Saturday Night Live Reruns Mocking of Roland and Rod

Posted on by March 1, 2009
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Saturday Night Live was in reruns last night. The January 10th show was broadcast again.

It featured a clueless Roland Burris and a just impeached Rod Blagojevich.

Just like Fox News, Saturday Night Live featured Illinois’ dynamic duo, Roland Burris and Rod Blagojevich.

Burris was portrayed as a persistent, if repetitive, African-American repeatedly presenting his credentials and trying to enter the U.S. Senate, the last time falling through the ceiling of break room.

When escorted out by police, he is seen wearing a beard and mustache.

That night he tried to get into a popular D.C. Nightclub, explaining that he had served the people of Illinois twenty years and that he was “the junior senator from the State of Illinois.”

The picture above is what was shown as he was escorted out.

Next up was Governor Rod Blagojevich.

He told the female interviewer that he had tried to clean up his language.

So, instead of using “Bleep you,” when he was asked a hostile question, he replied,

“Sex you.”

Blagojevich was asked about the 114-1 vote for impeachment.

“Yeah. It was close.”

He was asked if the use of people he had helped at his press conference wasn’t “exploitative.”

“Sex you!”

“When will you leave office?”

“Sex you! Never”

It was better than Blagojevich and his wife’s first appearance.

Later in the highlights of the new section, Blagojevich’s lopsided impeachment was mentioned again.

A picture of the one “No” vote was shown.

It was one of Blagojevich with a beard and mustache. Unfortunately, I missed the shot.

Illinois Pork in the Commerce, Justice and Science Budgets

Posted on by February 28, 2009
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Taxpayers for Common Sense has scanned the earmarks and made them available.

The group found $7.7 billion.

I have tried to extract those sponsored by Illinois Congressman. Below are the ones I found in the Commerce, Justice and Science budgets.

Strangely, I found many for retired Congressman Ray LaHood. He is now Secretary of Transportation.

There were also some for “Mr. President” I did not include. After I got much to far down the slow to advance pages, it occurred to me that these may have been pork designated by then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama.

I found no earmarks for newly-appointed U.S. Senator Roland Burris or 16th Congressman Don Manzullo or 13th District Judy Biggert in this area of the budget.

The list below is in alphabetic order according to the last name of the congressman. If there was more than one sponsor, the earmark is listed in order of the first sponsor on the list. If out of state congress folks were the chief sponsor, only the Illinois sponsor is listed.

Justice $100,000 Bean – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, WINGS Program, Inc., Domestic Violence Program, Schaumburg, IL

Justice $300,000 Bean – OJP – Juvenile Justice, The Allendale Association’s At Risk Youth Therapeutic Services, Lake Villa, IL

Justice $100,000 Costello – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Brooklyn Police Department, Public Safety Technology Improvements, Brooklyn, IL

Justice $100,000 Costello – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Herrin Public Safety Project, Herrin, IL

Justice $600,000 Costello – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Williamson County Regional Next General 911 Equipment, Williamson County, IL

Justice $250,000 Durbin – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Illinois Sheriff’s Association for Law Enforcement and Clean-Up of Meth Production and Abuse, Springfield, IL

Justice $100,000 Durbin – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, John A. Logan College to Expand Pilot Project That Electronically Tracks Purchases of Methamphetamine Precursors

NASA $300,000 Durbin – Cross Agency Support, Discovery Center Museum for Science Education for Rural and Under-served Children, Rockford, IL

Justice $300,000 Emanuel and Durbin – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Uhlick Children UCAN Violence Prevention Program, Chicago, IL

Justice $1,200,000 Emanuel – OJP – Juvenile Justice, Chicago Public Schools Transitions Project, Chicago, IL

Justice $250,000 Foster – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Equipment for Elgin Police Department, Elgin, IL

Justice $400,000 Foster – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Carpentersville Community Response Team, Carpentersville, IL

Justice $320,000 Hare – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, YWCA Canton and YWCA Sauk Valley, Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, Canton and Sterling, IL

Justice $180,000 Hare and Johnson – OJP – Juvenile Justice, Project Success of Decatur and Macon County, Truancy and School Success Program, Decatur, IL

