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By holding a City Hall press conference to announce that his chef of staff, Ron Huberman, will be replacing Frank Kruesi as head of the CTA, Mayor Daley is once again letting the world know how little he regards the men and women he appoints to boards and commissions.
Technically, the mayor doesn't have the authority to appoint the CTA's president, who acts as the agency's chief executive officer, overseeing day-to-day operations. That power belongs to the CTA's seven board members, four of whom are appointed by the mayor, three by the governor.
But in the world of Chicago politics board members generally serve as rubber stamps. As it's been explained to me many times by my people in the know, the mayor is careful not to make the mistake of appointing anyone with an independent mind. The result is that billion-dollar projects and sweeping policy decision in the schools, parks, and CTA are typically ushered in without any discussion or debate on the part of the people ostensibly in charge.
Granted, CTA board members have shown a little more conscientiousness than their counterparts at the Park District or Board of Education. They've gone along with some of the mayor's daffier transportation schemes, like selling Wilson Yard for cheap or building an underground station at Block 37 for an airport express service that will probably never get used. But at least they've shown some discomfort over the hardships Kruesi's mismanagement has caused the CTA's commuters. In contrast, school and Park District board members cheerfully look the other way while Daley loots property tax dollars from their coffers to feed his TIFs.
A 35-year-old former policeman, Huberman, whose only experience in transportation is a school-bus driving job he held as a college student, is being asked to run a chronically bankrupt multibillion dollar agency whose major transit lines are falling apart.
If the CTA board members had any guts they'd politely tell the mayor that they're taking his recommendation under advisement while going about the business of searching for a qualified, innovative, and creative candidate to lead the CTA out of this mess.
But of course they don't have a lot of guts. If they did they wouldn't have been given their jobs in the first place.
"...careful not to make the mistake of appointing anyone with an independent mind. The result is that billion-dollar projects and sweeping policy decision in the schools, parks, and CTA are typically ushered in without any discussion or debate on the part of the people ostensibly in charge."
The people ostensibly in charge are the taxpayers of this city, and up and until enough of them register and exercise their vote, we are left with decisions being made on our behalf with little or no debate. The citizens of Chicago need to encourage independent minded candidates who have the courage to be candid with taxpayers on the precarious fiscal situation this City, County, and State are in – and then insist that the incumbents participate in a honest and open debate rather than allow individuals like the mayor or governor marginalize dissenting points by claiming they are speaking through the press.
As Mr. Joravsky has pointed out in his article prior to the February election, the citizens of Chicago are not insisting on an open discussion or debate on any issue – the prospects of hosting an Olympics is yet more example – and it will probably end up costing future generations a small fortune. I wish Mr. Huberman all the luck in the world, as he will be inheriting a nearly impossible job as the delayed investments into the maintenance, pension system, and general mismanagement of his predecessor have piled up – and any hope that the state will come into rescue when it is confronting the same issues – he is going to need all the luck in the world.
Each of the readers has the power to insist on better from their governments when they – and should be thankful that Mr. Joravsky is being as persistent as possible in exposing the misuse of our TIF’s and attempting to get some accountability through his forum. But before we just shake our fist at the Mayor or any of his appointments for lacking 'guts', we should be looking at ourselves and wondering why we tolerate the undemocratic manner decisions are made in Chicago.
FYI – one of our state reps is floating the idea of creating a super TIF along the red line in order to get the necessary funding to pay for new stations – how that increasing the EAV of property within a TIF district is beyond me.
They will also be establishing a TIF at Broadway and Foster – an area that has seen incredible increase in the assessed value of properties and had a developer who attempted to redevelop the sight on the Northwest corner without any of our tax dollars.
Unfortunately, it is painfully obvious that a very large number of the citizens of this city, and county, require EVERYTHING regarding politics and government activities spelled out according to the 'K.I.S.S.' formula, as in KEEP IT SIMPLE, for the STUPID.
Amazingly, Ben, and those as skilled as he, are dong a pretty good job of doing exactly that.
