Illinois governor, Chicago mayor feud leads to dead fish - Yahoo News

 

October 30, 2015 5:21 PM

• CHICAGO (Reuters) - A war of words between Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over which government is in the worst financial shape took a bizarre turn on Friday with the purchase of fish.

"I bought a gift for a special person," the Republican governor told reporters at a Chicago market. "I bought some fish...to send some dead fish to the mayor. I think he will deeply appreciate that as only he can."

Early in his political career, Emanuel once sent a message to a pollster via a dead fish. In Mafia lore, a sent dead fish signifies someone is sleeping with the fishes and no longer alive.

While Rauner acknowledged his fish plan was all in fun, he continued to criticize the mayor for pushing through a city budget this week with a record property tax hike, calling the move "a massive mistake" because it was not coupled with cost-saving reforms.

Emanuel on Wednesday blasted Rauner for opposing measures he needs from the state for the new budget, including a bill to shield lower-valued residential properties from the tax hike.

"It's a very strange economic strategy to try to hurt your economic engine to try to grow the economy," the mayor told reporters. "Name me a governor in the other 49 states that is attacking the economic engine of their state. Is Washington state going after Seattle?"

Rauner's pro-business reform agenda for the state has been met with opposition from Democrats who control the legislature and the two sides have yet to agree on a budget nearly five months into fiscal 2016.

Both Illinois and Chicago have severe financial problems stemming largely from unfunded pensions for their workers. Emanuel and Rauner have been close friends and even political allies, with Emanuel appointing Rauner as chairman of the city's tourism agency soon after he became mayor in 2011.

There was no immediate comment from Emanuel's office concerning the coming gift of fish.

(Reporting By Karen Pierog; Editing by Andrew Hay)

Illinois governor, Chicago mayor feud leads to dead fish - Yahoo News

School Board Recall Vote in Colorado Tests Conservative Policies - The New York Times

 

LITTLETON, Colo. — In this suburban election, lawn signs are being stolen and minivans vandalized. One candidate says she received an email telling her to get cancer and die. Money from the billionaire Koch brothers is funding one side’s commercials and fliers, and upset parents, teachers and labor unions are pouring in cash for the other.

 

The question facing voters is whether to oust a polarizing school board that has championed charter schools, performance-based teacher pay and other education measures supported by conservatives.

But the vote here in Jefferson County, just west of Denver, has become a money-soaked proxy war between union supporters and conservative groups like the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, testing whether parents in an election-year battleground believe a rightward turn in their schools has gone too far.

Supporters of the recall have raised more than $250,000, about $15,000 of that from the local teachers’ union. Conservative and libertarian groups have spent about $500,000 on television ads, and Michael Fields, the state director of Americans for Prosperity, estimated his group would spend “in the low six figures” on mailers and ads that put a positive gloss on the conservative board’s actions.

“It’s the future of what education looks like,” Mr. Fields said as he and a handful of staff members and parents drove through suburban neighborhoods, knocking on doors of likely supporters to make sure they had cast their mail ballots.

Americans for Prosperity, which was founded by the conservative industrialists Charles G. and David H. Koch and is based in Arlington County, Va., does not have a formal position on the Nov. 3 recall vote here. But its commercials and messages praise the new conservative board for approving new charter schools, giving charters equal per-student funding as public schools and pushing a pay program to give raises to “highly effective” teachers.

The group is advocating similar measures in other states. In Kentucky, a web ad created by Americans for Prosperity and timed to this fall’s race for governor features African-American parents who praise charter schools as a bridge to “opportunity for all.” In Mississippi, the group has contributed $120,000 to an organization fighting a ballot measure that would require the state to allocate more money to public schools, at a judge’s discretion.

Voters here are almost evenly divided among Democrats, Republicans and independents. In November 2013, voters broke with union-supported candidates to elect a slate of school board hopefuls running as conservative reformers.

But as those members passed new measures giving money to charters and hired a new superintendent, a backlash grew. Critics accused the board of secrecy and of trying to turn the 86,500-student district into a petri dish for conservative educational ideas. Board meetings turned into shouting matches. Upset parents spliced the live-streamed meeting video — an innovation of the new board — into outrage highlight reels.

 

“I can take it,” said Julie Williams, one of the three conservatives, who said she had received harassing emails. “For my kids, it’s been pretty hard. I come from a strong family. We believe in standing on principle, even with malicious attacks on me personally.”

 

School Board Recall Vote in Colorado Tests Conservative Policies - The New York Times

Letters to the BCJ Editor: 1. Questioning of SA’s gang policy leads to recommending Smith for States Attorney 2. Return to Belvidere’s traditional Veterans’ Day 3. Views on wind turbines 4. Boone County Board’s Integrity

 

 

Veterans Day

 

Wind Turbines

 

County Board’s Integrity

 

These articles are available on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-10-30-15.pdf#page=1

'Somewhat tenuous': Boone County Board sets vote on $23.7M budget - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Oct. 29, 2015 at 10:49 PM

BELVIDERE — The Boone County Board will vote Nov. 18 on a proposed $23.7 million 2016 budget, a 2.2 percent decrease from this year's $25.9 million budget.