Justice $515,000 LaHood – Cass County Sheriff, 9-1-1 Center Equipment Communications Upgrade, Virginia, IL

Justice $25,000 LaHood – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, City of Lincoln Police Department, Security Upgrades, Lincoln, IL

Justice $410,000 LaHood – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, East Peoria Technology Grant, East Peoria, IL

Justice $410,000 LaHood – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Logan County Sheriff 9-1-1 Equipment, Lincoln, IL

Justice $675,000 LaHood – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Peoria Police Department and Peoria Sheriff’s Department Radio and Technology Upgrades

Justice $175,000 LaHood – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Jacksonville/Morgan County Underwater Search & Rescue Dive Team, Jacksonville, IL

NASA $250,000 LaHood – Cross Agency Support, Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, Lakeview Museum Planetarium, Peoria, IL

Justice $300,000 Jackson – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, ECOM Dispatch Center Technology Upgrades, Homewood, IL

Justice $280,000 Jackson – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Southcom Combined Dispatch Center Technological Upgrades, Matteson, IL

Justice $200,000 Jackson – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Safer Foundation Workforce Development & Criminal Justice Recidivism Rates Reduction, Chicago, IL

Justice $100,000 Jackson – OJP – Juvenile Justice, Chicago Urban League Juvenile Justice Youth Advocacy Program, Chicago, IL

Justice $100,000 Jackson and Durbin – OJP – Juvenile Justice, Richton Park for the Development of a Youth Intervention Program, Richton Park, IL

NASA $900,000 Jackson, Emanuel and Davis – Cross Agency Support, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Planetarium Equipment, Chicago, IL

Justice $200,000 Lipinski – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Cook County Independent Base Stations, Chicago, IL

Justice $100,000 Lipinski – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Chicago Ridge Police Department, Chicago Ridge, IL

Justice $100,000 Lipinski – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Forest Park Police Department, Forest Park, IL

Justice $100,000 Lipinski – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Justice Police Department, Justice, IL

Justice $200,000 Roskam – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, DuPage County Sheriff’s Department, Interoperable Radios, Wheaton, IL

Justice $75,000 Roskam and Schakowsky – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Law Enforcement Technology Detection Equipment, Glencoe, IL

Justice $175,000 Roskam – OJP – Juvenile Justice, DuPage County Area Project (DuCAP) Providing Positive Choices for Youth Project, Glendale Heights, IL

Justice $200,000 Rush – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Chicago Urban League’s Male Involvement Program, Chicago, IL

Justice $200,000 Rush – OJP – Juvenile Justice, Lyle for Kids, Inc., Chicago, IL

Justice $200,000 Rush – OJP – Juvenile Justice, The Link & Option Center, Markham, IL

Justice $25,000 Schakowsky – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Anti-Gang Initiative, Evanston, IL

Justice $100,000 Schakowsky – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Harwood Heights Police Department, Harwood Height, IL

Justice $100,000 Shakowsky – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, North Shore YWCA, Domestic Violence Services Program

Justice $125,000 Schakowsky – OJP – Juvenile Justice, East Maine School District 53 Educational Foundation, Total Learning Community, Niles, IL

Justice $155,000 Shimkus – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Jasper County Sheriff Communications Equipment, Newton, IL

Justice $49,000 Shimkus – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Jasper County Unit 1 School District Security Camera Equipment, Newton, IL

Justice $16,000 Shimkus – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Marion County Sheriff Digit Fingerprint Machine, Marion County, IL

Justice $280,000 Shimkus – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Shelby County Communications Equipment, Shelbyville, IL

Justice $300,000 Weller and Durbin – COPS Law Enforcement Technology, Will County for Integrated Criminal Justice and Information Systems, Will County, IL

Justice $50,000 Weller – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Guardian Angel Transitional Services, Joliet, IL

Justice $250,000 Weller and Durbin – OJP Byrne Discretionary Funds, Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley, Expanding Community Service Restitution Program, Ottawa, IL

MCC Student Peace Group Sponsors Panel Discussion

Posted on by February 28, 2009
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The following has been received from the McHenry County College Peace Group:

MCC STUDENT PEACE GROUP PANEL DISCUSSION TO FEATURE IRAQ WAR VETERANS, BOOTS EXHIBIT

The McHenry County College Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) will observe the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War will feature

“The Personal Cost of War, Viewpoints from Former Soldiers,”

a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 in the college’s conference center.

