Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Kill the Taste Already

  • The shrunken and revamped Taste of Chicago still didn't come close to breaking even and may never return to profitability, a top mayoral aide said Monday.

    Cultural Affairs Commissioner Michelle Boone said the she's "still reconciling" the cost of city services before releasing a final financial report on the revamped 2012 Taste.


    But, she disclosed that Chicago's premier lakefront festival costs $6 million to stage and isn't "close to breaking even." That's despite the fact that individual restaurants saw their highest profit margins in five years.


    Taste of Chicago was once a cash cow that bankrolled the city's other music festivals. But, Boone said it may never return to profitability.


    "It's very difficult to find a financial model that creates profitability for a free festival," the commissioner said after testifying at City Council budget hearings

The individual restaurants are making money but the city isn't? Time to pull the plug, hand it off to a private firm (maybe Vanecko Festivals or someone), and charge a hefty admission fee where the City could get their cut of the entertainment tax.

Labels:

86 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...


How about the city agrees to increase the money going into the pension funds for 2013 THEN, just skip those payments to free up money to pay for the taste!

Hey, all the clouted ones will get their taste money that way. What's wrong with that? Transfer the wealth. Same as it ever was.

10/23/2012 12:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Couldn't the City simply study the model for how the Taste was run during the period of time it was profitable? Or, would that be too simple?

Then again, why bother improving on Taste? There's no point in having a festival if the tourists are too terrified of the violence to attend.

10/23/2012 12:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

did chalkie visit 015 last night? 4 shot on lavergne. i thought jodi told them to "knock it off!" im happy to be out of that place

10/23/2012 12:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Democrats are not about business,They only know how to raise Taxes.

10/23/2012 12:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This post maybe in vain because I doubt the right people will ever read it...

The last time I went to the taste was about 4 or 5 years ago. I, my wife and son got there early and left around 2pm before I knew the assholes would be showing up. Later that night there was a gang fight by the fountain. In fact, that's the last time I took my family downtown. Since then I've been finding things to do in the burbs. I refuse to take my family into the city knowing what goes on.

Profitability cannot be attained without safety. The taste has become a shit head fest and anyone with money to spend is certainly not going to spend it at the risk of bodily harm or victimization. Those roving packs of unidentified youths with no money and not chewing on a BBQ turkey leg are not there to enjoy the amenities.

Put a fence around it. Charge admission. Downsize and control the cost. Then perhaps you'll attract normal people who are actually there to enjoy the event instead of acting like the animals.

10/23/2012 01:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Please. The Taste of Salmonella should have ended years ago.

10/23/2012 01:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

First they need to keep the asswipes away. Then they need to get the restaurants to serve the same things they serve in their establishments. Everyone has the same overpriced fair food. Why the hell would I make a trip to eat a stupid corn dog or microwaved pizza from a place that normally doesn't sell anything close to pizza?

10/23/2012 01:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

na, na, na, na
na, na, na, na

hey, hey

goodbye!

10/23/2012 01:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fuck that fest. Let's make this town Detroit already.

10/23/2012 01:52:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fence the taste off and keep out the unwanted rif raff and wildings who have no plan to buy any food and just want to "represent" and I'll come back to the taste. I'm seriously getting sick and tired of this city ignoring this gangbanger riff raff problem.

Last time I want was in 2007. It was somewhat safer then.

10/23/2012 01:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey shitcago leaders... take a 90 mile drive to the north and ask them how it's done. Oh that's right, you dumb-ass morons are against charging admission which would keep the animals out and bring the civilized tax-payers in.

10/23/2012 02:14:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't care what they do with the Taste, I won't be going. I prefer Milwaukee's Summer Fest.

Just an idea but maybe Rahm can include a booth, or several booths, where people can pay or contest red light tickets or parking meter tickets. For the convenience of it.

10/23/2012 02:19:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I thought the Ballerina said it turned a profit! Was he lying???? I think he said around a quarter mil, no?

10/23/2012 03:17:00 AM  
Anonymous 014 said...

