[VIDEO] Yes this debate did get heated, some of the feedback I've seen about it was that many considered this debate a performance. There were a lot of good soundbites and most debates are soundbites. I thought it was a good try by Sen. Bailey to try to pin down Gov. Pritzker on his future ambitions beyond being Illinois Governor especially for 2024.
Who else watched the debate? Any feedback of your own.
The latest news reports are now that when the migrants from Texas arrive at Union Station they get sent to the suburbs such as Burr Ridge. The Mayor of Burr Ridge is upset about it. Not a lot communication whether it's from Texas to Illinois or even Chicago to those suburban towns that are affected.
Of course as always Capitol Fax gives some more in-depth coverage of this ongoing issue.
A false equivalence, but somebody should still probably pick up a phone https://t.co/DFxCycs948
This is related to the ongoing issue of Texas sending migrants from the Texas/Mexico border up to Chicago as one of America's "sanctuary" cities. Via Capitol Fax today.
Pritzker: “What the governor of Texas is doing is disgusting and it needs to stop” https://t.co/phzaZS0SVg
According to this Campaign Notebook post over at CapFax we see a couple of names.
Congressman Chuy Garcia and remember he ran against Rahm Emanuel in 2015 and forced a run-off that still resulted in a second term for Mayor Emanuel.
And we also have Pat Quinn. Remember him? He used to be the Governor of Illinois he's looking for a comeback. He tried to come back as an Attorney General of Illinois and fell short in a primary race to current AG Kwame Raoul.
[VIDEO] Announced today joining another south side Alderman (or Alderwoman or Alderperson or Alder....yuck). Anyway he will be retiring from the Chicago City Council at the end of his term next year. Bear in mind that he attempted a run for Cook County Judge in the June 2022 primary and his ward has been redrawn. Ald. Brookins had been in office since 2003.
Also add to this news that 15 Alderman declined a 9.62% pay raise via Chicago Sun-Times.
Here's an updated list of this via CBS Chicago at least of those Alderman who will retire at the end of their terms and not counting those who have either been convicted in federal court, running for a higher officer, or even retired already:
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th), Ald. Harry Osterman (48th), Ald. James Cappleman (46th), and indicted Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) also plan to retire at the end of their terms next year.
And I must add Tom Tunney as mentioned in the Sun-Times article linked above is mulling a run against Mayor Lori Lightfoot joining fellow Aldermen Ray Lopez, Rod Sawyer, and Sophia King in the 2023 mayoral election.
I suppose that next summer we will see a number of unfamiliar faces - and hopefully a new mayor - in the city council chambers at city hall.
[VIDEO] And more to come reportedly according to this report. The latest Alderman to announce she won't run for re-election is Ward 10 Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza. You can read more about it at Crain's.
You can check out this list also from Crain's in August the Alderman who are calling it quits, some are trying to attain higher office as three Alderman are looking to challenge Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Others are outright retiring also.
Portrayed as a mass exodus, I'd pay attention if half of the 50 members of the city council are leaving.
Rich Miller discusses more about those migrants sent to Chicago from Texas on Wednesday. Statements form our political leaders and of course from Gov. Abbott in Texas.
[VIDEO] More of a national news story, however, now it's beginning to affect the city adding to many of our city's other issues - especially crime. Gov. Abbott under the guise of being overwhelmed by the many border crossings by these migrants sent them to sanctuary cities such as Chicago.
In general, a sanctuary city is a community with a policy, written or unwritten, that discourages local law enforcement from reporting the immigration status of individuals unless it involves investigation of a serious crime. These sanctuary communities go beyond cities, though. One can find entire counties and states declaring sanctuary status.
These communities typically do not honor requests by ICE to detain undocumented immigrants whom local agents apprehend for misdemeanor crimes or investigations. Many in sanctuary cities also refuse to deputize their local officers as federal agents, a necessary technicality if those local officers carry out the duties of ICE agents. There is no specific federal law against sanctuary city policies.
Let me add that others cities as New York City and Washington, DC that I know of had also recieved busloads of migrants fresh from the southern border. The mayors of both of those cities have expressed their own complaints.
[VIDEO] FOX 32 reports on attacks by a mob (10 or 15) of teens near the 95th Street Red Line terminal. The attack was reported to have happened an hour before the remote by reporter Elizabeth Matthews. Matthews was broadcasting inside Abbott Park across from the terminal.
So an incident happened before Matthews was broadcasting and they reported another incident last night speaking with one of the victims wear a facemask and a bandage over her nose. The victim who was assaulted suffered a fractured nose.
So not only are they punching victims, they're also using pepper spray and engaging in strong arm robbery.
Be careful on the train, getting off the train, and perhaps even on the bus.
This time the demand is from 2023 mayoral contender Ward 15 Alderman Ray Lopez via today's Capitol Fax blog. And after sharing the tweet I'll show you in part what this is in reference to.'
[VIDEO] The video of a crowd huddled around an intersection where cars were drifting and doing donuts is at the corner of 115th/Halsted. There's a Checker's there, two service stations, and a vacant lot where a Jewel/Osco and a Zayre (which later became the Halsted Indoor Mall now demolished) were formerly located.