The event will feature a panel of U.S. veterans who served in the “war on terror” who will share their personal stories of occupation and military service.

They will discuss what they saw and what they were asked to do.

These “winter soldiers” are not anti-military.

Their goal is to shed light on routine abuses rooted in military policy in an attempt to improve it. Having been there, they believe it is their patriotic duty to inform the people of what is really happening on the ground.

The student peace group will also exhibit “Eyes Wide Open,” The American Friends Service Committee’s highly acclaimed combat boot display on March 10 and 11 in the Commons Area.

This event is part of SPAN’s Current American Issues Information Seminar Series. The panel discussion is sponsored by The Chicago Iraq Veterans Against the War, the McHenry County Peace Coalition, and the Student Peace Action Network.

According to Molly McQueen, the Student Peace Action Network includes students promoting peace nationally and locally through action and education.

“Out stand on the subject is that the troops in Iraq should be brought home rather than sent into Afghanistan. We encourage the community to get involved,”

she said.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Student Life Office at (815) 455-8772.

State Representative Mark Beaubien Floats Idea to Tax Pensions

Posted on by February 27, 2009
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For starters, let me say my self-interest is involved in this story.

Thanks to Illinois taxpayers, I am paid a pension that is higher than $50,000.

I periodically thank people for it. Among other things, it allows me to spend my time on McHenry County Blog.

As some will know, retirement income is not taxed in Illinois.

That is one of the reasons that more people don’t move out of state after they
they retire.

Certainly, the real estate tax burden is crushing, especially, in the collar counties.

Our property tax bill exceeds $8,000.

The same home in a Southern state would have a much, much lower tax bill.

Now Greg Hinz is reporting in Crain’s Chicago Business online that one of the three state representatives who has a part of McHenry County—a Republican—is proposing to tax retirement income.

From the article, it is evident he talked to him.

It is interesting that the Barrington Hills resident is identified as “North Shore” State Rep. Mark Beaubien.

He is identified as the lead negotiator for House Republicans on “big picture financial issues.”

Beaubien, one of the more liberal Republicans on social issues, is reported to be suggesting

raising “about $900 million a year by taxing retirement payments above $50,000 and pensions paid to any one who retires before age 65.”

OK, so my pension is a good one for which I often thank people in person. But, it won’t just me that gets hit. All those early retiring teachers will be, too.

Maybe that’s why it could bring in almost a billion dollars.

Probably more, if the push to raise the income tax rate 67% is part of the package.

That would cut retirement benefits by 5% right after private retirement assets have tanked.

Great position for a Republican to espouse.

Not only is the McHenry County legislator proposing imposing a new income tax, but Hinz uses this phraseology about current retiree health benefits:

“cut spending on Medicaid pensions for state workers.”

Retiree health benefits are the same as for all state employees, including state legislators, and have nothing to do with Medicaid.

Those on pensions who reach age 65 are forced into Medicare.

Later in the Hinz article House Republican Leader Tom Cross says the GOP is not behind the proposal, but what message does it send when one of his top lieutenants is the first to surface the idea of taxing senior citizens?

You know, the ones who most consistently vote Republican.

MCC President Walt Packard Steps Down, Brian Sager Named Acting President

Posted on by February 27, 2009
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The following press release has been issued by McHenry County College’s Board of Trustees:

MCHENRY COUNTY COLLEGE PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[Friday, February 27, 2009]

The Board of Trustees of McHenry County College and Dr. Walt Packard wish to mutually announce that Dr. Packard will be stepping down as the College’s President and assuming the position of President Emeritus effective February 26,2009.

The Board greatly appreciates Dr. Packard’s service, and acknowledges his contributions, to the College and the College community as President.

The College will continue to move forward on initiatives begun under Dr. Packard including the Academic Quality Improvement Program, implementation of the new ERP system, and the McHenry County College Promise.