AND . .

While the city is at it;

KILL the Puerto Rican Bullshit fest in 014 !!

The city spends over a million on police coverage and DOES NOT get anywhere near that amount from the festival organizers.

10/23/2012 03:48:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Taste of Chicago came about because Jesse Jackson Sr and other people protested that the Chicago Fest on Navy Pier was discriminatory because there was a cover charge to get in. So the "Free" Taste of Chicago was brought in as a replacement and Navy Pier was converted into a tourist trap.

10/23/2012 06:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Get rid of it. Regular folks don't like ghetto fest.

10/23/2012 07:04:00 AM  
Blogger West Side, Inside Do-Nothing said...

"Kill the Taste Already"

<><><><><><><><><><>

In a perfect world we'd be allowed to instead kill those who are responsible for the Taste's gradual demise.

And I'm not talking about the Pilgrims.

10/23/2012 07:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

police see what others do not. police see the worst. they should have listened to our concerns about the taste.

10/23/2012 07:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

History Lesson For Those of You Who Grew Up in Iowa or Are Too Young to Remember: The Taste began under Mayor Byrne, and she sent police personnel and administrators to Milwaukee to see how they ran their festival. When the observers returned they concluded that a fee had to be charged and the first Taste charged a fee. Da Rev Jackson, felt that the fee would exclude his loyal followers from attending so he picketed the Taste which at that time was held at Navy Pier. The City was intimidated and it became a free fest. Yet the vary principle upon which the original Fest was based is still fact: Unless you charge an admission, you will have bands of roaming youths who will frighten the White Liberals who bring their families into the City. Remember, these Liberals love minorities, then they move as far away from them as their resources will allow. THE TAST CANNOT SURVIVE UNLESS AND UNTIL AN ADMISSION FEE IS CHARGED. MILWAUKEE FEST IS RUN WITH A FRACTION OF POLICE AND SECURITY BECAUSE THEY CHARGE ADMISSION AND IN SO DOING ELIMINATE MUCH OF THE PROBLEMS. LET'S FACE IT, MOST COPS WOULD NOT TAKE THEIR FAMILY TO TASTE. OH, ONE MORE THING, THE FIRST YEAR MAYOR BYRNE GAVE EACH COPPER AND FIREFIGHTER 2 FREE TICKETS.

10/23/2012 07:40:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps, just perhaps, the honest and law abiding citizens with money to spend on more than Burger King, don't want to come to the city and get assaulted and robbed.

Funny how the pay to get in thing works fine for our neighbors to the North. Enough with this pandering to the lowest common denominator. Even if it was pay to get in, I'm sure the city would give free passes to some, just so the whites don't have to feel guilty. Enough with this PC crap.

10/23/2012 07:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vanecko Festivals will take over and will have a "punch out" booth. For five bucks if you can knock the fuck out of someone half your size you win a free getaway ticket to California. It will be called the Dick Daley booth.

10/23/2012 07:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who the heck wants to bring their family and risk getting hurt and robbed by groups of "Honor Students" committing "Wildings"?

10/23/2012 08:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did anyone else catch the words "Free Festival" in her comments. Charge for the food tickets up front-before you enter the grounds-Keep the trash out. Its an easy Business Model.

10/23/2012 08:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Charging a fee is a win win. The city makes money and it keeps the thugs out. If somebody does not want to pay they don't have to go. I would probably start going again if they charged a fee (i.e. $10 adult, $5 kids) and anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult.

10/23/2012 08:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Doug Dorsey said...

Charge admission and the assholes will stay away!!!

10/23/2012 08:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe hold a smaller version of this at Daley Plaza featuring different restaurants each week for 4 weeks instead. Have the National Restaurant Assoc or Chamber of Commerce run it and keep the City out of it. Smaller, one stage entertainment that is a on a drop in basis. In Chicago? Stop by and play a few songs.

10/23/2012 08:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Couldn't the City simply study the model for how the Taste was run during the period of time it was profitable?"

