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$150 million per year growth in wages in benefits is excessive even in the most robust of economies, and the deal only includes a fraction of the unionized city workforce. What a boondoggle this is turning out to be, and as usual, it's all about the Olympics at any cost.
At least, at this point, Blagojevich is relatively impotent, his power having been significantly drained by the GA and the courts. But Daley continues his hatchet jobs unabated, with a compliant city council and a local media that seems very reluctant to scrutinize his decisions as opposed to Blago or Stroger.
It is the story of a Greek basketball player who gets the nod for state treasurer from a basketball buddy newly elected Senator, so Alex registers to vote and uses his daddy's big, big, bank as proof of his political acumen and banking knowledge.
He is a hit during his first couple of years, but discovers that a guy named Tony Rezko mentioned Alex and his daddy's big, big, bank to the FBI as an informant.
And we can't think of these as deposits as you and I make, which, if we're smart, are guaranteed by the FDIC. These are collateralized short-term loans to the banks.
My question is, what's the collateral and who's ascribing the value? And are there any requirements for local lending? The press release from the treasurer's office was silent on both points.
I will say, though, that a lot depends on how the police are used. In Oak Park, which is the 'burb to the north of where I live, I can walk most of the perimeter (Roosevelt & Austin to Harlem & Nroth Ave are the corners) on a weekend morning (it's a 9+ mile walk) and see at least 8 police cars (or perhaps sometimes it's the same car, I don't look that closely) during that 3 hour walk. In a similar walk in Berwyn, I might see 1 police car. I would imagine the 2 'burbs have similar police staffing. Oak Park's policing model might actually reduce crime simply by its omnipresence, whereas Berwyn's doesn't seem to.
What it does is increase the bank's capital, and so it's ability to make loans.
Essentially, the same thing the Fed is doing at a massive scale by lowering the rate it loans money to banks at.
And his name is Alexi, not Alex. Sheesh.
Nice timing right before an election...wonder how much campaign donations may improve? Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
Fewer cops? What will businesses do with rising crime AND rising taxes?
Giuliani reversed & cut crime in NYC by 1) adding 3400-3800 cops to flood the streets [some say 12,000 more] 2) community policing on foot [more cops accessible] and 3) empowered & held district captains responsible for everything that happened in his/her precinct. Do all 3 here & it could work.... not fewer cops.
The analysis in the mainstream media have focused primarily on current; and some near term operating budgets and the impact the more immediate impact that the economic conditions will have.
Just wait until the actuarial valuations for the already woefully under-funded defined benefit public pension systems get released next year. The asset values of the investment portfolios will have likely taken large double digit losses, and the funded ratios of many of these plans will likely fall exponentially, and could not come at a worse time.
There are more than 37 million Americans 65 and older, a number that is expected to nearly double by 2030, according to the Census Bureau. More importantly, there are about 78 million baby boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964 and the oldest of which begin turning 62 this year and are looking to retire if they have not already done so. The number of "retirement age" public employees is set to grow exponentially each year for the next 20 years as well.
The defined benefit public pension plans have promised them a fixed annuity; and many with an annual COLA benefit, for the rest of their lives. The life expectancy tables for the oldest of these people is about 17 years for men; and almost 22 years for women, and that number grows longer for those younger but who have not yet reached traditional retirement age, but will soon.
The pool of beneficiaries collecting benefits is about to explode, at the same time that the assets side aside to pay them from is imploding.
Where is the money going to come from now to pay for all of this?
As you pull up a seat at this poker table; if you look around the table and you can't tell who the sucker is, it's you. ...
On Daley, someone should find out how much debt is on the city's books and what a sustained downturn could mean. He's had nothing but boom times until now and, like a lot of Americans, he borrowed heavily while the national economy soared.
Is Rezko singing about Broadway Bank, or Banks' bank, or neither? VM and I are thinkin' da same ting here...
And some bloggers don't have a sense of humor either.
As Governor Palin would say, "God love ya!". It takes a village to create this great big blog of Rich's!
Yeah. Alexi! It sounds even cuter than Alex! Maybe the next Illinois Treasurer will have "Candy" or "Bambi" for a first name!
"Alexi and His Daddy's Big, Big, Bank" - yeah, that's even better!