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

RTA’s Al Jourdan and Don Totten Remind Suburbanites What’s at Stake

It took Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown to point it out, but there are some high regional stakes in the fight over who controls mass transportation in the metropolitan area. The same fight occurred in 1974 and in the early … 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

Franks Bill Provides New Way to Complain About RTA, Metra, Pace and the CTA

I’ve written previously of State Rep. Jack Franks’ personal motivation for going after Metra and RTA board members, but let me remind readers that Metra Board member Jack Schaffer owns Liberty Outdoor, the company that puts up small billboards favored … 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

2010 Family PAC Cruise – Part 1

It was August 10th and we were off to the annual Family PAC cruise. As usual, I took pictures of Kennedy Expressway traffic and CTA trains. And, once in Chicago, skyscrapers. Pretty amazing the shots one can get from a … 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

Part 3 – How High Is the Mayor Aaron Shepley’s Crystal Lake Sales Tax Hike?

“You’re way off,” Cat Dad said. “Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley is trying to fool you into thinking his 75% sales tax increased is smaller than it really is. “Have you heard people complaining about the RTA sales tax that … Continue reading

Part 3 – How High Is the Mayor Aaron Shepley’s Crystal Lake Sales Tax Hike?

“You’re way off,” Cat Dad said. “Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley is trying to fool you into thinking his 75% sales tax increased is smaller than it really is. “Have you heard people complaining about the RTA sales tax that … 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