Advice for Cities: Embrace the Sububs

That’s what this column in Crain’s Chicago Business says: Rust Belt cities should try embracing the suburbs Merging aging urban centers with surrounding municipalities shows promise as a path to revival. READ MORE > Been there, done that. The RTA was created ti … Continue reading

Rauner Wants Automatic RTA Subsidy Stopped

When the Regional Transportation Authority referendum passed, there was a subsidy assumed. I remember that is was about $60 million a year. That number came from a formula. It was some small percentage of the sales tax collected in the … Continue reading

Prying the Jail Cost Numbers from the Locked Down Sheriff’s Department

Municipal bond analyst Steve Wilson left the following message under the first part of my report of the McHenry County Board debate about the $10 increase for housing Federal prisoners: How much are we losing each day per prisoner? I … Continue reading

Chicago Tribune Confirms Dee Beaubien Used Word “Fair” to Describe Income Tax Hike

McHenry County Blog commenters are repeatedly posting that David McSweeney is not telling the truth in his mailings when he says the following: “Calling a 67% tax increase ‘fair.’ “Beaubien has said that the 67% income tax hike has led … Continue reading

The RTA Tax Hikers’ Mythical “Universal Pass” Promise

Since 1974 when Downtown Chicago business interests financed the referendum to impose taxes on the suburbs to subsidize the CTA, promises have been made that there would be a “Universal Pass.” If something was promised 38 years ago and has … Continue reading

Back to Thrilling CTA Days of Yesteryear

Didn’t the “Lone Ranger” television show start with something like that? When the extension of the CTA from Jefferson Park to O’Hare was being considered, it was right after the Regional Transportation Authority was shoved down the throats of suburbanites. … Continue reading

Regional “Doomsday” Doesn’t Make the Front Page, Personal “Doomsday” Does

The unions decided to keep their benefits. That was more important than letting the commuters ride the CTA. And the personal grief of Democratic Party Lieutenant Governor Scott Lee Cohen’s son was more important that the doomsday for CTA strap … Continue reading

McHenry County Republican Party Follows in Footsteps of Cal Skinner

The McHenry County Republican Central Committee has moved. Right into my father’s and my old office space in the tip of the “V” at the Crystal Lake Plaza. In the early 1970’s, Dad has his Barley and Malt Institute office … Continue reading

McHenry County Republican Party Follows in Footsteps of Cal Skinner

The McHenry County Republican Central Committee has moved. Right into my father’s and my old office space in the tip of the “V” at the Crystal Lake Plaza. In the early 1970’s, Dad has his Barley and Malt Institute office … Continue reading

RU Nuts?

From the folks that brought us the 1974 RTA gas and sales tax comes the idea of turning Randall Road into a tollway. It’s not bad enough that the Illinois Department of Transportation has built four-lane highways for less traffic … Continue reading

RU Nuts?

From the folks that brought us the 1974 RTA gas and sales tax comes the idea of turning Randall Road into a tollway. It’s not bad enough that the Illinois Department of Transportation has built four-lane highways for less traffic … Continue reading

No, No, No, No, No

That’s how legislators representing McHenry County voted on the bill to increase the RTA sales tax from one-quarter of one percent to three-quarters of one percent. The two state senators–Pam Althoff and Bill Peterson–and the three state representatives–Mark Beaubien, Jack … Continue reading

No, No, No, No, No

That’s how legislators representing McHenry County voted on the bill to increase the RTA sales tax from one-quarter of one percent to three-quarters of one percent. The two state senators–Pam Althoff and Bill Peterson–and the three state representatives–Mark Beaubien, Jack … Continue reading