Three years ago, Cook County Commissioner William Beavers dressed down the head of the juvenile jail for testifying before the County Board in casual attire: a white polo shirt tucked into his Dockers.On Thursday, it was a virtual replay as a budget hearing spiraled into a fiery, albeit brief, exchange about whether the man makes the clothes or the clothes make the man.
The Cook County Health and Hospitals System's board tomorrow will debate a resolution in support of making the system permanently independent of county government.
The 2008 ordinance establishing the independent board calls for the health system to revert back to Cook County Board oversight in 2011.
Making the health board permanent was a campaign point for candidates vying for the County Board presidency. Both Democrat Toni Preckwinkle and Republican Roger Keats support making it permanent; Green Party candidate Tom Tresser says he would like the board embrace more diversity and community input. Read more...
Chicago may not have seen a sports champion since the White Sox won the World Series in 2005, but that hasn’t dampened local politicians’ enthusiasm for spending big bucks on our local teams.
The Chicago Current analyzed campaign expenditures from 2009 and found that politicians’ campaign committees spent nearly $360,000 on tickets to see the city’s major league teams.
The White Sox took in the most campaign cash in 2009 with $195,601. The Cubs were second with $89,946. Coming in third were the Bulls, with $37,840, followed by the Bears with $24,453 and the resurgent Blackhawks with $11,760. Read more...
It’s unlikely we’ve heard the last of the sales tax debate. But for now, the sales tax is staying right where it is.
Commissioner Tony Peraica’s bid to axe the remaining half-percent of the 2008 sales tax hike was defeated by county commissioners at Tuesday’s board meeting. Commissioners in the finance committee voted 11-6 against the measure.
Voting nay were Commissioners William Beavers, Jerry Butler, John Daley, Bridget Gainer, Joseph Mario Moreno, Joan Patricia Murphy, Edwin Reyes, Deborah Sims, Robert Steele and Larry Suffredin. Read more...
As we nurse a primary hangover, here are some more Cook County results, if you’ve not seen them yet. (Scroll down for Cook County board results)
Republican Roger Keats soundly beat Chicago cop John Garrido for the County Board president nomination. Green Party candidate Tom Tresser ran unopposed.
Sheriff Tom Dart easily beat Sylvester Baker, and will face off against Republican Frederick Collins. Read more...
