THE NUMBERS ARE WRONG (Haven’t we heard that before?)

SPINNING WILDLY  

I have tremendous respect for the Chicago News Cooperative,  which describes itself as “The Chicago News Cooperative produces public-interest journalism focused on Chicago, its politics, policy, culture and the arts, and the diverse communities of the metropolitan area. In an era of widespread news industry retrenchment, CNC’s mission is to provide a new source of fast-paced but disciplined reporting in depth.”   The editor of the group is award-winning James O'Shea who is the former managing editor of the Chicago Tribune and past editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times.  The other names on the masthead come close to having credentials almost as impressive as O’Shea.  But they made a mistake.

On July 26^th, they published a story about the bloated payroll at City Hall.  They included a section about all the public relations aides Mayor Emanuel has surrounded himself and city departments with.  The story reported that “Payroll records show that at least 45 management-level officials are engaged in promoting the mayor’s agenda in the news media. The payroll includes dozens of public relations officials in departments across City Hall in addition to the press secretary, deputy press secretary, five assistant press secretaries, two “press aides” and one photographer in the mayor’s press office. “

One problem -- they must have used an old list.  One of the names on the list was let go on June 30^th after being at City Hall for almost 23 years.  Because she held a Shakman exempt position ( a political hire) she could be fired at will.     So now I wonder how many other names on their list of City Hall employees are also incorrect?

GROUPON GREEDY 

In an effort to make the company look good, Groupon has started a division called The G Team.  They tout their campaigns as:

Keep in mind, G-Team campaigns typically…

• benefit the local communities of our subscribers
• run for a limited period of time, usually one day
• support causes that resonate with our subscribers
• aid specific projects, as opposed to broad fundraising efforts
• only succeed if they reach a "tipping point"
• are creatively organized around a compelling story

In Chicago, someone came up with the idea for a kit of ‘back to school’ supplies.  Sounds very philanthropic, not to mention that it’s a great campaign.  People can buy a Groupon for $12 that will pay for a kit of back to school supplies to be given to a Chicago Public School student from a low-income family.  A company, Kits for Kidz, will supply the kit of essential school supplies for the needy Chicago Public School student that will be distributed at local neighborhood festivals.  The supplies will come in a “corrugated cardboard box with plastic handle that can also double as a carrying case throughout the year.”

(1)  A corrugated cardboard box will last a 7 year-old about two days, so how can it last as a carrying case for a year?

(2) I found a story in The Strathmore Standard, a newspaper in Alberta, Canada about this same program a year ago. “The Kitz 4 Kids program is designed to supply local students, who do not have the ability to purchase school supplies, with the basic necessities to properly kick off the school year.”  But guess what? According to the story, “Each kit has a different assortment of preselected items and only costs $5. “

So in Canada the kit costs $5 (Canadian money) and in Chicago, Groupon is selling it for $12.

I think I will buy the supplies myself and distribute to needy students when Walgreen's has its annual school essentials sale of items at 10 for $1.  I can buy a lot more for the kids and Groupon makes nothing.