I think it was more popular early on because it was something new. Now it has the same restaurants every year and more thugs. The city needs to charge admissions and add some new restaurants every year. Plus the crappy obama economy doesn't help things either.

10/23/2012 10:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't think that restaurants make a lot of money off the Taste. It's fearsomely expensive to run a restaurant in a tent for a week and still comply with food service regulations, etc.

Just one example: every vendor out there has got one or two refrigerated trucks sitting running all day every day to keep supplies available. And that's the tip of the iceberg.

Most restaurants do it at a loss as a promotional gambit.

Stick a fork in the Taste. It's done.

10/23/2012 10:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You want to know how to make money. Take a trip to Naperville during RibFest. See how they do it. Hint--admission charge=no shitheads.

10/23/2012 10:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always thought the Taste was gross! Hot, sweaty, fat people with BBQ sauce dripping down their chins with a gross turkey leg in their mouth! Some things are better done in the privacy of one's home or backyard (or vacant lot).

I can't think of a more unappetizing sight. Seriously, how could any normal person think about eating anything after seeing that?

The most important thing missing from the Taste was a 'vomitorium'.

Eeeeeewwwwww!

10/23/2012 10:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OT, but needs to be addressed: Is there any order written up or any plan in place for TWO WEEKS from now when election night occurs? I think there's gonna be problems either way. When Romney wins, as it's looking more and more, the city WILL be up for grabs. Are we left to be sitting ducks? I'm sending the wife and kids out of town for the night.

10/23/2012 11:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Once again the underlying reason for the high cost to tax payers is the underbelly dead beat thug of America. After many years of them acting a fool the city spends boat loads of money on this entitlement crown to keep them under control once again placing the burden on the working man. The honest people of the chicago area avoid the place after seeing all the shitbags acting a fool over the years.

10/23/2012 12:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I never minded the taste. I loved a few day off canceleds. It gave me some good cash to take the family out of state .

10/23/2012 12:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, it was a cash cow. Before all of the hood rats and scumbags started going. Now it's just wildings and a jungle atmosphere.

10/23/2012 12:36:00 PM  
Anonymous Big Al (not a cop) said...

The taste is great for me - I buy a few strips of discounted tickets at Dominick's two weeks beforehand, and walk over every day at lunch from my office in the loop.

I get to try new foods (always stick to the 4 ticket sample sizes), a lot of times from places I hadn't even heard of, and when you go at 1 or so in the afternoon on a weekday, nobody is there. The cops & security are just lounging around & chatting amongst themselves, bc it's mostly businessmen & tourists at that hour.

Of course, I would never go after dark . . .

10/23/2012 12:43:00 PM  
Anonymous Big Al (not a cop) said...

KILL the Puerto Rican Bullshit fest in 014 !!

Why do Puerto Ricans get their own festival anyway? They're Americans, with all the rights & obligations of the rest of us. Which means they already have a day to celebrate who they are - Independence Day.

10/23/2012 12:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

off topic: Hey sarge your not fooling any of us with your fake missions to let all those cars cut early, still taking care of the dogs I see. Us late cars never get any early cuts, well just one of us late cars Lol. This place is a joke, and yes the bosses are a joke here. Be safe everyone and back each other up.

10/23/2012 01:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Went once when I didn't know better- sweaty mess with guns! Not fun.

10/23/2012 01:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A fee would keep out the riff raff. How does Summerfest turn a profit every year without and does so without any amish youth running wild? Oh yea, they charge an admission.

10/23/2012 01:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"015 is a great place to be from and not at"

Retired Sergeant

10/23/2012 01:19:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

014 said...
AND . .

While the city is at it;

KILL the Puerto Rican Bullshit fest in 014 !!

The city spends over a million on police coverage and DOES NOT get anywhere near that amount from the festival organizers.

10/23/2012 03:48:00 AM

Don't suggest killing any fest that is based around a group non-Europeans. You will be labeled a racist.

