Bye-bye pop tax...

It's about to be that time, if you're ready for the taxes on sugary beverages to sunset in Cook County it will. According to WGN-TV, it begins at 12 midnight on December 1st. As I type this post it'll be five minutes before midnight. Drink up and get all the pops or sugary beverages you wish.

Meanwhile one side effect will be apparent, the Chief of the Cook County Courts is suing to prevent any layoffs from the end of this tax.

Cook County Chief Judge Evans, whose office was hit hard by Preckwinkle's budget cuts spurred by pop tax repeal, sues to block layoffs https://t.co/NHb1qOr0bq pic.twitter.com/iOzJG5j86I

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) December 1, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Holidays

[VIDEO] Today is Thanksgiving and I hope sincerely you're enjoying a great meal with your friends & family today. If you're looking for some entertainment before dinner or before football - assuming you're not boycotting the NFL this year - check out A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Yes I am a fan of Charlie Brown, it wouldn't be a holiday season without the "Peanuts" crew.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving - especially if you're traveling to meet with family & friends!

Todd Stroger is back....

[VIDEO] You might remember him from 2006 to 2010 he had been the county board president and was formerly an Alderman and committeeman in the 8th ward in addition to being a state legislator in Springfield. He had floated his name for a variety of offices in recent years for example to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. for the 2nd Congressional District or for Water Reclamation District. Today he announced that he wants his old job as county board president back.

Toni Preckwinkle the current president defeated Stroger in the 2010 Democratic primary utilizing voter anger against a sales tax hikes instituted by Stroger for the county hospital and other services. Preckwinkle had that sales tax repealed only to re-institute that tax at some point during her tenure which is something Stroger himself sees as vindication. Also we should mention the recent penny-per-oz. soda tax which is scheduled to expire next month which is seen as another cause of voter anger against Preckwinkle.

It won't only Stroger facing Preckwinkle at the county in the 2018 Democratic primary - which more often than not is the race to watch not the Novemeber general election unfortunately - former 2nd ward Alderman and former mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti is also running in the primary. Time will tell if either man is able to successfully challenge Preckwinkle for the Democratic nomination and essentially the county board president.

BTW, I just had to note in 2006 Stroger controversially was installed to replace his father on the ballot as Democratic nominee for county board president. John Stroger  who was then president had been bested by a stroke not long before the 2006 Democratic primary and he still won the election. However, the elder Stroger was medically unable to continue and Todd was his replacement on the ballot and ultimately was election county board president. John Stroger died in 2008.

BTW, I still wonder if this was HIS blog.

EDIT 9:12 PM Greg Hinz wrote about Stroger running for his old job next year:

Todd Stroger, who endured a rocky stretch as Cook County Board president before being unseated by Toni Preckwinkle in the 2010 Democratic primary, says he intends to challenge her in the next primary. (Check out his TV interview at the end of this story.)

"The incumbent has shown her true colors," Stroger told me today. "Her (political) base is crumbling."

He has done little politically since his defeat, but his name is known from his four years in office and from the decades his father, John Stroger, served as a county commissioner and board president.

Todd Stroger lost the president post largely because of a revolt over a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax he pushed through—and because of continuing criticism over how, in 2006, he was installed as the candidate for board president by insiders after his father fell seriously ill.

Preckwinkle repealed and then reinstated that sales tax, saying the money largely was needed to pay off unfunded county pension liability.

I keep forgetting all these tax increases from the soda tax to the sales tax to the state income tax are all about funding these public pensions.

SNL Watch Party at SMG-Chatham

You may have seen this from Worlee Glover on Nextdoor and on Concerned Citizens of Chatham.

Saturday, November 18th. Come join SMG Chatham as we host a free LIVE watch party of Saturday Night Live to support our friend and community partner, Chance the Rapper. He’s done so much for our community, so let's rally around him and celebrate his successes. Doors open at 9:00 pm with DJ performance in the lobby from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

SMG Chatham is located at 210 W. 87th Street.

 

9th ward job fair & hiring event

9th ward job fair & hiring fair at Tuley Park - 501 E. 90th Place tomorrow Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Refer to flyer below if you seek more information!

