April 24, 2013
ANAN ABU-TALEB, THE NEW PALESTINIAN MAYOR OF -- OAK PARK?
A Palestinian mayor of Tel Aviv? Never. But there's no resistance in Oak Park, the upscale, very liberal suburb just west of Chicago. On April 9, Gaza-born restranteur Anan Abu-Taleb won a "mortifying election," upsetting the longtime insiders' ruling clique, the "Village Manager Assn.," as well as the powerful political machine of State Sen. Don Harman (D). Obama got 84.3% in 2008 and 82.5% in 2012, so Oak Park's myopic liberalism is no revelation. In another instance of mortification, Schiller Parks' Anna Montana is losing by 18 votes--after leaving over $150,000.00 unspent in her campaign account. And Recorder Karen Yarbrough got mortified in Maywood. Full Article...
April 17, 2013
"SECONDARY LOSERS" ABOUND IN SUBURBAN ELECTIONS
Just as second-hand smoke is hazardous to one's health, so, too, are "secondary defeats" hazardous to losers' backers. On April 9, secondary losers proliferated: Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-4) in Cicero; Mike Madigan, Jesse White and the Martwick Clan in Norridge; an astounding 30 former elected officials in Park Ridge; and Trustee Elster in Lincolnwood. There was also a gaggle of "secondary winners," who got a career nudge: Pete Silvetri in Elmwood Park; Marty Moylan in Des Plaines; and the Blase Machine in Niles. Full Article...
April 10, 2013
NEW TECHNOLOGY PRESAGES MAJOR CHANGES IN "LAWYERING"
Shakespeare, in "Henry VI," had a character famously exhort: "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." In America, circa 2010, there's 1.2 million lawyers, and 44,000 law school graduates clogging the system every year. But technology will soon do what Shakespeare's prose couldn't do. "Smart cars" will eviscerate legal practices concentrating in PI, DUI, traffic, torts, and even criminal defense and immigration. There will be no "personal injuries" if computers drive cars. And "workers' comp" will soon be capped -- as it is in Kentucky, with lawyers' fees limited to $2,500 per case. Mortgage lenders are striving to avoid foreclosures' humungous legal costs, with modifications and short sales. The real estate market is still horrific -- 70% of sales are "short sales." There's no perceptible rebound. Debt collection is almost non-existent. "Deadbeats" can't pay. But elder/disabled guardianships and 50something-plus divorces are booming, and keeping a few lawyers busy. Full Article...
April 3, 2013
BATTLES OF "LEAST WORST" IN SUBURBAN ELECTIONS
There's a stink emanating from a couple of suburban municipal elections, set for April 9, especially Norridge. Illinois' deputy Secretary of State Tom Benigno is spending $100,000, and flooding the village's 10 precincts with 100 outside workers. There is resistance. The "least worst" candidate is Jim Chmura, the incumbent party's choice. In Franklin Park, a "backdoor tax hike" is vexing incumbent Barrett Pedersen. In Elmwood Park, ex-State Rep Skip Saviano's golden parachute is billowing, and nobody seems bothered by the fact that Saviano paid himself $205,458 last Dec. from his campaign account. In Schiller Park, Energizer Barbie (Piltaver) is not energizing voters against incumbent Anna Montana. Full Article...
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