This is why you are broke.

On the same day that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel publically discusses service cuts and tax increases to close a looming $636 million budget deficit, the Chicago City Council advances a city ordinance that would spend $7.7 million dollars to purchase 21 acres of Rosehill Cemetery.  (The cemetery is owned by Service Corporation International).

The purchase of this property is “essential to prevent the area -- which includes no graves -- from being developed into a retail or housing project”, according to Alderman Patrick O'Connor, (40^th ward).  The city's portion of the cost will come from $3 million in tax increment financing, and $4.7 million in bond money, according to Nelson Chueng of the city's Department of Housing and Economic Development.

When did the city council gain the authority to purchase land to prevent retail or residential development?

Not only is the city flushing $7.7 million down the drain for the cost to purchase this land but the city is committing to a perpetual cost to maintain this property.  Note that the city is borrowing the money to pay for this.  Also, what tax increment financing will result from converting this land to public space?

Sign a White House petition to repeal ObamaCare

Our friends at Verum Serum have alerted us to a interesting opportunity. The White House launched a new site last week allowing the public to petition the Administration on various public policy issues. No doubt they intend to use this to mobilize the OFA-MoveOn-Kos armies around various election issues next year, to demonstrate how “popular” the Administration’s positions are. But some enterprising American managed to create and post a petition which I found just a little more worthwhile: to repeal ObamaCare.  Click on the following link to read and sign this petition:

Petition

I assume that this slipped by the review process and that the Whitehouse will remove this petition soon.  Removing it will become news story of its own.  This will be a bigger story if there are a large number of signatures on the petition when it is removed, so sign it ASAP and send this information to all of your friends.  Unfortunately you have to register with the White House in order to vote – just a name and an email address.  You can opt out of any email lists when you register.  I think it’s worth it.