Chicago Happenings

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Unfortunately, it is a fact of modern life that people in many urban areas live in or under bridges... only in Chicago do they live in a DRAWBRIDGE for at least 3 years, tapping the bridge's power to run a space heater, microwave, TV and Playstation!

Link

Favorite quote: "When the bells rang, signaling the arms of the bridge soon would ascend, he braced for a ride and cruised with the bridge as it slowly pitched him forward. If he was sitting down, he'd soon be standing.

'The first time it was scary,' Dorsay said in an interview. 'After that, it was almost like riding a Ferris wheel.'"

[mmm3587]

There has been a recent resurgence of activity on the Stalin boards for Chicago, and I'd really like to encourage people to post over there with bonus and salary information for their firms. Any information is welcome; I think it's really useful to know what firms are paying different levels of bonuses and how.

If you want to post it here, I am happy to post it over there.

Thanks!

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Thanks Hello and Aloha. I think we'll try Gios.

Hey, did you ever try it? A few weeks ago, James Ward named it one of his 10 best for 2004.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Hi all. Just announcing my return from pretty much an almost-two month disengagement due to various commitments... looking forward to catching up and bringing some renewed life to this board. Some good local trials coming up and its getting near bonus time in Chicago...

Feel free to pm me with any interesting news...

Aloha

[Say_hello_for_me]

1.) I'm not sure about per-capita, but LA had more murders than Chicago. NY did too, but I'm sure the per-capitas were far less. Anyway, yay!

2.) The PO I argued about with mmmm received a sentence of 4 years from a new sentencing judge. More, much, more than I expected him to get... we'll see if he appeals. I will conced though that the same day another guy in the suburbs who killed four (I think) people in a confirmed DUI got 15 years. OTOH, the PO was never DUId... just reckless homicide for running someone over, stopping, not appearing concerned, refusing a DUI test, and being treated way too nicely by the responding officers.

3.) The Dave Matthews Band's bus driver was arrested for the sewage move. Released on recognizance.

4.) Gio's was named one of the ten best finds of 2004 by James Ward (food critic). Sox fans are encouraged to keep it in mind, though its not very big and its probably a lot more popular now than when it was recommended last summer.

5.) Chicago now has the highest sales tax of any metro area with 1 million people or more. Cook County is raising property taxes. The Mayor's friends are being steadily indicted and convicted. Cook County hired 2700 people during a "hiring freeze" over the last year. Etc. etc. etc. Someone please run!

6.) There was something else, but I forgot it.

Hello

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
5.) Chicago now has the highest sales tax of any metro area with 1 million people or more. Cook County is raising property taxes. The Mayor's friends are being steadily indicted and convicted. Cook County hired 2700 people during a "hiring freeze" over the last year. Etc. etc. etc. Someone please run!

I think that the high sales tax is great. We should jack up the hotel tax more, too. Tax those fucking tourists. I would also be happy to have a program through which both are significantly lower if you live in Chicago and marginally lower if you live in Illinois. Show your license with every purchase, and have it ready or lose the discount. Would make all these assholes I know who refuse to officially "move" to Illinois (get a local license) after living here for four years.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by mmm3587
I think that the high sales tax is great. We should jack up the hotel tax more, too. Tax those fucking tourists. I would also be happy to have a program through which both are significantly lower if you live in Chicago and marginally lower if you live in Illinois. Show your license with every purchase, and have it ready or lose the discount. Would make all these assholes I know who refuse to officially "move" to Illinois (get a local license) after living here for four years.

sounds unconstitutional to me. right to travel and such. when I lived in DC (quite a long time ago now), talk like that was bandied about, but never done. anyone think that sort of law would pass muster?

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
sounds unconstitutional to me. right to travel and such. when I lived in DC (quite a long time ago now), talk like that was bandied about, but never done. anyone think that sort of law would pass muster?

I'm pretty sure you're right about it being unconstitutional. On a related note, I'm thinking about suing Illinois's toll authority over a new policy that charges double the toll for people who don't have the I-Pass, an automatic toll payment thingy. If you don't use the tollways regularly, you're fucked. Plus, I have a general problem with using govenrmental coercion to help put people out of work.

Originally posted by taxwonk
I'm pretty sure you're right about it being unconstitutional. On a related note, I'm thinking about suing Illinois's toll authority over a new policy that charges double the toll for people who don't have the I-Pass, an automatic toll payment thingy. If you don't use the tollways regularly, you're fucked. Plus, I have a general problem with using govenrmental coercion to help put people out of work.

