Special thanks to the Illinois state treasurer
A special thank you to Alexi Giannoulias for FINALLY taking down the HUGE banner on the side of the house on the southeast side of the Red Line Belmont platform at the far south end.
He's the Illinois state treasurer. And the huge sign with his name on it hung on the side of that house for more than a year. He was elected a year ago in November. (The sign hung so long that the rest of the siding around it was obviously faded from the sun.)
It's curious timing that the sign comes down now -- just a few days after Doomsday I was avoided. Maybe he doesn't want CTA riders to think that he has anything to do with the ineffective governor and state legislative leaders.
And to be fair, he doesn't.
Also, maybe he thinks he's getting enough publicity now that he's been named by Crain's to be one the "40 Under 40" to watch.
I got a brochure in the mail last week from my state rep, including a prominent statement that he supports a long-term fix for transit. Makes me think at least a few of these guys heard our cries of "out with them if they can't do the job!" and are scrambling to disassociate themselves from the Ineffective Ones.
Looking forward to hearing if today's "Summit" was a joke or for real.
Posted by: C C Writer | November 14, 2007 at 05:51 PM
C C Writer: "Looking forward to hearing if today's 'Summit' was a joke or for real."
Just took a look at the Crain's link at top right. Hizzoner strolled out saying he's "very optimistic." So far so good. But wait! A few minutes later Madigan "exited and announced that he was leaving what had become a 'non-productive' meeting filled with 'a lot of non-productive shouting and threats.' ... 'No one in Illinois government is willing to do the tough things' ... Mr. Madigan said ... 'They want to do it on the cheap.'" True enough.
And call me paranoid, but when I read that "the mood again was optimism when Mr. Blagojevich and his chief ally, Senate President Emil Jones, came out to talk with reporters," my first thought was "God help us."
Posted by: Quondam El Rat | November 14, 2007 at 06:21 PM