10/23/2012 01:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Cultural Affairs Commissioner Michelle Boone said the she's "still reconciling" the cost of city services before releasing a final financial report on the revamped 2012 Taste."

What is the cost of a "Cultural Affairs Commissioner?"

Preliminary report, then report, then revised report, then final report, then addenda to final report, then dumpster.

This is killing us.

10/23/2012 01:35:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ummm Ya can't kill what already has been dead for years!

10/23/2012 01:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who wants to come to the Waste of Chicago? Nobody! I sure dont. You're a little safer if you get in and out quick in the early part of the day on a weekday but the prices are still outrageous. But once it gets later in the day or at night or on Sat & Sunday no matter what time, your life is in jeapordy and you and your family is put into harms way. The savage shitheads will break into your car, try to rob you walking to and from your car or the train, they will beat you for no reason if given the chance or you or your kids might catch a bullet and die so you can keep your Waste of Chicago. I refuse to go anymore and all of my friends and family feel the same way. Rahm is a stroke

10/23/2012 02:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

More tweets regarding killing Romney. Not from inforwars

http://twitchy.com/2012/10/23/same-old-same-old-debate-inspires-fresh-round-of-romney-assassination-threats/

10/23/2012 02:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/10/16/1019081/drudge-promotes-conspiracy-site-warning-that-black-people-will-riot-if-romney-wins/?mobile=nc

Libtard think tank with ties to Hillary and Soros blame whites for blacks wanting to kill Romney

10/23/2012 02:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Put a fence around [Taste Of Chicago]. Charge admission. Downsize and control the cost."

--10/23/2012 01:04:00 AM


Why?

We have to look at what city government should be, and ask ourselves why the taxpayers should have this kind of thing on their backs at all.

They always threaten the essential services when anyone even mentions eliminating nonessentials.

That is because the people in the Inner Party Rolodex are good for nothing beyond in-group advancement coupled with destructiveness toward out-groups, and they know it.

The whole thing is a very nasty cocktail-party joke, and they're frantic to keep those paychecks, to keep hiring each other in the world's largest game of musical chairs -- in which no one ever gets "caught out" but the people who pay the bills.

"Cultural Affairs Commissioner."

This society has been made into an inverted pyramid -- the primary ridiculous, indigestible fallacy being that one must not only keep in place but richly reward the very people who ceaselessly work like holy hell to cause so many problems -- and the tipping point has already been passed.

Again.

10/23/2012 02:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The reason people are not attending the Chicago Taste is do to all the riff-raff and gang problems. The general public and tourists DO NOT FEEL SAFE. I have attended the Milwaukee Fest and they seem to have everything in check. Charging a nominal admission fee seems to keep all the riff-raff from attending. The Milwaukee Fest is an enjoyable time where you feel safe
due to the animals not being present. Lets tell it like it is, THE GANGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL and the current city administaration is responsible in part by depleting the Chicago Police Dept. The animals have NO FEAR!

10/23/2012 03:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Someone is still making a buck of this? Shortshanks friends? Tiny Dancers? Someone? Always follow the money...

10/23/2012 03:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Don't suggest killing any fest that is based around a group non-Europeans. You will be labeled a racist."

--10/23/2012 01:33:00 PM


I remember one of our TV stations presenting a story on the Von Steuben Day parade without ONCE using the word "German."

*

10/23/2012 03:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


Illinois based Caterpillar.

One of the largest if not the largest farm and construction equipment manufacturing companies in the world cut its business forecast for the second time this year. And Ralm puts together a budget that is based upon faster growth.

The stock marker today down around 250 points and Rahm puts together a budget that is based upon faster growth.

And come January if congress doesn't act, and there doesn't seem to be any will to do so, the 2% payroll tax breaks expire.

The expiration of those tax breaks means that Illinois workers will finally feel the full brunt of those 2% individual state income tax increases that were passed awhile back.

Yep it was pretty slick that when Washington lowered the FICA payroll tax (social security) deducted from people paychecks that, IMMEDIATELY after, before Illinoisan's could feel any of the benefit in their take home pay Springfield raised the state income tax by the exact same 2% amount wiping out the benefit completely.

