April 2009 Archives

Add Florida to the growing list of states which think that cameras nailing red-light/yellow light runners can help bail them out of financial difficulty. Like several Lake County communities, Gator Nation says you can run red lights, but you can't hide.

If the Florida Legislature OKs a bill currently in the legislative hopper, red-light cameras will be installed at intersections all over the state. Kind of like Lake County, huh?

Unlike, say Waukegan, the fine in the Sunshine State will be $150, not the measly $100 Waukeganites and unsuspecting folks in North Chicago have to put up with. They must be really hard up for revenue in Florida. Guess those tourists covered with oil are staying home considering the recession and all.

And, like Illinois, Florida pols maintain these videocops aren't merely moneymakers. Said one Florida lawmaker: "This is not a tax. It's a fine for running red lights."

Right, and The Hound has some Florida swamp for sale. Any takers?

The Hound was hoping against all hope that federal Judge James Zagel would let former Illinois Gov. Rod "Help, I'm a Celebrity and I need a Lawyer' Blagojevich go on that reality show in Costa Rica. Knowing Blago's luck, he would have been eaten by a caiman. For those of you who don't know your reptiles from an Illinois politician, they're the Central American version of an alligator.

Just think: Blago being eaten by a gator's cousin would save us taxpayers a lot of money, his family a lot of grief and money and U.S. attorneys a lot of time they could devote to real criminals, like the guys who keep on robbing banks in the six-county area.

The Hound's siblings, however, were hoping Blago would have gotten the go-ahead to head to the NBC show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" because they complain they haven't seen a good reality show since Chuck Barris' "Gong Show". They just recounted the exploits of "Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine" and "The Unknown Comic" over Easter dinner recently.

Think it's tough on "Hell's Kitchen", not according to The Hound's brothers who maintain the "Gong Show" paved the way for the current reality show crop, including "The Biggest Loser". But The Hound digresses. The judge said he doesn't believe Blago understands the full weight of the charges against him.

Perhaps he's right. Welcome to the first unreality star. And, be careful, Blago, you just might end up being gonged.

If you thought the "stick a fork in 'em" prank pulled by Zion-Benton High School seniors was bad (or good if you have a sense of humor), listen to what our Sunbelt correspondent has sent The Hound. Seems some kids in Florida did a oneupmanship on the Zee-Bees.

Students (presumably seniors) at Cypress Creek High School northeast of Orlando in Orange County, pulled a prank which has even The Hound wondering how they pulled it off. Unlike flush Illinois, or at least Zion-Benton High School, schools in the Sunshine State have portable classrooms. Apparently it's overcrowding in schools in the nation's fourth-largest state.

Whatever the reason, students at this high school took all the chairs and tables from about 20 portable classrooms and placed them neatly on the buildings' roofs. Kind of makes the Zee-Bees look like pikers. Especially considering the Florida kids weren't caught and nobody has a clue how they did it.

There are some sleuths who say the students used folded papers from class assignments to keep the windows to the portable classrooms (let's face it, those are trailers) open so later under cover of darkness they could attain their mission. Of course, the fingerpointing has begun down South on where was security.

Oh, and school officials say if they catch the culprits, they're booted and won't graduate. We've heard that before, haven't we? If you want to see footage, check out one of the Orlando TV stations, or Google Cypress Creek, The Hound's correspondent says.

Being a hound, The Hound knows dogs and Bo the first dog, definitely is one. Bo also knows who'll be feeding him. The puppy's nose told him President Obama would be the one putting kibble in his bowl.

That's why the first photos of the six-month-old romping after the president had Bo following him. Dogs always know who's the alpha male.

As for the Obama kids naming the puppy, that's all well and good. But, did they check Bo's papers? Everyone says Bo is a Portugese water dog, but The Hound says that pup looks like a Labradoodle gone bad. After all, it was a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.

The Hound is just glad the Obamas opted for a dog instead of a cat.

It's fair to say Attorney General Lisa Madigan kicked off her 2010 gubernatorial campaign the other day when she questioned Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed 50 percent income tax increase to bailout the state. Guess he didn't see that coming, huh?

So far, Quinn's only answer to plugging a $11.5 billion deficit is the usual Democratic answer: Raise taxes and fees. Madigan, though, said tough economic times make it "very difficult" to hit Illinoisans with more taxes --- especially those who live in Cook County who already are hit with one of the highest tax rates in the nation.

Madigan offers that state spending should be cut first, then take a look at raising taxes. Seeing that her father is powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, The Hound believes her statement also tips off where he stands when it comes to raising taxes in a recession . Considering some Illinois counties are grappling with double-digit unemployment, like Winnebago and Boone, the attorney general may tap into something with her opening shot.

Regardless, the Democratic legacy of Rod Blagojevich continues as the Legislature goes back to work soon and the former governor is arraigned this week. Another Blago leftover is U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, who mumbled something the other day about maybe not seeking re-election to his appointed seat after state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias crowed he already has millions in his 2010 campaign fund.

Burris, touring downstate Illinois, also said he's been saddled with about a half-million dollars in legal fees in his battle to claim his tainted Senate seat. The Hound believes that 's called karma.

Another election is under the table and there certainly were winners --- some in stunning fashion. At the same time there were plenty of whiners. Let us differentiate between the two.

