Here's a picture of Dozer doing what he does best:Dozer And here's a special guest cat, spotted on a neighbor's balcony:Neighbor Cat … [Read more...] about Friday Catblogging
Second Thoughts on Hate Crimes
(My discussion of hate crimes arises against the background of Bush's veto of a new federal hate crimes bill, but I'm not discussing that bill at all.) A few days ago I blogged about hate crime laws. These laws increase the punishment for "hate crimes," which are crimes that are motivated by bigotry. Beat a guy because he cut you off in traffic, that's an ordinary crime. Beat … [Read more...] about Second Thoughts on Hate Crimes
Meanwhile, In Other Embarassing Chicago Police News…
William Hanhardt wants a new trial. I guess if I were a 78-year-old former Chicago Police Chief of Detectives who got sent away for 12 years for running a jewelry theft ring, I'd want a new trial too. Although...I'm not sure "new trial" is the right term when you plead guilty the first time. I suspect that pleading guilty makes it hard to find grounds for a retrial so, … [Read more...] about Meanwhile, In Other Embarassing Chicago Police News…
Technology and the Prosecutor
Sarena Straus has a post about the lack of technological support she had as a sex crimes prosecutor. In my first year at the DA’s office, I shared my desk with five other ADAs and my phone with 7 in a windowless room aptly called, “The Barn.” By my last year at the office, only supervisors and a select few felony prosecutors that could prove a need even had computers. The … [Read more...] about Technology and the Prosecutor
Des Plaines TIF: Jimmy’s Restaurant
The Des Plaines TIF is so huge that I've got to start posting more pictures or I'll never get done. So here's a few pictures from Jimmy's Restaurant, another property threatened by eminent domain in the Des Plaines Five Corners/River-Rand TIF District.Jimmy's Restaurant As you can see, Jimmy has been pretty active in the TIF opposition effort. There may be some … [Read more...] about Des Plaines TIF: Jimmy’s Restaurant