Madigan shows his casino hand; icy El workers
House Speaker Mike Madigan on Monday proposed raising $1 billion by building three additional casinos and adding slot machines at race tracks and riverboats, says a Crain's report.
No word yet on how much closer this announcement gets us to a transit funding deal. But House Republican Leader Tom Cross notes: "So is there agreement? No. But the list (of disagreements) is getting smaller."
We have to take progress where we can find it.
The melting Ice Men: That was quite a scene at the Belmont Red Line station Monday -- one of the workers laying new track was trying to melt the ice with a torch while another pushed it away with a tire iron. And after the ice storms Monday night, they're probably doing it again right now.
I really feel for those guys and the conditions under which they have to work. So thanks, guys and gals.
Doomsday biking alternatives: The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has the low-down on the biking alternative in case there really is a CTA Doomsday. Check out their Chicago Bike Map and Doomsday Survival Guide.
(Hat tip to Gapers Block.)
Watching the yapping about the gambling proposal on the TV last night, I occurred to me that maybe this whole punch-and-judy show in Springfield was designed to get voters apprehensive enough to accept anything that promised to send money for public transportation in northeastern Illinois. We've reached the point where criticism of either the ethics of state-sponsored gambling or the details of how the money is spent will be seen as hostile to our region's well being. Was it all just a long-term propaganda drama serving special money interests?
Posted by: Davey | December 11, 2007 at 01:35 PM
It's a fair question Davey, and I'd like to latch onto your point about this dragging on so long that all sides involved would be satisfied for any kind of resolution.
If that's the goal, the legislature has to be prepared to have the transit agencies back lobbying for more money possibly as soon as next year depending on the final outcome. They can pass a comprehensive plan like the existing RTA Act that worked reasonably well for 20 some-odd years, or they can continue to refuse to adress a hard decision and have to go through this every year or couple of years. I don't have a lot of confidence given the gocvernor's idea of leadership being to live for today and pass off problems to be dealt with tomorrow.
Posted by: Patrick | December 11, 2007 at 02:20 PM
I agree with Davey's comments above.
"We've reached the point where criticism of either the ethics of state-sponsored gambling or the details of how the money is spent will be seen as hostile to our region's well being."
I don't want to see transit tied to gambling. But if they are gonna do it, here's an idea. SLOT MACHINES AT EVERY L STATION. WHOO-HOO!
Posted by: Robin | December 12, 2007 at 08:34 PM