We’ve received loads of letters, calls, e-mails, and online comments in reaction to the recent story by Mick Dumke and me detailing how the city cut corners and kept key information from the public as it rushed to lease its 36,000 parking meters to a private company (“FAIL: How Daley and his crew hid their process from the public, ignored their own rules, railroaded the City Council, and screwed the taxpayers,” April 9). Some residents are angry that they have to pay more for worse service; others are simply outraged by the shocking revelation that they live in the realm of a viceroy.
Interesting article, but it does NOT explain how this deal screwed taxpayers, it just assumes everyone already knows that! —D. McQuown
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Great article, but your report comes so late that you might as well have been on the payroll. Where have all the reporters been? What the hell do you think you’ve been doing? Grow some gonads, and prioritize for once. This punch was telegraphed far in advance, and now you’ve decided it’s news? Now that no one can do anything anymore. —Andrew
It’s true that the meter contract is a done deal, but what isn’t is how much we’ll let our elected officials get away with from here on out. Even if they can’t or won’t do anything to fix what’s broken this time around, we hope everyone will pay a little more attention the next time the mayor talks about selling off a city asset.
This town will vote for any crook as long as he’s a Democrat (see Todd Stroger, Daley, Blago). —Gmann
That’s right. It’s better to elect the thieves, crackpots, and hacks we know than the ones we don’t.
What would be great is if some normal, smart person would run against Daley. Not an alderman or a typical politician but someone who is smart and with a good sense of morals—would that be asking too much? —Robbie
