First of all, please visit DeKalb County Online for a terrific summary of the latest local population data and housing vacancy rates. The 2010 Census constitutes a smack up the side of the head for the ivory tower types whose 2011 Commercial Notebook includes the prediction that DeKalb’s population would be found to exceed 50,000.…
What’s Wrong with Corn Fest is the City of DeKalb
There has always been a group that embraces Corn Fest and another that leaves town. However, public sentiment against Corn Fest Committee seems to be reaching an all-time high with the latest decision to continue it at the airport. But the real problem here is not so much the Committee as the City of DeKalb,…
Underfunded Pensions in Chicago
Hinz at Crain’s: The City of Chicago and related local governments like the Chicago Park District collectively under-funded their worker pension plans by $5.1 billion in the past decade, according to a new report by the Civic Federation. As a result, the retirement plans now have as little as 36.5% of the assets needed to…
Blizzard of ’67: A Story
“I’m sorry,” Mr. Holtz said. “If I stop at the bottom of the hill, I don’t think I can get her moving again.” “She” was a school bus, and at the bottom of the hill was a “T” intersection. Usually, Mr. Holtz stopped there to let me off for home, but this particular afternoon he…
Blizzard of 1967
Recordings of the Blizzard of ’67 outside Chicago seem to be somewhat rare. This is actually a promo for a longer video showing Northwest Indiana in the aftermath. Link to the video at YouTube
DeKalb Aviation Lawsuit Against City of DeKalb
DeKalb County Online has put up DeKalb Aviation’s complaint.
Because What Happens in California Keeps Happening in Illinois. . .
California is not Vegas. Over the past couple of years, what happened there did not stay there, and it happened here in similar ways. The latest out of California is a rash of mortgage foreclosures on churches: “Churches Find End is Nigh” I would not be surprised if the same trend happens in Illinois.
Petition Challenges 101
Election law attorney Thomas Jaconetty, who is a member of the team trying to keep Rahm Emanuel off the ballot in the Chicago mayoral election, explains what ballot petition challenges in Illinois are all about in this 2009 video of a Chicago Bar Association address made available by The Capitol Fax. More: Filing fees are…
Major Abraham Lincoln Event, February 11th
LOCKPORT and WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT The City of Lockport and The Gaylord Building, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will take part in a world record attempt on Friday, February 11, 2011 to help kick off nation’s Civil War Sesquicentennial. People of all ages are invited to help The Gaylord Building…
Consolidated Elections and Political Parties
I do not consider it good campaign ethics for candidates for offices voted upon during consolidated elections, who filed using the “independent” paperwork, to campaign at specific political party events, which are most certainly anything but independent.