Radio Chicagoland

Cityblis launches ‘direct from the designer’ fashion platform

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:40:02 PDT

Cityblis launches ‘direct from the designer’ fashion platform

New York, NY. – April, 2012 – Cityblis.com is pleased to announce the launch of a new social fashion
platform, backed by government bodies both in Europe and the US. The Cityblis community has been
developed to enable designers around the world to reach out to new markets while giving fashion savvy
consumers the opportunity to buy unique pieces from international designers.

Cityblis curates designers and brands including fashion for women, men, and children, with an emphasis on “Be Unique”. Cityblis differentiates itself by personalizing each webstore so that every store has an intimate feel.

“We do not believe in a one size fits all solution” says Christopher Price, chief operating officer. “Every store is unique - Every brand has a personality – and every designer has a story to tell. Shopping is an experience…an event to be enjoyed… and online shopping should not be any different.”

Cityblis removes the middle men to give consumers better access to current season apparel and accessories
‘direct from designers’ in the US, Sweden, the UK and Australia. Designers from new countries will be added in the coming months. Most Cityblis designers create limited amounts of each collection to keep with the unique feeling of their brands.

“We are empowering designers to build brands” said Christopher Price. “Cityblis is working to remove business barriers in the fashion industry and bring together fashion magazines, fashion networks, procurement houses, runway events and trade shows to make international fashion more accessible.”

With the European Union’s Development Association, Swedish Growth Organizations, UK Trade & Investment already involved in Europe, Cityblis has expanded into the US with the help of the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports and the US Small Business Development Center. With the support of all of these groups and others, Cityblis is able to offer all of its services totally free of charge. No fees – No commissions.

Cityblis is working with hundreds of designers such as Gordana Gehlhausen from Project Runway All Stars,
Masih Zad - protégé to Bijan, Fore!! Axel & Hudson, Amelia Powers, Emerson and Sacha London. All
designers are screened for uniqueness, professionalism and brand story. Designers interested in being selected
for Cityblis are asked to send a link to their website or some images of their work to invitation@cityblis.com.

Through great fashion find unique people, unique moments, unique stories and share them with the world.
Cityblis – Be Unique

About Cityblis

Cityblis is an online fashion community backed by government bodies in Europe and the US to enable
customers to ‘buy direct from the designer’. Empowering designers to build brands, Cityblis is bringing together fashion magazines, fashion networks, procurement houses, runway events and trade shows under one roof to make local designers visible to an international audience.

For more information, please visit www.cityblis.com/about.

High resolution images and screenshots are available at www.cityblis.com/doc/Cityblis_ScreenShots.pdf

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Columnist Ray Hanania speaks to members of United Business Association of Midway (March 7)

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:47:10 PDT

Book Ray Hanania as your guest speaker by visiting www.theMediaOasis.com

Radio Chicagoland goes 24/7 with latest shows

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 11:45:08 PDT

If you missed a Sunday broadcast of Radio Chicagoland on WSBC AM 1240 or on WCFJ AM 1470, you can now listen to the rebroadcast on a continuous loop anytime on our new rebroadcast service.
CLICK HERE to listen to the show live when it is on the air Sundays from 8 until 10 am or listen to a continuous rebroadcast of the show all day every day.
We will also be adding rebroadcasts of Radio Baladi shows between rebroadcasts of Radio Chicagoland Shows. Once a rebroadcast of the most recent Radio Chicagoland is completed, the most recent Radio Baladi (the one hour Arab focused show on WNZK AM 690 in Detroit) will broadcast. That will continue going back and forth until the live show every Sunday of Radio Chicagoland.
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Radio Chicagoland topics Sunday March 18: Chicago Public Schools controversy; American soldiers massacres Afghanee civilians; Syrian war crimes; GOP Presidential elections Tuesday

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:42:11 PDT

We'll be talking about these Topics SUNDAY (8-10 AM Chicago):
Radio Chicagoland topics Sunday March 18: Chicago Public Schools controversy; American soldiers massacres Afghanee civilians; Syrian war crimes; GOP Presidential elections Tuesday

(Don't forget to change your clocks late Saturday night one hour ahead)

- 8 AM The $147,000-a-year Chicago Public Schools Chief of Food Service Louise Esaian has been accused of accepting favors from the systems largest food servic eprovider. Should she be fired. Schoop Board CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have recommended she be fired. Is that enough? Read Tribune's story?

- 8:30 AM Why is the United States not taking a more aggressive stand to stop the massacre of civilians in Syria as it has done in other Middle East countries? Should the US intervene to arrest and prosecute Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for war crimes against humanity?

- 9 AM US Army Sgt. Robert Bales goes berserk and massacres 20 Afghanee civilians in a brutal unprovoked assault. Is he any different than Nidal Malik Hasan who murdered fellow soldiers and hospital staff at Ft. Hood on Nov. 5, 2009. (Read about the Hasan massacre). Is there a double standard in how we prosecute and treat mass murderers. If they are Arab American they are terrorists, but if they are American they are "lone gunmen" prone to insanity because of outside pressures. Was he provoked by hatred and extremist ideology from rightwing fanatics in the United States who have fed hatred and the past wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has charged that he believes more than one American officer may have been involved in murdering the 16 Afghanee civilians, including womena nd children. Read about the Bales massacres.

- 9:30 AM Who is going to win the Republican Primary for president Tuesday, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich or Ron Paul? And which are the most important races in Chicagoland Tuesday. We talk about other races including the battle for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Click to read my column on the top races in Chicagoland.

Other issues: Why the low voter turnout? Former Governor Rod Blagojevich goes to prison.

We talk politics and issues in the news every morning on our simulcast radio shows on WCFJ AM 1470 covering the Chicago Southlands and Northwest Indiana, along with our Chicagoland broadcast on WSBC AM 1240 ... taking calls from listeners on all topics so call in at 773-792-1240

Read candidate statements of all candidates from Chicago Tribune's extensive collection ... CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Live on Radio every Sunday 8-10 AM CST

Listen to the radio show,
Sunday 8-10 AM on WSBC AM 1240 AM in Chicagoland & Northern Illinois
and WCFJ 1470 AM in the Chicago Southlands, South Suburbs and Northwest Indiana
Ray Hanania also hosts Radio Baladi in Detroit on Fridays at 8 am EST.

THE RAY HANANIA SHOW
call 773-792-1240

Also, catch these Middle East focused radio programs online:

RADIO BALADI: every Friday morning at 7 AM CST or 8 AM EST in Detroit on WNZK AM 690 Radio live and on the Internet. Go to the web site at www.RadioBaladi.com to listen to past show podcasts. Click here to go to Radio Baladi

Patlak lackie poison pens lies at the Examiner.com

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:33:18 PDT

Patlak lackie poison pens lies at the Examiner.com

John Dyslin describes himself on his LinkedIn.com professional profile as an “Analyst at the Cook County Board of Review.”