Heh, so now when the Washington tax break expires.. now everyone in Illinois will be blaming those dirty bastards in Washington for having less money to take home when in fact it's the Illinois income tax that's hurting them.

2% of Illinois disposable income lost beginning in Jan and RAHM PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET BASED UPON MORE SPENDING AND A FASTER RECOVERY..

Think it's gonna happen??









10/23/2012 04:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Cultural Affairs Commissioner Michelle Boone said the she's "still reconciling" the cost of city services before releasing a final financial report on the revamped 2012 Taste."

What is the cost of a "Cultural Affairs Commissioner?"

Preliminary report, then report, then revised report, then final report, then addenda to final report, then dumpster.

This is killing us.

10/23/2012 01:35:00 PM


This sounds like Mumbles Daley figuring out how much Millenium Park cost the taxpayers of Chicago. It was all abracadabra hocus pocus watch me pull a rabbit out of my ass type of crap.

We never did know how much Millenium Park cost except a rough estimate that is was at least triple original estimates.

That was Richard Mumbles Daley that did that. This shit with the Taste is the legacy he left to Rahm.

Smiling, Mumbles now works for the law firm that brokered the deal fleecing the citizens out of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars of parking meter revenues.

I've put repeat felons in prison for years for taking a couple of hundred bucks from a convenience store at gunpoint and Daley walks the earth a free man.

Shame shame for us letting it happen.

10/23/2012 04:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Don't suggest killing any fest that is based around a group non-Europeans. You will be labeled a racist."

--10/23/2012 01:33:00 PM


I remember one of our TV stations presenting a story on the Von Steuben Day parade without ONCE using the word "German."

*

10/23/2012 03:56:00 PM


Are there any black people in Germany? If not, that must be racist. Sho 'nuf.

10/23/2012 04:17:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


But if we kill the Taste the politicians lose a tool that can be used to take money out of our pensions and award it via no-bid contracts and the like to our clouted friends!

How can we transfer the wealth if we don't have the Taste? We need that Taste. We can use that Taste for a reason to build yet another $55 million dollar Maggie Daley park which will further enrich our friends!

So what if they are losing money. Look at all that pension money just sitting there begging us to take it. Skip another pension contribution that's all you have to do. Blame the unions for having a pension that is too generous when the money starts showing up short affecting peoples benefits. Shove benefits cuts down their throats while playing the hero and savior out to protect them else it will all be gone..

Ha, but don't stop the Taste.

No,no-no the Taste is the Mayor's and the aldermen's Gravy Train!

World-Class baby.

10/23/2012 04:19:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

off topic: Hey sarge your not fooling any of us with your fake missions to let all those cars cut early, still taking care of the dogs I see. Us late cars never get any early cuts, well just one of us late cars Lol. This place is a joke, and yes the bosses are a joke here. Be safe everyone and back each other up.

10/23/2012 01:05:00 PM

This is an every week thing and they get away with it and true it's the dogs getting early cuts for some reason.

10/23/2012 04:19:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
History Lesson For Those of You Who Grew Up in Iowa or Are Too Young to Remember: The Taste began under Mayor Byrne, and she sent police personnel and administrators to Milwaukee to see how they ran their festival. When the observers returned they concluded that a fee had to be charged and the first Taste charged a fee. Da Rev Jackson, felt that the fee would exclude his loyal followers from attending so he picketed the Taste which at that time was held at Navy Pier. The City was intimidated and it became a free fest. Yet the vary principle upon which the original Fest was based is still fact: Unless you charge an admission, you will have bands of roaming youths who will frighten the White Liberals who bring their families into the City. Remember, these Liberals love minorities, then they move as far away from them as their resources will allow. THE TAST CANNOT SURVIVE UNLESS AND UNTIL AN ADMISSION FEE IS CHARGED. MILWAUKEE FEST IS RUN WITH A FRACTION OF POLICE AND SECURITY BECAUSE THEY CHARGE ADMISSION AND IN SO DOING ELIMINATE MUCH OF THE PROBLEMS. LET'S FACE IT, MOST COPS WOULD NOT TAKE THEIR FAMILY TO TASTE. OH, ONE MORE THING, THE FIRST YEAR MAYOR BYRNE GAVE EACH COPPER AND FIREFIGHTER 2 FREE TICKETS.