The general fund — which covers salaries, public safety and other expenses — is projected to be $16.2 million, compared with $14.9 million this year and $15.3 million in 2014. The overall budget for almost 50 funds includes highway, bridge and animal services.

"We project (general fund) revenues to be $16.2 (million) and the spending to be about the same," Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said at a special budget meeting Thursday.

To balance the budget, the board reduced various line items, tapped into reserves and implemented a new fee to pay for a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

On Oct. 21, the board voted 9-3 to use public safety sales tax revenue to balance the budget, a measure that produced heated debate among residents and some board members. The measure OK'd using $900,000, but the board reduced that to $800,000.

"A lot of factors pulled together to balance the budget," Terrinoni said.

Other major funds include the $4.8 million bridge fund. Repairing the bridge on Pleasant Street near the Green Giant plant will cost about $3 million, board Chairman Bob Walberg said.

"The state of Boone County is somewhat tenuous," he said. "We've made assumptions that our state revenues will come through and be paid when there is a budget. If there's cut in the state, some of those may not come in, so we're very concerned. Our revenue and expenses are balanced right now, but that (could) throw us out of balance. We would try to accommodate that with reduced spending where we could."

Terrinoni said the county is "very financially stressed. Our traditional financial revenues that really power a local government are not doing well," adding that the recession in 2009 "cut our legs off."

Even the projected $1.5 million in sales tax revenue is not a positive sign, Terrinoni said, because it has been flat for years.

"To be a million-and-a-half and not recovering (economically) ... it's highly stressed at this time. Our traditional financial revenues that really power a local government are not doing well."

Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

'Somewhat tenuous': Boone County Board sets vote on $23.7M budget - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Statement from Belvidere School District 100 regarding Veterans’ Day:... - Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Belvidere Daily Republican

Yesterday at 8:02am · Edited ·

Statement from Belvidere School District 100:

Students in the Belvidere School District will be in session this Veterans Day, a day typically reserved as a federal holiday.

Belvidere High School and Belvidere North High School marching bands will participate in the community celebrations as they have in the past, and over 8,000 students will pay tribute to veterans through classroom activities, assemblies, and learning about the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Teachers as well as guest military personnel will play a part in the educational process, with some of the veterans being employees of the District.

Belvidere Schools has a long established process for drafting, recommending, and approving school calendars. Options are provided to district employees for input and a final calendar, based on the responses, is created. The 2015-16 calendar was presented jointly to the Board of Education for consideration and adoption by administration and the Belvidere Education Association and approved.

We respect the calendar process, and we also respect the sacrifices made by the men and women in the military. Holding school on Veterans Day is not meant as a sign of disrespect; rather, it is an opportunity to educate our students on the significance of November 11 on the day specifically reserved for this remembrance.” Cheryl Gieseke, Interim Superintendent

Above is from:  (14) Statement from Belvidere School District 100:... - Belvidere Daily Republican

Lisa Paulsen-Rodgers shared her album.

19 hrs ·

Belvidere Daily Republican

“Boone County Veterans Remembered” was the inaugural exhibit of the Grand Gallery that ran from from Friday, May 23 through July 3, 2014 at the Boone County Historical Museum. I took these photos while the exhibit was on display for the BDR. With all the support being shown for of our Vets due to the Veterans Day Parade being cancelled, I thought I would post these again. Approximately 700+ people visited the museum in those 8 weeks. Approximately 262 attended on the closing day with the purpose of thanking a Veteran. Not many dry eyes through those 8 weeks. To all our men and women here in Boone County you are appreciated and you will not be forgotten for your service or sacrifices! From the depths of my heart, thank you for service and God Bless you and God Bless America!!

What an amazing tribute to all who served and died from Boone County

Lisa Paulsen-Rodgers

Lisa Paulsen-Rodgers

45 mins · Edited ·

An FYI that I'm posting this statement on behalf of a Belvidere Resident and BHS Alumni. She is not typically vocal and wants her feelings put out there, but is timid and fearful of the response she might get. In otherwords, backlash!! She contacted me (and yes I know her personally) and asked since I am a local reporter to post this on her behalf. I am honoring her anonymity and request. Greg Kelm, Bryce Trevino and Ryan Liz she wanted to make sure you saw this post. She is very passionate about this issue and currently has a family member serving!

"Belvidere Dist. #100, furious does not describe how this situation makes me feel! For starters... have we as a community missed some really important information regarding a change to this FEDERAL holiday? I don't think so! It appears that Dist. #100 Administration and Teachers feel they stand above! Guess what! The DISRESPECT you are showing to our Community Veterans as well as our Communities active service men and women does not get any bigger!! Who do you people think you are to make this kind of decision??

Having said the above I can only hope that our community would agree and feel the same, especially those in the Community who have current active duty family members or those who are the active service men and women, and those who have lost family members during their time of service.