But he forgets to mention that in his poison pen diatribe he wrote bashing Cook County Review candidate Sean Morrison and Morrison’s chief ally pro-Taxpayer champion Cook County Board Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman.

The column is on the Examiner.com, an online news site that I have also written for in the past.

I bet if the editors knew that Dyslin works for Patlak as a paid employee at the Cook County Board of Review, they might have taken a different perspective on his column bashing Morrison and Gorman.

In his profile, he also brags that he currently works to “Analyze residential assessment appeals, attend voter outreach events and assist in some communication efforts for Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak.”

In his column, where he hides his true identity, Dyslin falsely accuses Gorman of backing former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and the increase in the sales tax that Stroger passed just before being booted out of office by angry taxpayers.

The truth is Gorman led the fight against the sales tax increase. Her persistence introducing ordinance repealing the sales tax hike three times resulted in the entire one cent increase being rolled back.

Imagine how desperate Patlak must be to falsely claim that Gorman supported Stroger. Are you kidding me? Gorman was Stroger’s worst nightmare on the Cook County Board. In fact, one could easily argue that Stroger lost his bid for re-election in a large part because of the battle Gorman waged to fight the sales tax increase.

But Dyslin’s ethical lapse in identifying his relationship to Patlak, Morrison’s chief rival, exposes how desperate Patlak must really be. Patlak wouldn’t resort to all the mudslinging that has characterized his campaign if Patlak were leading Morrison in the polls. In fact, the polls show that Morrison is leading Patlak in the March 20 Republican Primary.

Part of the reason is that Morrison ran once before against Patlak. But this time, Morrison has Gorman’s backing and every taxpayer in Cook County is grateful to Gorman for having saved them thousands of dollars in unnecessary sales tax spending.

Hiding your political alliances is not ethical. When I write columns about clients who I work for, which is only occasionally, I point it out clearly and upfront.

But I don’t work for Gorman. I admire her. I took the time to closely examine her work and realized that she is the real thing, someone who promises to fight for the taxpayers and actually fights for the taxpayers. Gorman is refreshing. And the voters and the taxpayers know it, too.

I never met Morrison or Patlak before this election contest. They both seem like nice people although you really have to wonder about Patlak when you look at some of the people he hangs around with.

The race for the Cook County Board of Review happens to be the most important race Republican’s will decide on Tuesday March 20 along with deciding who is going to represent the party in the race to defeat President Barack Obama, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich.

Dyslin argues that the race between Morrison and Patlak will define the face of the Cook County Republican Organization. He's right, but for the wrong reasons. The fact is Morrison and Gorman are trying to save the Republican Party from Patlak's rightwing fanatic pals.

Patlak has tried to make that the cornerstone of his shallow campaign, also arguing falsely that Morrison and Gorman are undermining the Cook County Republican Party. Patlak’s only real argument doesn’t hold water. If anything, Gorman put the spine back in the Cook County Republican Party. It’s Patlak’s pals, like the Tea Party extremists and the fanatic writers at the power hungry Illinois Review who are destroying the Republican Party.

Dyslin rambles on and on attacking Morrison and Gorman in his column. He’s not very talented at writing, just throwing mud. The kind of mud that characterizes Patlak’s campaign literature. In one personal attack against Gorman that had me belly laughing, Dyslin wrote, awkwardly, that Gorman and Morrison are “two big liars, and distorters of truth and reality.” Seriously Dyslin, “who learned you English?” The Illinois Review?

By the way, Dyslin also brags on his LinkedIn profile that he’s a precinct captain for the Wheeling Township Republican Organization. Isn’t that the place where Patlak is also a member of the organization there.

Dyslin is a lot like Fran Eaton at the Illinois Review, who throws around pejorative attacks against individuals while avoiding any of the issues.

Dyslin does claim to have some “writing” experience. For example, on his Linkedin Account, Dyslin says he is a freelance writer “at the Indepedent Freelancer.”

Well, Dyslin may be “indepedent,” whatever that means, but he is far from independent. And he is far from being honest, too.

The Examiner.com should remove Dyslin’s column and give him a lecture about not pretending to be someone that he is not, and about hiding his political alliances in order to help his political pals at the expense of the Examiner.com’s reputation.

Ray Hanania

www.hanania.com

Cook County Republican Party Releases Statement on the Arrest of State Representative Derrick Smith

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:18:42 PDT

Cook County Republican Party Releases Statement on the Arrest of State Representative Derrick Smith

State Representative Derrick Smith was arrested Tuesday on charges of accepting a $7,000 bribe to steer a state grant to a daycare facility.

Chicago, IL — March 14, 2012— Cook County Republican Party Chairman, Sig Vaznelis, released a statement today condemning the alleged activities of Democrat State Representative Derrick Smith, who was arrested on Tuesday on charges of accepting a $7,000 bribe to steer a state grant to a daycare facility.

The Chicago Democrat’s arrest comes after a nearly three-month joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. According to the complaint, Smith demanded a cash bribe, saying, “I don’t want no trace of it.”

“I am incredibly disturbed by the allegations put forward today by the U.S. Attorney,” said Sig Vaznelis, Chairman of the Cook Republican Party. “Representative Smith hasn’t even been in the General Assembly for a year, and already has managed to land himself in hot water for allegedly doing the kinds of things that have made Chicago the butt of political jokes for decades.”

“After nearly 30 years of uninterrupted, one-party rule by the Chicago Democrats, it’s not surprising that we see allegations of yet another example of the corruption that’s turned our state into one of the worst-run states in the U.S. Illinois voters deserve better than a state hijacked by the Chicago Democrats and turned into a personal piggy bank for bribes and kick-backs.”

“I have faith that the complaint filed against Representative Smith will be handled fairly, and I hope for all Illinois residents that we see a verdict reached soon.”

Smith is seeking re-election in the March 20^th Illinois primary.

The Cook County Republican Party’s mission is to support and maximize Cook County Republican voter registration and to develop an active precinct organization - all in preparation for current and future elections. Learn more about what we’re doing to transform Illinois for the better at www.CookRepublicanParty.com.

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Statement from Governor Pat Quinn in Support of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:42:24 PDT

December 1, 2010

Statement from Governor Pat Quinn in Support of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

CHICAGO - "I am pleased to support Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. for re-election. Time and again, Congressman Jackson has delivered for the residents of the 2nd District in Illinois. As a key member of House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Jackson has secured more than $800 million in federal funding for important infrastructure, health care, education, transit, housing, community centers and other projects.

