Bill Daley Drops Out

Hmmmm:

• Bill Daley abruptly ended his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor today, telling the Tribune that a lifetime in politics had not prepared him for the “enormity” of his first run for office and the challenge of leading the state through difficult times.
  
  Daley, a member of two White House administrations, a presidential campaign manager and the son and brother of two former Chicago mayors, dropped out of the race less than four months after declaring his political resume gave him the best credentials to replace Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

And all that brain power showed him exactly how fucked up his brother and the Illinois Combine had shafted Illinois. There's no way Illinois emerges from all of this with anything like an intact economy or lord knows how many layers of federal oversight. Quinn is merely fighting a rearguard action until such time as too many people get fed up, vote a downstate republican in, who then actually submits a budget based in the real world, not fantasy land, and gets destroyed by the left for daring to have Illinois live within its means.

Then everyone closes up shop, leaves Illinois to the democrats, vultures and cockroaches, probably within the next 50 years.

McCormick Place Riot? (UPDATE)

Anyone hear about this one?

• I read on the local news on Yahoo the other day. It stated that there was a riot on the loading docks. Made reference that there were over 100 gangbangers hired to help take down the print show. Went on to say that some supervisor was hit in the head with a 2/4. The report was up on the cbs2.com site.
  
  Went back later on to see if there was anymore info. The story was pulled down off there website. Just thought you would like to know.
  

We guess they wouldn't want the convention business to think things were getting out of control, would they?

UPDATE: Here's one of the links.

• CHICAGO (CBS) – A trade show exhibitor was hit with a 2×4 at McCormick Place on Thursday, and two other people were injured, when apparent gang members who had been hired as day laborers began brawling on a loading dock.

CBS has removed it from their site though.  There are others in the comment sections however. Interesting that  the media will finally give pages and pages of coverage to a few "wilding" Robberies after ignoring it for years, but 100 people brawling in the middle of the Convention Center? Hush hush

Chicago Outlook "Negative"

A bad year for Chicago with Rahm in charge and Standard and Poor hammering the bond ratings:

• Chicago’s looming pension crisis — and the $1 billion shortfall it creates in 2015 — has prompted Standard and Poor’s to change from stable to negative the outlook on Chicago’s A-plus general obligation bond rating.
  In mid-July, Moody’s Investors ordered an unprecedented triple-drop in the city’s bond rating, citing Chicago’s “very large and growing” pension liabilities, “significant” debt service payments, “unrelenting public safety demands” and historic reluctance to raise local taxes that has continued under Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
  Now, Standard and Poor’s has cited those same factors for its negative outlook on Chicago’s A-plus rating.

And the same questions  arise about those lobbying for the downgrades are the ones supposedly in charge of "fixing" the mess.

FOP Meeting

Tuesday at noon.

Expect fireworks with the Contract letter and Out-of-Grade issues being front and center. How do you lose Acting Desk Sergeant pay for a spot that has been paid out-of-grade as a matter of course for past practice?

We need answers.

Drying Out

No, not that kind of drying out.

Well, maybe a little.

And the, "Damn it was wet at Soldier Field"-type, too.

Open post for the moment and a slow day of posting.

Pre-Season Hockey Begins

It's here!

Well, not here yet - you've got to wait until Tuesday for the Blackhawks game, but really, what's there to look forward to until then? The Bears are off until next Sunday; the White Sox are 58 and 91; even worse, the Cubs are five games better than that.

See ya there.

Gang Connections Everywhere

Is anyone really surprised?

• Battling gang violence has been one of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s top priorities.
  
  But one of Emanuel’s top appointees, CTA Chairman Terry Peterson, appears to have taken a different tack in the mid-1990s: Lobbying for the early release of the imprisoned leader of the Gangster Disciples — one of the largest and deadliest street gangs in Chicago, the Better Government Association has learned.
  
  [...] The BGA recently obtained a letter — on City Council letterhead and bearing the names of Peterson and Streeter — that asks the chairman of the prisoner review board for Hoover’s release on parole and that portrays Hoover in glowing terms.
  
  Peterson, who is in the process of being reappointed to the CTA board by Emanuel, declined an interview request. But in a statement, he denied writing or even signing the letter.
  

Don't they always? This isn't exclusive to Hoover, who has quite a following among the aldrecreatures - he must spread a lot of money around. Cultivating gang ties seems to be almost a hobby among the City Council, dating back decades, even before Capone who used to collect aldercreatures and congresscritters the way some people collect stamps.

400K for Sgt's Carjacker

As always, ought to be higher:

• A judge set bail at $400,000 today for a man accused of carjacking an off-duty Chicago police sergeant on Sept. 6 in the South Shore neighborhood.
  
