Health & Fitness
Financial Basket Case Illinois Creates Industry From Checkbook Chaos
Today Reboot looks at taxes in Illinois, alleged depression in Rockford, CPS closures (and their protests), and more.
CHAOS = OPPORTUNITY We've been pretty critical of Illinois state government for allowing its horrific financial state to set Illinois' business-climate dial to "arctic." The fact is, businesses don't want to move to and are much less likely to expand in a state with finances as shaky as those of Illinois. Who knows what the tax picture will be like here in two years? And then there is the downright abusive relationship the state has developed with companies that rely on state business. They are forced to seek loans to make payroll as the state makes them wait months on end for payment. When they can't do that, they lay off staff.
Turns out, though, we were being shortsighted in viewing all these trees pessimistically. All this "chaos" and "dysfunction" really is a forest of opportunity for a new industry that helps businesses collect money they are owed from state government.
Longtime Hillary Clinton aide Patti Solis Doyle is the president and co-founder of the Vendor Assistance Program. It helps the state's creditors get their money. And with 172,000 unpaid bills amounting to $6.7 billion as of this morning, we suspect business will be booming. For a quick video tour of the company, click here.
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EDUCATION REFORM EQUATION Chicago Tribune cartoonist Scott Stantis draws a simple formula for education reform today. It accompanies the latest in a series of Tribune editorials on education reform based on a survey conducted by the Tribune and the Joyce Foundation.
Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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ROCKFORD TO FORBES: GO AWAY It's one thing to make snide comments about your own family, but when an outsider does it, well, that's not so good. And so it was for Dan Creviston, publisher of The Rockford Blog, when Forbes magazine decided to put his hometown near the top of its "Most Miserable Cities in America" list last month. Sure, Rockford has endured tough times in these post-recession years, but a lot of people are trying to move ahead. Unfair potshots from a national magazine don't help. Read what Creviston and other Rockford residents have to say to Forbes here.
Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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DAILY TIP-OFF Whether you live in Chicago or Cairo, you can expect to hear plenty of fallout in the months to come over Chicago Public Schools' pending closure of 54 schools next fall. This is much bigger than just a school district tightening its belt. It's a story of changing demographics set against the tinderbox of racial politics and street gangs in the nation's third largest school district. And it's a story about a strong mayoral administration putting its vision for education reform into practice. All those elements come together in today's headlines.
On Monday, students protested at Chicago City Hall against the closings, which they say endanger students who will be forced to cross unfamiliar gang territory to attend new schools. On Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union plans a mass rally and march to City Hall and the Chicago Board of Education. In the Chicago Tribune, columnist Dennis Byrne laments the very real threat of gang violence, but suggests a National Guard presence on the streets if necessary. (Let's hope it never comes to that.)
The Tribune continues its series of education reform editorials based on polling it conducted with the Joyce Foundation. The focus today is on Chicago Public Schools parents and their attitudes toward their children's teachers.
And a proposal by Gov. Pat Quinn to hold back some state income tax money from cities has mayors and town managers up in arms. Quinn says the state needs the extra money to deal with its financial problems. The mayors say this could force them to raise taxes.
You'll find links to these and other stories in today's Daily Tip-Off section on our website.
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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.
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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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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? Let them know!
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