Archive for July, 2008
July 31st, 2008
We juts got done with a meeting with Phil Eaton of Rosecrance, Bridget Kiely of TASC and Karen Gill of PHASE/WAVE.
They told us that agencies that deal with substance abuse issues suffered more than others under Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s budget ax.
Substance abuse funding was cut 50 percent, while other social service agencies escaped with no cuts or 5 percent reductions.
The substance abuse money was a real cut; it was not a cut of an increase in funding. Eaton said his budget from the state was “to the penny” the same as last years until the governor got going. So unlike the other cuts the gov made, these will affect real people and probably mean good programs will be eliminated.
Eaton speculated that the reason his agency and others like it were cut disproportionately was because that client base has no political clout and won’t be lobbying for services. There’s not a lot of sympathy for addicts out there.
If addicts don’t get help, they’ll steal from you to pay for their addictions. If they get caught, they’ll fill up our shiny new jail. Housing them in jail will cost more than the treatment programs that can keep them on the streets.
Assistant Metro Editor Bob Schaper sat in on the meeting and is working on a story.
July 30th, 2008
We’ve lost some good editorial board members this year. Publisher Fritz Jacobi is the latest. Last month we lost columnist and editorial writer Judy Emerson and earlier this year we lost tech guru Al Goodman to corporate.
Judy is irreplaceable, so her spot will remain open. Our new publisher, Scott Bowers, will replace Jacobi on the edit board and General Manager Tom Lasley will replace Goodman.
I’ve known Scott and Tom for a long time and I’m eager to have their voices in our meetings.
July 29th, 2008
It’s taken me a day and a half to get caught up (mostly) from my vacation. Despite the hassles at work, I wouldn’t trade the time off for anything.
Too many of us don’t use the vacation time we’re entitled to and many more of us bring work with us when we do take a break.
Surveys over the last couple of years show that at least one in five of you plan to work during your vacation
Expedia.com recently completed its Vacation Deprivation survey. Of course Expedia has a vested interest in your vacation since it helps connect you with planes, autos, hotels and more.
Expedia’s findings include that Americans average fewer vacation days — 14 – than any other industrial nation. The French have it right. They get an average of 37 days.
All work and no play makes for more stress, less creativity and less innovation when you get back to work.
The work will always be there. The time won’t.
July 28th, 2008
For the last nine days I’ve heard no radio, seen no TV, read no newspapers and didn’t have access to my voicemail. That’s really getting away from it all.
I was on a fishing trip to Canada and now I’m back in the real world trying to wade through about 1,0o0 e-mails. Haven’t even looked at my snail mail pile yet.
There’s only two things I know happened: Our publisher, Fritz Jacobi, announced his retirement and the Cubs have been playing poorly.
So today will be a long day of playing catchup. Let me know what you think the important news of the week was.
July 16th, 2008
Enjoy your staycations at Illinois state parks this year because next year it probably will cost you a lot more.
Camping fees went up this year and don’t be surprised if next year you have to pay to get into parks and don’t be surprised if you have to pay more to fish and hunt.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has seen its budget cut substantially since Gov. Rod Blagojevich took office in 2003. I
Most of the reduction is in personnel and it’s not all Blagojevich’s fault. Some of that was because of an early retirement program under George Ryan’s administration, but Blagojevich has continued to cut away at the DNR.
His latest cuts could close Wildlife State Park, a 2,000 acre zoological park near Peoria.
Adriana Colindres of the State Journal-Register in Springfield reported that the park lost $828,200 in state funding — about half of its operating costs. Unless the governor has a change of heart or unless the General Assembly overrides the governor’s veto, the park’s future is in jeopardy.
Jeff Lampe of the Peoria Journal Star reported that other DNR cuts would include $9 million in salaries, or 11.5 percent of all DNR salary from funds — which would mean 163 jobs lost.
DNR workers have done a wonderful job managing state parks, wildlife areas and open spaces, but they are spread too thin. Eventually park users will notice.
The only way to maintain services would be to raise user fees on the hardworking people of Illinois and tourists from elsewhere who like to use the state parks. I’m not advocating fee increases, I think the budget is being manipulated to force the issue.
Wisconsin has charged people to use its state parks for years, but would Illinoisans accept such a drastic change in policy?
If you’re like me, you wouldn’t mind paying more if you received value in return. But if the money from fees is used just to put a few more political hacks on the state payroll, taxpayers should object loudly.
The governor is proud that he has not raised general sales or income taxes since he took office, but user fees take money out of our pockets just as well. User fees are a tax not called a tax.
July 15th, 2008
Assistant Editorial Page Editor Mary Kaull is working on a video editorial about the nCenter hangout for teenagers.
A few members of the editorial board toured the place last week, and as someone who used to coach youth basketball games in the facility, I think the place has never looked better.
I’d hang out there if I were 40 years younger.
