Mayor Daley answers questions about property taxes and we hear from Bald Eagle

DAILY JUICE

• At 11:15am this morning Da Mayor is holding a press conference on property taxes.  Location is 121 N. LaSalle St.  That's City Hall folks.  And no, I don't pay propert taxes since I rent.  But if you're thinking about buying in Chicago at some future date, think about this.
• At 12:25am Da Mayor may address the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARBTA).  Location is the Hyatt Regency at 151 E. Wacker.  In answer to your as-yet-unasked question, yes, there is an association for EVERYTHING.

BUDGET BLUES

If you're like me, when you hear the word "budget" used in the press, your eyes start to glaze over.  Either you are completely disinterested in how your government spends your money or you are aware, like I am, that the amount of spin in this area of "news" can be staggering.  Good thing we can rely on Fran Spielman to tell it like it is.

There are so many gems in this story, but I'll just cull one Mayoral quote from the heap.  “This is a very difficult economy and taxpayers are suffering. … Ask any taxpayer. You want to increase the real estate tax? You want to increase the sales tax? Do you want to increase the gas tax? How do you pay for things you can’t pay for?”  This may all sound very reasonable to you, but many would say that the Mayor's newfound respect for the taxpayer is, pardon the pun, rich. 

One of the people that would say that is my informant, Bald Eagle.  In case you missed that post, here it is again.  Here's what he had to say:

"The Mayor is doing it again, like he has done in 2008, 2006, 2005, and 2004.  His Administration spends the taxpayers' money like it's going out of style and at the end of the year, cry SHORT FALL!  Who does he blame for the mismanagement of the taxpayers' money?  Not himself, who just recently spend $500 million dollars on the Olympics, $8 million dollars on the River Walk and millions of dollars on countless other projects.  He blames it on the backs of the poor stupid Union City Workers.  My prediction?  The Mayor will get his Budget passed without a peep from the 50 spinelesss Aldermen and 2 months later start to spend again!"

Photo by Shark Forum

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