Author: pvbella

“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.

“We need to stop listening to all of these activists… where White progressives are making a whole bunch of money to tell Black people what to do in their community and telling them to stop things like car stops in order to get guns and drugs off the street.” (Ald. David Moore/Fox 32)

17^th Ward Alderman David Moore camped in a tent for two days in his ward. He wanted to draw attention to open an air drug market in his ward. After gunshots rang out near his tent, the Chicago Police Department dissuaded him from camping out. Instead, they promised to work with him on a plan to remove the drug market.

Under the Johnson administration, street crimes and drug markets have increased. It is a pity a council member had to pull a political stunt, endangering his own life, to drive that point home. Moore is one of the most outspoken alders in the City Council and is not afraid to back down.

Moore is advocating for taking the handcuffs off the police and using technology, like Shot Spotter, to decrease violence in the city. Moore also lashed out at White progressive activists- whatever that means- who put the mayor in office and do not know how to make changes in Black communities. Moore accused the White progressive activists of “profiting from poverty” while pushing their supposed reform agendas.

3000 police officers are being trained to handle protests during the Democratic Convention. That is 3000 police officers who will not be on patrol. The city is still short of officers to patrol the streets. It is going to be interesting to see what happens in the city, especially the highest crime areas and downtown during the convention.

Latino alders are demanding Mayor Brandon Johnson stop evicting migrants from shelters. In a letter sent Monday, the City Council’s Latino Caucus demanded the 60 day evictions should end.

“We believe that since the City has the capacity to house new arrivals, it should do so with the budget allocations we agreed upon without subjecting them, especially families with kids, to the humiliating and traumatizing experience of repeated evictions,” the letter said. (Chicago Tribune)

Managing the migrants has been a failure, starting with former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and getting worse under Johnson. Instead of contacting organizations and NGOs with experience in handling masses of people, they relied on agencies with no experience and high price tags. Johnson commandeered substandard buildings, like the shelter in Pilsen, to house migrants. There were complaints about staff abuse, including inferior medical care. Under Johnson, the migrant crisis went from incompetent to inhumane. Now he is worsening the inhumanity through evictions.

Just some stats from HeyJackass as of June 17th, 2024:

Year To Date
Shot & Killed: 214
Shot & Wounded: 1053
Total Shot: 1267
Total Homicides: 248

June to Date
Shot & Killed: 28
Shot & Wounded: 186
Total Shot: 214
Total Homicides: 30

Last Week: 6/9 – 6/15 (vs WoW)
Shot & Killed: 10 (-9%)
Shot & Wounded: 83 (+36%)
Total Shot: 93 (+29%)
Total Homicides: 11 (-8%)

A person is shot every 3:15 minutes

A person is murdered every 16 hours:24 minutes

“Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren reiterates city’s “need” for a new stadium.” (CBS Chicago)

Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren pitched his snake oil about a lakefront stadium to the Lincoln Forum at the Union League Club. Chicago does not need a new lakefront stadium for the McCaskeys and their miserable team.

The Bears could have had a new stadium anytime over the past five decades. George Halas and his cheapskate and chiseling grandkids would not put up the financing to make it happen. Now, since the team is worth billions, they want to despoil the lakefront and rob the taxpayers.

It is time to tell the McCaskeys hell no. We want our lakefront open and free. We want to be able to navigate DuSable Drive on Sundays without all the traffic the games create, before and after. We want to enjoy the lakefront without the nuisances the games create.

Leave the lakefront alone. Find some place else in the city or move to Arlington Heights.

“Video evidence and three eyewitnesses have been presented” to prosecutors, Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) said on Twitter after prosecutors rejected the case. He continued: “This family deserves justice as well as the hundreds of families who have unsolved murders pending #pleasedoyourjob.” (CWB Chicago)

One again, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx refused to do her job, prosecuting murders. It took the Feds to charge gang members with the murder of 19-yea- old National Guard member Chrys Carvajal.

Foxx’s two terms as State’s Attorney have been an epic failure. She failed the victims and families of crime victims. She failed the citizens of this county. It might be a good idea to turn over any major felony cases Foxx’s office refuses to prosecute to the Feds. November cannot come soon enough to elect a new State’s Attorney. Hopefully that person will end Foxx’s practices of non-prosecution.

“Riot Fest to leave Douglass Park following years of community tension, founder says. “(Chicago Tribune)

It is about time. Having Riot Fest in Douglas Park was a huge mistake from the first year. The residents and Mt. Sinai Hospital have complained about the park being used as a concert venue since day one. It appears the Chicago Park District had enough of the complaining and refused to issue the necessary permit(s). The park once again can be used by neighborhood people. Douglass Park, despite its size, is a neighborhood park.

Mike Petryshyn, owner, and co-founder of the fest is moving the event to Bridgeview. He and his fest will not be missed. It is good to see the people win for a change. Buh-bye Petryshyn. The community can enjoy their park and neighborhood.

Petryshyng gave an “exclusive” whiny toddler account of his reasons for moving the fest.
He blames everyone but himself and his greed. These fests are not about music,
the “community” or anything else. They are about the money. Losing Riot Fest is
no great loss for Chicago. Petryshyn, don’t let the door kick you in the arse
on the way to Bridgeview.  You and your fest will not be missed.

Joey Chestnut, the hot dog devouring champion was banned from competition over his receiving an endorsement from Impossible Foods to promote their meatless hot dog. What was he thinking?

Impossible Foods Company Spokesperson: “It’s OK to experiment with a new dog. Meat eaters shouldn’t have to be exclusive to just one wiener.” (NPR)

Major League Eating (MLE), the organization that oversees professional competitive eating events (including but not limited to hot dogs), said in a statement that Chestnut had “chosen to represent a rival brand” rather than compete in its storied Coney Island contest.