Charge Blase for Dan Ryan Stunt

It's about time the Chicago archdiocese pays a financial price for its political advocacy:

• As Chicago prepares to handle another protest that could shut down a major roadway, the total cost of the last big demonstration has hit at least $323,000.
  
  That’s the bill that taxpayers are footing for the Dan Ryan Expressway march earlier this month.
  
  The cost so far — $323,229.33 — includes nearly $1,000 in fuel costs for state Department of Corrections vehicles, nearly $200,000 in state police pay and benefits and $52,000 in state Department of Transportation equipment costs, according to department records.
  
  The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said they helped state police with 911 calls during the Dan Ryan march, at a cost of about $3,000.
  
  As of Monday afternoon, the Chicago Police Department had not provided an estimate of their protest-related costs. Neither had the Chicago Transit Authority, though it was unclear how the march could have had a financial impact on that agency. Even State Police said they’re still calculating their final costs.

The City of Chicago routinely bills private companies (and other government entities) for government expenditures that go beyond that which is considered "routine."

• the City billed Metra after the Rock Island line derailment in the early 2000's for police hours;
• when CPD sent Officers to New Orleans for Hurricane relief, the City billed the Federal government (via FEMA) for costs;
• the City continues to bill the people running the Chicago Marathon;

Any occurrence that has a Special Event number attached to it is tracked solely for the potential to bill someone else for the man-hours expended. If Cupich and the Vatican have to cut a check for pfleger's asshole-ery, they might actually throw a leash on him.