First, from the Illinois Policy Institute, who are great to follow for Illinois finance issues:| stump.marypat.org
So I’m going to do a whirlwind tour of reaction to Rahm’s pension “reform” proposal…we already know that the blitzkrieg approach failed, but that doesn’t mean the proposal is entirely dead in the water.| stump.marypat.org
Yesterday I laid out the basics of a proposed pension “reform” from Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago.| stump.marypat.org
So yesterday I laid out the general problem Chicago has: underfunded pensions and a requirement to step up contributions in a huge way in a year or two.| stump.marypat.org
And the “regretting it”, I mean is he regretting being un-booted from the ballot back in 2011, and winning the mayoral election?| stump.marypat.org
Chicago is deep in debt. As the Little Red Hen might ask: Who Will Help Chicago Get Out Of That Hole? I am not going to make the mistake of Meredith Whitney — Chicago, for now, has cash flow, which to politicians means it’s not bankrupt! Anybody who looks at Truth in Accounting’s 2023 Financial State of the Cities, seeing Chicago sitting at number 74 out of 75 [and yeah, I know NYC is sitting at 75 – I will treat with NYC in time], could say: “Oh, but that’s just a balance sheet! ...| STUMP
Back in June, I did a podcast episode on lightning strike deaths. STUMP – DEATHANDTAXES Lightning Strike Deaths MARYPATCAMPBELL · JUN 17 Lightning Strike Deaths Listen now (28 min) | Lightning strike deaths have decreased by over 80% from 1968 to 2022! Thanks to lots of changes, but primarily because of improved weather forecasting. Alas, they still occur, as was just reported from Texas, but we can thank technological change for this benefit. I got a lovely surprise when John Jensenius fr...| STUMP
I talk about BEAM (Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics), an educational non-profit currently based in NYC and LA focused on providing a program to help underserved students enter advanced study in mathematics. I have a personal connection to the founder Dan Zaharapol through Canada/USA Mathcamp, back when he was a student and I was staff. BEAM has a 10-year strategic growth plan and is also seeking people for two key roles.| STUMP
I’ve seen this paper going around recently: Excess Death Rates for Republican and Democratic Registered Voters in Florida and Ohio During the COVID-19 Pandemic Let me drop the abstract here: Importance There is evidence that Republican-leaning counties have had higher COVID-19 death rates than Democratic-leaning counties and similar evidence of an association between political party affiliation and attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccination; further data on these rates may be useful. Objectiv...| STUMP
NY Times: Fighting for Anthony: The Struggle to Save Portland, Oregon/The city has long grappled with street homelessness and a shortage of housing. Now fentanyl has turned a perennial problem into a deadly crisis and a challenge to the city’s progressive identity, 29 July 2023 by Michael Corkery| stump.marypat.org