"Since taking office, the Congressman has worked tirelessly to bring a third airport to the Chicagoland area, which will serve as a strong economic engine and create jobs and development throughout the region. Working together with all the stakeholders, we are moving closer to that goal every day.

"Congressman Jackson deserves to go back to Washington D.C. and help President Obama continue to fight for jobs, economic recovery and everyday Americans."

###

The disgusting tactics of Dan Patlak's campaign

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:15:14 PST

Earlier this week, as many of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter know, my sister Linda experienced a life-and-death crisis. She continues to recover int he hospital although her challenges are many. Her health is in serious risk but the doctors are doing everything they can to help her. She remains on life-support and her condition is precarious. It can change at any time. (Thank you ALL for the well-wishes and prayers!)
So, you can imagine when at about 8:39 last night (Wednesday) I had received a phone call that the Caller-ID identified as coming from "Glenn Dale MD" at the number "240-556-9966."
I had just spoken with the nurses at the hospital and the call shocked me, thinking that something had changed. But when I picked up the phone thinking I was being called by a Doctor -- "MD" -- instead I heard a creepy sounding voice asking me to "Vote for Dan Patlak" for the Board of Review.
I have heard of the deceitful tactics of some campaigns trying to do robocalls to make it more likely for a homeowner at 8:40 in the evening to answer the telephone. Putting the letters "MD" after a name scares people into believing they have to answer the call from the unknown number, disarming their natural instincts to suspect any calls that come late at night -- especially around election time -- and from numbers they don't recognize.
It was disgusting to listen as the voice on the line turned out not to be a doctor, but instead was a telemarketer hired by Patlack to promote his candidacy.
Patlak must be desperate. Patlak sent out a brochure, as you have read here, in which he splattered his own face with "mud" to build sympathy and accuse his opponent, Sean Morrison of "throwing mud." But criticism and holding elected officials accountable is NOT throwing mud, Mr. Patlak. It's called accountability and that's exactly what the public should demand from their elected officials.
While Patlak is pretending to be a victim to build up sympathy and smear the good name of Sean Morrison, Morrison is out there trying to play by the rules, questioning Patlak's associations and political ties to sleazy groups like the "Illinois Review," the mud-slinging extremist conservative online blog that attacks people personally as their form of "critical analysis."
I received a robocall from Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman earlier that day and it was respectful. The number was local. t was made at 1:22 pm in the early afternoon so it could go to voice mail, rather than waking people up late at night with scares. Gorman is backing Morrison and she showcases the hard work he has done over the years and his ideas to improve the situation for taxpayers as she has done too.
Patlak is going to argue, of course, that the "MD" doesn't stand for Doctor but rather Maryland. Even then, why the hell would someone running for Cook County Board of Review (formerly the Board of Tax Appeals) hire out a non-Illinois firm in another state like Maryland to make the calls unless that company sold them on the promise: "Psssst! Hey, buddy! If you use our telemarketing firm, most normal people will think that a doctor is calling their home and they will pick up the phone. Tee Hee! Isn't that sneaky? Kind of like what Patlak and the Illinois Review are all about? Tee hee!"
Pathetic. Cheap election tactic. Typical of what you might expect from Mr. Patlak.
-- Ray Hananiawww.hanania.com

Family of Maureen Murphy slams Patlak's exploitation of her name

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:18:58 PST

Dan Patlak has been mailing brochures throwing mud on himself, avoiding the issues and attacking his challenger Sean Morrison. But it seems that Patlak's mud has provoked anger from across the suburban district in the Board of Whatever race (Board of Review).

Patlak has used the images of a lot of past Republicans to portray himself as continuing the legacy of the Republican Party which has watched as extremists and fanatics including those in the Tea Party and at the hate-filled online publication the Illinois Review have undermined and brought the Cook County GOP down.

He used the images of former Cook County Sheriff Jim O'Grady, and then former Cook County State's Attorney Jack O'Malley. He put his own picture up along with the rest including the picture of the beloved former member of the Board of Review, Maureen Murphy.

Maureen passed-away in 2008. She had been a school board member at Evergreen Park High school, then the legislator from the area and then committeeman of the powerful Worth Township Republican Organization succeeding another truly great Republican Herb Huskey. Back in those days, the Republicans were united by principles and moderation and commonsense.

Today,, morons like the Illinois Review have hijacked the Republican Party fueled by the vicious hatred of some Tea Party activists whoa re more interested in promoting themselves than the principled foundations of the Republican Party that O'Grady, O'Malley and Murphy once represented so proudly and effectively. There are very few Republicans like that and include Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman and Sean Morrison. Morrison and Gorman represent the moderate Republican Party movement. They focus on real issues like fighting unjustified sales tax increases while Illinois Review, their close friend Patlak, and the Tea Party focus more on incendiary political vitriol and diatribes.

Illinois Review doesn't care about strengthening the Republican Party. They only care about taking over and the power they perceive as the prize.

But abusing the name of great Republicans isn't the only trespass of Mr. Patlak. He received this angry letter from the son of Maureen Murphy, Shaun Murphy who is now the Worth Township Republican Committeeman.

PATLAK MISLEADING VOTERS
Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak recently sent out a campaign mailing which included a picture of my mother, Maureen Murphy who passed away in 2008. Throughout his campaign, Mr. Patlak has repeatedly mentioned Maureen's work for the taxpayers in an attempt to associate himself with her and her record. Time and time again, he has used her name as an implied endorsement, a shield, and has even used her as a scapegoat, depending upon the audience. The complete lack of judgment Mr. Patlak has shown in bringing my mother's name into this race is disappointing. The Murphy family wants to make it clear that although he is using Maureen's name, our family is not endorsing Mr. Patlak in his campaign.
Shaun Murphy
Evergreen Park, IL

Maureen Murphy was a one-of-a-kind person. A truly considerate and kind leader. She was pragmatic, smart and dedicated to the local Republican Organization. Not everyone supported her or her kind of thinking. She worked for respect rather than using bullying the way the Illinois Review and Patlak are throwing mud in their vicious campaigns to slander anyone who dares to stand up to the garbage politics.

She deserves better than to be dragged into Patlak's mud-throwing, ugly election campaign.

