Bernard Stone
On one hand, helping one of the largest corporations in America doesn't seem to be a wise use of tax dollars. On the other hand, why should Walmart be excluded from the city's TIF bonanza -- nobody else is.
On one hand, helping one of the largest corporations in America doesn't seem to be a wise use of tax dollars. On the other hand, why should Walmart be excluded from the city's TIF bonanza -- nobody else is.
The chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee says Wal-Mart's proposal for a new South Side store is still likely to face a vote in his committee.
That's despite rumors of parliamentary hijinks that could send the project to the full City Council without a Zoning Committee vote.
The zoning chairman, Alderman Danny Solis, says he delayed today's scheduled vote on the project after requests from Wal-Mart representatives and Alderman Anthony Beale, whose ward would be home to the new store. Read more...
The news that Wal-Mart advocates are looking to avoid a committee vote on the project lends credence to rumblings about some unusual parliamentary maneuvers that may be employed to push the project through City Council.
Word on the street: Wal-Mart allies are looking to go around the zoning committee, which was likely to shoot down the project, in favor of taking the issue directly to the full City Council.
Almost every ordinance passes through a committee before hitting the council floor. But an alderman can propose to suspend the rules and bring an ordinance to the full council, says Kristine Williams, spokeswoman for City Clerk Miguel Del Valle. Read more...
