Broken Pension Funds
Yesterday evening I attended the Better Government Association’s panel discussion on the topic of pension reform on the county and city level.
However, much of the first part of the discussion focused on the State of Illinois pension problem.
At all levels of government in Illinois our pensions funds are in BIG BIG trouble. Lots of reasons for the mess. And while analysis is important to understand the problem and placing blame can be fun what MUST happen soon is reasonable action to address the problem.
The Cook County Board established a Sub-Committee on Pensions and Commissioner Bridget Gainer chairs it. Here is the linkto the website.
The city was invited to participate in the panel but did not send anyone. Not surprising.
Yesterday evening I attended the Better Government Association’s panel discussion on the topic of pension reform on the county and city level.
However, much of the first part of the discussion focused on the State of Illinois pension problem.
At all levels of government in Illinois our pensions funds are in BIG BIG trouble. Lots of reasons for the mess. And while analysis is important to understand the problem and placing blame can be fun what MUST happen soon is reasonable action to address the problem.
The Cook County Board established a Sub-Committee on Pensions and Commissioner Bridget Gainer chairs it. Here is the linkto the website.
The city was invited to participate in the panel but did not send anyone. Not surprising.
A Dress Code for the NATO Summit
Today’s news includes an article from Crain’s Chicago Business reporting that some businesses are suggesting employees not wear formal business attire during the NATO summit
to blend in with the protesters
to not attract the attention of the protesters
to avoid possible problems from/with protesters.
Here’s my response:
1) If people who are Loop working stiffs in all types of professions wear clothes that are typical of a protestor (whatever that garb is) won't that jack up the apparent size of the anti-NATO forces and make it harder to calculate crowd numbers?
2) What do protesters wear these days? Does it vary by age and gender and "cause" of the protestor? (I have posted above at the left a photo from Creative Commons of protesters. These folks look average/normal and not scary)
3) There is an assumption in the article that people who wear formal attire to work are content with the status quo in the world. Is that really the assumption? And is that assumption accurate? Are there no accountants or attorneys or even bankers who disapprove of how the current "world leaders" are running planet Earth?
Today’s news includes an article from Crain’s Chicago Business reporting that some businesses are suggesting employees not wear formal business attire during the NATO summit
to blend in with the protesters
to not attract the attention of the protesters
to avoid possible problems from/with protesters.
Here’s my response:
1) If people who are Loop working stiffs in all types of professions wear clothes that are typical of a protestor (whatever that garb is) won't that jack up the apparent size of the anti-NATO forces and make it harder to calculate crowd numbers?
2) What do protesters wear these days? Does it vary by age and gender and "cause" of the protestor? (I have posted above at the left a photo from Creative Commons of protesters. These folks look average/normal and not scary)
3) There is an assumption in the article that people who wear formal attire to work are content with the status quo in the world. Is that really the assumption? And is that assumption accurate? Are there no accountants or attorneys or even bankers who disapprove of how the current "world leaders" are running planet Earth?
Rockin' at the Nurses' March
The City of Chicago rescinded the parade permit issued to National Nurses United (NNU) because (drum roll) the nurses' group had recently added rocker Tom Morello, formerly of Rage Against the Machine, as a speaker and performer.
The city was changing its mind "to accommodate changes to your (the NNU) event, including a performance by a nationally known musician and a significantly increased number of expected attendees.".
City officials said they needed to move the ending rally of the march from Daley Plaza in the center of the Loop to the Petrillo Music Shell. (Maybe the city should try to sell the seats at Petrillo for $25 a pop like they plan to for Taste of Chicago. See April 11 post.)
NNU may not like the new route but they sure are getting a publicity bump from this. And since some Loop offices my shut down on Friday because of the NATO Summit employees with the day off might come down to the march for the free concert on Friday, May 18 at noon.
The City of Chicago rescinded the parade permit issued to National Nurses United (NNU) because (drum roll) the nurses' group had recently added rocker Tom Morello, formerly of Rage Against the Machine, as a speaker and performer.
The city was changing its mind "to accommodate changes to your (the NNU) event, including a performance by a nationally known musician and a significantly increased number of expected attendees.".
City officials said they needed to move the ending rally of the march from Daley Plaza in the center of the Loop to the Petrillo Music Shell. (Maybe the city should try to sell the seats at Petrillo for $25 a pop like they plan to for Taste of Chicago. See April 11 post.)
NNU may not like the new route but they sure are getting a publicity bump from this. And since some Loop offices my shut down on Friday because of the NATO Summit employees with the day off might come down to the march for the free concert on Friday, May 18 at noon.
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