  Christopher D. Jones, 19, of the 1300 block of East 69th Street, was charged with vehicular hijacking, vehicular invasion, and aggravated battery for the carjacking, police said.
  
  Jones is also facing theft and burglary charges for three unrelated crimes that happened Sept. 12 and Aug. 25 on the South Side.

Nice work getting identifiable prints to ID this asshole.

Bears by 6?

Ok, we guess we'll take those odds. Last week was 3 and they won by 3. First game jitters should be out of the way. Injuries minimal. Plus it's Minnesota at home.

Open post for the day.

Now HERE'S a Rumor

No idea if this is true, but it's drama made to order:

• Charles Ramsey is in town and was seen at a cafe with Rahm on Montrose Ave. I think Garry's days are coming to an end. Makes sense for Rahm. A knowledgeable black man leading the CPD. A no lose situation for Rahm. The alderman are fed up with Garry and have let Rahm know of their displeasure. Stay tuned.

If nothing else, this one will rattle 35th Street all weekend.

Little Help Garry?

In light of all the recent (and momentous) changes in Illinois gun law, you'd think there would be something around to assist and guide officers in their encounters with armed citizens. Because although there will be a sizable increase in the number of legally carried guns on the street shortly, there are still hundreds, even thousands of illegally owned guns out there.

Take for example the decision earlier this week which, as we read it, voids out certain sections of the Aggravated UUW statute while sustaining the Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charge and simultaneously acknowledging that you can carry outside the boundaries of your home. Confusing? Especially in light of all the City charges voided out a few weeks ago and other state laws that are now unenforceable? You bet.

We still haven't seen or heard of any training bulletins, videos or actual ASA's being prepared, briefed or scheduled for the street coppers. Maybe we're just out of the loop, but you'd think that some hint of something might have reached our doorstep. What we have heard (and witnessed) is DSS's of all ranks calling around to other Districts to ascertain proper charging of arrestees in cases where the law has abruptly changed. If the bosses are unsure, we imagine there might be a shortfall in Department preparations somewhere.

Here's a fun one for our coppers down south - Pullman is on the verge of becoming a National Park. Obama himself altered the rules for carrying in the National Parks in a feint to appear "Second Amendment friendly" for reelection, before his reverting to form as a gun grabber. National Park rules pretty much supersede any State laws regarding firearms and trump any municipal ordinances. Has the Department even considered this? With sections of the surrounding neighborhood resembling Afghani combat zones? We're betting no.

Kilt Run Sunday

Watch the Bears game afterwards.

Frank Trigg Died

The only (known) CPD boss to piss "hot" on two separate occasions (if we recall correctly), once after admitting his dalliances with a certain "lady of negotiable affection."

And absolutely nothing happened to him. Yet another shining chapter in the annals of CPD history.

More Illinois Job Losses

Hey Governor Potato-Head, pay attention:

• The owner of Gurnee’s Kenall Manufacturing Co., a leader in commercial lighting, said the decision to move his company — and 400 jobs — to Kenosha was based on the future needs of the business, not just the economic incentives offered by Wisconsin.
  
  
• This week alone, Wisconsin has bagged two from Lake County. In addition to Kenall, Hanna Cylinders of Libertyville said it planned to relocated its operations and 100 jobs to Pleasant Prairie.
  
  While the two moves may still be viewed as a trickle, observers pointed out that over the years a coterie of Lake County companies have opened facilities across the border. The list includes Hospira, Jelly Belly Candy, Rust-Oleum and Cherry Electric, now part of ZF Industries.

Illinois - Caught in the Detroit Vortex.

CeaseFire Cash Runs Out

So how long does it take to run through an untraceable million dollars?

• A CeaseFire office in North Lawndale has closed its doors after a $ 1 million dollar grant from the city was exhausted.
  
  The grant was part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's efforts in 2012 to decrease violence on the South and West sides of the city and funded offices in North Lawndale and Woodlawn.
  
  The organization uses "Violence Interrupters," most of whom are former gang members, to return to the streets in an effort to stop neighborhood violence. The office provided jobs for individuals, often with criminal records.
  

And a quick way to launder $1 million into Lord knows what. No oversight, no accounting, no requirement to assist the police, and completely made-up-bullshit statistics like this:

• Under the grant, CeaseFire reported 141 potentially fatal conflicts were resolved in the past year city-wide, and services were provided to 75 high risk participants in North Lawndale.

There's Garry's entire drop in homicides people.....plus a few extra in case anyone was counting. By the way, we stopped over 372 homicides this past summer just by driving in circles around the VRI boxes. And while we didn't get a million dollars, our personal stats have just as much basis in reality as CeaseFire's, so maybe Rahm ought to come up with a raise for us. And here's the extent of the oversight for $1 million:

• 24th Ward Alderman Michael Chandler, whose ward includes North Lawndale, said he was unaware the funding for CeaseFire had stopped, but hopes it will be restored.

