November 21, 2011
Oh yeah, Cook County Board Passed a Budget for 2012

(Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle | Photo by ChicagoNewsCoOp)

In case you missed it on your way to the weekend, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed a budget for 2012 last Friday. The County has a $315 million budget imbalance and the new budget seeks to address it with $50 million in new/higher taxes and fees. 

County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was successful in rolling back sales taxes (the county’s part will drop by a quarter percentage on January 1) in the $2.94 billion budget but if you smoke or drink, you might still be a bit miffed. And if you’re one of the 800 county employees who will be laid off under the new budget, that’s especially bad because you’ll probably want a stiff drink or two…or eighteen.

The tax on a 24-pack of beer will increase by six cents and the tax on some bottles of vodka may go up by more than 50 cents. The cigarette tax will now also apply to loose tobacco and cigars (hipsters and fat-cats will share in the grief here). 

President Preckwinkle’s budget passed 16-1, with the lone dissenting vote coming from GQ Style Editor William Beavers. 

For more details on the budget passage, read Erika Slife and the Chicago Tribune’s coverage of it.

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Filed under: Cook County Cook County Board of Commissioners Toni Preckwinkle William Beavers GQ Magazine 2012 budget Cook County Budget shortfall chicago city council cigarette tax liquor tax cook county sales tax cook county layoffs chicago tribune erika slife 
November 18, 2011
"Mayor Rahm Emanuel is dumping all three city members of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority — including former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s nephew — in a housecleaning that could set the stage to renegotiate the White Sox lease, modify its restaurant deal and, possibly, have the state acquire and renovate Wrigley Field."

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Sun Times City Hall Reporter Fran Spielman reports that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is dropping all three city members of of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority board, including a nephew of his predecessor, in a move with many potential ramifications. Read More

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Filed under: chicago chicago cubs chicago politics rahm emanuel illinois politics illinois government Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Wrigley Field Fran Spielman Chicago Sun Times Chicago City Council Mayor Daley Richard M. Daley Chicago White Sox Chicago Restaurants 
November 17, 2011
Lost footage of baby Rahm Emanuel discovered

Unearthed video footage of a young Rahm Emanuel. Note that the controlling nature and competitive drive were present even then. We guess that it is true that leaders are born, not made. Is it possible that this was leaked from inside the mayor’s inside circle as a threat to the Chicago Teacher’s Union?

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Filed under: Rahm Emanuel Chicago Chicago politics Chicago City Council Karen Lewis CPS CTU bad ass baby 
November 3, 2011
Miguel Del Valle is back - Insists it’s about the message, not himself

(Photo by Gabrielle Levy/MEDILL)

By Elias Cepeda

As an IL. State Senator for nearly two decades, Miguel Del Valle cultivated a reputation as a liberal idealist that also could also work reasonably and compromise with peers of all political stripes. But as a candidate for Chicago Mayor this past year, Del Valle – who held the City Clerk position during the campaign – found himself unable to garner enough attention to provide a challenge to Rahm Emanuel’s steam roller campaign.

During his election night concession speech this past February, Del Valle pointedly declared that he would not take part in the Emanuel administration.

Read More

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Filed under: Chicago Mayor, Mayor Daley, Occupy Wallstreet, Chicago Chicago City Clerk Chicago City Council Chicago Politics Del Marie Cobb Rahm Emanuel Richard M. Daley Miguel Del Valle 
November 2, 2011
Maps, Race, and Politics + Your Favorite Illegal Alien Superhero

On episode 5 (my last) of By the Way with EXTRA Newspaper on Vocalo.org, we spoke with UIC Political Science Department Head Dick Simpson and Alden Loury about Chicago City Ward remapping. Also, Casey Brazeal and Alex Perry talk about Superman - the illegal immigrant.

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Filed under: Alex Perry, comic books, UIC University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Politics Chicago politics Dick Simpson Alden Loury The Chicago Reporter Elias Cepeda Casey Brazeal vocalo D.C. Comics Superman Superman Chicago City Council Daniel Solis Luis Guitierrez immigration illegal immigration undocumented immigration