The Blog

So how long, (and how many fluff pieces), exactly does the Reader intend on keeping their nose up Messier Huberman’s ass?

are you now the Michael Sneed of the Reader? Between your coverage of "the buff" Mr. Huberman, and the fawning of Mick’s previous entry of someone in Lakeview having a crush on him, has the 'Clout City' blog turned into a Huberman fan page? This is crap. It is unworthy of the Reader. And it would be nice if you could clarify exactly what is permissible commentary on these pages, and what will be censured. One week it is any racist or homophobic comments, now it is under obviously bogus names (I don't know what that means). A little clarification would be nice, or a policy statement on participating on this blog.

I guess the reader has gone full circle. pushing the company line. The new owner must have laid down the law regarding criticism of King DALEY. The reader has become another extension of the Sun times

So, what does Kate really think Huberman is doing? Surely not making a heroic effort to serve the CTA's ridership. Certainly putting on a show for the gullible. Possibly actually trying to do the job that needs to be done. Do we know whether or not he's put together a team of 'auditors' / 'inspectors', to thoroughly analyze every failing of the system, from whatever cause or source? Or is he merely going through the motions of doing so, destined to do whatever Daley tells him to?

Kate you need to delete the ron HUBERMAN STORY. Why do you consistently need to spin for a hack LIKE ron huberman

Speaking of trains passing while in the Rogers Park/Loyola area stops, exactly what is the reasoning that we should be providing express service from the burbs anyway? I keep hearing all of this noise about how the "new urbanism" is based on making it easy for people near the Loop to commute there (usually a rationalization to build more and denser condos), yet people living between say Irving and Howard have to watch people from outside the City get preferential treatment from OUR public transit system - what's up with that? I note that Metra lines run through Chicago all over the place and there are very few stops (in fact, you can see evidence that once-functioning stops have been shuttered). I would have asked Huberman what he would be able to do if we took even half of the $400,000,000 tax dollars a year being diverted to developers/businessmen and instead ploughed it into the CTA. Maybe then we'd at least get some more attractively-colored paint.

PLEASE KATE! NO MORE SPIN FOR HUBERMAN

How far does your love extend to MAYOR DALEY unnamed one

I am one of the most critical people that reads this thing concerning the CTA...however...isn't it better to have the head of the CTA actually use the CTA rather than taking a limo around town (like the MWRD Trustees for example)? Huberman has gone at least part way in reforming retirement programs for the CTA. Now if he could only get the employees to do some work while they are theoretically employed.... JBP

Why didn't DALEY make RON HUBERMAN the acting Police Superintendent

"I am one of the most critical people that reads this thing concerning the CTA...however...isn't it better to have the head of the CTA actually use the CTA rather than taking a limo around town (like the MWRD Trustees for example)?" You may be a critic, but your thinking isn't very critical. Kreusi rode the CTA every day - and gee-whiz what a positive legacy he left because of that.

Carter, Great, can you possibly post that without your useless barbs? JBP

That's a barb? Don't try and make your arguments better by flattering yourself, and we'll be fine. Freedom of speech baby, that's what America is all about.

You are not the first Daley Hack to post on this board,and won't be the last. Don't try to censor THE COMMENTS OF others, to promote your Daley bullshit. TO KATE !HUBERMAN IS A CLOWN, WHO GOT THE JOB DUE TO A CONGRESSMAN WHOM DALEY NEEDS. HE IS IN THE SEWER WITH DALEY AND THE REST OF THE TRASH.

Carter, Not that I recally flaterring myself, but your barbs are killing me. Is it possible for you to post something mildly useful without the sharp edge? So Frank Krusei also rode the El. That is interesting. I did not know that, as I assumed he was absent most of the time. Did it help him manage the system? Probably not. It is worth discussion, though. The Reader has a position of encouraging valid comments, rather than shouting "Daley Hack". How about posting something unique or inisghtful without using the all caps? JBP

like I said, Frank Kreusi prided himself on riding the CTA every day. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to take any pride in routine line maintenance, as (if we are to believe the Mayor/Huberman) we see with the problems on the Blue line rails. But I take Huberman's words with a giant grain of salt. I went to one of those CTA "public hearings" and walked away feeling insulted and used. I don't doubt an agency the size of the CTA has slackers and do-nothing employees. But to focus on that is to lose sight of the bigger picture - Daley continues to put his employees and friends in charge of the CTA instead of doing a global search for the most qualified leader. That's pathetic. The funding Chicago provides - pathetic. The funding the state and feds provide - pathetic! Perhaps what we need is for the head of the CTA to be an elected position.

