Cutting Chicago Government
Some people are taking serious looks at cutting the size of the City Council again, something we brought up unsuccessfully (spectacularly unsuccessfully we might add) a while back:
Should the size of Chicago’s City Council be significantly reduced?
That’s a question being raised with increasing frequency during the Chicago mayoral race as candidates wrestle with new proposals to slash city spending and streamline government operations.
What follows is a Better Government Association analysis, along with a historical perspective, of this important and timely issue.
They have a list of supposed savings that might be realized by combining ward operations and eliminating spots, but it seems to skip one of the biggest ones in the aldermanic "discretionary funds" that amount to something like $1.3 million per aldercreature for assorted "menu" items like street repair and lighting. This was the lowest level of connected contracting run amok as aldercreatures were able to steer money to firms they owned, sponsored or had run by relatives to make sure they got a cut of the cash.
The more people talk about it, the more realistic it might seem to actually occurring.
The more people talk about it, the more realistic it might seem to actually occurring.
Labels: city politics
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
23 Comments:
Keep the 50 Alderman spots, just pay them differently. Aldermen (and all elected officials) should be paid the median income of the people they represent. If they want a raise then they better see that their constituents get raises first. If they want to make $100,000+ then move to the Gold Coast and run.
but it seems to skip one of the biggest ones in the aldermanic "discretionary funds" that amount to something like $1.3 million per aldercreature for assorted "menu" items like street repair and lighting.
.............Ummmm SCC, it did not skip the discretionary funds because they would not be eliminated. C'mon, it's bad enough that one of these leeches spots would be eliminated but you really don't expect the remaining aldercreatures to carry on and run two wards on only one fund do you??? HELL NO, thet will combine that fund and give them 2.6 million because now they will need to run TWO wards. But look at the bright side. The aldermen that lose their spots will have a resume that can definitely get them a job at Mac Donalds. (I know it's Mc)
It will never happen, but remember there used to be two Alderman for every ward back in the old days.
People must have gone broke paying off all the politicians.
Article in the Wall Street Journal. Illinois trying to sell it's debt to Hedge Funds.
Illinois Seeks Wall Street Cash
State Pitches Plan for Trading Houses and Hedge Funds to Help Pay Its Vendors
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703727804576011644076639916.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection
Remember. If you use the City Councils of New York City and Los Angeles for purposes of per capita representation, Chicago should have no more then SEVENTEEN (17) wards/aldermen.
"Cutting Chicago Government"
Perish the mere thought SCC!
...Never mind the noise you just heard. 50 assholes just clenched so hard they shattered like plate glass windows being hit by cinder blocks.
The city is only half the problem when it comes to budgets.
Illinois has the largest funding gap in the nation - about 47% of it's general fund.
I think we are going to see everything targeted..pensions, all of it.. and spending cuts alone isn't going to fix it either...or so they say. Higher taxes.
Going to get pretty ugly around here. They're whining about the state prisons being overcrowded and Quinn is pushing to crank up that early inmate release program again..
Let's all hope that whoever the next Mayor is will actually make 'less representation in Chicago' a reality.
I would love to see term limits on a future ballot, for every elected position in this state, from Governor ( I don't think a Governor can be elected to more than 2 terms here now) to Alderman.
Posted by Chicago Elections 2011 at 12/10/2010 1:24 PM
http://blog.chicagoelections2011.com/2010/12/10/reform-chicago-2011.aspx
John Garrido, running in the 45th, says this of the endorsement by Reform Chicago 2011 of his candidacy, "I am a reform minded candidate. For example; I believe we should not do more with less when it comes to public safety, but I strongly believe we can do more with less Aldermen.
Now is the perfect opportunity to institute real change in our city government. At one time you needed to call your alderman to get a garbage can; now you just call 311.
With the census complete, our elected officials will set out to draw new Ward boundaries. Now is a great time to strongly consider and have hearings on reducing the number of Wards to 25 instead of 50.
A very simple solution would be to reduce the city council by half. We are doing more with less everywhere. The city council would be a perfect place to start.
Don't forget...1.3 million times 25 is 32.5 million, the salaries of their staffs, rental for offices, etc....the City would easily save 75 to 100 million by eliminating 25alderman. New York has 6 burroughs,most are 1/2 the size of our city, guess how many alderman they have.....6.
As a referendum on how they are doing, how do we get this reduction on the ballot for the citizens to vote? Would love to see an accounting of that $1.3 million each and where it is going?
fire them all!
This is simple: If we can't seem to elect an official that doesn't steal, at least we have less of them to keep an eye on.
"I would love to see term limits on a future ballot, for every elected position in this state, from Governor ( I don't think a Governor can be elected to more than 2 terms here now) to Alderman."
Most have been indicted in their second term.
Ald Brian Doherty, apprx $36,000 in tips to every gin joint in edison park, and as dummies almost everyone will vote for him again.
reduce aldercreatures to 17 , make it a part time posotion , paid hourly $25.00 to attend city council meetings and to vote on budgets etc .
99 % of citizens use 311 to report pot holes , request city services
I'll bet the call takers at 311 only make $15.00 an hour
Somebody please explain to me- WHY does Chicago continue to elect TAX and SPEND democrats? AND when they run outta money they look at other places to take money to spend. ie. PENSION FUNDS
In the age of computers and 311.
The only good thing an Alderman does is get you a new garbage can for the alley!
The number of Alderman could have and should have been reduced by more than half 20 years ago.
There is no reason to keep "50 yes people, rubber stamp" for the idiot mayor! They have obviously shown no backbone what so ever to challenge the mayor and his minions! Such as the stupid Parking meters and Skyway bridge fiascos!
I really believe that Chicago can get by with just as many Alderman as Los Angles. L.A. which is twice the size of Chicago in area and almost double the population, too! Yet, L.A. has something like 17 Councilman/ Aldermans.
So throw the bums out!
Da Pelon
Ald Brian Doherty, apprx $36,000 in tips to every gin joint in edison park, and as dummies almost everyone will vote for him again.
12/11/2010 11:47:00 AM
Doherty is done, he is going to retire and probably drink himself to death. Never did much for the ward it kind of ran itself all these years...a tribute to the responsible people who live there. He is supporting one of his secretary’s and if you have ever gone to his office you know what a miserable lot they are.
3 CPD running but I don't think any have a chance. Jim Mullen, Brock Merck (who now runs for every office) and Richard Gonzalez. By most accounts, Mary O'Connor, a restaurant owner is leading this one.
"Somebody please explain to me- WHY does Chicago continue to elect TAX and SPEND democrats? AND when they run outta money they look at other places to take money to spend. ie. PENSION FUNDS
12/11/2010 12:58:00 PM"
because the majority of voters casting their votes in every election are either tax consumers, dead or fictitious.
it's the mirrors.
All animals are equal. But, pigs are more equal.
Crime continues to drop in Eurasia
How many fingers do you see?
Why not simply replace the entire Council with a rubber stamp saying "Approved" and kept on the Mayor's deck? We could save lots of money and get the same results.
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