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http://my.chicagotribune.com/#columnist ... -83102942/Chicago is hemorrhaging cash, with impossible sums of money owed after the mayoral election, and little but smoke and sweet dreams on how to pay for it.
What's absolutely amazing is that the mayoral campaign at this stage isn't a referendum on Mayor Rahm Emanuel. And the oligarchs who installed Emanuel must love the way this is playing out in the media.
Because all I keep hearing about is what Rahm's opponent, Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, is going to do about Chicago's finances.
Pardon me, but didn't Rahm have anything to do with the finances? And what about that guy Rahm took over for, the one who'd give you those scary Mayor Chucky killer doll eyes if you dared challenge him? The guy Rahm refuses to mention by name?
Didn't he have anything to do with the city's finances?
Chicago Public Schools owes $1 billion, and the only way out is bankruptcy, something I've been warning you about for months. And City Hall owes a $550 million pension payment due after the election. Both the schools and City Hall are controlled by Rahm.
But all I seem to hear is this:
WWCD? What Would Chuy Do?
And, "Why hasn't Chuy done it yet? Does Chuy have any answers? Chuy, won't you say what taxes you will impose?"
Chuy? Chuy? Chuy, Chuy? Chuy?
I even read somewhere that Chuy lost the last debate 15 minutes in because he didn't say what he'd do, exactly.
Chuy? Where are you Chooo-eeee?
It's smart Chicago politics. But turning it all on Chuy is the wrong question. It is, however, the proper pro-Rahm question.
And Rahm has many media contacts and friends among the TV types, and he has the support of both newspaper editorial boards.
Besides, Rahm has tens of millions of dollars — raised from people who do business with City Hall — to spend on TV commercials.
That's how it's done. Not with the editorial boards as much as with the TV ads. And not just a few TV ads either. But a plethora of Rahm TV ads.
We've bathed in them, and now our eyes are slits, positively glassy from the Rahm ads. Especially that one with the huggable Rahm in the soft gentle sweater, the one in he admits that he might have been a tad aggressive and all but promises he'll be different if he's re-elected.
I'm sure you believe that, don't you?
And, in a few weeks, if you look up at the wall of City Hall and see my head impaled on a pike, my sightless eyes staring down as if wondering, "Where are you guys going to lunch?" at least wave to me.
But there is no sign that the TV ads will cease.
Why?
Because Rahm has the money, that's why.
And those who call themselves watchdogs might want to examine how Rahm gets all that money for all those TV ads.
The Chicago Tribune laid it all out the other day in a front-page story by investigative reporters David Heinzmann, John Chase and Jeff Coen.
The article points out that when he took office, Mayor Emanuel promised to stop what he called the "insider's game" that benefited those who were well connected to the 5th floor of City Hall.
You know the game. Insider gets a contract. Taxpayers pay the cost. And later, the insider dukes the politician's campaign with a big fat campaign check.
In Thursday's story, Tribune readers learned about the politics of an $80 million Chicago Public Schools janitorial contract with a company owned by basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Johnson and his investors dropped $10 million on a summer jobs program for inner-city youth. Rahm desperately needs African-American votes, and Johnson is an African-American icon. Johnson also dropped $250,000 on the elect-Rahm effort.
And who doesn't believe in fairies?
The photos are priceless. There he is, at a 2014 news conference, Rahm ignoring one of the money guys, actually reaching around a CEO to get what he came for, some big Magic love on camera.
First, Rahm winks at Magic.
And Magic points back at Rahm, with the big index finger, theatrically, making a happy face.
It's as if Magic was saying:
'You got me, right, Mister Mayor?"
Oh, he's got you all right, Magic.
He's got you so right. And he's not even paying for it.
The schools Rahm controls are paying for it. And taxpayers are paying for it.
Rahm's not paying. He just gets the benefits of the campaign cash and all that Magic love on camera.
Yet not all the people loved it.
The Chicago Principals & Administrators Association held a news conference Thursday and reacted to the Tribune story about the privatized school cleaning contracts, in total about some $340 million — of which the Magic Johnson end was $80 million.
"The schools are filthy, the principals have said over and over again. The management is chaotic," said Clarice Berry, president of the association. She continued:
"Magic Johnson has flown in, shaking the mayor's hand, offering more money so I assume so they can get more contracts — and I've got principals buying brooms and mops out of their own pockets that are part of the pilot that (Johnson's) company is getting $80 million to do."
Is that Chuy's fault too?
No.
Less than three weeks to go, Chicago.
_________________
Communists are just people who are terrible at capitalism.
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