Author: pvbella

The 8^th Police District is the largest district in Chicago. It covers 23 square miles with a population of 250,000 people and quickly growing. There are only 9 police officers for every 10,000 citizens making the district the worst in the city.

There have been proposals to split the district. A former National Guard building became available. Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar sponsored a law to transfer the building to the city to specifically be used as a police station for $1. The bill passed and was signed by the governor. If the building is not used as a police station, it will revert back to the state.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has other ideas. Johnson proposed an ordinance to use the building for storage, maintenance, and operation of police vehicles. Evidently Johnson believes he has the power to override state law. The districts two alders, 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn are not happy. Johnson also claimed, without proof, that the federal government must sign off on the deal.

It is clear that Brandon Johnson does not care about state laws. He believes he is omnipotent above the law and can do whatever he wants. It is also clear that he does not take public safety seriously, contrary to his word soup and salad claims. He is playing his agenda games with public safety and that is a prescription for disaster(s).

Johnson is also playing games with the Chicago Public School System. He wants Chicago School Board President, Pedro Martinez, out, though he has no power to fire him. The Chicago Teachers Union wants Martinez gone. They bought and paid for Johnson, and he is controlled by them when it comes to public education. It is an egregious conflict of interest, as Johnson is also a former organizer- whatever that means- for the union.

Only the Board can fire Martinez, and it must be for just cause. Refusing to do the mayor’s bidding is not just cause. Martinez and the Board refused to take out hundreds of millions of dollars in what are considered payday loans for pension payments. The mayor does not want that money coming out of his budget, which will be facing another huge shortfall.

Johnson seems or chooses to forget he is management. He proverbially sits across the table from the union not on the same side. He has a total lack of management, fiscal, and budgetary skills. All he knows is his agenda. All he gives the citizens in this city are meaningless platitudes. Chicago needs sensible intelligent leadership. It is not getting it from Johnson and his team. Instead, the city is getting a chaotic administration.

Some in the news media claim these continual missteps are self-inflicted. If Johnson was competent, they would be. Johnson is not competent, and his team of political hacks are not competent. Competent leaders pick or keep people who are smarter than they are or who have expertise in the areas they are responsible for. Johnson picks political hacks.

“The building at 401 N. Wabash Ave. operates without a proper state environmental permit, does not accurately report water discharge levels and violates at least three other laws, according to the lawsuit. Wilson said those facts were “well founded” and “not materially challenged.” (Sun-Times)

Sun-Times Former Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan filed suit Trump Tower in 2018 over the issues. The suit has been bouncing around the court for six years. It is past time the owner/operators of Trump Tower were held accountable and held to the same legal standards as any other entity.

“Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is in almost constant contact with business leaders, and “all they want to talk about” is finding a candidate to defeat Johnson in 2027.” (Sun-Times)

Ald. Brendan Reilly represents downtown business interests. He is in contact with business leaders daily. Those leaders are disappointed in Mayor Brandon Johnson. Some who supported Johnson have buyer’s remorse and feel they were scammed. What did they expect, this is Chicago where all fairy tales begin with “If elected I promise…”

Economics is not Johnson’s strong point, nor is it a strong point of any in his administration. From its inception as a swampy trading post through today, Chicago has always been a city of commerce and industry. Johnson does no service to that history. Businesses contribute and generate taxes to the city. Businesses employ people who in turn pay taxes. Johnson does not have a clue how the economics of a big city work.

“Three members of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s City Council leadership team and the police union president are demanding that Johnson fire a top mayoral aide for calling police “f—ing pigs” and talking openly about defunding and even “abolition” of police.” (Sun-Times)

Kennedy Bartley, the former executive director of United Working Families, which worked to get Johnson elected was appointed to a cushy job created just for her. Now she is being appointed to the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. This triggered the resignation of several key people in that office. Mayor Johnson does not care about optics. Bartley has to get along with the governor and legislature in Springfield as well as the City Council. Her firebrand reputation will not play well. Johnson needed a salesperson for this position, not a loose cannon. This appointment was nothing more than a typical Chicago Machine payback hiring a political hack.