The College will immediately begin the process of searching for a permanent replacement for Dr. Packard. The College is currently reviewing options on the appointment of an Interim President. In the meantime, Dr. Brian Sager will serve as the Acting President. (Sager previously announced his retirement at the end of June.)

A statement from Dr. Packard follows:

“I wish to thank the Board of Trustees, administration, staff and faculty for having the opportunity to lead McHenry County College for nearly six marvelous years, one of the finest community colleges in Illinois and the nation.

“Over the last several months, the stress of coping with my wife’s ongoing illness led me to work with the Board of Trustees to seek a reassignment in my duties.

“The College is well-positioned to continue its outstanding service to our community as it moves forward with its implementation of a new ERP system, its community engagement project, and of course its continued integration of the principles of the Academic Quality Improvement Program into the fabric of the institution.

“And, without a doubt, the MCC Promise will continue to create excitement for the College and our community— what a time to be part of the College family.

“I look forward to serving in my new role as President Emeritus.”

While Packard will undoubtedly be remembered for the McHenry County Promise free tuition program, he will also be remembered as the leader of one of the most secretive government operations in McHenry County history.

The minor league baseball stadium fiasco comes immediately to mind. Months went by before the public was informed of the college’s plans. And months more before more or less meaningful details were released to the public.

And the almost 12-month process of considering selling a 400 foot by 400 foot corner of MCC to BMB Communications Management on which to build the largest free standing radio-TV broadcast tower in the country is certainly one I’ll remember.

Still no meaningful details about the college’s consideration of the project have been released. Just the proposed contract and information that the prospective buyer wishes the public to see.

The first night BMB came to a board meeting, I and others were illegally threatened with arrest while standing outside the college’s secret meeting.

That was after a college security guard got a cell phone call from within the board meeting room.

Before that, Packard’s moving the American flag to block my view of the meeting ranks as one of the most bizarre events in my 42 years of interaction with McHenry County officials.

If the tower is built, the public will remember Packard as the man who led the way to the landmark that will identify the college’s location from 30 miles out. The bright white and red strobe lights will be impossible to miss.

I am sure that everyone wishes him Godspeed in his personal life.

= = = = =
The man on top is outgoing MCC President Walt Packard. Below is Acting President Brian Sager. The antennae shown are representations of the 1,500 foot tower provided by BMB Communications Management. The one on the left shows its flexibility in a strong wind. The melting minor league baseball stadium was created by Heck of a Guy Crystal Lake blogger Alan Showalter. The head behind the American Flag being moved to block a view of the first secret meeting about the broadcast tower is Dr. Packard’s.

Grafton Township’s Very Special Meeting Canceled

Posted on by February 27, 2009
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The folks that went to the special Grafton Township meeting last night found the doors locked and a notice that the meeting had been canceled due to lack of a quorum.

I have never heard of a meeting being canceled like that.

Usually, those attending wait for the roll to be called. If there are not enough members there to meet the minimum required to hold a meeting, they wait until the missing person or persons arrive, if they are coming, or adjourn the meeting for lack of a quorum.

The meeting was called to award contracts to build the new township hall for which John Rossi and a majority of the township board approved borrowing $3.5 million without first holding a referendum to gain voter approval. The woman he lost to, Linda Moore, made opposition to that new township hall the key stone of her campaign, as you can see above.

I have a new image to share with you, but can’t upload it because Google, which hosts McHenry County Blog, has not yet processed my Monday payment for additional memory for photos. It was supposed to be processed within 24 hours. It’s now going on four days.

= = = = =
In the re-cycled photo above you can see Linda Moore handing literature to Milford Brown, who is running for the Huntley Fire Protection District Board. Sitting behind the table is her daughter Abby Moore, a senior at Huntley High School planning to study pharmaceutical science.

Fireworks Back to the Lake

Posted on by February 27, 2009
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Crystal Lake’s 4th of July fireworks celebration will return to the lake this summer after a try at Lippold Park, where parking was inadequate.

It didn’t matter to us, because we were in Missouri.

That trip only cost a new car.

