Don't Be a Dope: Stop the Name-calli​ng!

KNOCK OFF THE NAME-CALLING, YOU NUMBSKULLS Reboot's Madeleine Doubek touches on a hot topic in her blog today: name-calling. This got started when a Reboot Illinois Facebook friend asked why we patrol our comments and remove those that resort to name-calling and personal insults (or at least we try our best to do so; sometimes it's hard to keep up). Basically, it's because we're trying to promote discussion/debate of issues, not host a playground taunt-fest.

But as Doubek notes, the Reboot Illinois code of verbal conduct does not extend to the world at large, and she uses Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis as a prime example. Lewis last week reacted to the announcement that dozens of schools in low-income neighborhoods would close next year by calling Mayor Rahm Emanuel "the murder mayor." "That’s not leadership," Doubek writes. "That’s irresponsible and incendiary. And far too many of us are throwing these verbal Molotov cocktails around in the public square these days." Read the entire post here and let us know if you agree.

Ironic note: Doubek's blog post appears on a day when we're being extra vigilant to protect Lewis from the very kind of name-calling for which Doubek criticizes Lewis. Because she's at the center of an emotional and controversial issue, because she so often takes a strongly aggressive tone and -- unfortunately, unfairly but undeniably -- because of her appearance, Lewis is a magnet for mean, juvenile commentary any time she appears on our website or Facebook page. That's wrong and cowardly. Don't do it.

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REBOOTING BATAVIA Want to learn more about Reboot Illinois and its mission? Come hear from editor Matt Dietrich, Chief Operating Officer Madeleine Doubek and Director of Digital Strategy Anthony Knierem at 7 p.m. April 4 in Meeting Room A of the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31 and Wilson Street) in Batavia. We want to hear your thoughts on improving Illinois' government, state finances, schools and business climate. Sign up here.

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FROM THE CARTOON VAULT With so much talk these days about whether Attorney General Lisa Madigan will take on Gov. Pat Quinn for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014, we thought back to this cartoon from the Chicago Tribune's Scott Stantis last fall, after Democrats had secured super-majorities in the General Assembly even as the state continued to rack up billions in unpaid bill and pension debt. 

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DAILY TIP-OFF You've got to love the Illinois Tollway Authority. At least you do if you run a website that focuses on the crazy and creative ways your government finds to waste money. The Daily Herald reports today on the latest report from the ITA's inspector general, which finds, among other things, that a supervisor who had been fired and re-hired twice previously was fired for sleeping on the job and harassing employees during his waking hours. Kudos to Inspector General Jim Wagner for rooting out this and other examples of bad behavior by tollway employees.

Since we're criticizing Karen Lewis for name-calling, it's only fair that we point you to Lewis' op-ed piece in today's Chicago Tribune. Her tone here is appropriately fiery but also thoughtful. She is pointed in her criticism of Mayor Emanuel and the Tribune itself as she makes her case against the closing of 53 schools next year. "Chicago Public Schools' decision to shutter 53 public elementary schools and relocate thousands of schoolchildren will have a devastating impact on many of the city's low-income neighborhoods and minority families. This abrogation of the district's responsibility clearly sets an example that low-income, African-American children are disposable," Lewis writes.

We've said all along that the coming school closures in Chicago will be national news, and USA Today picks up the story today. Lewis tells the nation's daily: "We're seeing school closings as a public policy. This is coming to a district near you."

Also in today's news is Chicago public radio station WBEZ's effort to get answers from the Quinn administration about health and safety conditions in the state's prisons. Reporter Rob Wildeboer has been trying for nine months to get answers as to how the Illinois Department of Corrections can maintain safety in an already overcrowded system as Gov. Pat Quinn closes prisons to save money. WBEZ's website features links to help you get involved in the effort to get answers.

We've got a link to that site and the rest of today's news stories in our Daily Tip-Off section.

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REBOOT ILLINOIS TOP 5 Here are the Top 5 most popular posts on rebootillinois.com this week. Click if you missed them!

1.       Join us to end the pension crisis petition
2.      "Hope comes from the Illinois House" post on pension reform bills  
3.       Only in Illinois weekly video recap
4.       Let’s Talk Taxes infographic
5.       Neighboring States Making Their Move infographic

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DEMAND ACTION Last week, the Illinois House passed an important pension reform measure that must be part of any worthwhile effort to fix the state's pension crisis. But will it make it into a final bill and get a vote in the Senate? Click here and help us send a message to our leaders that we demand pension reform and an end to the financial instability that is hurting our schools, our economy and has given Illinois the lowest credit rating in the country.

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WANT TO TAKE ACTION? LOOK HERE As Illinois continues to meander in addressing its dire financial problems, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk is concerned that his home state and others might eventually give up and turn to the federal government for a lifeline. No way, says Kirk. He's introduced a resolution to prohibit bailouts of states that created their own financial problems. We've created a petition where you can show your support for Kirk's effort. Click here and sign on.

While you're at it, why not let Cook County government know that it's time to downsize and remove some of the temptation that comes with unnecessary elected offices? Last week, Andy Shaw of the Better Government Association wrote about some fairly crazy personnel dealings in the office of Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough. It was a reminder to him, and us, of the need to combine offices to improve efficiency and discourage the bad behavior that comes with the political clout of an elected office. (Be sure to read it if you missed it last week. It's an egregious example of "only in Illinois" political culture.) Sign our petition here.

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WE'RE HIRING! We are looking for a director of outreach to work with our partners both on social media platforms and in the communities. See the job description here.  Know anyone who would be a great fit? Pass on this email! 

We're tired of Illinois government being a national laughingstock. Aren't you? Visit our website and make a difference.
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