I have taken a few days off to relax and get some private time. A soon as I as took time off to recompose myself, several situations emerged. A current Chicago employee feels he is followed and is harassed by management. We a currently helping this person get the help needed. Some bosses think they can muscle employees, they have not been properly trained, just promoted because of clout.
Another issue indirectly involved Emory Joe Yost, a personal friend of mine. Kevin Long was allegedly attempting to take knives into a Daley Center in Chicago. Joe was mentally and financially tortured by Kevin Long for years. In Chicago, employees are denied promotions when they stand up and protect the taxpayers and the children. I believe the Chicago Park District behavior against Emory Joe Yost has been criminal and retaliatory. The Chicago judicial community is tightly wound and when Kevin Long pulled his tricks on one of their members, it was finally time to apply the long arm of the law. I think the Chicago Park District owes a great deal of gratitude to Joe Yost. If you review some videos we have on Chicago Clout, you will see we touched on the Kevin Long situation months ago. I thank the Sun-Times Staff for interviewing Joe.
During my rest break, I really noticed some differences in America. I noticed many signs for massages, x-rated material, and lotto sales. Many of the billboards are blank or in disrepair. Many of the hotels are out of business. Gas stations are filthy and the bathrooms stunk. Some the hotels and motels were partially demolished and abandoned. Route 41 in Sarasota was loaded with crime and felt dangerous. Many of the thriving businesses are gone and boarded up. Vacant land, abandoned homes and businesses, property values destroyed all over. I missed all the prefabricated homes and the new boats that were towed down the expressways. I was amazed by the lack of crowds at the beaches. The roads had dead animals and truck tires everywhere. The level of service has dropped. I wonder where America's wealth has gone.
When I got back to Chicago, I had a pair of fresh eyes on things that need to get accomplished. Chicago is clearly working in a panic as the impending ax must fall and City Workers will take the brunt of the blame and terminations. I noticed unmarked cars following crews with their clipboards taking notes. Bosses are harassing workers and Daley has every department clearly in a panic. It is hard to determine if the new management style of the new Inspector General will ever match the professionalism and independence of David Hoffman. The legal fees to Daley's private contracted law firms are going to go through the roof defending lawsuits as City employees mistrust of unions continue. The Daley Administration is attempting to discredit workers and play the blame game to cover the years of mismanagement. This is going to be a amazing year in Chicago politics.