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Posts tagged "Cook County"

Beavers, he of the thick head

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By Dennis Byrne,
November 17, 2010 at 12:57 pm
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I guess Stroger showed us, uh?

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has hired six high-salaried pals since he lost the primary, even though the positions are not budgeted, the Tribune reports. The man doesn’t take “good-bye” for an answer. Some people just can’t help being their weaselly selves... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
May 12, 2010 at 8:09 pm
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Judges let off 100+ mph speeders

“He passed me like I was standing still.”  How often have you said this, or heard someone else say it, about cars passing you on the highway? How often when you are keeping up with traffic by driving  five or ten miles over the speed limit has someone rocketed past you, going 30 or 40... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
March 20, 2010 at 5:47 pm
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Corruption in Chicago

The story only got a few inches, and hardly any note. But needs to be noted. The Tribune reported that a former deputy clerk in the Cook County Criminal Courts Building got hung with a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to bribery. His crime? He solicited $15,000 from a woman, falsely promising to get... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
February 24, 2010 at 11:39 am
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Cook County: Another year, another convict

Let’s see, a new study finds that in its 140-year existence, 150 officials from these parts have been convicted of corruption. Answers the question: Who’s counting... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
February 18, 2010 at 3:50 pm
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Democrats Ain't Ready for Reform

The “colorful” (i.e. corrupt) alderman Paddy Bauler (center, top hat) once said after an election returned every goniff in sight to office famously said, “Chicago ain’t ready for reform!” More appropriately, he should have said, “Democrats ain’t ready for reform.” Nothing says it better than the primary race for the Democratic nominee for Cook County... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
February 3, 2010 at 5:36 pm
• 1 comment
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Why your property tax bill is higher

When I opened my bill for the first installment of my property tax, I was surprised to see that it was higher than I expected. Sure, isn’t it always? But this year, it’s different The first installment is usually one half of the last year’s bill. They have to estimate the amount because the levies... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
January 26, 2010 at 12:46 pm
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Cook County commissioners vote to cut in half Stroger sales tax increase

Not far enough. Instead of cutting Todd Stroger’s sales tax increase of one cent on the dollar, the commissioners for the sake of “compromise” settled for a half-cent reduction.Some Cook County Board Chairman Todd Stroger at the board meeting today. (Nancy Stone/ Chicago Tribune) commissioners believed that granting full relief from the levy that gave... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
November 17, 2009 at 2:42 pm
• 1 comment

Anonymous posters beware

In a case being watched by privacy experts, a Cook County judge ruled today that a Buffalo Grove trustee is entitled to learn the name of the anonymous person who posted disparaging comments about the trustee’s 15-year-old son on a newspaper’s Web site. The comments that Lisa Stone had called “deeply disturbing” were posted during... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
November 9, 2009 at 2:27 pm
• 2 comments
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Death and taxes

Amazing! The value of homes and commercial real estate has plummeted but the value of the property for “assessment purposes” continues to rise. The explanation is here. Sort of. Maybe one of you can explain it. Aside from property assessments that continue to rise, local government taxes are certain, some as much as 5 percent... Read more »
By Dennis Byrne,
October 20, 2009 at 7:36 pm
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