-- Ray Hanania

www.hanania.com

Radio Chicagoland expands into Southland Chicago and Northwest Indiana

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 05:44:34 PST

Radio Chicagoland which is broadcast every Sunday from 8 am until 11 am is now expanding its broadcast signal on two stations. Radio Chicagoland will now simulcast live on both WSBC AM 1240 and WCFJ AM 1470 radio stations.
The call-in number remains 773-792-1240 and the web site remains www.RadioChicagoland.com. But while WSBC AM 1240 broadcasts mainly to Chicagoland's North, Northwest, West and near Southwest suburbs (as far south as Palos), the new radio station WCFJ AM 1470 will now include listeners in the far Southlands and Northwest Indiana. WCFJ is based on Chicago Heights and will include southwest suburban communities from Orland Park south.
"Listeners in Orland Park should be able to chose between either station but now the new station will open up the popular political and current events talk radio program to many new communities including Tinley Park, Frankfort, Homewood Flossmoor, Chicago Heights and also into Northwest Indiana," said radio host Ray Hanania.
The program focuses on the hottest topics in the news and includes a special interest in regional, national and international politics.
Kheir Fakhreldin co-hosts during the program from studios located in Northwest Chicago at 5625 N. Milwaukee Avenue.
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MWRD selects disinfection technologies for the Calumet and North Side Water Reclamation Plants

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:59:55 PST

For immediate release

March 1, 2012

MWRD selects disinfection technologies for the Calumet and North Side Water Reclamation Plants

Chlorination, ultraviolet irradiation offer best alternatives at least cost

Using a triple bottom line approach that considers economic, environmental and social criteria, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has completed its evaluation of available disinfection technologies and has recommended the optimal technology for disinfecting the North Side and Calumet Water Reclamation Plant effluents.

The processes selected are chlorination/dechlorination for Calumet and ultraviolet irradiation (UV) with low pressure high output lamps for North Side. The estimated capital costs for construction at the two plants totals just over $109 million, less than 50 percent of the anticipated cost.

This announcement comes eight months after the MWRD Board of Commissioners made a policy decision to implement disinfection at the two plants. An internal task force, which included staff from the departments of Monitoring and Research, Engineering, and Maintenance and Operations, systematically evaluated all available disinfection technologies and reviewed academic research and industry practice literature. The task force also performed bench scale studies, monitored existing plant effluent, reviewed site conditions, and contacted industry experts, manufacturers and suppliers, and other large wastewater treatment agencies. In addition, the task force gathered data about design parameters, operational needs, maintenance requirements, and annual and capital costs.

David St. Pierre, MWRD Executive Director, said that once the Board of Commissioners made its policy decision to proceed with disinfection, the task force worked swiftly to ensure disinfection will come online at the same time as the Thornton reservoir to maximize the water quality impact for the Cal-Sag channel.

According to St. Pierre, differences in existing infrastructure and hydraulics at the two plants require that a combination of methods be implemented as the basis of final design and construction of the facilities.

To fund the new projects, the MWRD restructured its Capital Improvement Program and adjusted operational efficiency goals to reserve $240 million in the budget for construction; however, based on task force results, the estimated costs for capital is roughly $109 million.

“The task force reviewed combinations of technologies to treat baseline and peak flows to maximize our use of resources and as a result, we are able to do what is needed for less than half the cost of the original estimate,” said St. Pierre.

“We looked at the most economical processes so the MWRD can provide excellent customer service at the least cost,” said Commissioner Cynthia M. Santos, Finance Committee Chairman. “Now that the best disinfection alternatives have been selected for the two plants, the projects will proceed to the design phase.”

The Board’s next steps will be to hire an engineering consultant to do the design work so that construction can start in 2013 or early 2014. “We want to have construction completed by December 2015 and disinfection in service for the 2016 recreational season,” said Commissioner Santos.

Agreements with design consultants for each plant will be submitted to the Board of Commissioners for award in April 2012, and final designs will be completed by March 2013. A contract for construction will be awarded by October 2013.

Concurrent with the design phase, pilot testing of the proposed UV system for North Side will be conducted for at least three months. Not only does the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency approve design criteria based on pilot testing, important information regarding appropriate UV dosing over a range of hydraulic conditions will be documented.

More information about the MWRD can be found at www.mwrd.org.

Our water environment…Take it personally.

# # #

Established in 1889, the MWRD (www.mwrd.org) is an award-winning, special purpose government agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management in Cook County, Illinois.

CONTACT:

Allison Fore

Public Affairs Specialist, MWRD

111 E. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611

allison.fore@mwrd.org

Chicago Tribune has endorsed Candidate Fred Smith For Congress in the 1st District over longtime legendary Congressman Bobby Rush

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:22:06 PST

The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Candidate Fred Smith For Congress in the 1st District over longtime legendary Congressman Bobby Rush

Chicago Tribune Endorsement 1st District

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush has had a long, comfortable ride in Congress. Since taking office in 1993, he has been routinely re-elected with 80 percent of the vote or more. (He's still the only person who has ever beaten Barack Obama in a political race.) We have long admired his commitment to anti-violence efforts and have endorsed him many times.

But Rush was recently dinged by govtrack.us for having the fourth worst missed-vote record in Congress — 13.2 percent. Suburban mayors grumble that he's less responsive to their constituents' needs than to those of city residents, and the redrawn 1^st District, reaching into rural Will County, is home to many more suburban voters. The best among Rush's five challengers in the Democratic primary is Fred Smith, 42, of Evergreen Park, a program director at Maryville Academy.

Smith, who ran in 2010, grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes, served as an Army paratrooper in Operation Desert Storm and came home to work with substance abusers. Among his goals: creating a re-entry program for high school dropouts, increasing access to college and vocational programs and making college loan payments more manageable. He's concerned about preserving safety net programs but open to means testing and adjusting benefit formulas. As a South Sider who roots for the Cubs, he should have no trouble working across party lines in Washington. Smith is endorsed. Also on the ballot are Ray Lodato, Harold Bailey, Clifford Russell Jr. and Jordan Sims.

How are most of the suburbs handling Chicago's draconian water rate increases?