Instead of saying those without one pay more, they should market it as those who have one pay less, thus it would be viewed as a discount to those with a pass, rather than extortion to those without one. Marketing, baby. Just like (in TX) saying that you can't charge more for credit cards, but you can give a discount for cash. We have the same deal with EZ-Tags here. BTW, can't you get one even if you don't use the toll roads frequently? Is there a big fee / month? Here it is $1/mo so it is definitely worth it for the convenience.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by taxwonk
I'm pretty sure you're right about it being unconstitutional. On a related note, I'm thinking about suing Illinois's toll authority over a new policy that charges double the toll for people who don't have the I-Pass, an automatic toll payment thingy. If you don't use the tollways regularly, you're fucked. Plus, I have a general problem with using govenrmental coercion to help put people out of work.

I'm pretty sure differential sales taxation etc. is pretty much uniformly unconstitutional too. That said, I sorta guessed that mmmm was being slightly sarcastic with the sales tax comment and the hotel tax thingy.

1.) I don't disagree with a sales tax generally. Its just a problem when its confined to one particular place such that people can just drive across a border to go shopping. Although its not available on the Tribune's website, John McCarron (one of my favorite Chicago liberal democrats) wrote an excellent piece in approximately November of last year regarding just this problem.

2.) The hotel thing (and car rentals) is absolutely out of control in Illinois. The last number I saw for renting a car at O'Hare was something like 33% taxes between Chicago, Cook County and Illinois (and then there was the add-on tax-fee when you returned the car). It adds up and affects the local economy too. Remember when (not lecturing you particularly Taxwonk) Chicago was the convention capital? Well those conventioneers all have a choice.


Finally, w/r/t Taxwonk's remarks, guess which neighborhood the head of the Illinois State Tollway Authority is from? Anyone? Anyone?

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by taxwonk
On a related note, I'm thinking about suing Illinois's toll authority over a new policy that charges double the toll for people who don't have the I-Pass, an automatic toll payment thingy. If you don't use the tollways regularly, you're fucked. Plus, I have a general problem with using govenrmental coercion to help put people out of work.

Unless you are joking, you are dumb. Illinois is backwards in toll collection; it's got some of the highest personnel and lowest technology usage rates anywhere. The tollbooths cause horrible traffic problems because of the asshole's who have to use cash.

Just get an I-Pass. It's a $10 deposit (which you get back when you return, and don't complain about the time value of your $10 to me). The only valid argument against such I-Pass requirements are that it fucks the poor and others without credit cards, but I think that they have been talking about establishing cash and check payment options for them.

The Toll Authoritys is just a self-perpetuating cronyism machine anyway. The tales of their fraud and abuse are the stuff of legend. Tolls should be enough to pay for the construction and maintenance of the "special" toll roads (if there's no other way; I prefer higher gasoline taxes, but funding should definitely be tied to usage) once you make the decision not to just have general funding.

It's just another example of Chicagcorruption.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by mmm3587
Unless you are joking, you are dumb. Illinois is backwards in toll collection; it's got some of the highest personnel and lowest technology usage rates anywhere. The tollbooths cause horrible traffic problems because of the asshole's who have to use cash.

Just get an I-Pass. It's a $10 deposit (which you get back when you return, and don't complain about the time value of your $10 to me). The only valid argument against such I-Pass requirements are that it fucks the poor and others without credit cards, but I think that they have been talking about establishing cash and check payment options for them.

The Toll Authoritys is just a self-perpetuating cronyism machine anyway. The tales of their fraud and abuse are the stuff of legend. Tolls should be enough to pay for the construction and maintenance of the "special" toll roads (if there's no other way; I prefer higher gasoline taxes, but funding should definitely be tied to usage) once you make the decision not to just have general funding.

It's just another example of Chicagcorruption.

It may be a $10 deposit, but last time I checked, the minimum purchase amount is $40. Given that my annual toll usage is about $8, I think it's a fucking ripoff. I also find that, when I use the tollways, the people who have I-Pass don't get caught in lines with people paying in cash. They do, on the other hand, cause most of the accidents blowing through the toll plazas at 70 mph.

[mmm3587]

If anyone sees my car, house or firm under all this snow, could you please point them out to me? Shoveling is hard. I'm just glad I don't have to put a chair in my spot when I shovel it out anymore.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Pardon my gratuitous cheerleading, but too bad...



I - L - L !!!

I - N - I !!!

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Pardon my gratuitous cheerleading, but too bad...



I - L - L !!!

I - N - I !!!

A-men brotha.