- Oh no, Joe! Capitol Fax Blog awards new Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios “a kazillion chutzpah points” for hiring son ($48,000) and sister ($86,000) in first week on the job. BGA says it’s time for the county to establish nepotism rules.
- Cousin Bob. Former Chicago Alderman Bob Shaw used to kiddingly tell people that he and I were cousins. Fast forward to present, village officials in south suburban Dolton have stripped him of his current $70,000 job as the village’s inspector general for allegedly treating that assignment with his trademark whimsy.
- Razzing Rahm. Claiming that “nobody is impressed by an empty chair,” Sun-Times editorial laments mayoral contender Emanuel’s decision to skip next week’s candidate forums, telling him that voters deserve to see and hear him with other candidates in unscripted settings. BGA agrees.
- Failure flap. Chicago parents’ group claims the Board of Education’s flunking policy vis-a-vis third, sixth and eighth graders discriminates against minority students. PURE (Parents United for Responsible Education) levels charge in complaint to civil rights unit of federal Department of Education.
- Angst in Alsip. Editorial in the Southtown Star says that south suburban Alsip’s decade-long policy of using tax dollars to support political candidates is unconscionable and contributes to growing public distrust of government.
- Dire days. The National Conference of State Legislatures just released a report describing Illinois’ fiscal situation as “dire.” Duh.