If you want to see the 2007 show, here’s the place to look.

There were all sorts of different fireworks two years ago to which I tried to ascribe descriptors.

The one on top reminded me of a space ship exploding.

The most expensive seats then and this year will be in our pontoon boat.

Maybe I’ll even take it out from the dock.

We needed a new boat cover this year.

That certainly the cost per seat up there.

But the new cover will be better designed that the old one on which water ponded.

Now that the Crystal Lake Gala is defunct, the city is picking up the cost with its hotel tax.

Election Day Hits Up 16%

Posted on by February 27, 2009
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Looking at the web site that counts the number of folks that visit McHenry County Blog, I was pleased to see that its usefulness continues to grow.

On the February primary election day last year, 2,509 people came to McHenry County Blog for information.

This year, with much less at stake—just four Republican township primary elections—2,917 people took a look.

Feds Dump Terrorist Case on Fitzgerald

Posted on by February 27, 2009
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The Barack Obama administration seems to be following in the footsteps of the George W. Bush administration.

At least as far as tying up the resources used to prosecute political crime goes in Illinois.

You will remember that Scooter Libby was prosecuted by Chicago’s United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Rumor had it that our U.S. Attorney’s office also got terrorist duty under Bush, not to mention the request to evaluate a treaty concerning Antarctica.

If true, neither would seem to have much to do with Chicago.

Now, right out in the open, Obama’s people have told Fitzgerald to prosecute Qatar native Ali al-Marri, according to Associated Press.

The “alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent” will be mored from a Navy brig in South Carolina to Illinois.

I wonder if Obama’s Justice Department is sending lawyers, too.

Crystal Lake Park Board Votes to Pay $6.3 Million for Viking Dodge

Posted on by February 26, 2009
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Big doings at the park board Thursday night.

Lincoln’s Birthday, McHenry County Blog reported Viking Dodge was topping the rumor mill for a location for a Crystal Lake Park District Community Center and Sports Complex.

“It’s more than a community center,” Park Board President Mike Zellman stressed.

Well, we didn’t call it that big name two weeks ago, but Thursday’s press release does.

And the potential price–$6.2 million–reported a few days later was virtually spot on.

The number in the contract is $6.29 million.

What would the park district get for that money?

A fairly new 44,000 square foot building on 26.9 acres.

18 acres out back are vacant, zoned agricultural, but already in the Crystal Lake city limits.

It could be used for “additional ball fields, courts and open space,” the district’s press release explained.

Is it a good deal?

In comparison to the vacant property which is a little smaller on the Southwest corner of Routes 14 and 176, it is.

Several decades ago talked about as a site for a Holidome, that vacant site is a bit smaller, but about the same price. And the water table cannot be far beneath its surface.

Financing will come from non-referendum “Alternative Revenue Bonds.”

While the press release says,

“The Park District will not be increasing taxes to acquire the property or to adapt the building for the anticipated uses in Phase 1,”

I suspect what is meant is that the tax rate will not go up. Certainly, if the money were not borrowed, the tax rate would decrease because fewer tax dollars would be required.

The board plans to pay for renovation through the sale of property, for example, the current Downtown administration building and parking lot to the east between the Dean law office and the health food store would be on the block.

The sale of other properties is also a possibility. One being considered is over 3 acres. It would require referendum approval because of its size.

And, the $3 million the city council promised for a senior center is a possibility, too.

City officials “have been outstanding from the beginning,” park district Director Kirk Reimer said.

“We’ve talked to the mayor (Aaron Shepley). He knows about it.

Last week city traffic consultant Gary Overbay and City Engineer Victor Ramirez spoke behind closed doors with the park board a week ago.

Overbay “presented us with a number of great options,” park board President Mike Zellman said.

Among them was apparently access to Route 14 through the old outdoor antique farm across from Flowerwood or the empty property north of it nearing The Breakers restaurant (from which it is very hard to exit, if one wants to return to Crystal Lake).

The pending reconfiguration of the Route 14-Route 176 intersection also provides some possibilities for innovative design.

Now, getting into and out of the Viking Dodge location would be a problem with the two state highways the way they exist now.

