- Marty mashes Metra. State Sen. Martin Sandoval tells the Sun-Times he’s no longer interested in running Metra because the agency’s board is “tainted” by an alleged failure to provide accountable, transparent, ethical leadership. He adds the board was either “grossly negligent or complicit” in the corruption scandal that preceded former transit boss Phil Pagano’s suicide. Sandoval reflects a growing lack of confidence in Metra.
- Capitol cooperation? Editorial in Southtown Star praises Illinois Senate President John Cullerton for appointing bi-partisan task forces to consider reforming Illinois’ costly Medicaid and Workers’ Compensation programs. Optimists see it as a critical first step by Dems in attracting GOP support for a comprehensive solution to the state’s fiscal crisis. I hope they’re right.
- Angst in Aurora. Bitter battle over police layoffs in one of the region’s largest suburbs may foreshadow a similar showdown in Chicago next year. Aurora’s facing an $18 million dollar deficit. Chicago’s may be in the half-billion dollar range.
- Suburban secession? Palatine is renewing its consideration of a proposal to secede from Cook County over multiple grievances, including the sky-high sales tax, according to a story in TribLocal. We’re betting that Cook County’s President-elect Toni Preckwinkle has no plans to muster Sheriff Dart’s police force to launch a pre-emptive strike.