“We sympathize with those who wish this financially strapped city did not have use for an expensive system designed to get police officers more quickly to a bloody scene on its streets. We dearly wish the same. But the data is clear. Need it we do. To remove it will cost the lives of Chicagoans.” (Chicago Tribune)

Follow the money. Speed cameras make money for the city. Red light cameras make money for the city. ShotSpotter helps save lives but does not make money for the city. Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to eliminate ShotSpotter. ShotSpotter saves lives by getting the police to shooting victims before they bleed to death. According to the Chicago Tribune 85 lives were saved because of ShotSpotter.

The mayor and his minions in the City Council do not care about lives and bloodshed. They only care about money. They do not care about people. They only care about green backs.

“The massive barrier was part of an “emergency” effort to permanently lock out unhoused people from the location near the United Center, where the convention was held, the records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show…But City Hall’s contract allowing for “emergency” spending of up to $1 million for fencing says that this was needed “to address a threat to public safety and city operations during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.”

Once again, the mayor lied to the citizens of Chicago and the City Council. He wanted that camp shut down because it was an eye-sore. Now we are paying big money to fat cat developers- political contributors? – to house the homeless. Just like the tens of millions being paid to house migrant refugees. Follow the money and it leads to fat cats who will pay to keep the chaotic Brandon Johnson in office. The Chicago Way and the Machine are alive and going through a resurgence.

“If we can’t figure this out, Chicago, shame on us,” Warren said in a wide-ranging conversation with Conagra Brands President and CEO Sean Connolly before the Economic Club of Chicago…  Economists generally disagree with the proposition public funding of professional sports stadiums provides enough economic benefit to make it a worthwhile use of tax revenue… “But all this financial maneuvering has left the Bears’ considerable plans for a vast lakefront land takeover without much scrutiny. Dubbed the “Stadium for Chicago.”  (Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bear’s President is trying to sell the McCaskey’s and Mayor Johnson’s boondoggle plan to despoil the lakefront. The shame is on Warren, Johnson, and the McCaskey family. They want to despoil the lakefront while putting the taxpayers on the hook. All for their mediocre team. It is hoped that Governor Pritzker and the state legislature hold fast and do not approve any funding for the McCaskey family.

The Bears should just move to Arlington Heights. They should leave our- and it is ours- lakefront alone. They no longer have roots in this city. Their office and practice field are in Lake Forest. The McCaskeys were born, raised, and in the suburbs. They do not live or work in Chicago. So, let them go where they belong, and don’t let the door kick them in the a$$ on the way out.

Chicago is facing a Billion-dollar budget shortfall next year. Mayor Johnson wants to implement a hiring freeze, including public safety personnel. The police and fire departments are already short of personnel. Yet Mayor Johnson formed commissions with long titles and staffs. No one knows what they are doing or supposed to do, except collect paychecks.

Everything is on the table, including property tax increases. This mayor has no clue how to manage a city. Neither do his appointees. Some of his supporters in the City Council are questioning his decisions. Johnson is good at one thing though. Bread and circuses, like NASCAR. He revels in bringing them to the city. No matter what the citizens think or want.

Brandon Johnson is what we get when less than 30% of registered voters show up at the polls. We get chaos, failure, and the potential to ruin the beauty of the lakefront.

First things first. If you are seventeen and your birthday falls on or before Election Day, you can register to vote. Do it. Do it now. Then vote.

It seems some so-called Christians and what the news media described as “many” Catholics got their panties in a twist. They are slamming and trying to shame Cardinal Cupich’s invocation at the Democratic National Convention. They are furious his prayer said nothing about abortion, and he did not mention Jesus.

An invocation is a prayer, not a political statement. It was not the Cardinal’s job or responsibility to “… call the Democratic Party back from the abyss,” as a Bishop fired by the Pope stated on X. Cupich also drew the fury of “Catholic journalist” Phil Lawler, who wrote in Catholic Culture that “nowhere in his invocation did Cardinal Cupich offer the slightest challenge to the perverse ideology that ruled the Democratic convention.” (Newsweek)

Lawler went further: “Certainly there was nothing in the cardinal’s invocation that could be read as even a hint of disapproval for the Democratic party’s platform.” Cardinal Cupich was there to pray. He was not there to approve or disapprove of a party platform. The organizers invited him to give an invocation. He was a guest.  The Cardinal acted like a guest should.

