Dumb Idea

Those 3-14 Bears may stink, but not so much they can’t get politicians to do their bidding. Why don’t I have this kind of power? Yesterday, the Tribune reported on a bill sponsored by state senator Ann Gillespie of Arlington Heights that would give the Bears the power to negotiate their tax bill with public agencies that receive tax revenue from the 326-acre site and former home to Arlington Race Track. Bear with me here. Gillespie’s bill is pretty much the tax-relief/subsidy idea floated by the Munsters last month. They’re going to build their own stadium, thank you very much. They just want help for developing the rest of the property—right now, they have an option and haven’t plunked down the $197 million to buy it, this being the McCaskeys, afterall—to compete with already established businesses in the area. Are you following this? Does it make sense to you why an elected official would carry water for a business that hasn’t committed to the area and why she would place its needs over those of her constituents? Does it make the slightest bit of sense she’d do this even though she has doubts about it working? Gillespie is quoted in the Trib saying, “I’ve expressed my doubts about whether this is an approach…we really want to open the door to.” Then, why do it? This is sort of like saying I have my doubts about tobacco or fentanyl or oxycodone, but I’m still going to try it just to make sure. Any way you look at it, we’re talking dumb idea.