Maybe, I find your suck up status quo dribble trite,and boring. Let me give you a hint, ask any 20 years CTA Employee,where is the money going.The response will probabily be waste ,and inefficiency. I don't you need a Huberman to direct passagers on how to board a bus.

My suggestions are we elect CTA board members, and use a different Accounting firm to audit their books every year. CTA buys new buses every five years regardless of need. Block 37 is nothling more than the theft of publc funds. Jesse James could not have done a better job, of robbing the public . The cosmetic PR dog and pony show Daley and Huberman are running will not work.

Kreusi NEVER rode the CTA. He had a card and it tracked ridership of all the CTA execs and board members. Kruesi had three rides in one year. Huberman rides it everyday.

RE powers 3:25, For the life of me, I cannot find my "suck up status quo", though I am certainly capable of it. I can't stand the CTA, and would rather they were totally disbanded than run as they are today. Your point that CTA Employees think there is waste and inefficiency is a good one. Would it be possible to expand on that without smacking me? JBP

How about we all show a little backbone here and not give a shit about the personal syntax of each commenter? The point is to focus on the crap we've been served in place of actual, effective and efficient public services. Those who feel the need to be abrasive, and those who don't, BOTH have the same interests, namely: expose the rascals, expose the scams and call our 'elected' officials on each and every bogus move they make. The suggestions concerning changes in the way currently appointed positions of the executive branch should be altered to elected positions may sound reasonable and potentially effective, but, since the elections in this region are routinely fixed, by various means, (including, but not limited to: manipulated slating of candidates, cynical and successful challenges to viable independent candidates, knocking them off the ballot, slush funds to finance incumbents' campaigns, a, so far, ample supply of dependable, machine voters, a built in army of minions to hustle the few citizens who are registered to vote into voting for the status quo, an egregiously cooperative media, that provide tons of free press coverage of incumbents and meager to no coverage of independent challengers, accomplished and shameless liars, masquerading as public relation employees, dishing out plate after plate after plate overflowing with bullshit, an extortionist pretending to be mayor, and hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals willing to do whatever it takes to keep the power, and control of our tax dollars, they've gained through engaging in the above practices. The HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT strategy is the beginning of the solution to the stagnation we've come to accept as democracy. A dramatic increase in the participation, of our fellow citizens, in the political processes is vital, if we are ever to have honest government.

IJ, Because typing platitudes and making wild claims does not resolve very much. How about using some hard evidence to back up what you say and actually analyze an issue or two rather than making demands? Sure you are probably right, but now what? More facts please. JBP

ChgoSaint: Kruesi actually did ride pretty much every day. I know several people who saw him on the Milwaukee bus and the Blue Line regularly. The Trib even reported on the stats, since Kruesi published a list of the top management showing how often they rode (partly shaming those who didn't ride as often). While Kruesi was much-hated, one has to acknowledge that he managed to keep CTA from cutting more service for a decade. What we're seeing now is a different take on things, but the whole situaiton comes to crap funding no matter what. In any event, I, for one, am glad to see Huberman's focus on communications and rider experience (even though the shift in priority does mean draining funds from other places maybe less-visible to riders).

Gee is this the Ron Huberman hour. I hope you guys arn't dumb enough to fall for some PR stunt. Huberman riding the rails means nothling, if working people can't get to work,or children to school.The way to hell is paved with good intentions.CTA needs a Federal audit.