10/23/2012 07:40:00 AM


Remember the guy selling the honkie fest tee shirts just outside the area were jj was protesting. That was priceless, wish I had one today.

10/23/2012 04:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

off topic: Hey sarge your not fooling any of us with your fake missions to let all those cars cut early, still taking care of the dogs I see. Us late cars never get any early cuts, well just one of us late cars Lol. This place is a joke, and yes the bosses are a joke here. Be safe everyone and back each other up.

10/23/2012 01:05:00 PM

This isn't Ryan's district is it Lol. That would be funny if they are doing it there

10/23/2012 04:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


Yaaaay!!

The triple-Jay man has an overwhelming majority in the polls STILL!

Can you believe that?

Chicagoans would rather have a mentally unstable person that who knows when if ever will return to work.

There's no stopping him.

If the FBI were to lock him up the people would flip out and demand that he be allowed to work from his jail cell I suppose? Of course there would be no work involved, just the collection of his paycheck and his benefits that's all.

Oh and not to be racist either but what are the people getting for their money with that other guy downstate with the stroke recovery.

OMG how could you? That is so insensitive haha.. We wouldn't be able to pull this shit off in the private sector for three days before the corporations would be terminating our position. Why are these people treated as special?

10/23/2012 04:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Fuck that fest. Let's make this town Detroit already.

10/23/2012 01:52:00 AM

=================================

Detroit of Frisco? Which one will go up up in flames over the World Series? Maybe both eh? Time will tell.

10/23/2012 04:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"The general public and tourists DO NOT FEEL SAFE."

--10/23/2012 03:13:00 PM


"The nice lady felt as though she was being hurled down a flight of concrete stairs by some wild animal frantically escaping with a sliver of plastic he'd just snatched."

Here.

"The general public and tourists ARE NOT SAFE."

From "feelings" to objective physical fact.

Thus we refute at least a century of the most intense "psychobabble" and propagandizing imaginable.

Just Call Bullshit.

10/23/2012 04:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ob says no matter what he and the mrs will be ok. and by the way send him 5 bucks. penny pritzker is having a home built in hawii for them. so he wont be coming back to chicago. I dont know how we will get along with out them. it would be great if they could take daley and rahm with him.

10/23/2012 04:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

attended once....many years ago....would never attend again, under any circumstances...

10/23/2012 06:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Totally off topic: Did you see the story about the 15-year old killed in Aurora overnight? 0130 he and his three 15-year old accomplices violate curfew, steal a car, and drive around the neighborhood committing acts of vandalism, when the car goes airborne and hits a house. Future gang-banger (or combination altar boy / nuclear physicist / brain surgeon) gets thrown from the car and killed. Surprisingly, his three accomplices run off after the wreck.

Original story in the Naperville Sun was: AURORA — A 15-year-old Aurora boy was killed when the car he was riding in hit a house in the 2700 block of Hamman Way early Tuesday morning. Aurora police identified the boy as Devin Meadows, of the 2500 block of Crestview Drive. He was a sophomore at Metea Valley High School. Friends said Meadows and three other students were out smashing pumpkins just prior to the crash. “I know that they were sneaking out late so they could go smash pumpkins. They were just messing around...and now (Devin) is dead,” said MVHS Junior Noah Teicher. “The whole school is …, but of course it's been rewritten since then. Story at http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/15917547-418/aurora-teen-dies-in-early-morning-crash.html, screen capture of original story from their RSS feed at http://i49.tinypic.com/2yuk64p.jpg

10/23/2012 06:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jane Byrne had Chicago Fest on Navy Pier in the late 70"s. It cost six bucks to get in and had great Bands ( Charley Daniels , Blues Brothers, And Muddy Waters ,who I had the honor of meeting Backstage, while he had 2 good looking Babes on his lap AND invited me to have a drink, While I was working as a C.F.D Paramedic), but I digress, the entrance fee kept low lives from getting in and spoiling the Party . Do that again and the FEST WILL BE PROFITABLE AND Fun!Sorry for the trip down memory lane.