Stay tuned. When the video’s ready, I’ll let you know.
July 14th, 2008
Remember Joe Montana playing for the Kansas City Chiefs? How about Johnny Unitas throwing passes for the San Diego Chargers?
If you do remember, it’s probably not too fondly.
So it’s difficult to picture Brett Favre in anything other than a green-and-gold Green Bay Packers jersey. Favre wants to unretire and wants to be released so he can have a shot with another team.
Seeing Favre in another uniform would be like listening to Ozzie Osbourne sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch at a Chicago Cubs game. We all know how bad that turned out. (You can still catch it on YouTube.)
Montana and Unitas were great quarterbacks who were traded after their teams no longer had any use for them. The same scenario could play out in Green Bay, where Packers management seems to think Aaron Rodgers is the best person to lead them to the Super Bowl.
Professional football memories are short. Favre led the Packers to within a game of the Super Bowl last year. The Packers lost to the New York Giants who went on to beat the seemingly invincible New England Patriots for the NFL championship.
Could the Packers have had that good of a season without the record-breaking Favre? I doubt it.
Although Favre probably still can play at a high level, he should stay retired. If he has any question about whether he wants to play — he retired once so you know there has to be some doubt — he should enjoy his autumn and winter on the sofa. To be anything less than 100 percent focused on a violent sport like football could be hazardous to your health.
But we’ve come to expect late heroics from Favre. Maybe we’ll see one last comeback.
July 11th, 2008
Last night’s Winnebago County Board vote to put an advisory referendum on the November ballot on whether to allow Illinois residents to carry concealed firearms is only half the story.
Randy Olson, R-1, still wants the county to pass a measure allowing concealed carry. If the County Board passes the measure later this summer as expected, it would become law. It also would face court challenges.
Winnebago County will be one of about 80 Illinois counties to have a concealed carry resolution on the ballot this fall, according to Doug Aurand, D-3, who is a proponent of concealed carry.
The statewide push is an effort to get the General Assembly to join 48 other states and allow its residents to carry guns. Wisconsin is the only other state that prohibits concealed carry.
Most of the people who have spoken at public forums and most of the letters to the editor, have favored concealed carry. One opponent told me he thinks if it comes to a vote it will be defeated. He said proponents are more vocal than opponents.
State Rep. Dave Winters has long been an advocate of concealed carry and has sponsored or co-sponsored legislation in the House since 2000. Rep. Jim Sacia also is a co sponsor on the latest bill HB1304.
State Sen. Dave Syverson also thinks concealed carry makes sense, but doubts it would be voted on in the Senate as long as anti-gun Emil Jones is in charge.
A concealed carry measure failed in 1995 when Republicans controlled the Senate.
Winters thinks the county initiative would help the debate in the General Assembly.
July 10th, 2008
Those of you who have been waiting for the next installment of the 180 Degrees: Solutions for a Better Rockford project please be patient.
We hope to publish the next part in this yearlong effort sometime this month. We have had some challenges. Two of the main reporters, Geri Nikolai and Judy Emerson, are no longer with us. Geri finished her part before she left, but the pieces that will be published with Geri’s article still need to be finalized.
Former Managing Editor Lil Swanson was the director of the project and she’s not with us either.
Once we get our internal issues worked out, we’ll be back to full speed on 180 Degrees.
July 9th, 2008
I received the release below a few minutes ago. The Green Party did well in the Rock River Valley in 2006. Winnebago County’s voters gave Green Party candidate Rich Whitney 24 percent of the vote — more than twice his statewide support of 10 percent. He won 23 percent in Boone County and 22 percent in Ogle County. So maybe this will be a natural market for the Green Party bumper stickers.
The Register Star endorsed Whitney over Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Republican Judy Baar Topinka.
Green Party’s Rich Whitney to Unveil “Don’t Blame Me…” Bumper Sticker
Rich Whitney, 2006 Green Party candidate for governor, will unveil a new bumper sticker that reads “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted Whitney for Governor”. The bumper stickers, available for $2 apiece, will go on sale July 10, 9 p.m., at a reception hosted by Whitney during the 2008 Green Party National Convention at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Ill. Revenue from sales of the bumper sticker will benefit the Whitney for Governor campaign committee, as well as 2008 Illinois Green Party candidates.
In his 2006 campaign, Whitney earned more than 361,000 votes (or 10%), enough to qualify the Greens as an “established” political party under Illinois Election Code through 2010. As an established party, the Illinois Green Party held its first ever statewide primary this past February, and the party expects to have more than 50 candidates on the ballot in November, the most it has ever run.
Whitney will be in the spotlight during a number of events at the Green Party National Convention, which takes place July 10-13, 2008, at the Palmer House Hilton and the Chicago Symphony Center. In addition to the reception, Whitney will speak at a kick-off press conference on Thursday, July 10, and moderate a presidential candidate’s forum on Friday, July 11.
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