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:47:42 PST

The Village of Orland Park is not unusual. Like most of the suburban communities held hostage by the City of Chicago, Orland Park buys its Lake Michigan water from Chicago through Oak Lawn. Other communities go through other suburban pumping stations, but Oak Lawn is one of the largest.
This year, to off-set the cost of corruption that has plagued Chicago for most of the past two decades under former Mayor Richard M. Daley, and to cover the excessive pension contributions the city has given to its elected officials and clout-heavy employees, it faces its annual cash shortfall. In other words, because of poor money management, Chicago is always in need of cash. So, instead of making its services more efficient and cost-effective, and instead of eliminating waste, Chicago increases its taxes, fees and fines.
This year, not satisfied with punishing its own taxpayers, Chicago decided to punish the suburbs where efficiency and waste are not as enormous as they are in Chicago government. So newly elected Mayor Rahm Emanuel has dramatically increased the charges for water.
Why do the suburbs have to go through Chicago to get the water from Lake Michigan, I don't know. Some corrupt politician set it up that way in the 19th Century. Few knew that the suburbs would become a failed haven from Chicago corruption. What right does Chicago have on Lake Michigan other than much of the lake's coastline hugs the polluted city's shores?
Most suburban communities sent notes out to their homeowners and taxpayers informing them that the City of Chicago increased water rates this year 25 percent. And, Chicago will increase water charges 15 percent for each of the next three years.
Orland Park is no different and the water bills that arrived today included a short note that reads simply, and accurately:
"City of Chicago Raises Water Rates."The Village of Orland Park buys its Lake Michigan Water from the Village of Oak Lawn, which buys it from the City of Chicago.
"On January 1, 2012, the City of Chicago increased its water rates 25 percent, passing this cost onto its water customers, including the Village of Orland Park. Subsequent increases of 15 percent per year through 2015 have also been imposed by the City of Chicago.
"Based on this action by the City of Chicago, beginning in January 2012, Village of Orland Park water customers can expect an average water bill to increase approximately $3.75 per bi-monthly billing period, based on a bi-monthly usage of 9,000 gallons."
Nothing more was said. but reading between the lines, Orland Park, like nearly every suburban community, is telling you that Orland Park is going to pass along the increases from Chicago through Oak Lawn and through Orland Park to you, the taxpayer and water "consumer."
In fact, most suburban communities simply passed along the Chicago rate increases, making taxpayers share the entire burden. Most suburban communities, that is, except the Town of Cicero.
Cicero gets its share of unfair media coverage. I know because I work there as the Town Spokesman. The truth is most of the crap published by the Chicago Sun-Times is little more than exaggerated garbage. Crap that couldn't even be wrapped in the oily, greasy inked stained Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.
But Cicero is different that most other suburban communities. It has held the line on property taxes for most of the past seven years since Larry Dominick was elected Town president. And, the fact is Chicago raises the water fees almost every year, this year being the largest. And Cicero has absorbed -- yes absorbed -- the majority of those water rate increases for the town to tighten its belt and share in the burden with its 80,000 official residents.
This year, Cicero only passed along 66 percent of the increase and absorbed the remaining 33 percent.
"Absorbed." And "sharing." These are not words you read much about in other suburban communities. It's so easy to pass along the rate increases and just blame it on Chicago.
You won't read about that is the Chicago Sun-Times -- where I also worked as an award winning writer from 1985 until 1992.
But the citizens of Cicero know the benefits they receive and they really don't care if the Sun-Times editors, who live in Ivory Tower and ritzy suburban communities like Winnetka, Highland Park, Wilmette and Evanston, want to spend their time criticizing Cicero.
Cicero's residents get more services than any other suburban community. More and better healthcare services. Public works, street cleaning, snow removal and even a Town Board that would sit back when the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago fails to do its job -- its "mission" is to manage flood and rain waters, but it doesn't do a very good job of doing that and probably never will. No other public agency spends more money on its pampered elected officials than the MWRD.
Sp next time you get a glass water of water from the tap, you might want to pour it on your copy of the Chicago Sun-Times. Oh. I forgot. Most residents of Cook County don't read the Chicago Sun-Times. Crains Chicago Business has reported that the Sun-Times circulation has dropped to about 200,000 a day. Pathetic circulation that reflects its pathetic reporting.
-- Ray Hananiawww.TheMediaOasis.com

Mayor Emanuel endorses Tammy Duckworth

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:10:12 PST

In 2006, as a member of Congress, I led the effort to recruit and elect Democrats across the country. Back then, Senator Dick Durbin introduced me to a true hero whose values and priorities still impress me today.

Meet Tammy Duckworth. A Democrat for Congress here in Illinois who you should consider supporting.

Tammy served our country in Iraq as a helicopter pilot and was shot down in 2004. Her bravery in battle and inspiring recovery led her to a path of public service. She ran for office, served us here in Illinois as Director of Veterans Affairs, and joined the national VA as Assistant Secretary under President Obama.

Tammy’s courage and common sense are exactly what we need in Washington. Will you join me in supporting her campaign with a contribution of $10 or more?

Tammy’s no stranger fighting for her beliefs, no matter the risk. She also understands better than most the economic struggles people are facing right now. Tammy’s father was a Veteran who put himself through college on the GI Bill, but lost his job at age 55. She’s running for Congress to make sure that the same programs that helped her family get back on their feet are there for other people who are working hard toward the American Dream.

That’s why I’m supporting her and why I urge you to do the same. We need more members of Congress ready to solve problems and move our country forward.

Send her to Washington to fight for us.

-- Rahm Emanuel

P.S. Tammy needs your crucial support today. Please contribute $10 or more to her get to Congress.

The Cook County Board of "Whatever" -- Sean Morrison working to change it

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:37:39 PST

The Cook County “Board of Whatever”

By Ray Hanania

They changed the name of the Board of Tax Appeals a long time ago because in the old days, the incumbents didn’t like the fact that many taxpayers only associated their property tax increases with that office.

So they changed it to the Board of Review, to get rid of that annoying word “Tax.”

It’s one of the most significant things the body has done, besides take money from attorneys who milk property owners to submit the complex appeals.

This year, one candidate seems to want to change it all. He wants to make it easier for property owners to file their own appeals, rather than go through the lawyers who donate heavily to the three member “Board of Whatever?”

Sean Morrison has some great ideas. He says that he wants to put the appeal process online so that regular property tax owners like you and me can scan our documents, submit them online and instead of taking time off from our workday or paying the attorneys to do it all for us, we can conduct a hearing using Skype.

Morrison notes that right now, most property tax owners don’t get big breaks and they go through lawyers who specialize in this appeal process. When you hire a lawyer, the lawyer takes 50 percent of the savings “upfront.” That’s painful because most property taxes are not paid until a year later so you’d still pay the high taxes the year you appeal, plus pay half to the attorney, and you wouldn’t feel it until the following year.

Morrison also notes that most property owners who appeal only save a few hundred dollars. The real savings seem to lean towards the commercial properties and big businesses that can afford to have attorneys on their staffs fulltime and mount more aggressive challenges.

“Homeowners don’t really need attorneys, but right now the system makes it hard for them to do it themselves,” Morrison explains. “But when you look at the data, 65 percent of the applicants for a property tax reduction only get a few hundred dollars knocked off their bills. The system is set up to make the voter, not the property owner, feel like someone cares or that the system is working. They don’t and the system is not working the way it should.”

I remember appealing my taxes at one of those pre-election campaign events called Seminars to Appeal your Taxes” where the incumbents on the three-member board go out and basically beg for your votes. I filled out the paperwork but the board flat out rejected my appeal, even though the house had been damaged by flooding. I’d written several columns hammering the worthless board in the past so I figure anyone of them could have kicked my paperwork behind a desk.