10/23/2012 06:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Worked it back in '96 as a PPO & knew it was no good, like watching a future train wreck!!!!

10/23/2012 06:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ribfest in Naperville has a strong NPD/NFD (paramedic) presence. The Exchange Club, which organizes Ribfest has a strong "security" presence (although they don't call it that), and they also hire a security firm (those folks wear uniforms). They don't tolerate riffraff. Everybody works too hard for a few idiots to spoil a good family event for the rest of those who attend.

10/23/2012 07:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Big Al (not a cop) said...
The taste is great for me - I buy a few strips of discounted tickets at Dominick's two weeks beforehand, and walk over every day at lunch from my office in the loop.

I get to try new foods (always stick to the 4 ticket sample sizes), a lot of times from places I hadn't even heard of, and when you go at 1 or so in the afternoon on a weekday, nobody is there. The cops & security are just lounging around & chatting amongst themselves, bc it's mostly businessmen & tourists at that hour.

Of course, I would never go after dark .
---------------------------------


Key!

10/23/2012 08:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Off topic but very important

Hi retired CPD living in Galena. I went early to vote and was looking for the pension reform under "49". Well, they put the whole thing in a shaded area on the front of the ballot before even voting for the president. You would have dismissed it and thought it was not part of the voting on the ballot. Please let everyone you know about this!

10/23/2012 08:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Put in a Rahm dunk tank. 3 balls $5. Hit the target, he falls in a pool of pig shit. Profitability guaranteed.

10/23/2012 09:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always thought the Taste was gross! Hot, sweaty, fat people with BBQ sauce dripping down their chins with a gross turkey leg in their mouth! Some things are better done in the privacy of one's home or backyard (or vacant lot).

Why does the turkey leg have to be gross? Poor turkey leg.

10/23/2012 10:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...



Oh really??

This is a modern work of art masterpiece. I can only marvel how they drift in and out with stats of one neighborhood then implying that it's the entire city followed by that's not what they are saying at all.

Check it out. Crime is down.

CHICAGO (AP) — When the city's gang war intensified last spring, shootings became so frequent they sometimes seemed like a ghastly game of tennis, with each senseless attack followed by a vengeful response.

The furious rate of the killing drew national attention and even invited comparisons between Chicago and some of the world's war zones.

But a closer look shows something else: The pace of homicides and shootings has slowed considerably as police step up their presence and residents challenge gang members for control of the streets. In at least one of the city's most notoriously dangerous neighborhoods, homicides have actually fallen.

"People are taking a stand, that we're not going to stand for it," said Lisa Williams, a member of a South Side block-watch group where residents installed their own surveillance cameras.

much more here

10/23/2012 11:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OT
Do all new police applicants have to see a psychologist along with taking the psychological test?

10/24/2012 12:26:00 AM  
Anonymous xcop7903 said...

Used to go to the Wisconsin State Fair annually back in the '70s. Unlike Illinois ,you could get a beer (or five, six) and walk all over the place. But a year or so ago, read about ghetto youfs attacking fairgoers as they left the grounds. Milwaukee, or the suburb of West Allis is not immune to predatory shithead culcha, either.

10/24/2012 12:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sell sewer rat on a stick and some of that Asian carp, deep fried and on a bed of wild park grass.

Democrats will eat it. It's the new green food craze they're all caught up in.

