EAST ST. LOUIS BLUES Mention of East St. Louis usually is preceded by some combination of adjectives: troubled, embattled, crime-plagued, impoverished and so on. What was Illinois' fourth largest city in the 1950s and a prosperous suburb of its namesake across the river rapidly decayed into a symbol of urban blight in the decades since. Its population now stands at 27,000 and household income is less than half the state average. But East St. Louis native Matt Hawkins refuses to give up on his hometown. Through his Civic Alliance of East St. Louis, he's proposing to save the city -- or at least reverse its 50-year downward spiral -- by dissolving it. He's trying to get a proposal onto the ballot to erase East St. Louis as a municipality and do away with a city government that has become known for being inept, ineffective and corrupt. That's what we call rebooting. Find out about this plan in a fascinating interview with Hawkins from St. Louis Magazine.
INTERESTING Interest rates are at historically low levels and many states are enjoying their benefits. But when you borrow heavily to support spending you can't afford, as Illinois did in the last decade, and when you earn the worst credit rating of any state in the nation, as Illinois has done, your fate is different. Today's Reboot Illinois/Truth In Accounting infographic is a simple one that packs a big punch. Click here to see how X marks the spot for interest expenses for Illinois taxpayers.
MOVIN' ON OUT When people move out of a state, they take their income with them. Between 2000 and 2010, that outbound migration led to a net loss of $20.4 billion for Illinois. Only New York and California fared worse. So which states benefited from our income exodus? Find out in this infographic, which comes to us courtesy of the non-partisan, non-profit Tax Foundation.
Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
WHY ILLINOIS IS GREAT OK, so the previous two items are a bit negative about Illinois. But Reboot Illinois isn't here to trash our home state. We're here because we think this is a great state that deserves better management so it can realize its potential. And, frankly, where Illinois government is concerned, there hasn't been a lot of positive news in last 15 years or so. But there's plenty to make this state worth fighting for, and we want to see what makes you proud to call Illinois home. Enter our "Why Illinois Is Great" photo contest and show us something you love about Illinois. The contest is easy to enter and entries are being accepted through Sept. 3. Three winners will receive Visa gift cards, and all submissions will be placed in our gallery. Find out how to enter and see what others have done here.
Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
TAX TALK Something is going to change with Illinois' state income tax on Jan. 1, 2015. Either we'll have a new extension of the current, temporary 5 percent income tax; we'll see the rate drop to 3.75 percent as currently scheduled; or the General Assembly may have been given the authority to implement a progressive income tax with higher rates for higher income levels. The last option can happen only if voters are offered a chance to vote on it in November 2014. Whether a progressive tax system is right for Illinois is the topic of a discussion Reboot Illinois will host Sept. 9 with the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability will take the pro-progressive tax side and Ted Dabrowski of the Illinois Policy Institute will advocate for keeping the tax rate flat and low. We hope you'll join us. Register and find out more here.
LEADING THE GOP Tomorrow the Illinois House Republicans meet in Springfield to choose a new leader to replace Tom Cross, who is running for state treasurer and giving up the leadership post he has held since 2003. This got us thinking back to a Scott Stantis cartoon from last November, when Republican numbers in both the Illinois House and Senate fell to record lows. Can new leadership prove this cartoon wrong? Click to see the whole thing.
TOP 5 It's never a slow news day in Illinois. Here's proof.
- 5. GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner has been linked to a second big-money Political Action Committee. (Chicago Sun-Times)
4. Opinion: Rauner has made it clear he is in favor of term limits for Illinois politicians, but Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn says it's not so simple. (Chicago Tribune)
3. Opinion: Metra hired a railroad veteran to be the interim CEO, but that can’t undo the mistakes the board has already made. (Chicago Tribune)
2. Despite a rally and the threat of a school boycott, the Chicago Board of Education will vote on a new budget today. (Chicago Tribune)
1. Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued a plea to parents planning to boycott school: “Do not take the kids out of school.” (Chicago Sun-Times)