How much simpler does one have to make it, for those un-registered-to-vote and registered-but-don't-bother-to-vote citizens to grasp how much less we all are getting for our tax dollars, than we COULD be getting, if only we exercised our rights to vote.
And exercised them by VOTING THESE FUCKING CROOKS OUT OF OFFICE.
How much more do the mass of apathetic non-participants have to understand, before a substantial number get off their asses and do the extremely easy, and effective thing that will stop these crooks, namely, WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT.
And who, with any sense at all, still doubts that 'Da Chicago Machine' has been, is, and will continue to, rip us off, unless, and until we stop them. By firing their butts. By voting them out of office EVERY SINGLE ELECTION.
We can deal with all the newly elected individuals in the same manner, should they prove to not substantially live up to our expectations.
The only thing that we must do is be determined to ACT.
And that means, for those still not paying attention:
1) REGISTER TO VOTE
2) VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION
3) KNOW WHO THE 'MACHINE' HACKS ARE AND DO NOT VOTE FOR ANY OF THEM.
4) IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 2 CANDIDATES, APPLY RULE #3, AND:
a) IF the targeted hack is listed 1ST, vote for the candidate listed LAST.
b) IF the targeted hack is NOT listed 1ST, vote for the candidate who IS listed 1ST.
If enough of us concentrate our votes in this manner, there won't be enough clout monkeys to overcome the vote totals cast for those NOT 'hooked up' to the 'machine' gravy train.
including while he was on the CTA BOARD (can anyone say CONFLICT OF INTEREST) and the JCDeceaux company that he stole from Gery Chico.
Lots of 11th ward at the CTA.
Lets hope Mr. Huberman has the guts to take on these "vested" interest in order to give our public transportation system back to the public.
And how ever you cut this, Mr. Huberman is a vast improvement to that yellow jacketed snake Kruesi.
If TIFs were a woman, they would be justified in seeking an order of protection.
But I guess him writing about it is a better way for him to vent besides kicking his dog.
Does 'orion' have a financial interest in TIF'S continueing to be abused?
Or is 'orion' just permanently on the rag?
Because, if 'we' did THAT, the mayor wouldn't have TOTAL control over an agency that he already has SUBSTANTIAL, and fundamentally illegal, control of, with his rubber stamp committee members.
Because, with his own personal rubber stamp in executive charge of the CTA, he can now be assured of having complete control of the ever increasing budget funds of the CTA.
Because, what Da Mayar wants, da mayar gets.
Sweetheart contracts
Big Pay, small work load clouted 'management' positions
More Sweetheart contracts
More Big Pay, small work load clouted 'management' positions
AND, the state of being an essential service agency, that is
"completely screwed up" merely serves to justify, ....... wait for it, .......... MORE FEDERAL FUNDING!
Apparently, the 'pot of gold' is never empty.
don't think "total control" can survive that!
And those whose 'support' has been, and will continue to be, very lucrative 'one-hand-washes-the-other' kinda arrangements.
It's the inbreeding, fellas, rivaling anything seen in the Ozarks.
At least 'orion's' posts are occasionally amusing, albeit generally unimpressive.
Keep posting, 'orion', you're usually good for a few laughs.
"Orion
April 23rd - 6:10 a.m.
Ben never fails, his fixation on TIFs forces him to insert a pouty whine about them in EVERY fricking story he writes.
If TIFs were a woman, they would be justified in seeking an order of protection.
But I guess him writing about it is a better way for him to vent besides kicking his dog."
Thus concludes the 'orion' comments on this article.
See individual article comments for the further adventures of your hero and mine, the ever enthusiastic ...... 'orion'.
I'm wondering if you ran for the CTA Board what address would you use. The DesPlaines or the Chicago? Will you tell the public your married or separated? Will you collect your pension from the City and then the CTA ? If you bump your head on a CTA bus, will you run to the papers and say it's a Mafia hit ? Do yourself a favor, keep going to the bar(with your Sun-Times Hat) and telling everyone you started the Hired Truck Scandal, not Tim Novak . Mcdonough your 5 minutes is up !