10/24/2012 01:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SummerFest has a pretty hefty charge to get in - it might be as much as $20. Even if they charge a minimal amount like $5, it would help balance the books. But if they went to $10 or $15, it would help keep out some of the riff-raff.
I'd like to think that they are trying to make slow changes instead of getting people in a tizzy but it's the City so I doubt it. The only other option is to end it.

10/24/2012 06:03:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

in response to the question "who makes $ on the fest"?
it's run problately like the mcormick shows i work the boat show years ago
nothing moved by you past the "yellow lines" meaning mccormick staff
if you wanted carpeting you had "theirr" carpet people electric "their" electricians really about the only thing you could carry was a phone and a note book and a pen
you would get the "service" but no hankie and a "kiss" afterward and if they jazzed something up as my old boss said"don't make a wave
it's the price of doing business here" and of course it's their buddies doing the "work"

10/24/2012 07:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Illinois based Caterpillar.

One of the largest if not the largest farm and construction equipment manufacturing companies in the world cut its business forecast for the second time this year. And Ralm puts together a budget that is based upon faster growth.

****************

Caterpillar cut its forecast because of lower than expected growth in China, which is having a huge effect on the global economy, because a LOT of American businesses invested heavily in China. On the flip side, China is heavily invested in the U.S., so it's a double-edged sword.

On the bright side, PERU, of all places, is experiencing exponential growth, much higher than expected. Like it or not, Brazil, Peru, China, Russia, et.al, hold the key to growth in this country.

As much as people bitched about Daley making numerous trips to China, foreign investment in Chicago would be a boon to our economy....and these things take time.

I hate Daley, but his trips to China were more than just for sightseeing.

10/24/2012 07:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...

Fuck that fest. Let's make this town Detroit already.

10/23/2012 01:52:00 AM

=================================

Detroit of Frisco? Which one will go up up in flames over the World Series? Maybe both eh? Time will tell.

10/23/2012 04:44:00 PM

Nobody is left in Detroit and their stadium is way out in the burbs. Any minorities left in Detroit sure as hell don't give a shit about baseball, plus there is nothing left to loot!

10/24/2012 07:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't suggest killing any fest that is based around a group non-Europeans. You will be labeled a racist.

Sorry. You need permission from JJ Sr. and JJ Jr to use the word racist. The have a copy right on it.

/sarcasm

10/24/2012 09:03:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Found very quickly on the city web site (believe it or not)

Boone, Michelle T
Commissioner of Cultural affairs
ANNUAL SALARY: $155,040.00

Um, just a question, but which 'culture' does the Taste have to do
with? Besides the animals, that is..

10/24/2012 11:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Fuck that fest. Let's make this town Detroit already.

10/23/2012 01:52:00 AM

=================================

Detroit of Frisco? Which one will go up up in flames over the World Series? Maybe both eh? Time will tell.

10/23/2012 04:44:00 PM

Detroit will go up flames hands down. I seriously doubt riots will ensue from the beaches or bath houses in Frisco.

10/24/2012 12:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Add this to the list that these shitheads have ruined

10/24/2012 02:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
OT
Do all new police applicants have to see a psychologist along with taking the psychological test?

10/24/2012 12:26:00 AM

Just you.

10/24/2012 06:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

12:26 came on in 2007 and we did have to see him prior to seeing a dr for the medical part Just a short oral interview

10/24/2012 09:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Cultural Affairs Commissioner Michelle Boone said the she's "still reconciling" the cost of city services before releasing a final financial report on the revamped 2012 Taste."

"But, she disclosed that Chicago's premier lakefront festival costs $6 million to stage and isn't "close to breaking even." That's despite the fact that individual restaurants saw their highest profit margins in five years."
---


And how many of those bills has the City actually paid? So soon after the event, not many I am guessing, Most people know the City of Chicago is a deadbeat and inflate their charges accordingly.

Highest profit margin. Right. They might have sold two turkey legs, high profit margins, doesn't count the hundreds that were grabbed or thrown out or were given to 'po souf side food pantry folks.

10/24/2012 09:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thought we were told it was a success?

10/25/2012 12:44:00 AM  

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