But Morrison gives me some hope. I like his ideas, putting the process online. Morrison ran for this seat in 2010. The three commissioners run from three districts, two in Chicago (end up being Democrats) and one in the suburbs (where Republicans can grab one seat). He lost to Republican Dan Patlak but is making a second charge.

Morrison says he has tried but been denied FOIA requests for data tracking how much the lawyers who appear before the board get for their clients, so we can see real facts on how the system favors big commercial properties. But the Board of Tax Review doesn’t keep that incriminating evidence.

If Morrison is elected, in addition to bringing the “Board of Whatever” into the 21^st Century as the Board of Review, he’ll also start documenting data on that very important point. Something the incumbents really don’t want you to know.

(Listen to Ray Hanania every Sunday on WSBC AM 1240 Radio from 8 until 11 am. www.RadioChicagoland.com.)

NOTES:

Morrison has some great ideas. Why doesn't the Board of Review include applications in the Cook County Tax bills that go out to all residential homes allowing them to apply for a tax review and reduction themselves?

Seems like a simple thing to do, that isn't being done.

One reason is that the Board of Tax Review seems to be pandering to the big commercial businesses and properties that donate huge money to their political campaign funds.

Morrison also says he wants to reduce the number of big commercial properties that are getting tax cuts. Seriously, you have to ask why are we cutting down the property tax bills of big companies? When we do, as Morrison points out, we're just punishing the single family homeowner because they're the ones who have to pick up the lost property tax slack when businesses get big discounts. And, businesses are getting BIGGER discounts on their properties than homeowners are getting. That tells you where the concern of the Board of "Whatever" is really at.

They don't care about the little guy, you or me. They don't care about property taxes on homes. They care about big business. It's obvious.

And it's even more obvious that needs to change.

-- Ray Hanania

www.TheMediaOasis.com

Lipinski Votes to Extend Middle-Class Payroll Tax Cut, Preserve Unemployment Benefits, Stop Medicare Cuts – Urges More Deficit Reduction

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:28:09 PST

Lipinski Votes to Extend Middle-Class Payroll Tax Cut, Preserve Unemployment Benefits, Stop Medicare Cuts – Urges More Deficit Reduction

Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) voted to temporarily extend the payroll tax cut for the hard-hit middle class, preserve extended unemployment benefits for Americans struggling to find work, and prevent a Medicare cut that would threaten seniors’ access to their doctors. The extension of the payroll tax cut through the end of the year prevents a tax hike of $1,000 for the typical family. The legislation also requires that money from the general fund be deposited into the Social Security Trust Fund to make up for the lost payroll tax revenue and ensure that Social Security’s finances are not harmed and seniors will continue to receive their promised benefits.

“I am glad the two parties were finally able to reach a deal that avoids a tax hike on the middle class at a time of continuing high unemployment, prevents the end of extended unemployment benefits for Americans who cannot find a job despite their best efforts, and stops Medicare cuts that would have threatened seniors’ access to their doctors,” Rep. Lipinski said. “Failure to take action on these matters would have hurt tens of millions of Americans.

“However, I am disappointed that the two sides were only able to offset a portion of the costs. The inability to reach agreement on how to pay for this legislation is another failure and shows the need for greater bipartisanship in Washington. Having voted for the bipartisan, $2.1 trillion deficit reduction package in August and for a Balanced Budget Amendment, I believe we must act to reduce the national debt. I also believe we must be vigilant to ensure that the payroll tax cut does not form a precedent that results in any weakening of Social Security for those who rely on it.

“Congress needs to stop the partisan bickering and focus on finding common ground to do what is right for the American people. From the beginning, I urged both parties to work together to quickly address the expiration of the payroll tax cut, extend emergency unemployment insurance, and preserve access to care for seniors on Medicare – and then immediately turn their attention to job creation. Instead, the talks dragged on for months, nearly blew up and resulted in a tax hike in December, and finally ended this week in a bill that – while better than the alternative – came up short in one important respect. The country is sick of the partisanship in Washington, and so am I. We can and must do better.”

####

Candidate Harold Bailey to Host Small Business Resource Fair at St. Sabina

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:34:53 PST

Candidate Harold Bailey to Host Small Business Resource Fair at St. Sabina

Free event in partnership with Genesis Career Network open to business owners, managers and entrepreneurs

CHICAGO – February 16, 2012 – Harold Bailey [http://haroldbailey.org], the Democratic Candidate for Illinois’ 1^st Congressional District, is hosting a Small Business Resource Fair in partnership with Genesis Career Network, Friday, February 17, 2012 – 10am until 2pm at The Faith Community of St Sabina Church, 1210 W. 78^th Place (78^th and Racine), Chicago, IL. The event, sponsored by Friends of Harold Bailey, is free to business owners, managers and entrepreneurs.

The Fair is designed to help jumpstart small business and direct entrepreneurs to incentives via the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and direct attendees to funding opportunities for programs such as, On The Job Training and Keep Illinois Working. The Fair will also assist business owners in applying for federal and minority contracts, and provide direct interaction with decision makers from the Illinois Department of Labor and the Chicago Federation of Labor.

In line with his vow to provide tangible results and resources for 1^st District residents if elected, Bailey comments “It is no secret that people are hurting, they need resources, direction, and opportunities, this Small Business Resource Fair will provide knowledge for entrepreneurs and small businesses alike and provide more than just hope, but tangible access to programs and funding sources.”

Bailey’s primary goal will be to support and introduce legislation that will have a measureable impact on the lives and well being of residents throughout the District. Bailey believes that promoting access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs, while raising awareness on programs and initiatives designed to create and sustain new business and job opportunities is a fundamental starting point.

Bailey, a devoted single father of a medical student, has dedicated his professional life to advocating on behalf of citizens in Illinois. His objective if elected will be to bring a new vision of cooperation, fiscal responsibility, a sound economic and education policy, and creative solutions for political reform to the nation’s capital.

Harold Bailey is a teacher, coach, administrator, community organizer, and businessman. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and has worked for the City of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools, and the Chicago Park District.

For an interview with Harold L. Bailey, (D) Candidate for the Illinois 1^st Congressional District call A.C. McLean on (312) 373-1778 or visit [http://haroldbailey.org].

Open Call: PARTICIPATE in Chicago Arabesque 2012

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:10:04 PST

Last year, the administration of newly elected Mayro Rahm Emanuel dropped the ball and the annual Arabesque Festival was cancelled because organizers felt they didn't have enough support or volunteers.

It came at a bad time for Mayor Emanuel, who happens to be Jewish, as his administration has taken a somewhat "distant" approach to Chicago's American Arab community. The cancellation of last summer's Arabesque festival looked suspicious -- even though Mayor Emanuel may not have had any involvement in seeing it cancelled.