So this display of loud and noisy cars took place there at 3 AM. I wonder how long has this been going on. A few weeks earlier a similar display was recorded at Monroe/Clinton near the Loop. The city council recently voted to impound cars involved in this, however, in this incident on Halsted police came and no one was arrested.
[VIDEO] I don't know how many of you are watching cable news whether CNN, MSNBC or even FOX News with the clip above. The discussion is over the latest proposal by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to help keep the Bears within the city limits as opposed to potentially Arlington Heights. Frankly I hope the end of the road isn't that close for the racetrack where a new Bears stadium would be located but then again....
Anyway, the mayor proposed a domed stadium on the site of Soldier Field so that historic and architecturally unique structure would again be gutted and a much larger stadium would be located on the site. It could be open for more than an NFL season, it would be open year round. Some soccer matches could be played there and even better still a future WrestleMania....
Well the crime crisis fits in because well as FOX News and our local news discusses the issues of crime. The crime in the neighborhoods unfortunately spill into the more tony areas of our city. So the portrayal by Steve Doocy and Clay Travis is that Chicago is so crime ridden the Bears don't even want to stay.
ALSO, I do actually admire the mayor's plan for Soldier Field, however, the problem has always been even last year with the Bears inking a deal with Arlington Heights is that I don't think politically she'll be able to keep the team in the city.
[VIDEO] This report from FOX 32 discusses the many violent incidents on CTA recently. The focus seems to be on the red line especially. Most recently an attempted robbery at the 63rd Street L station resulted in a stabbing death noted in this video report.
There was another incident closer to downtown. Another attempted robbery had the victim fight off his attackers with a knife further north at the North/Clybourn L station. Most of these incidents take place after midnight to perhaps early rush hour which is about 5 or 6 AM.
If you have to take CTA especially to get to work be very careful out there.
[VIDEO] I don't know how many of you follow Bill O'Reilly, however, he discussed Gov. J.B. Pritzker on his program recently. Of course he starts with the Governor's comments in light of the incident in the north suburban city of Highland Park - seven now confirmed dead in that Fourth of July shooting there by that deranged soul.
Now of course what might be said among O'Reilly and a certain segment of the national media punditry, why all the attention by politicians on this relatively wealthy suburb when there is violence everyday in the low-income neighborhoods of Chicago that occasionally spills into downtown. This is why you see O'Reilly get a bit passionate over.
It would be nice if the Governor of Illinois or even the Mayor of Chicago took the issue of gun violence more seriously or even have a press conference on the scene as Pritzker did in Highland Park. And do far more than propose gun control measures or even tell the NRA to "leave us the hell alone".
And 100% of mass public shootings happen with guns.
As Governor, on behalf of the people of Highland Park — leave us the hell alone. https://t.co/biBV75pWxA
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) July 6, 2022
Perhaps this is something state Sen. Darren Bailey - GOP nominee for Governor - could seize upon if he wants to campaign on law & order.
[VIDEO] I wanted to share this video from artistmac, who's showing the flag from the inside of the Macy's - and for those of you like me who are old school the former flagship Marshall Field's store. I reminds us of where we are right now.
And in the suburbs someone was randomly shooting people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. So far there are six reported dead in that shooting.
Here's hoping you're enjoying a BBQ with people you care about today.
On Tuesday, state Sen. Darren Bailey won the Republican nomination for Governor defeating five other challengers. He also secured the endorsement of one Donald Trump whom I'm sure to editorialize a bit will cause a reaction in the Chicago area where as a downstate Republican he must make inroads.
Yesterday on the CapFax the focus was on his hellhole comments regarding the city. He took aim at "cash-free bail" and made reference to a horrible suburban man who lit a homeless man in downtown Chicago on fire.
Bailey’s sole defense of his Chicago “hellhole” comment just ain’t true: Suspect was out on cash bail https://t.co/FeGCi2bWKx
[VIDEO] Out of ward 19. Ald. Matt O'Shea wasn't seen in this report however he was quoted as stating that his part of the city is safe, but acknowledged that police are stretched thin. Security will be unarmed and if they see illegal activity will remain on scene and call police. This extra layer is appreciated by residents as you see in the above story.
[VIDEO] This is really old news from two days ago, however, this report from WBBM-TV shows 26-year-old Ja'Mal Green entering the 2023 race for mayor. How remarkable that at 26 he wants the very challenging position of running the city of Chicago.
He also joined the race in 2019 when Mayor Rahm Emanuel bowed out leaving the mayor's office an open seat however according to WTTW Willie Wilson was successfully able to challenge his petitions and knock the young man off the ballot.
Here's his announcment video shared on his twitter page @JaymalGreen
[VIDEO] She's in! Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants a second term as Chicago's Mayor. And I got to admit this video was a valiant effort to own that many doesn't like her delivery - so at least she isn't that out of touch. On the other hand she wants voters to know she is a fighter.
Of course we won't be voting for any city office until February 2023 and the question for now is there anyone who has announced for mayor so far that you would vote for?
Of course as happens on the internet and we know she does have opposition, the below video noted a local TV news report that her approval ratings are under 30%. Of course it's meant to be somewhat funny and also showing how much they oppose Mayor Lightfoot. [VIDEO]
I like the clips they throw in from Clockwork Orange this YouTuber wanted to give the viewers the impression that this video hurts their eyes.
