CHICAGO STORIES. A Toast

Because I was in the hospital, a number of stories built up that I wanted to comment on, now is the time.

CONFLICTING MESSAGES

On the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago there are electronic signs that are on overpasses giving drivers information about road conditions ahead and other pertinent messages.

An alert blog reader let me know about two messages he saw recently.

The first one was:

“Drive now, phone later.”

The immediate following electronic message was:

“Report all drunk driving call *999.”

How can I report the drunk driving when I am not supposed to be calling from my car? Which message should a driver follow?

THE WINDSOR WAVE
 No matter how sophisticated a woman appears to be, she still has a little girl inside of her who wants to be a princess. That is why I am so fascinated with the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

I remember watching the wedding ceremonies of Prince Charles and Diana and the later wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. While it is sad that those two fairy tales relationships did not work, it has not diminished my excitement for William and Kate’s wedding.

Two of my friends, in their 40’s, are flying to London just to be in the crowd for the Royal Wedding. I know I will have a better view of the events on television, so I asked them why they were going. They flashed me their Windsor Waves that they had been practicing and said they were going “just to be there.”

Any man who has attended a Super bowl  or a World Series game understands going “just to be there.”

I keep waiting for my prince to come; I just hope he is not driving and texting in the carriage.

PROPERTY TAXES

Property taxes were due by April 1st. Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey has not paid the latest tax installment of $11,684.69 at his residence on Altgeld Avenue.  To verify, go to the Treasurer's site ,click the payment link and under payment status put in the pin number of 14-29-317-037-0000.

So maybe he is a few days late. Until one looks again and sees that he did not pay the installment of $12,140.48 that was due last December either.

Fritchey will probably say his non-payment of taxes has to do with the divorce he is currently going through.  The divorce has nothing to do with Cook County taxpayers. The bill is in his name, so he owes it; not his wife or ex-wife.

How come Chicago media is not paying attention to a Commissioner who is two installments behind in his property taxes? They can’t say they don’t know about it because I have just told them. Let’s see what happens.

TAKING A PAY CUT

Illinois House members voted last week to cut their pay by 10 percent and forego future cost-of-living increases. With an 85-14 vote, the House approved House Bill 2891, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg.



HB 2891 Synopsis As Introduced


"Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that, for terms commencing on or after January 12, 2011, each member of the General Assembly shall receive compensation that is no more than 90% of the amount last set by the Compensation Review Board. Amends the Compensation Review Act. For fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, prohibits a cost of living adjustment for General Assembly members. Effective immediately."

Being a member of the Illinois General Assembly is a part-time job, but Illinois lawmakers still have a base salary of $67,836.


A Cook County Commissioner earns $85,000 per year in taxpayer-funded salary and also receives more than $1,200 a month in no-strings-attached contingency checks for a total of $97,102. It is also a part-time job.


John Fritchey used to be a state representative but now he is a Cook County Commissioner. Even though his salary has almost doubled, he still is not paying his property taxes. Maybe he forgot he was a commissioner and thought he had just gotten a pay cut because of the recent House vote on reducing state rep’s salaries.


He certainly can’t be the prince that I am waiting to come.