The district has 120 days, even 150 days to perform due diligence on the property.

Consultants will look at environmental, engineering, watershed, traffic, site design and water table aspects, among others.

Reimer said the depth of the water table is most important. If it were only three feet below the surface, I gathered that would be a deal breaker.

If everything works out, the district is looking at taking ownership in the middle of this summer. Remodeling will then commence.

The immediate uses would be for a Senior Center, Administrative Offices and Recreational Program Spaces, along with Equipment Maintenance Areas.

“This property gives us a lot of options,” Zellman said. “Our ultimate goal is a sports complex and pool.”

Six of the thirteen vehicle repair lifts will be left when Viking vacates the property. Some will be used to repair park district trucks and cars, while the unneeded ones will be sold off.

The thought arises that it is close enough to McHenry County College that auto mechanics students might make use of it in down time.

And the ultimate goal, a Crystal Lake Park District Community Center and Sports Complex?

It would have to go to the voters for the $30, $40, $50 million that would be needed.

Part of that cost might defrayed by allowing commercial properties near Route 176 where part of the parking lot is now.

Voting in favor of the proposal were Eric Anderson, Angel Collins, Richard Sexton, Jerry Sullivan, Mike Walkup and Mike Zellman.

Candy Reedy did not attend the meeting.

= = = = =
Mayor Aaron Shepley is seen telling Crystal Lake seniors that he favors combining a senior center with a park district community center.

Vrdolyak Skates

Posted on by February 26, 2009
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Senior Federal Judge Milton Shadur sentence former Alderman Ed Vrdolyak to 5 years probation ripping into the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the lack of seriousness of the crime.

There was also a $50,000 fine, which WBBM-Radio reporter John Cody said was one month’s income for Vrdolyak.

The toughest part of the sentence to comply with will probably be the 2,500 hours of community service.

People work about 2,020 hours a year.

Fifty people wrote letters in support of lenient sentencing, WBEZ reports.

The sentence clearly did not meet with approval of United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald issued the following statement:

“We strongly but respectfully disagree with the sentence of probation imposed on defendant Vrdolyak. 

“As we argued in court, we believe a sentence of incarceration was appropriate for a defendant who schemed to share a $1.5 million fee with a corrupt insider involving the sale of a non-profit university’s valuable real estate asset.”

Vrdolyak has already given up his law license.

= = = = =
The happy smile on the Chicago Sun-Times the day in August of 2006 when the story about the federal investigation of Edward Vrdolyak broke probably seems more appropriate today than then.

Grafton Township Has $3.5 Million New Township Hall Construction Contracts Tonight at 7:30

Posted on by February 26, 2009
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Despite losing the Republican primary election and, therefore, the Grafton Township Supervisor position, John Rossi is holding a special meeting of his board at the Huntley Park District Recreation Center tonight at 7:30.

The Center is located at 12,015 Mill Street in Huntley.

(If you go to the stoplight in the center of old Huntley, go south and take the first right – Mill Street – you will see it on the right two streets down at the corner of Sunset. Alternatively, coming from the West toward the intersection, turn right on Lincoln. At Mill, two blocks south, turn left and drive to Sunset.)

The election was successfully framed by Linda Moore as a referendum on whether a new township hall should be constructed.

Moore won the primary by 30 votes.

Message of the Day – A Tee Shirt

Posted on by February 26, 2009
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Read this tee shirt and feel the way I did.


It says,

When I went to the store I
saw this shirt in the young men’s
section. I started to
read what it said, and when
I was about half way through
the message printed on the
front of it, I realized that
it didn’t really say anything.
I felt stupid. Then I thought,
“If I buy this shirt and wear it,
then other people will stand
there and read it and they’ll feel
stupid too.” So I bought it
and now you’re standing there reading
it. You must feel really stupid.

A young man at a swim meet was wearing this tee shirt.

Bear Steans’ Nick Hurtgen Pleads Guilty

Posted on by February 26, 2009
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One of former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson’s “Wunderkinds” has plead guilty to federal charges concerning the Edwards Hospital Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board scandal.