I have included in this a quote made by Dist. #100 INTERIM CO-SUPERINTENDENT to WIFR...

In a written statement, District 100 Interim Co-Superintendent Cheryl Gieseke says, "We respect the sacrifices made by the men and women in military. Holding school on Veterans Day is not meant as a sign of disrespect; rather, it's an opportunity to educate our students on the significance of November 11th on the day specifically reserved for this remembrance."

What exactly is the plan for the day to EDUCATE our students??? I feel the district owes this community and military families a detail of the day of activities from start to finish! Does this day still include all normal class curriculum such as Math, Science, English etc...? If so, why? Interim Co-Superintendent Gieseke says they are using this as an "OPPORTUNITY to EDUCATE our STUDENTS on the SIGNIFICANCE of NOVEMBER 11th on the DAY SPECIFICALLY RESERVED for this remembrance" so tell me what does that really mean???

My CHALLENGE for Dist. #100 is......

Take your regular curriculum out of the picture this November 11th and EDUCATE our students on the SIGNIFICANCE of this VETERANS DAY with out any required curriculum!!! You have 11 days to plan your day of teaching only the SIGNIFICANCE OF NOVEMBER 11th/VETERANS DAY Interim Co-Superintendent Gieseke!!!!

Who gave you people the RIGHT to decide how a Community should reflect on such a day that means more than words can say to so many people! Those who have lost family members who served in the Military and those who have family that are currently active in our Military giving you the freedoms you live everyday because of our Military Service Men and Women!!!! and you say its not a sign of DISRESPECT!!! District #100 you should take this opportunity to EDUCATE yourselves of the true meaning of the word DISRESPECT!

This seems as though it may be a day to make up a snow day to come in advance! what do you say Dist. #100? Maybe you should give up a School Improvement Day to make up that snow day before it happens!" said anonymous source.

Above are from FACEBOOK

 

The parade cancelation from WIFR Channel 23 plus District 100’s program for Veterans’ Day were previously posted at:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2015/10/belvidere-veteran-day-parade-canceled.html

Chicago Public Schools enlists parents for unprecedented blitz on Springfield | abc7chicago.com

 

(WLS) --

After nearly four months without a state budget in Illinois, a new front has opened in the war on Springfield.
Chicago Public Schools officials are mobilizing parents to press state leaders for a solution to the standoff between the governor and democrats.
It is an unorthodox frontal assault on Springfield by CPS officials - with the blessing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. CPS is drafting parents to lobby for a solution to the state budget crisis, arming parents with bullet points that include a 22 percent cut in teachers if the standoff doesn't end.
The ABC7 I-team got an exclusive look at the planned blitz on state leaders by a coalition of school leaders, principals and parents that has angered the Chicago Teachers Union.
"This is an extraordinary fiscal crisis. There's been nothing like it ever in the history of the Chicago Public Schools," said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool.
As Illinois' budget hole deepens, Chicago schools are sucked into the abyss.

On top of a $1 billion long-term CPS deficit, there is a $500 million hole in the current budget that has to be plugged by Feb. 1, 2016.
"Chicago has been cut by hundreds of millions of dollars by Springfield. Those policies are wrong. They're potentially illegal, they're immoral... if Springfield doesn't act, we cannot keep those cuts out of our classroom," Claypool said.
According to a version of a letter being sent to parents, there will be an imminent cut in teachers if there is no Springfield budget by November; a cut of 5,000 teachers by the start of the second semester.
So CPS asks parents to "call upon" Gov. Bruce Rauner, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, and flood Springfield with emails, letters and phone calls.
"This is a Hail Mary pass to parents to shift blame," said Jesse Sharkey, Chicago Teachers Union.
The union's response to this CPS initiative: school officials are trying to "goad parents into lobbying; trying to shame Springfield" in acting. They say the effort would be "laughable, if not so offensive" and is "disrespectful to concerned parents."
"The CTU has sat on the sidelines and declined to join us in Springfield even though their members have the most at stake," Claypool said.
"In every way teachers have skin in the game. I mean, we've never had anything but skin in the game! Who goes to work every day in these schools? Who has to struggle under difficult conditions? Who tries to make school work every day when we're not given the tools that we need to make it work?" Sharkey said.
A spokesperson for Gov. Rauner says since last Friday, about 15 percent of the emails and letters they have received have been about state funding to Chicago schools.
"Constituents call, email and send letters to the Governor's Office on a daily basis, and since last Friday about 15 percent of those have been about state funding to CPS. Education is extremely important to the governor, which is why he signed legislation to increase education funding to record levels this year while presenting the only comprehensive plan to save CPS more than $400 million, while helping districts across the state. We urge the Mayor and members of the General Assembly to work with the Governor to help pass the reforms the district needs," said Rauner spokesperson Catherine Kelly in a statement.
Speaker Madigan's spokesperson says there has been a steady flow of public calls about the budget situation, but no uptick this week.
The ABC7 I-Team did not hear back from Senate President Cullerton.

Chicago Public Schools enlists parents for unprecedented blitz on Springfield | abc7chicago.com