- Juvenile injustice? Trib reports that turf battle between Chicago and Cook County cops over who answers 911 calls from the county’s Juvenile Temporary Detention Center “stirs fear” at West Side facility.
- Apple turnover? Chicago News Coop reports CTA cut private no-bid deal with Apple on $4 million station rehab at North & Clybourn in exchange for decade of free rent on new store. Ald. Waguespack’s lament: “We have to have an open process.”
- Dart’s bullseye? Sun-Times editorial says Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has “slayed the patronage dragon” by taking patronage out of personnel practices to an extent “unmatched by any other” local official.
- Cold water? Daily Herald reports that Metropolitan Water Reclamation District chief Richard Lanyon threatens to quit over new severance policies that could cost him $73,000. Board prez says cutbacks are to combat “tough economic times.”
- “Your next debt bomb.” That’s what Trib calls $28 billion gap between revenues and debts/liabilities of nearly 500 Cook County governmental units. Treasurer Maria Pappas conducted survey and posted results at www.cookcountytreasurer.com.
- Transparency tripped? State lawmakers vote to maintain FOIA loophole that keeps job performance reviews of public employees secret. Gov. Quinn wanted to make them public but House and Senate overrode him.
- Chicken hit?Lombard village board upholds ban on raising chickens in backyards. Daily Herald cites residential concerns over smell, disease and fear of opening the barn door to other animals.
What I’m Watching—Dec. 3, 2010