Nicholas Hurtgen, who at the time was Managing Director of the Chicago office of Bear Stearns, also has a connection to ex-Crystal Laker and ex-felon Don Udstuen, who was an Illinois and McHenry County power broker.

When Wisconsin Energy was seeking an Illinois lobbyist in 1999, Hurtgen asked Don Udstuen’s advice. The government says that Udstuen conferred with Governor George Ryan and Ryan suggested Ryan’s good friend, lobbyist and former Republican State Senator Art Swanson. Swanson was hired.

Hurtgen was identified in a whistle-blowing suit filed by Naperville’s Edward Hospital. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Edwards’ lawsuit said the scheme began in 2001 when Udstuen of Crystal Lake introduced Hurtgen to Edward Hospital officials.

Convicted fixer Stuart Levine was the manipulator on the hospital certificate need licensing board. He was appointed the the board by both Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.

Although the Hurtgen plea agreement does not mention Crystal Lake’s Mercy Hospital bid, financing by Bear Stearns figured into the deal to have Mercy hire Kiferbaum Construction, which was supposed to give Levine a kickback. Kiferbaum flipped, as did another Levine associate John Glennon.

Udstuen is the former head of the Illinois State Medical Society medical malpractice company, a super-lobbyist and a close adviser to former GOP Governor George Ryan. Facing a 22-count federal indictment alleging a host of corrupt activities while in public office, Udstuen plead guilty to federal corruption charges involving his work with the Ryan administration and cooperated with prosecutors on the trial, which led to Ryan’s conviction of political corruption.

Hurtgen was the Bear Stearns managing director in Chicago when then-Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander received $809,133.96 for doing no work (really; that’s what the documents filed by Bear Stearns Vincent A. Mazzaro, Managing Director/Principal & Controller of the Municipal Division, say) prior to the bond house selection for newly-sworn in Governor Rod Blagojevich’s $10 billion 1973 pension bond issuance.

The Chicago Sun-Times found that Hurtgen’s wife Kim was a 3.5% owner of Knight Infrastructure. An article I wrote for Illinois Leader was the first to report that Knight provided $29,726 in free plane rides for Blagojevich during 2002—before and after the fall election.

Knight got a lucrative contract to design and be construction manager for the $30 million World Shooting Complex in Sparta and is also earning $4.7 million in an oversight role in the remodeling of tollway oases.

Junior College Refuses to Release Mega-Tower Documents that Would Prove Anyone Did Any Due Diligence

Posted on by February 25, 2009
Reply

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I requested

  • All communications between BMB, the TV-radio aerial company seeking to buy MCC property, and MCC

  • All reports and memos concerning the proposal

  • All documents not included above which reference the company or its proposal

The answer?

You get nothing.

The excuse listed are Section7, paragraphs 1(f) and (s) of the Freedom of Information Act.

I can sue in circuit court, if I wish.

That’s what McHenry County College President Walt Packard writes.

So all that is on the public record is the contract proposed by BMB and a letter from a risk management firm.

There is no indication whatsoever that any expert in the broadcast tower business was consulted to advise whether $6 million was a good or bad price for the property that John Macquire wants to build.

The college is following in the muddy footsteps of its poorly analyzed minor league baseball stadium.

Officials do not have the expertize to analyze the proposal themselves and apparently refuse to hire someone to advise them who might.

Or, maybe they did hire such a antenna business consultant and just won’t tell us.

And, just in case you are interested what those two little exemption paragraphs are, read on

Section 7. Exemptions.

(

f) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except that a specific record or relevant portion of a record shall not be exempt when the record is publicly cited and identified by the head of the public body. The exemption provided in this paragraph (f) extends to all those records of officers and agencies of the General Assembly that pertain to the preparation of legislative documents.

(s) The records, documents and information relating to real estate purchase negotiations until those negotiations have been completed or otherwise terminated. With regard to a parcel involved in a pending or actually and reasonably contemplated eminent domain proceeding under the Eminent Domain Act, records, documents and information relating to that parcel shall be exempt except as may be allowed under discovery rules adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court. The records, documents and information relating to a real estate sale shall be exempt until a sale is consummated.