The aldercreature was "unaware" that the million dollars had been burned up - and when we say burned, we mean literally "lit on fire" because the same results would have been evident. No accounting whatsoever.

What a fucking joke.

100 Club Fundraiser

It's a night of comedy:

• You have the right to remain laughing! The City of Chicago has over 12 thousand police officers. They are known for their service and bravery, but usually not for their levity. Laugh Factory Chicago is interested in changing all that with a new stand-up comedy night: Laugh Patrol - a competition to find the funniest police officer in the Windy City.
  
  Laugh Patrol is a night of "all-cop comedy" which will be open to Chicago's finest in all 23 districts. During the evening, 20-25 officers will have 3-5 minutes on the world famous stage to serve up some laughs for the community. Laugh Factory will provide the audience; all of the night's proceeds will go towards the 100 Club of Chicago, providing for the families of law enforcement and fire fighters killed in the line of duty.
  
  Contestants will be judged by a panel of professionals (including Joseph Ahern,) and the winner will receive $1000 worth of Laugh Factory gift certificates to distribute. Second and third place finishers will receive vouchers worth $500 and $100, respectively. Age restriction: 18 years and over 2 drink minimum per person (can be non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage)

We've known some funny coppers who should have been doing standup years ago. Maybe a few of them will be there?

Tuesday, 24 September, 8:00 PM.

Here We Go Again

Another "tool" to generate revenue for Rahm, while removing police from the streets as the bosses tell the public that our focus is supposed to be violent crime and gangs:

• Drivers who get caught tossing litter from their car windows in Chicago could soon get hit with a big fine.
  
  The City Council Thursday approved a new measure to increase those fines up to $1,500.
  
  The new ordinance raises the minimum fine of $50-200.
  
  Chicago police will also have the discretion to impound the violator's vehicle.

We know one way to increase enforcement of this and similar ordinances, but the city in its wisdom, took that away years ago.

Thanks O!

If you've been following the Syria chemical weapons debacle, this ought to look very familiar. See if you can pick out who is Putin and who is Obama:

Leading from behind again we see.

Rahm Mending Fences to Run Again

He announced on Letterman he was running again. Now he's trying to short up support after spending two years burning bridges:

• Mayor Rahm Emanuel is attempting to rename a major South Side thoroughfare.
  
  If the Mayor gets his way, Stony Island Avenue will be renamed Reverend Bishop Brazier Avenue.
  
  [...] Political sources tell NBC 5 that kind response could be why the Emanuel is doing this, to help with sagging support on the South Side of the city. But the mayor denies an ulterior motive.
  
  "If you didn't do it, somebody would say you're slighting somebody. If you do do it, you're saying it's political. I'll leave that to the cynics," Emanuel said.

Count us among the cynics.

And even more telling:

• A year after the last Chicago teachers strike, Mayor Rahm Emanuel seemed to offer an olive branch to the head of the Chicago Teachers Union on Monday.
  
  WBBM Newsradio [...] reports the seven-day teachers’ strike last September highlighted the contentious relationship between Emanuel and Lewis, who accused the mayor of screaming and cursing at her two years ago in a private meeting.
  
  Emanuel said, in the past year, he’s tried to visit with and talk to a number of teachers, and said he recently reached out to CTU President Karen Lewis.
  
  “When Karen was ill, I sent her a note to say ‘I wish you well. I wish you a happy, healthy new year as well,’ and that I look forward to – when she feels better – to actually have a good conversation,” he said.

That's a lot of fixing he seems to be attempting.

There Goes Another Few $100,000

They seem to have no actual grasp of the law, nor how it applies to them and their actions:

• The City Council moved Wednesday to both comply with — and undermine Illinois’ new concealed carry law.
  
  The end-run around concealed carry came when aldermen imposed a requirement that Chicago restaurants that serve liquor ban firearms or lose their city licenses.
  
  The ordinance championed by Finance Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) and downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) would exempt stores that sell packaged liquor.
  
  But all other establishments that serve alcohol — not just bars that generate more than half their revenue from liquor — would be required to prohibit firearms on the premises.

This reeks of political blackmail, unduly interferes in the running of one's business and is in direct conflict with the State law that took away the "home rule" powers of municipalities to place additional restriction on laws pertaining to guns.

The NRA will most likely sue over this provision, relying heavily on past precedent, and will walk away with another one of those giant novelty checks numbering in the 6-digits or more. Thanks again you sanctimonious assholes.