"More facts please."???? Well, John, what, exactly, do you find lacking, in terms of 'facts'? And, how, exactly, are we to gather these 'facts' you seem to want, when the very 'facts' we seek are the 'facts' that are concealed from us? You don't really think the foxes are going to voluntarily share their ways and means with the chickens, do you? You surely don't believe that the thieves and scam artists that infest our city, county and state governments will willingly offer up the factual evidences that would put themselves either out of office or behind bars, do you? You're not suggesting that the rascals, both Dumbocrats and Retardicans, DON'T manipulate the slating of candidates, are you? You don't doubt that the political apparatus of both of these dictatorial parties regularly, dishonestly and cynically, prevent independent candidates from gaining access to the ballot, do you? You aren't claiming that there are no slush funds available to same, are you? How much evidence do you need to believe that those who benefit from the status quo practices of our city, county and state governments form a huge army of 'machine voters'? You're not seriously saying that these machine minions don't attempt to 'persuade', by various means, those common citizens who are registered to vote to cast their votes for the party's candidates, primarily incumbents, are you? You can't be asserting that the media's coverage isn't heavily favoring said political machine incumbents, can you? And ignoring those citizens who dare to attempt to seek public office independently? You aren't describing the observations that these same political apparatuses have many accomplished liars working every day, to deceive the public and conceal their masters' activities, as false, are you? You can't be claiming that Daley isn't an extortionist, as evidenced by his actions, can you? Or do you think that what Daley does, as well as what most of our county and state rascals do, isn't effectively extortion? What, exactly, is so wild about stating the obvious? You don't really believe that there is any lack of a factual basis for all of the above, do you? Be patient, John, that evidence will be arriving soon, when you get your property tax bill in the mail. Next time you buy anything in this city and county, check your receipt and see exactly how much you've been dunned in taxes. Next time you pay your utility bills, total up the taxes and figure out how much you paid. If you still want to focus on the nits, be my guest. If you still don't find that there is enough factual evidence to motivate you to see the forest for the trees, keep on 'analyzing' the 'issues'. If you enjoy spinning your wheels, chasing your tail and ending up where you started, well, that's freedom in action. I, for one, will engage in acting on the beginning of a solution, namely, HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT.

IJ, A fact would be something verifiable. How about first hand stories of ghost-payrolling? I have enough family members who have been ghost-payrollers to know exactly how the game works. How about 1st hand accounts of maintenance not being performed on the L or on the city's 911 center? Affordable housing funds landing in unmarked Lebanese bank accounts? Deep Tunnel projects being rerouted because someone's in-laws got their basement flooded? Theses sort of things are happening. Much more useful information than just going on diatribes, for the sake of diatribing. Organize some facts, publish them, repeat, and stop waiting for the Sun-Times, Trib, Channel 2,5,7,9,11 to act responsibly: they won't. JBP

I have evidence of Ghost payrolling in the city. I will turn the documents over to the press and media and --guess what nothling will come of it . The system works for the Wealthy and powerful. The stings conducted by David Hoffman are design to catch the guys with little or no clout at city hall. He gives the people from the 11th and 19th wards,a heads up before he makes a move. Two individuals from the 19th ward organization, were allowed to resign to prevent the Mayor from being embarrassed. Many of the Mayor relatives are given similar treatment

The City stopped ghost pay-rollers, look at Coconate. Keep up the great work Mayor Daley.

Why John, it seems like you'd be one of the ones to provide us with the factual evidence you say you'd like us to see. How about naming names, identifying specific job positions, and the names of those who 'work' those jobs, specifying those tasks left undone, the numbers to those foreign bank accounts, the names of those who opened said accounts and who have signatory authority of same, etc., etc., etc...... Post what you know here, the Reader needs the action.

My relatives in this field are long gone, but the method was to work for the Precinct Committee, mill around downtown or at a bowling alley most of the day, and collect paychecks, but never show up to work, or you would get a bad reputation. There really wasn't much to the method; I am sure that 100 people who post here have a more modern or sophisticated swindle they are aware of. JBP

see Ben's TIF archive, 'nuff said.

Ever notice that, when these 'budget shortfalls' are announced, they are always accompanied by blatant threats to cut/reduce/eliminate ESSENTIAL city, county or state services to the MOST NEEDY and MOST VULNERABLE citizens? That they NEVER threaten to cut THEIR OWN bloated salaries? Or the bloated salaries of their buddies? Or their own heavily padded staff? Or their pals and buddies sweet contract deals? Or ANYTHING other than those expenditures of our tax dollars that assist those in GREATEST NEED and LEAST ABLE to do without said ESSENTIAL services, be they city, county or state? What a great bunch of public servants we have. Self-sacrificers all. As long as those sacrifices are made by OTHER selves than themselves.

Coconate run the CTA?????, ROFLMAO!!!!!!. The fares would be $6, NO TRANSFERS, Run down, Slower service, Nastier employees, etc.

He's a jackass like his RuPaul clone Brown & Co.

Why didn't DALEY make RON HUBERMAN the acting Police Superintendent??? probably because he has less security clearance than the Acting Superintendant... as an Israeli national(US citizen now) I can see where the feds might have difficulties giving up state secrets to him... its probably why he had such a short tenure at the OEMC too. Dont be surprised if the Daley Democrats run him for Cook County Board President when Urkel Stroger self distructs by 2010 to circumvent a Forrest Claypool run for the office which he would surely win this time around.