Appropos of nothing

Even if Blagojevich hadn’t gotten all extorty with Sam Zell, the state-helping-the-Cubs-with-Wrigley thing would have been sunk by the Tribune’s bankruptcy:

Before Gov. Blagojevich’s arrest, his administration and Tribune Co. were discussing a $250 million bond deal for the purchase of Wrigley Field, the chairman of the Illinois Finance Authority said Wednesday.

William Brandt Jr., a business turnaround specialist who became the agency’s chief last February, said he doubts whether a plan for the ballpark will move forward.

“It’s that the Tribune has gone into bankruptcy,” Brandt said. He said he had been seeking a Tribune guarantee of bonds that the IFA would issue.

“That guarantee would be worthless,” Brandt said.

I offer this less for its substance than I do as an excuse to mention that I once had a case in which this William Brandt, Jr. guy was prominently involved. He did a pretty good job turning around that which needed turning around, but I found him to be something of a pompous horse’s hiney. One of those guys that comes to your town from Chicago and then proceeds to tell you how much your town sucks compared to Chicago. Our case involved political corruption, and he made a bunch of pointed comments about how Ohio was a cesspool of avarice, greed, and graft. Now he’s a member of the Illinois government. Heh.


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Mike
15 years ago

On behalf of the people of Chicago, I would like to apologize for the handful of jerks that are apparently trying to make us all look bad.

MooseinOhio
15 years ago

Columbus is in the minor leagues when it comes to corruption in gov’t while Chicago is one of several cities that could be considered the standard bearers for pay to play.  What is unfortunate is that relatively small group of folks are able to brand the city/state with such a negative label.

Chris H.
15 years ago

They’re all amateurs compared to the late Richard J. Daley.  If you want some great corruption-in-local-government reading material, I highly recommend Mike Royko’s “Boss,” which makes Blagojevich look like a good-hearted, misguided guy who just got into a little trouble.

David
11 years ago

On behalf of the people ­of Chicago, I would like to apologize for the handful of jerks that are apparently trying to make us all look bad.