So much at the junior college is top secret, hush-hush. I wonder if any of those privy to it ever had a Top Secret clearance.

= = = = =
The towers you see above were supplied at the BMB Communications Management presentation to the public and the MCC Board on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. The one at the left is blowing in a 40 mile per hour wind. The one to the left isn’t.

Rossi Defeat Not Exactly a Mandate for New $3.5 Million Grafton Township Hall

Posted on by February 25, 2009
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When I woke up this morning, a thought occurred to me.

The narrow defeat of Grafton Township Supervisor John Rossi is not exactly a mandate to the township board to build the township hall for which they borrowed $3.5 million without seeking referendum approval.

As victor Linda Moore told the Daily Herald’s Jameel Naqvi,

“To me, this would say they have voted down building a new township hall.“

Indeed.

Only One of Linda Moore Trustee Allies Wins; Ability to Stop Proposed $3.5 Million Township Hall in Doubt

Posted on by February 25, 2009
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It’s hard to tell what a township board will do when its leader goes down to defeat.

In Grafton Township, apparent narrow winner Linda Moore carried only one of her two running mates to victor – Gerry McMahon.

He placed third of six candidates.

The preliminary Republican Party primary election results follow (with the four winners on top):

  • Betty Zirk – 1,254
  • Barbara Murphy – 1,157
  • Gerry McMahan – 1,025
  • Robert LaPorta – 1,005
  • Lois Brothers – 931
  • Don Glogovsky – 816

Glogovsky was the second of Moore’s running mates. He was inexplicably separated from the other one on the ballot. I guess they didn’t file joint petitions. Had they filed joint petitions, Glogovsky would have been second on the ballot and had a better chance of success.

Since the township board has five members, Moore may not be able to accomplish her goals—the main on being to stop the proposed $3.5 million new township hall—unless one of the incumbent trustees is willing to cooperate with her.

The next meeting of the Grafton Township Board is Thursday night at 7:30 at the Huntley Park District Recreation Center.

Manzullo Comments on Obama’s Speech

Posted on by February 25, 2009
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Here’s his short statement:

Manzullo Responds to President
Obama’s Address to Congress

(ROCKFORD) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) tonight issued the following statement responding to President Obama’s Address to Congress and the nation:
“Following weeks of unprecedented spending, it was good to hear President Obama talk tonight about the need for fiscal responsibility as we move our country forward.

“As our nation recovers, we must quickly end this government spending spree that is heaping massive amounts of debt on our future generations.

“Unfortunately, Congress plans to pay off our bills by increasing taxes on Americans instead of cutting wasteful spending.

“These tax hikes – which include the return of the job-killing death tax – will especially hurt our small business owners, who create 70 percent of all new jobs each year. Why in these dire economic times would we intentionally hurt the segment of our economy that has the best chance to put people back to work?

“Instead, the government should tighten its purse strings and cut spending as all Americans are doing in these difficult times.

“The people I represent are worried and hurting, and I appreciate President Obama’s urgency in trying to return us to prosperity. I will continue to reach out to the President and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what we can to improve the lives of all Americans.”

Absentee Ballots, Early Voting Won by Grafton Township Supervisor John Rossi; Linda Moore Margin of Victory Now 30 Votes

Posted on by February 25, 2009
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Almost the same thing that happened two years ago happened when she won enough votes to get elected on election day, but lost when the absentee and early voting ballots were added in almost happened again yesterday.

Leading by 128 votes of those cast on election day, Moore’s victory margin dropped to 30 after the other votes were folded in.

The closeness of the vote allows incumbent John Rossi to request a discovery recount of ten percent of the precincts. With 31 precincts, that means he can have the ballots of three run through the vote counting machines again.

Such discovery recounts rarely change the result.

And, since McHenry County doesn’t use punch cards anymore, there won’t be any hanging chad problem.

= = = = =
In the photo above you can see Linda Moore handing literature to Milford Brown, who is running for the Huntley Fire Protection District Board. Sitting behind the table is her daughter Abby Moore, a senior at Huntley High School planning to study pharmaceutical science. Her son Andrew, attending college in Florida, is one of the absentee ballots.