Cupich used the word Lord, which is another name for Jesus. By the way, there is no rule that every prayer or invocation must mention Jesus. Cupich stayed away from making any political statements. Like any good speaker, he knew his audience. Cupich also knew he would draw controversy if he strayed into injecting politics. supposed morality, or values- whatever those are. Those are not the purpose of prayer, especially public prayer. Catholics should know that. I am not sure if so-called extreme Christian mackerel snappers know that or anything else. They invited Cupich to give an invocation, not to preach, pontificate, or politicize. He did his job and did it well.     

Chaotic Mayor Brandon Johnson again used the word “freaking” in his address to the DNC, referring to Chicago. It is a constant with him. As any intelligent person knows, freaking is a nice way of saying f**king. Geez, Johnson has such a limited vocabulary that he cannot even come up with better language to describe this city.

Despite thousands of protesters, violence was minimal. Over the four-day convention, law enforcement made fewer than 100 arrests. Downtown hotels received bomb threats, and authorities apprehended a man attempting to bring a gun into the convention hall. It proves that some people are too dumb to breathe.

Superintendent of Police, Larry Snelling, was pictured leading his personnel from the front. That is a sign of great leadership. His predecessor would have been hiding in the press room at headquarters stumbling and mumbling about how great he is while looking at himself in a mirror.

Now that the convention is over, Chicagoans can get back to their normal lives. The streets will be open, businesses can thrive, and people can get from one place to another efficiently.

The Democratic Convention will run between August 19th and 22^nd. Street closures began at 10 PM Thursday.

“The closures are for:
-West Washington Boulevard from Damen Avenue to South Wood Street
-Damen Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to West Washington Boulevard
-West Warren Boulevard from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
-West Madison Street from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
-West Monroe Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
-West Adams Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
-South Honore Street from West Monroe Street to West Adams Street
-South Wood Street from West Washington Boulevard to West Jackson Boulevard
-South Seeley Avenue from West Madison Street to West Adams Street

Restricted vehicle traffic: Jackson Boulevard from South Damen Avenue to South Wood Street.” (ABC 7)

“In an abrupt about-face, organizers announced the event would remain in Chicago after all. Neighborhood residents eager to see the festival leave town expressed dismay on learning they’d be dealing with the noise, trash and traffic again.’“(Sun-Times)

The residents around Douglas Park do not matter. Once again, their wishes fall on deaf ears of Ald. Monique Scott (24th) and so-called community leaders. Lollapalooza is returning to Douglas Park this summer. That’s the Chicago Way. There is a cure for this. Residents in the ward need to find someone to oppose the alder and vote her out. She does not care about her constituents. She only cares about her “community leaders- whatever that means.

“A top ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson has been hitting up Chicago businesses to contribute to a dark money political organization that is hosting several events next week during the Democratic National Convention, including a luncheon and a showcase Soldier Field event. Charles Smith, Johnson’s liaison to the business community, has been making the pitch for contributions to GoChiLife as a way to show support for the mayor.”(Chicago Tribune)

There is a strong level of hypocrisy in the chaotic administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. Progressives rail against dark money unless it comes to their own needs. Supposedly the dark money is to fund events.

“At one point, the group asked for donations of up to $500,000 in exchange for 10 VIP tickets to each of its DNC week events, 20 regular event tickets, a logo on event and promotional materials and potential “additional benefits,” according to a presentation obtained by the Tribune. Other sponsorship tiers ranged from $5,000 to $100,000.” (Chicago Tribune/Subscription needed)

The Chicago Public School System has been in a financial mess for as long as anyone can remember. The situation may get worse. The Chicago School Board and CEO Pedro Martinez approved a budget the mayor does not like or want. According to the Chicago Tribune, the mayor is trying to oust Martinez. The mayor wanted to fund the system with a loan, the equivalent of a high-interest payday loan. The Board is currently in contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union. If some or all of their demands are met, the budget deficit could explode.