Happy Veteran's Day

Via RAGE ig

Today is Veteran's Day for all of our Veterans and current military. Today we honor you all and thank you for your current or past service.

Also today I will share this ig post featuring Black servicemen from Official Black Wall Street

Happy Veterans Day to those who served, and those who honorably did so while Black! ✊🏾 Tag a Black Veteran-owned business below👇🏾

A post shared by Official Black Wall Street (@officialblackwallstreet) on Nov 11, 2017 at 8:32am PST

5Loaves on WGN's "Chicago's Best" next Thursday

Actually what I'm taking from this recent Instagram post from the eatery located on 405 E. 75th Street, they want a packed restaurant when the crew from Chicago's Best arrives on Nov. 16, 2017. The show itself airs on Sundays at 10 PM on WGN. Hopefully we can share the program itself if it's available online.

Join us next Thursday 11/16 We’re going to be featured on WGNs 📺Chicago’s Best!! #5Loaves #Chicago #SmallBusinesses #BlackBusinesses #CountryCooking #Family #Love #HotnFresh #75thStreet #wgnnews BLESSINGS ON BLESSINGS 🙌🏾

A post shared by Constance Simms-Kincaid (@5loaveseatery) on Nov 10, 2017 at 10:06am PST

Avalon Regal Thater offering investment bonds

Jerald Gary, the new owner of the Regal Theater on 79th at Stony Island, is offering an investment opportunity for those who want to help resurrect the theater.


This investment includes 10 free tickets (annually) and other perks.


Here is the text from their webpage (located at http://www.regaltheater.org/seatbonds ) which describes the program. The redevelopment also includes the goal of becoming the first theater in the United States with holographic projection technology  in addition to entertainment from everyone's favorite artists in R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop and Rap, as well as theater, dance, film, comedy and more

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Seat Bond Program

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The Avalon Regal Theater offers a unique opportunity for the community to invest in its success through the Seat Bond program.

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The purpose of this program is to promote self-investment and reduce reliance on government subsidies and other non-market based financing for community development in our neighborhood.

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The Seat Bond program includes 10 tickets to performances at the Avalon Regal Theater per year, in addition to invitations to exclusive investor events, VIP access to select shows, the ability to buy tickets to hot shows before they go on sell to the general public, and a named seat in the auditorium. The first class of bond holders will be recognized at the 2017 Grand Opening.

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The most important aspect of a Seat Bond is the fact that it is an investment, which means Seat Bond owners are not just patrons of, but investors in this integral part of the community.

 

Each Seat Bond is a $1,000 investment and includes:

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• 10 tickets to performances per year (does not include private events)

• 8% return on each $1,000 investment

• Return of initial investment after 1 year, with the ability to re-invest

• Embossed name plaque positioned on an auditorium seat

• Framed Seat Bond Certificate and duplicate name plaque

• Annual 1099-INT form for reporting taxable interest income

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​Individuals or organizations can purchase multiple Seat Bonds. Seats Bonds in the first three rows on the main floor are reserved for VIP members of Singularity and have a $10,000 minimum. 

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The Avalon Regal will feature entertainment from everyone's favorite artists in R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop and Rap, as well as theater, dance, film, comedy and more. The theater will also be the first in the United States to have holographic technology. This is truly an exciting and historic opportunity for the community.

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See the video below for a tour and interview with Avalon Regal Theater owner, Jerald Gary.

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Interview: rollingout.com/2017/09/23/avalon-regal-theater-owner-desires-the-communitys-help/​

The Seat Bond program is only accessible through this website. Seat Bonds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You cannot choose specific seats for your name plaque and Seat Bonds do not represent seating assignments for events. Seat Bonds are non-transferable.

 

E-mail info@regaltheater.org for more information.

Blogging here 10 years...

Today is the day. The first post for this blog was on this day back in November 2007. JP Paulus and myself - Levois J. - started posting to this blog 10 years ago. Perhaps we'll take some time to relive some of those important stories that we've kept an eye on over the past decade.

Do you have any favorites stories from the past 10 years?