Though critics like me noted that he could have intervened to prevent the cancellation and he did not. His relations with American Arabs has been dismal and in many cases non-existent for someone who professes "diversity."

But now comes the news that it is back on and I am sure American Arab community leaders will urge Mayor Emanuel to re-examine his commitment to diversity and proactively outreach to American Arabs in our community. Seeing the Arabesque Festival return is a major step in the right direction.

-- Ray Hanania

www.TheMediaOasis.com

Open Call: PARTICIPATE in Chicago Arabesque 2012

CALLING ALL FRIENDS OF THE COMMUNITY

THE CHICAGO ARAB HERITAGE COUNCIL

URGES YOU TO

 SAVE THE DATE 

Chicago Arabesque Festival

27, 28, 29, 30 JUNE 2012

Daley Plaza

OPEN CALL FOR:

Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago and The Board of Directors of The Lira Ensemble an Evening of Klezmar Music

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:02:58 PST

Photos from Lira's event last year at the Polish Consulate, February 2011.

Consul General Zygmunt Matynia

Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago

and

The Board of Directors of

The Lira Ensemble

invite you to attend an

Evening of Polish Klezmer Music

featuring a quartet from

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

at the

Consulate of the Republic of Poland

1530 North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago

Cocktail and Canape Reception - 5:30pm

Program - 6:30pm

Polish Supper with Jewish Touches - 7:15pm

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Tickets for this event, which benefit the Lira Ensemble are

$100.00 each

Parking coupons are available in advance at $12.00 each.

A portion of your ticket price is tax deductible.

Please respond no later than Friday, February 24th

for tickets please call the lira ensemble at

(773) 508-7040

Radio Chicagoland Sunday Feb. 12, 2012

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:37:18 PST

We'll be talking about these Topics SUNDAY (8-11 AM Chicago):
- 8 AM Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown
- 8:30 AM Comedian Angie McMahon of Second City Directors Program presents, "Six Pack" An evening of unscripted Theater ... Second City's Training Center presents the Directing Programs first project for the year "Six Pack" featuring 6 different original Improvisational pieces. Thursday will feature Directors Jeff Gandy, Michael Glazer, and David Knoell and Sunday will feature Directors Stuart Scotten , Jen Ellison, and Angie McMahon.
- 9 AM Jessica Robertson of MTV Hive reviews the Grammy and Oscar Nominees. A veteran music journalist who previously edited for RollingStone.com and AOL’s Spinner.com, Robertson discusses Grammy winner predictions in tandem with emerging artists and albums to keep an ear out for. The 54th Grammy Awards air tonight (Sunday evening, February 12).
- 9:30 AM Miscallenous topics including the revelations of Mimi Alford, the teenage mistress of the late President John F. Kennedy ... the violence continues in Syria ...
- 10 AM - Former Congressman Bill Lipinski on the presidential election. Is President Barack Obama beatable or are the Republican challengers, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich too weak?
- 10:30 AM we discuss local political races in the Illinois House, Senate ...
Live on Radio every Sunday 8-11 AM CST
THE RAY HANANIA SHOWcall 773-792-1240

Allstate Arena and monster truck jam

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:24:46 PST

Post #1: They make you wait outside in the freezing cold for an hour before they open the doors at the Allstate Arena. It costs $20 to park and $10 for a program book. The arena is small, and filled with the dust from the dirt they parked into the floor. The Toyota Park Stadium is so much better. The "sky boxes" are right behijund the first section, and offers very little "sKy" at all. Seems like the Skyboxes would be a real rip-off unless you plan to party there and not watch the show.

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:23:31 PST

Press Advisory for Friday, February 10

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

For more information, contact: Monica Trevino, 773.573.8667 (mobile)

Josh Hoyt, 773.443.0539 (mobile)

Erica Hade, 312.343.0322 (mobile)

After news reports of connections to extreme anti-immigrant conservatives…

Community Leaders, Latino Elected Officials to Call on Candidates to Refuse Support of Extremist Groups; Question Piszczor’s Ties to Anti-Immigrant Movement

WHAT: Following news reports of involvement by anti-immigrant political operatives in at least one majority Latino district, leaders of Illinois’ Latino and immigrant communities are organizing to draw attention to the influence of ultraconservative, anti-immigrant groups in upcoming primary elections.

News reports have linked Michele Piszczor, candidate for the 22^nd Illinois House District, to a PAC founded by Tea Party leader and millionaire Jack Roeser. Roeser led the fight last Spring to defeat the Illinois DREAM Act, a bill to give immigrant youth in Illinois access to a college education. In a communication to conservative activists, Roeser called the Illinois Dream Act the “Illinois Nightmare Act,” attacked its political supporters and falsely claimed that it would cost taxpayers money.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 10

WHERE: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

55 E. Jackson Blvd., 20^th Floor, Chicago

WHO: State Senators, State Representatives, Aldermen, and Religious, Community and Labor Leaders, including:

§ Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

§ State Sens. Martin Sandoval and Tony Munoz

§ State Reps. Elizabeth Hernandez, Cynthia Soto, Edward Acevedo

§ Alderman Joe Moreno

§ Community Leaders: Juan Salgado, Instituto del Progreso Latino; Maria Pesquiera, Mujeres Latinas en Accion; Joshua Hoyt, ICIRR; Alberto Mosqueda, South West Organizing Project; Alie Kabba, United African Organization; Ahmed Rehab, Council of American Islamic Relations; Equality Illinois; Fr. Brendan Curran, St. Pius V Catholic Church; SEIU; Ahlam Jbara, Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago; Tuyet Le, Asian American Institute;

-END-

Liz Gorman: Reminder to register to vote -- Feb. 21 deadline

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:16:17 PST

“Decisions are made by those who show up.” Our right to vote is the most fundamental right we have as citizens. The right to elect those who will lead us and the right to remove those from office when they forget what they were sent to do should be viewed not only as a right but as a duty for good citizens.

Elections are the cornerstone of our freedoms and liberties. In 2012 we will be electing people to serve us at every level of government – state representatives and senators, certain countywide officials, Members of Congress and the President of the United States. Each of these have the potential to affect the most important issues facing each and every citizen this year such as the economy, health care, immigration and gun control, just to name a few.

In the primary of 2010 only 25% of those eligible voted in Suburban Cook County. I realize many believe it is not important to vote in primaries. But consider the fact that the few who vote in them determine who we have an opportunity to vote for in the general election. The best person may not be on the ballot in November because 75% didn’t take the time to vote in the primary!

Please seriously consider taking the time to vote in the Primary. New laws have made it much easier to take part in the election process. Early voting begins on February 27th and ends on March 15th and there are various locations to do so. In addition, absentee ballots may be obtained, which will be mailed to your home and you can mail it back to the County Clerk.