“CTU’s outlandish demands, including 9% average annual raises, would create a budget deficit of $2.9 billion a year from now and about $4 billion by 2028, CPS contract negotiators declared Tuesday in a public bargaining session.” (Tribune)

Only the Board can fire Martinez. He can only be fired for just cause, for example, corruption, other criminal activity, or incompetence. One newspaper called Martinez “the taxpayers’ best friend.” We will see how this plays out after the Democratic Convention leaves town.

Union president Stacy Davis Gates told the Board to get the money any way they can, even demanding raising in property taxes. Johnson was an organizer for the union, and they heavily funded his campaign. Johnson, like too many past and present politicians, does not understand what conflict of interest is. He should recuse himself from this issue. But he won’t. He owes the union. This is the Chicago Way, concealed corruption at its finest.

Finally. The White Sox fired Pedro Frifol after a 21 game losing streak. The question is, what took them so long? This season could be worse than last season, when the Sox went 61-101, if the losses do not stop. The Sox lost 89 of 117 games so far this year. Coach Grady Sizemore will take over to finish the season. “The team, which plans to hire a permanent manager in the offseason, also fired multiple coaches Thursday. Grifol lasted less than two seasons, finishing with a record of 89-190.” (Sun-Times)

“Overall, the sum of the parts, the sum of everything, we expect better, we need better,” general manager Chris Getz said during a video conference call Thursday afternoon. “So that certainly motivated us to make this change… I reflect back to how we went into the All-Star break and then came out of the All-Star break in hopes that it would be a reset for players and staff, and was disappointed in how they responded after the break. And it motivated us to make this decision.” (Chicago Tribune)

“What a peculiar franchise Jerry Reinsdorf’s Sox are. Built on resentment, weaned on stubbornness, fermented by inanity, the organization seems to enjoy thumbing its nose at fans. That the Sox don’t care what the fan base thinks is apparent in almost everything they do.” (Rick Morrisey/Sun-Times)

The Sox do not just have a manager problem. They have a front office and ownership problem. That they let Grifol go so long is proof of that. And why did Reinsdorf bring back that antique, Tony Larussa? Why is he listening to him? La Russa is living in the far past. The game evolved. La Russa is stuck on stupid.

The Cubs are running hot and cold. They moved from last place to third in their division. If they can keep some momentum going, they could get a wild card place for the postseason (The 2024 season ends September 29th) There are 36 games left. The team is 56-70. The teams in the Central Division, except for the first-place Brewers, have similar win-loss numbers.

This is one of the best years for America in the Olympics. Our teams and individuals are on top with 103 medals so far-30 Gold, 38 silver, 35 Bronze. China is number two in the medal count with 72.

“Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a post on X. “The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail.” (Fox News)

Political logic: All politicians are liars. Not all liars are politicians. Politicians give liars a bad reputation. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is a politician. Mike Johnson is a liar. He also knows nothing about Christianity or the Bible. There is no war on faith. There is no war on “traditional values” because they do not exist, except in the small minds of ignorant supposed Christian less-ons* like Mike Johnson.

All this nonsense about the depiction of the Last Supper mural with drag and trans performers at the Olympics in Paris is just dishonest rage fest by the dishonest and the ignorant. The Last Supper was a Passover celebration. It was not a Christian Last Supper. Jews celebrate Passover. Jesus and his apostles were Jewish. So, if any group should express real or faux outrage over the performance, should be the Jewish people. Christianity is post Jesus.

“The burlesque performance was an “interpretation of the Greek God [of wine and festivity] Dionysus” to make viewers “aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” the Olympics said on X.”  

The piece was a take-off on Grecian bacchanal feasts. The Olympics began in Greece. So, maybe the Greeks, like the Jews, should be outraged. On the other hand, the planners of the opening event should have realized that there would be international opprobrium to this performance before they approved it.

All those oh so offended politicians, who should not be preaching religion- that First Amendment-, should shut their pies holes and quit flapping their soup coolers about values and traditions that never existed in this country. The performance was not an effort to denigrate Western culture- whatever that is. It was entertainment, an art. No matter what we may think, art is part of all cultures. Whether it is bad or good is up to art critics, not dominionistic religious mackerel snappers like Mike Johnson and other hypocritical prevaricating politicians.

 Mike Johnson and his ilk in the Christian dominionistic National Christian Movement refuse to believe that this nation was never founded on Christianity or Christian values. The last thing the Founders wanted was a national religion, one of the things they fought against.

