To all those who took the #broomchallenge last night and stood their brooms up:
Oh, you sweet summer children.
Every couple of years someone circulates this #broomchallengeIt’s got nothing to do with NASA or gravity.
You can do it any day of the week and twice on Sunday. You just have to find the broom’s center of gravity.https://t.co/KkFXiVWiNH— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) February 11, 2020
Posted on February 11, 2020