“Today we met and discussed our shared values and commitment to the City of Chicago, the importance of deep roots and the need for equitable community investment throughout the city. We are both committed to the idea that the city and its major civic institutions must grow and evolve together to meet the needs of the future. We look forward to continuing the dialogue around these shared values… I want to make sure the ownership of the Chicago Bears, the Park District and the residents of the city of Chicago have a real seat at the table to discuss a pathway forward,” Johnson said, declaring himself “the hardest-working person in the city of Chicago” and promising to approach the discussions with “care, sensitivity and thoughtfulness.” (Chicago Tribune)
I have no idea what Mayor Brandon Johnson is talking about. It would be nice if, for once, he made simple declarative statements that made sense. Second, he met with the wrong person. Where were the McCaskeys? They own the Chicago Ken Dolls. They decided to slap our city in the face and move to the cultureless suburbs.
When the McCaskeys discovered Cook County was going to gouge them on property taxes, they started seeking other places to move their miserable team. It proved they inherited the cheapskate and chiseler gene from their grandfather, George Halas.
The Ken Dolls could have had a new stadium any time over the past fifty years. All they had to do was pony up some dough or get loans. First Halas, then his grandsons refused. They wanted a total freebie. Like their grandfather, the McCaskeys squeeze the penny so hard they make old Abe scream.
There is nothing for the mayor or city officials to talk about with that team. If they want to come crawling back to City Hall, they better bring big bucks, loans, or other funding. The city should not waste one red cent or time on those pikers.
The McCaskeys were dead set on leaving Chicago. Why are they crawling back? Or, is this some kind of stunt to squeeze more bucks from the burbs? Soldier Field is just fine for the Ken Dolls. It is what the management wanted. They no longer deserve anything from Chicago. Let them leave and forget them. But, their fans are as stupid as Chicago voters. If the fans turned their backs, as they should, the Ken Dolls could skulk out of Chicago.
There is only one place the Ken Dolls should go if they are leaving Chicago. Out of business.
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability studied the resumes of over fifty candidates who applied to be the next. Superintendent of Police. Thirty-two candidates are current or former members of the department. They are proceeding to the interview phase. They should only hire a current or former member of the department. Chicago does not need another disaster like David “Tex” Brown.
“Anthony Driver, president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, refused to speculate on why Brown “did not want us talking to rank-and-file officers” or riding along with them. Driver would only say it was an impediment.” (Chicago Sun-Times)
Anthony Driver Jr., president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, revealed they could not get the rank and file input. Former Superintendent Brown forbade members from meeting with the commission. The rank-and-file detested Brown, and the commission would have got a big earful on the poor state of the Chicago Police Department.
“We’re an oversight agency. It’s very difficult to be an oversight body if you’re not allowed to develop relationships with the people you’re overseeing, he said.” (Anthony Driver/Chicago Sun-Times)