a prairie web companion

Watch this while you can. Viacom had the clips pulled from YouTube earlier today. It might not be around on Flick Life for long either.

I got this notice informing me that my polling place has been changed. Too bad I got it after the election actually took place! It’s a good thing this information is readily available online.

Second ward residents, please come out and vote in the run-off election on April 17. If you’re not registered to vote, you can still register until March 20.

I pre-ordered an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station on February 6. It didn’t ship until very early this morning. Apple let me know when I placed my order that it would ship by February 28. So, what’s the problem you might ask? Well, Apple said “ship by February 28″. That means it was within the realm of possibility that they would ship it earlier. My brother ordered the exact same thing but he placed his order almost two weeks after I did. His Base Station was shipped several days ago. Mine just left China–yes, China–this morning. Shouldn’t Apple be filling orders in the order they receive them? What’s the point of pre-ordering then?

Just for that, I made Apple’s stock tank yesterday:

Rick Kogan from the Chicago Tribune was on Eight Forty-Eight this morning. He provided some excellent insight into Chicago’s aldermen.

That big box thing seems to override everything. But, what I’ve discovered is, one of the big issues here is that balance; that tenuous balance between affordable housing and new development. I really think that’s the crucial issue… Are we going to yuppify this city a la Manhattan or are we going to be able to keep that wonderful, wonderful mix and balance?
…
You have fifty people, I don’t care what; you see 50 people in a bar, six of ‘em are gonna be alcoholics. Most of the people [aldermen] I’ve talked to–and this is a generalization–a handful I would consider idiots. I mean flat out, flat out dopes.

My friend forwarded me this e-mail she received from Bob Fioretti:

From: Bob Fioretti <fiorettiforalderman @gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 11:35:16 AM
Subject: An Important Message from Bob Fioretti

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, in the past few days my opponents have launched a number of last-minute, personal attacks on me. They know I’m in the lead, and they’re getting desperate. I appreciate your continued support and wanted to make sure you know the facts.

In August of 2002, I filed criminal charges against a person who was threatening me and my family. In retaliation, the person filed an order of protection in August 2003. A week later, a Cook County judge threw out the complaint because it had no basis in fact. Both the Tribune and the Sun-Times published articles today that set the record straight.

I’m disappointed that my opponents would stoop to such vicious and personal tactics, but they won’t distract us from what needs to be done. We’ve had hundreds of volunteers in the office gearing up for Election Day, and we’re working hard and set to win. Thanks to all of you who have given your time and effort.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about this or any issue, please call me at 312-263-9273. Again, thank you for all your support, and I look forward to seeing you soon as the new Alderman of the 2nd Ward!

Sincerely,

Bob Fioretti

It turns out that the message second ward residents received from someone claiming to be Meredith Carson was a desperate last ditch attempt by Madeline Haithcock to malign Bob Fioretti. This is from today’s Sun Times:

Fioretti said the woman sought the order in retaliation after he filed charges against her the year before. He accused the woman of “unsolicited advances” including “threatening phone calls to my home.”

He released a document showing a judge vacated the woman’s order of protection a week after it was granted.

Read the full article here.

I was at my friend’s place tonight watching the Academy Awards when he got a call from someone–actually a recording–informing him that the National Organization of Women (NOW) has withdrawn their endorsement of Bob Fioretti for second ward alderman. I went home and found the same recording on my answering machine:

Hi, my name is Merideth Carson and I am concerned. I am concerned about Bob Fioretti and the way his is trying to mislead the residents of the second ward. The National Organization for Women or NOW recently retracted their endorsement of Bob Fioretti. This information is available at chicagonow.org. A restraining order was filed against Bob Fioretti in 2003 to prevent him from physical abuse, harassment, interference with personal liberty, exploitation, and stalking. Bob was also told to stay away from the woman’s home and place of work. This is not the kind of person I want representing me and my family. It seems like tonight’s best actor award goes to Bob Fioretti for the multitude of deceitful acts and lies he has dispersed at our community, during his campaign.

Does anyone know what this is all about? I haven’t been able to find anything on the web about it. The Chicago NOW website lists no endorsement for the second ward alderman and makes no mention of Bob Fioretti. Maybe I’ll give his campaign office a call tomorrow to see if they have any response. The election is less than two days away and I’m guessing that a good number of people in the second ward have received the same message. Fioretti is the front runner against the incumbent, Madeline Haithcock, for second ward alderman. This may seriously damage Fioretti’s campaign if there is truth to it. I’m sure plenty of damage has already been done, so I hope he has a good response. Otherwise, there may be a scramble to raise up another candidate to replace Fioretti as the main contender against Haithcock.

Is this just another dirty campaign tactic? Fioretti and Haithcock have been firing barbs at each other for quite some time now. Fioretti has even accused Haithcock of tampering with the mail preventing campaign materials from reaching their final destinations.

Check out the Chicago Reader’s coverage of the election:
He’s Going to Win: Here’s why you should vote against Mayor Daley anyway.
Aldermania! Guess who Wal-Mart and Target have been giving money to… If you guessed your alderman, then you’ve probably guessed right. Read this article to find out for sure.

But it’s hard for Ms. Haithcock to run away from what should be the major issue in the race: the stunning amount of campaign cash she’s accepted from developers whose projects an all-powerful alderman such as herself can block or bless. In the first half of last year, for instance, better than 60% of the $98,000 raised by Ms. Haithcock came from developers, architects and other interested parties. The figure hit 70% of the $55,000 in gifts she detailed in the last half of 2006.

In 25 years of political reporting, I’ve never seen that kind of special-interest percentage for a candidate.

“I get my money from anybody who wants to give it to us,” Ms. Haithcock replies. “I don’t discriminate.”

–excerpt from “High-risers rebel” by Greg Hintz

I guess I have Haithcock to thank for blighting the historic prairie district with the soon to be built, 45 and 34 story monstrosities that are the X|O Condominiums. The developers of X|O didn’t provide proper notice of their intent to build and didn’t post the necessary paperwork until after the fact. It’s amazing what you can get away with in Chicago if you know the right people and grease the right palms. Who says patronage is dead! Haithcock made it pretty clear to my home owner’s association that she doesn’t care about us when we approached her about issues with our developer.

If you live in Chicago, make sure you’re registered and vote in the municipal election on February 27. Find your polling place here.

If you live in the second ward, please make sure you come out and vote. The current alderman, Madeline Haithcock, is destroying our neighborhoods in return for campaign funds from developers. I’m sure she’s probably partially responsible for helping the X|O Condominums get approval to build a 45 story monstrosity in the historic prairie district–not to mention the condo building to the northwest of me, the one to the southeast of me, and the one breaking ground directly to the north of me. All these building are either adjacent to my building or just across the street. Street parking is already at a premium and these new condos that are going up will add hundreds of units and no additional street parking. Did anyone even do a traffic study?

Check here to see who’s running. The Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization has released their list of endorsements. Chicago Tonight and Chicago Public Radio have been providing some excellent coverage of the upcoming election.

You know what they say in Chicago, “vote early and often–even if you’re dead!”