March 5, 2006
OMEGA MAN:
Is plan to privatize Midway ready for takeoff? (FRAN SPIELMAN AND DAVE MCKINNEY, 3/05/06, Chicago Sun-Times)
Sixteen months ago, Mayor Daley raised the possibility of privatizing Midway Airport and other prime city assets to duplicate the $1.83 billion Chicago Skyway deal that has been a cash cow for the financially strapped city budget.Now, City Hall is taking the first step toward making that happen.
A bill quietly moving through the Illinois Legislature would grant blanket property tax exemptions to private investors who lease all or parts of Midway, the 2,180-space Millennium Park garage, smaller city-owned garages, and three transfer stations where recyclables are separated from routine garbage.
That's precisely how Daley got the ball rolling on the Skyway deal that has allowed him to restore Chicago's shaky bond rating and hold the line on property taxes while funding human services programs.
"The Skyway was a cutting-edge transaction. There are fewer federal dollars all the time. If we can somehow supplement them by a transaction such as this, we are obligated from a financial standpoint to explore the possibility," said Chief Financial Officer Dana Levenson.
Poor Mayor Daley is the last New Democrat in America. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 5, 2006 9:03 AM
Privitization may finally break the union and federal entitlement stranglehold on our cities.
Next, the public schools. If Daley would have the guts to really do it and turn the Chicago schools around, what a legacy that would be.
Posted by: erp at March 5, 2006 10:45 AMHe's well on the way:
http://www.brothersjudd.com/blog/archives/2004/07/right_direction_1.html
Posted by: oj at March 5, 2006 10:59 AMUhoh, better not sell Midway to any furraners.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at March 5, 2006 11:38 AMIf he fixes the public schools, I'll forgive him for his father's sin of electing Kennedy.
Posted by: erp at March 5, 2006 1:03 PMHe didn't fix the schools, got rid of Vallas, an honorable man and replaced him w/a crony.
He's trying different things but doesn't want to lose control.
Posted by: Sandy P. at March 5, 2006 7:25 PMDaley's Pal Gidwitz just got the endoresement from the Trib, indicating that even the Media Mandarins understand that the state can't afford another Ryan Clone (Topinka)
What does this have to do with Daley? He can put Gidwitz over the top if the machine is still capable of turning out Rep. votes and Gidwitz gets close.
Gidwitz won't do didly with the schools - except shower more money on them (this is based upon converstations I've had with him.)
The most powerful machine politician in the nation and a billionaire with management savvy, and both are still afraid of Teacher's Unions.
Though I fight the fight every day, there are days when I'm convinced that to truly the free the schools, we'll need the 2nd, not the 1st Amendment.
Sandy,
Good call.
Posted by: Bruno at March 5, 2006 11:23 PMSo the media is trying to help the GOP? You don't suppose they oppose Topinka because of this?:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Illinois%20Governor%20January.htm
Posted by: oj at March 5, 2006 11:27 PMNot clear why Topinka would be another Ryan clone. She's been off to the side in Illinois politics; she wouldn't even be considered for governor if the Republicans hadn't self-immolated themselves this past decade. Topinka is the only state-wide office holder the Reps have right now, and she hasn't been tarred with any scandals.
Oh, if only Fitzgerald were to run for governor ...
Posted by: Steve White at March 6, 2006 12:42 AMSW - We non mid-western types know virtually nothing of Illinois politics. The Fitzgerald you speak of isn't the Special Prosecutor who indicted Libby is it? and if it is, why would you want him to be governor?
Posted by: erp at March 6, 2006 10:53 AM