Winner: Bob Sabonjian in the Waukegan mayor's race and his crew of supporters who, from the easy win on Tuesday, out-worked the Democratic machine backing Mayor Dick Hyde.
Whiners: Those already regaling everyone with horror stories about how Sabonjian will govern Lake County's largest city. He doesn't take office until May 4, folks. And, there's no suggestion he will make Waukegan the next "sanctuary city" in Illinois.

Winner: Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik who, besides posting those annoying "WOW" campaign signs, stomped her two opponents by keeping a low profile.
Whiner: Gurnee mayoral candidate Tony Maniscalco, who thinks everybody's out to get him. However, as Jim Morrison once said: "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after you."

Winners: Mettawa voters who look to have split the vote evenly between incumbent Mayor Barry MacLean and challenger Jess Ray. What a country, eh?
Whiners: Mettawa voters. If it weren't for the Costco controversy, MacLean wouldn't have faced a challenge . Seems when it comes to arguing over business development, that horse left the stable years ago in the one-time paper village when W.W. Grainger came to town.

Winners: The Lake County Clerk's staff. Tuesday's vote went off without a hiccup.
Whiners: Those who would like to challenge Clerk Willard Helander next year and were looking for a glitch to unseat her.

Winners: Lake County voters who finally have come to some sort of resolution that the extension of Route 53 should be built.
Whiners: Those voters who live in the path of the possible roadway. They were the only ones who voted against the advisory referendum which won by a 75 to 24 percent margin.

Winners: Most township supervisors, re-elected to their anachronistic "part-time" posts.
Whiner: To the Warren Township resident who took The Hound to task for not posting results of the Warren Township races. Ma'am, they were all unopposed. But, Supervisor SueSimpson was re-elected overwhelmingly with 4,711 votes. If you're interested, the rest of the Warren results are on the county clerk's Web site.

Listening to Illinois lawmakers over the weekend on various radio programs talking about reform reminded The Hound about the infamous Chicago alderman, Paddy Bauler, who died in 1977. Asked about reform in the Windy City, Bauler replied with language no one would consider ciceronian: "Chicago ain't ready for reform."

Which brings up the obvious: Is Illinois ready for reform? Are the lawmakers who will be making those decisions in Springfield between now and November ready to not go for the gold? Especially when filing begins for the March 2010 primary at the end of December.

Gov. Pat Quinn's ballyhooed "reform commission" --- founded by none other than the governor in the wake of Rod Blagojevich, et. al., and chaired by former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins --- has offered a sweeping blueprint for change in the Land of Lincoln. Will legislators go for some of the recommendations, considering Quinn used to walk hand-in-hand with Blago?

Some of the commission's proposals include: Capping individual campaign contributions at $2,400; protecting procurement officials from political pressure; strengthening the Freedom of Information Act; requiring politicians to report $1,000 contributions within five working days; barring lobbyists from donating to political campaigns; disclosing all state subcontractors and lobbyists. The panel is expected to provide even more recommendations as it works through April.

Which brings The Hound back to the original question: Is Illinois ready for reform? The Hound will believe it when it happens.

Like tulips in spring, candidates will be all over the ballot today in the consolidated election where municipal, township, school, library and park district officials will be elected. Join The Hound for two live chats, 3 to 4 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m. today to discuss what looks to be a low-turnout election, according to the county clerk folks.

The Hound will bark with the best of you over the Route 53 referendum; the rough-and-tumble Waukegan mayoral contest; the equally tough Shields Township contest; Gurnee's three-way race; and much more. If fewer voters than ticks on The Hound turn out, we'll talk baseball or the latest on "American Idol."

So turn out and then tune in on The Hound's home Web site for our live bark.

The Hound ran over to Tempel Farms on Wadsworth Road on Thursday to see all the Olympic protesters. It was a wasted effort. Apparently those opposed to the 2016 games in the big city think Wadsworth is just too far a jaunt to yell and stomp "No games for Chicago".

Tempel Farms will be the site of equestrian events if Chicago is awarded the 2016 games by the International Olympic Committee this fall. It's a good location, The Hound thinks, as do Olympic organizers. Better than the earlier site offered by county officials at Lakewood Forest Preserve west of Mundelein.

Instead of protesters, The Hound was greeted by a stiff wind and a few Lipizzan stallions grazing peacefully, waiting for the summer performances to begin. It seemed the horses were not worrying about Olympic competition from Tokyo, Madrid or Rio de Janeiro, the cities also competing for the '16 summer games.

As for the IOC inspection team, it will be in Chicago until Tuesday and is scheduled to take a tour of the proposed venues, which may include the equestrian locale, on Sunday. The Hound is unsure if the team members talked to any protesters, but it is unlikely.

The protesters could only field a group of 200, a number estimated by Chicago police, who also staged their own protest over a lack of a contract for officers. If The Hound reads the protesters correctly, the Chicago games would be a waste of money and funding could be put to better use. Backers of the Olympics say jobs will be created and put Chicago on the world's stage.

Meanwhile, bucolic Wadsworth braces for what could be an influx of thousands of people a day coming to the equestrian events, if Chicago wins the bid. Would that be a good thing for the squires in this village of country living? Only the horses know.