Mike Johnson and his ultra religious  cohorts in both houses of Congress are a danger to society.  They do not define what traditions, values, and religion(s) we believe and uphold. We do. Values are personal, not national. They can practice whatever religion they want. They cannot shove their religion down the nations throat. There is only one set of values in America. They are enshrined in The United States Constitution.

Johnson and his religious fanatics are the drivers of political hatred festering in this country. They preach the gospel of hatred. They do not preach or live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their dishonesty is stunning and front and center for all to see.

*Lower on the ignorance scale than morons.

110 people were shot in Chicago over the holiday weekend. 22 people were killed. Dozens of other citizens were wounded. Mayor Johnson was vacationing in New Orleans. He did come back. But why would he leave town knowing that the holiday weekend would be bloody as usual?

Once again, Johnson offered loads of weasel words concerning the bloodshed:

“We are here to say emphatically that this is enough. It’s enough. When this reckless violence ravages across our city at this magnitude, we are losing a piece of the soul of Chicago. It deeply pains me to admit that, but it is true,” Johnson told reporters at public safety headquarters, flanked by Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling and other officials.” (Sun-Times)

“But I will not stand idly by. We will not be passive in this moment,” he added. “We need to ensure that we are holding every single individual accountable for the pain and trauma and the torment that they have caused in this city. There will be consequences for the violence. We will not let criminal activity ruin and harm our city.” (Sun-Times)

Johnson blamed “generations of disinvestment and deep disenfranchisement” for the violence. Typical nonsense. While they may be a factor, humans pulled those triggers, not some narrative. What in the hell is the “soul” of Chicago?

“…the fact of the matter is where there is most violence, that’s where the poverty is most pervasive.” (Brandon Johnson/Newsweek)

What about the violence occurring all over the city? Armed robberies, armed carjackings, and other violent crimes are citywide. I guess those do not count for Johnson.

“I’m so sick and tired of losing Black boys to violence in this city. It grieves me, fiercely.” (Brandon Johnson/WGN)

Mayor Johnson, what about losing Black girls lost to violence? What about Hispanic boys and girls lost to violence? What about the boys and girls of all races lost to violence? What about the adults of all races lost to violence? Geez, are you a racist, misogynist, ageist, or just plain clueless?

“There will be consequences for the violence,” Johnson promised. “We will not let criminal activity ruin and harm our city.” (WBBM News Radio)

No one believes that. State’s Attorney Kim Foxx will not prosecute, judges let violent criminals out on bail, and the Chicago Police Department is handcuffed. There will be no consequences or accountability.

Since juveniles caused many of the shootings, hold their parents responsible. The city should assist victims and their families to sue the parents for their negligence. That would be accountability. Maybe passing a law to hold parents criminally responsible for their negligent parenting would be some form of accountability.

“The mayor also stressed that everyone must take responsibility for helping end violence, and on Tuesday, along with the city health leaders, the Johnson administration will explain how residents can do just that.” (Brandon Johnson/WGN/Emphasis mine)

I am not responsible for ending the violence. My family is not responsible. My neighbors are not. Everyone is not responsible. The only people responsible are those who commit violent acts, and if they are minors, their parents. You, members of the City Council, Kim Foxx, Toni Preckwinkle, and Tim Evans are responsible for ending the violence, along with the Chicago Police Department.

There will be little to no accountability or consequences for the violence in Chicago unless we change the leadership across the board. With so few people voting in elections, that change will not happen. Be proud Chicago. You have the government you deserve and the violence that comes with it.

“On behalf of the City of Chicago, we express our deepest condolences to the families and the Grand Crossing community mourning the lives lost in the shooting that took place this morning,” Johnson said in a statement. “We will continue coordinating with our partners at the Chicago Police Department, 5th Ward Alderman Desmon Yancy, and victim services partners to support this community on a path of healing from this tragic incident.” (Sun-Times)

Early Thursday there was a mass shooting in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. Shooters fired pistols and possibly a rifle into a home. Two adults and an 8-year-old boy were killed. Two other children, 5 and 7 years old were wounded.

Over the 4^th of July weekend, there were 100 people shot and 19 killed.

