Chicago Tribune—Unions say Emanuel should cut patronage, improve efficiency to save money, “City Hall labor unions today released a report that says Mayor Rahm Emanuel could save more than $242 million if he cut middle management, reduced the number of private contractors and improved efficiency in government. The recommendations are a response to Emanuel’s call for union concessions to avoid city worker layoffs. Just as Emanuel has been critical of work rules in city labor contracts, the unions criticized the way the city does business.”
- Chicago Tribune—Chicago State let failing students stay on the rolls, “Chicago State University, which was at risk of losing its accreditation because of troubling enrollment and retention figures, intentionally let failing students stay on the rolls to boost its numbers, a Tribune investigation found.”
- Bloomington Pantagraph—Editorial: More dark clouds in state’s fiscal picture, “That fits with a report issued last month by the Institute for Truth in Accounting. It factored in pension and retirement health-care obligations in an analysis of state assets and liabilities, then calculated the ‘Taxpayer Burden’ for individuals in each state. With a Taxpayer Burden of $26,800, Illinois was behind only Connecticut ($41,200) and New Jersey ($34,600).”
- Chicago News Cooperative—CPS Planning Cuts to Area Offices, “New Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard is planning to add more positions to the district’s central office and reduce the number of area offices as part of an administrative reorganization at the nation’s third-largest school system.”
- The Southern—Illinois officials keeping close watch on debt debate, “With the clock ticking on an Aug. 2 deadline, state government investments — from pension funds to the state treasurer’s office — could take a hit if the markets crash in reaction to the impasse. But, exactly how a default might affect the state remains tough to gauge, primarily because it’s never happened before.”
- Chicago Sun-Times—Emanuel: In his kids ‘best interest’ to send them to private school, “Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday his decision to send his kids to the University of Chicago Lab Schools was made ‘as a parent in the best interest of my children,’ insisting that it’s not a value judgment on the Chicago Public Schools.”
- Rockford Register-Star—Pat Quinn to meet with Rahm Emanuel on McCormick, “Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he has invited Mayor Rahm Emanuel and legislative leaders to talk about labor reforms at Chicago’s giant McCormick Place convention center.”
