Recent Mayor Daley news and bloggable items

"Mayor Daley's criticisms of lawmakers at the state and federal level are always widely reported. His inconsistency and hypocrisy should be part of the story as well."
From Mayor Daley: The Incomprehensible Adviser.


How to Distract a Press Corps:
Mayor Daley's incendiary comments did just what they were probably meant to: bury the lead. - Chicago Reader

and the must read:

The Shadow Budget: Who Wins in Daley's TIF Game

Chicago Teachers Union News

There is a chance that Education "reform" might happen in a more positive manner in Chicago. Corporate style reform that Obama and Daley like could end.

From Counterpunch:

IF REFORMERS in the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) win union elections June 11, it will shake up City Hall, rattle teachers unions--and provide a rebuke to President Barack Obama's education policy."

The Olympics Bill

Crain's reports Chicago’s unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics cost a total of $70.6 million, according to its final income tax return, released Monday.

Alderman Balcer wins award for censoring art mural in Bridgeport

Last year you may have heard about how Alderman Balcer censored a mural in Bridgeport at the beginning of Version 9 Festival. On April 13 The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression gave this incident a 2010 Jefferson Muzzle Award.

Announced on or near April 13 — the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson — the Jefferson Muzzles are awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment.

Here is the entry:

3) Chicago Alderman James A. Balcer

The private owner of the property and the artist have a right to some due process before an alderman simply orders troops out.”

- Ed Yohnka of the ACLU reacting to Chicago Alderman James Balcer ordering the painting over of a mural on private property.

For claiming the authority to destroy a work of art based on his personal assessment of the work’s content, a 2010 Jefferson Muzzle goes to…Chicago Alderman James A. Balcer.

In the spring of 2009, the owners of a building in south central Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood sought to have a mural painted on the outside wall of the building as part of an upcoming arts festival. Artist Gabriel Villa devoted two weeks painting a work that he admits was intended to be provocative. The large-scale mural featured three police cameras, each emblazoned with the Chicago Police Department logo and an unusual icon: a crucified Christ, a deer head, and a human skull. Said Villa, “I wanted to create a platform for dialogue but the mural was never given a chance.”

BEFORE Alderman Balcer’s Order.

AFTER Alderman Balcer’s Order.

Villa’s comment reflected the fact that immediately upon its completion, the mural was completely painted over on the orders of 11^th ward Alderman James A. Balcer. Balcer initially explained that his order was not based on the mural’s content but the fact that neither Villa nor the building’s owners had obtained a permit as required by a local ordinance. “Everyone has a right to their opinion, but there’s limits. He has to follow the law, this artist, like everyone else.”

The problem with Balcer’s explanation is that Villa was following the law. News reporters covering the incident soon discovered that a permit was not required for murals on private property. Following this revelation, Balcer’s explanation for his actions changed somewhat, implying that he had in fact been motivated by the mural’s content. “If it’s a threat to this community, I’ll take it down. I believe that … [mural] was a threat.” Despite the fact that he was wrong about the permit requirement, Balcer was unapologetic for his action. “I acted on behalf of my constituents who were calling the ward office. I stand by that. I will not back down. I will not retreat.”

If this were a simple case of a government official misstating a permit requirement, perhaps a Muzzle would not be warranted. But the Alderman’s statements imply his actions were justified even if he knew no permit was required. Alderman Balcer is therefore claiming that he has the authority to destroy works of art based on his personal assessment of their content. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court has clearly established that the Alderman’s order is the sort of arbitrary action by government officials that the First Amendment prohibits. For failing to appreciate this constitutional principle and his city’s own permit requirements, a 2010 Jefferson Muzzle goes to Alderman James Balcer of Chicago’s 11^th ward.