“We are devastated by the recent violence that has left our city in a state of grief and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities impacted by these recent events,” Johnson said in the statement… “The City of Chicago is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors.” (Sun-Times)

All the mayor can offer is weasel words. Child victims do not count in this city of scoundrels. Shooting and murder victims do not count.  Scoundrels run city Hall and the City Council. Scoundrels run the supposed social justice organizations. No one cares about the victims of crime in Chicago. There will be no mass protests in the neighborhoods where these atrocities occur by concerned organizations. The social justice warriors will not march in the neighborhoods where children are being shot and killed. Nothing will be shut down in those neighborhoods. There is little to no justice for the child victims in Chicago.

Besides being a city of scoundrels, Chicago is also a city of cowards, especially those social justice organizations and their hordes of squishy white-bread supporters. They will do nothing to curtail or stop the violence against children in Chicago. They fear becoming victims if they march and stand up for something real, like children. They are all useless

When it comes to children, Black and Brown lives do not matter. No child lives matter. Politicians do not care about children. They can’t vote and they do not contribute to campaign funds. Supposed socially conscious people do not put signs in their windows saying, “Child Lives Matter.”

How many more children will die before the cowards cowboy up and let the police do their job? How many more children will die because Kim Foxx will not prosecute people or charge unlawful use of a weapon and shooters with felonies, unless the weapon is a cup of root beer? How many more children will die because judges keep releasing violent offenders with no bail? How many children will die because the cowards and scoundrels in Springfield will not revisit the supposed SAFE-T Act and make the necessary adjustments. The SAFE-T Act is meant to keep criminals safe and free, not the public. Not the children.

One of main priorities of government and its agencies is to care for and keep safe the most vulnerable in society. Children are some of the most vulnerable. When I was a police officer and a child was harmed, the full weight of the police department, prosecutors, and judges came down hard on offenders. Now, the offenders are treated as victims and the victimized children are cast aside. There is no accountability for crimes against children.

We need change and we need it now. Unfortunately, we will not see change. Our politicians, especially the mayor and State’s Attorney, are stuck on their failing policies. They are stuck on stupid.

Cook County State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx, got into a “mutual verbal confrontation” with a driver while on her daily walk through her leafy suburban enclave Friday Morning. The driver yelled for her to get off the road. Foxx “flipped” the driver off. The driver threw a cup filled with soda at Foxx. Those are just the basics.

The driver, William Swetz, was arrested later and charged with two felonies, Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault. Foxx has refused to charge violent criminals for felonies. There were shootouts where she claimed “mutual combat” was the reason she refused to charge the shooters.

If you read the story linked above, you will realize that this ridiculous case only rises to the level of Foxx and Swetz taking part in mutual anger management through restorative justice and sitting at a Peace Circle. The same things she advocates for actual crime victims. Her heart bleeds for the violent criminals in Chicago. But now she is a victim, ready, willing, and able to prosecute (persecute?) over a cup of soda.

It appears only she and she alone can be the victim of a “crime” and only she can approve felony charges for herself. Real crime victims be damned. Foxx only cares about herself. She does not care about the victims of violent crime or their surviving families.

This case should be assigned to a Special Prosecutor, as Foxx and her office have a blatant conflict of interest. Better, it should be dropped. Both Foxx and Swetz mutually publicly embarrassed themselves and provided the public with much needed humor at her expense. Maybe after she leaves office, she can go on the comedy circuit or become a circus clown. She has plenty of contacts in the entertainment industry.

In other news, former alderman, Ed Burke, the “Dean of the City Council”, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $2 million dollar fine over his conviction on corruption charges. He could have faced anywhere between 61/2 to 8 years per sentencing guidelines. Burke must report to prison in September.

Noted Chicago philanthropist, Ann Lurie passed away at age 79. “Ann was the president of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation in Chicago that provides funding for medical treatment, research, education and prevention.” (Fox 32) Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (former Children’s Memorial) is named after her and her late husband because of the $100 million dollar contribution the foundation made to help build the hospital.

The list of charities and non-profits the foundation she ran is too long to list here. She and her late husband did great things for the people of this city. Ann Lurie was a remarkable woman and Chicago is a better place because of her and her late husband.