If you are not yet registered you may still do so, but time is running short. In order to vote in the March 20^th Primary, you must register by February 21st. If you need information as to how and where to register or other important dates regarding voting in the Primary on March 20^th, please visit my website at www.lizgorman.com.

With all of the important issues facing our nation, our state, our county and our cities and villages, I strongly urge all of my fellow citizens to register to vote and then actually vote.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman

Cook County Commissioner, 17^th District

A Vehicle sticker with street gang symbols, or a bunch of government idiots?

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:16:57 PST

City Clerk Susana Mendoza is a nice lady. I've met her. She is sincere. She is genuine. But she's weak. And apparently, she is easily manipulated by outrageous stories in the newspapers and a campaign of stupidity that says a Heart is a symbol of a street gang members and hands rising up to support First Responders are "similar" to street gang hand signs.
Since when did we surrender the Heart to the street gangs? Since when did we surrender hands reaching out for support to police, firemen and others a symbol of street gang idiocy.
I have never seen a government overreact out of fear of public backlash and fear that if you don't do anything, you will look weak. Instead, the Street Gangs have won. They have defined for us what our society is all about. The street gangs have defined for us what we can use and what we can't use.
I most feel sorry for the young Hispanic child who drew the winning design that a majority of the members of the public voted online to support. The public didn't see the street gang menace in the design by a 15 year old boy with no history of gang ties.
But a popular police blog run by retired cops who see sinister images in everything wrote a story saying it looked like it was a street gang symbol and the president of the Chicago Crime Commission, and the former Chicago Police Supt. Jodi Weis agreed.
Maybe some people might ask how much the Chicago Police really know about street gangs since they are NOT very good at fighting them. Maybe they're not the most objective people. Maybe the real issue is the winning design was made by a Hispanic boy. And that this was an orchestrated racist act to take away that award from a Hispanic to give it to a girl who is of Irish heritage. Maybe it was an Irish Cop who didn't like the Hispanic boy winning the design contest over the Irish school girl who came in second with her design.
Those questions are just as equal to the claims that the Chicago Vehicle Sticker with the salute to our first responders was a street gang symbol.
Tragic.
The mother of the artist said it so aptly in the Chicago Tribune:
"I am very upset. I feel very upset that something so positive could be so negative," Jessica Loor told reporters crammed inside a classroom at Lawrence Hall Youth Services, where the boy attends school. "I feel there's a lot of haters. They can make anything out of anything."
Here's the official statement of City Clerk Susana Mendoza.
This is a disgrace. A disgrace to the City Clerk Susana Mendoza. A disgrace to the police department and their race-driven fraternity. And its a disgrace for the people of Chicago who live under the thumbs of what street gang members now define as our culture. Apparently what Street Gang members say is more important to some people in political power.
Here's the old "Street Gang" design:
And here's the new design from high school senior Caitlin Henehan:

Shame.
-- Ray Hananiawww.hanania.com

Del Galdo Law Group receives legal industry’s top honors

rayhanania@comcast.net (ray hanania) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:59:08 PST

Del Galdo Law Group receives legal industry’s top honors

Berwyn/Il – Super Lawyers Magazine, one of the legal industry’s leading publications, recognized two members of the Del Galdo Law Group in their annual "Super Lawyers" honor which recognizes the State's top attorneys in their field.

The magazine named Del Galdo Law Group LLC principal Michael Del Galdo and James M. Vasselli as recipients of the 2012 “Rising Stars” distinction.

This is the third year Michael Del Galdo has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in the legal profession. It is rare to have two members of the same law firm honored.

“I am very proud to again receive this recognition,” said Del Galdo who was also recognized by Super Lawyers in 2010 and 2011.

“My priority is to provide the highest quality of professional legal services for my clients and to contribute in a positive way towards the betterment of the cities in which I work.”

Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in any state receive this honor. Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters business, selects lawyers for this distinction using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

Del Galdo praised Jim Vasselli noting that the recognition by Super Lawyer Magazine reflects the high esteem that members of Illinois’ legal profession have for the award recipients.

"Mr. Vasselli's work at our firm and for our clients has always been internally recognized as of the highest caliber and I am proud that the legal community has also recognized this fact,” Del Galdo said.

Del Galdo is the founding attorney and managing member of Del Galdo Law Group, LLC and James Vasselli Chairs the Real Estate and Public Finance Practice Groups at the Firm. Del Galdo Law Group, LLC is comprised of 16 attorneys concentrating in the governmental and public sector practice areas, including Municipal Law; School Law; Zoning & Land Use; Real Estate; Economic Development; Litigation; Transactional; and, Government Affairs. The Firm's clients include some of the largest school districts and municipalities in Chicagoland.

A graduate of DePaul University College of Law, Del Galdo is also a frequent lecturer on municipal government.

Vasselli is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law and holds an MBA from The Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University.

http://www.dlglawgroup.com/

###

Radio Chicagoland

Cityblis launches ‘direct from the designer’ fashion platform

Columnist Ray Hanania speaks to members of United Business Association of Midway (March 7)

Radio Chicagoland goes 24/7 with latest shows

Radio Chicagoland topics Sunday March 18: Chicago Public Schools controversy; American soldiers massacres Afghanee civilians; Syrian war crimes; GOP Presidential elections Tuesday

Patlak lackie poison pens lies at the Examiner.com

Cook County Republican Party Releases Statement on the Arrest of State Representative Derrick Smith

Statement from Governor Pat Quinn in Support of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

The disgusting tactics of Dan Patlak's campaign

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Radio Chicagoland expands into Southland Chicago and Northwest Indiana

MWRD selects disinfection technologies for the Calumet and North Side Water Reclamation Plants

Chicago Tribune has endorsed Candidate Fred Smith For Congress in the 1st District over longtime legendary Congressman Bobby Rush

How are most of the suburbs handling Chicago's draconian water rate increases?

Mayor Emanuel endorses Tammy Duckworth

The Cook County Board of "Whatever" -- Sean Morrison working to change it

Lipinski Votes to Extend Middle-Class Payroll Tax Cut, Preserve Unemployment Benefits, Stop Medicare Cuts – Urges More Deficit Reduction

Candidate Harold Bailey to Host Small Business Resource Fair at St. Sabina

Open Call: PARTICIPATE in Chicago Arabesque 2012

Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago and The Board of Directors of The Lira Ensemble an Evening of Klezmar Music

Radio Chicagoland Sunday Feb. 12, 2012

Allstate Arena and monster truck jam

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Liz Gorman: Reminder to register to vote -- Feb. 21 deadline

A Vehicle sticker with street gang symbols, or a bunch of government idiots?

Del Galdo Law Group receives legal industry’s top honors