Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel is making nice-nice to his former firemen foes.
Translation: Sneed is told Rahm, who is carrying an olive branch in his iron fist, paid a surprise visit to several North Side firehouses Thursday morning to assure firefighters (whose union voted not to endorse him) he wanted to save their pensions.
Pension check: “Rahm said he hated gambling, but he is in favor of a Chicago casino because it could be one way to shore up our pensions,” said a Chicago firefighter.
Backcheck: “He showed up unexpectedly at 9 a.m., drank a cup of coffee, and spent about 30 minutes assuring us of his intention because he saw firsthand what happened to the autoworkers’ pensions and he didn’t want that to happen to us.”
Well, let's get this done then Rahm. How about all revenues attached to a casino go to shoring up the city pensions until such time as the funds are at sustainable levels. In fact, how about the pensions get funded at some fixed rate of 120% percent or whatever it takes so it pays for itself - the actuaries can figure it out. No payouts to connected investors until the pensions reach that mark. That means no front companies connected to crooked politicians, no Roger Ebert, no Connie Payton, no Outfit nieces or nephews. In fact, if anyone in your "family" has appeared on any Chicago Crime Commission publication within the last four generations, you're out. Every dime goes to the funds.
Someone can tell us if this is possible - officers can then take their pension contribution (currently 9% and going to 12%) in their paychecks. We believe some well-funded pensions in non-bankrupt states did this a few years back.
Someone can tell us if this is possible - officers can then take their pension contribution (currently 9% and going to 12%) in their paychecks. We believe some well-funded pensions in non-bankrupt states did this a few years back.