The Capitol Fax Blog » Morning Shorts

Tuesday, Jan 6, 2009

hearing in a lawsuit that seeks to stop the state from closing a central Illinois prison has been delayed indefinitely, and the lockup could remain open for some time.

Spokesmen for the Illinois Department of Corrections and the union that represents prison workers say Monday’s hearing in Vienna was pointless.

That’s because an injunction issued in another lawsuit over the plan to close the Pontiac Correctional Center is keeping the prison open.

* Hearing on hold in Pontiac prison case

* Illinois prison nurses union mulling strike

* No time to waste in jump-starting economy

* Barrington sues over CN rail deal

* Suburban real estate CEO found dead

* Appeals court ruling paves way for more red-light cameras

A federal appeals court has given the green light to red-light cameras that have pumped out more than a million Chicago tickets and generated $100 million in sorely-needed revenue since 2003.

The ruling by the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals preserves one of the city’s few revenue sources not subject to the economic downturn — and clears the way for a major expansion that will install cameras at more than 330 accident-prone Chicago intersections by 2012.

* Stroger defends bond plan

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger stood firm Monday on his effort to issue $740 million in bonds, saying every penny was needed to pay for big projects while maintaining services at the county’s massive public safety and health care systems.

* Aldermen get to air gripes about snow

* City ends free pass for false alarms

Chicago businesses won’t get any mercy for false burglar alarms under a new revenue gathering policy quietly approved by the city.

In the past, businesses could have up to three false alarms before fines kicked in. Now, the fine is $100 per violation right off the bat.

* No charges, so Hobley can collect $6.5 mil

* Forest preserve bill will improve green governance

* Former lawmaker Lechowicz dies at 70

- posted by Mike Murray

3 Comments

- Cassandra - Tuesday, Jan 6, 09 @ 10:33 am:
Some things never change, regardless of who is running the state (or not).

Despite the state’s awesome financial troubles, we’re still keeping lots of minority guys in jail
so we can prop up local economies. And still keeping Pontiac open to support the state civil service and the local economy.

- Anonymous45 - Tuesday, Jan 6, 09 @ 12:51 pm:
If one looks at the decision to close Pontiac and use Thompson in purely financial terms, I’ll wager that transferring prisoners to Thompson would be cheaper for the State. Things change, companies in the private sector move or go out of business…I feel for the folks in Pontiac, but there aren’t alot a of job opprtunities in Thompson and a brand new facility is just sitting there…I dun said it

- Mike Murray - Tuesday, Jan 6, 09 @ 1:24 pm:
That is true anom45, Thompson does need jobs and it does have a new facility. If using Thompson instead of Pontiac would save the state money, then by all means you are right. I do not recall ever seeing that data, however. Do you know a source that backs up that point?

I could be wrong but…..I was under the impression that the Pontiac closing was the sole love child of the Governor. Blago may have claimed that Thompson was more economical for the state -I don’t know- but Rod is very low on credibility these days. Maybe Pontiac did not pay to play (or at least did not pay as much as Thompson)

My point is that if the state is taking jobs from Pontiac and giving them to Thompson simply due to the whims of the Governor, then the current legal battle and Pontiac’s firm and outspoken resistance is to be expected.

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