Year: 2007

  • EMINENT DOMAIN DEPT.

    Des Plaines TIF: BP Gas Station

    This BP gas station is another of the businesses that the Des Plaines City Council is calling “blighted.” Located on the northwest corner of the intersections of Rand and River roads, it’s very nearly at the center of the TIF district. Corner BP Gas Station (Visit the previous Des Plaines entry .)[Update: Visit the next… Read more

  • EDUCATION DEPT.

    Broken Promises

    John Ruberry, the Marathon Pundit, just did some actual reporting about the veterans’ scholarship scandle at the University of Illinois. This didn’t sound like much of a story when I first heard about it. The University of Illinois had offered 110 scholarships to Illinois veterans for the night MBA program in downtown Chicago. A bunch… Read more

  • DOGBLOGGING DEPT.

    Too Good – Lady, R.I.P.

    My 13 year old dog Lady was diagnosed with a bladder tumor 7 months ago. She was the best dog, always eager to please. She did a very good job of hiding her discomfort, trying to carry on as normally as possible (between peeing). She barked happily when my wife and I came home, ate… Read more

  • CATBLOGGING DEPT.

    Pupkiss, R.I.P.

    A few weeks ago, my friend Cindy’s cat Bootsy passed away. Her other cat, Pupkiss, has had severe kidney problems which Cindy has nursed her through for two years. Last week Pupkiss’s health took a turn for the worse, and Cindy had to make the decision to let her go. Read more

  • EMINENT DOMAIN DEPT.

    Des Plaines TIF: Geiser-Berner

    Protest Signs I’ve got hundreds of photos from the Des Plaines River-Rand TIF, and it’s about time I posted a few of them. I’ll start with this batch from Geiser-Berner Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning. Its owners, Robert Janczak, Ed Lehman, and Scott Olson are among the more outspoken opponents of the TIF. Geiser-Berner Their… Read more