a word to the not-so-wise

Da Mare offers a few pointed suggestions to a certain drunken aldercreature after her arrest in Rogers Park the other night.

King Richie's Bilandic moment?

Lots of folks are questioning the city's decision to privatize parking meters and raise rates. The minimal plowing and salting order for side streets (and less than usual for main streets) is icing on the cake for those who have their doubts. All the snow we're getting tonight makes this a less then cheery image.

Will this be King Richie's Bilandic moment, where he throws himself under the bus? In recent years, there has been no enforcement of the city's ordinance requiring property owners to keep sidewalks clear, so many pedestrians have gotten used to walking on well-cleared streets for safer footing. Now side streets are slick with black ice on most days. This winter, the safest place has been across snowy lawns, until those get glazed over with ice. Many El platforms hasn't been any better, as the CTA also seems to be skimping on snow and ice removal. Yesterday morning I was in downtown Evanston and major streets were glazed with ice - no salt in sight. Metra seems to be the only one doing the responsible, honorable thing and keeping their stations safe.

If you weren't here back in the winter of 1978-79 and you want a little more background, click here and here.

How many people will end up with chronic injuries due to preventable slip and falls or car crashes? You gotta wonder if city and CTA costs of defending and settling lawsuits for injury, wrongful death and property damage will greatly exceed savings on salt, trucks and personnel. And this comes soon after the news about how much the city saved with its long-term contract on road salt. Too bad he's not up for re-election this winter.

And the fun continues....

thoughts about getting around in Chicago

Ch. 5 (NBC) has an online poll asking how you get around. And another feature asks the question: does Mayor Daley hate cars?

Feel free to leave a comment here offering your $0.02 on these topics.

no Moore

I was watching Chicago Tonight's coverage of today's repeal of the foie gras ban and laughing hard at this priceless moment: King Richie saying "Thank you, Joe 'Foie Gras' Moore," in front of the Council and press, at the end of the vote.

priceless quote of the day

This gem is from da Mare (otherwise known as King Richie), concerning bike messengers: "You have to be careful if you are reckless."

new year's wishes

I keep wishing that I'd wake up and find that we actually have adequate transit funding, that we will be able to maintain and improve service and infrastructure and won't see another CTA/RTA doomsday anytime soon.

Have you figured out why it is that our idiotic Gov. Blobhead is so determined to cripple the RTA and flush Chicago down the economic toilet? How can he spout pure bullshit like this, then turn around and pull another last minute delaying tactic like this out of his twisted hat?

King Richie hasn't spoken up nearly enough. We need a bit more of this, but it's probably too little too late.

If I got my wishes, we would have:

1. A long-term transit funding plan in place;

2. A legal mechanism to give our chief imbecile, Gov. Blobhead, the boot and replace him with someone competent.

If I only got the first one, I'd be happy enough. Seeing the idiot kicked out would be icing on the cake.

And what are you wishing for at the start of this new year?