Not why Rahm upset with Ricketts plan

This is in response to Gail Rose’s ridiculous argument that Mayor Emanuel won’t speak to Cubs ownership and thus is fighting against job creation and hurting the middle class over his displeasure with a proposed ad attacking President Obama.

Rose states a “conservative group dallied with the notion of an ad showing the relationship between Rev. Jeremiah Wright and President Obama.” However, she fails to note this ad was titled ‘The Ricketts Plan,’ after the eldest of Cubs owners, Joe Ricketts.

This pathetic campaign to race-bait and gay-bait the president was going to “respond to charges” of race baiting by hiring as a spokesman an “extremely literate conservative African-American” who can argue that Mr. Obama misled the nation by presenting himself as a “metrosexual, black Abe Lincoln.”

As if Mayor Emanuel would find this acceptable. Ricketts and his children have actively sought $200 million in public funds to expand their privately held business operations. The money would come from 35 years of future growth in an amusement tax the city levies on tickets and concessions at Wrigley. Moreover, Ricketts wants a 50-percent cut of any increase in amusement tax revenue growth above 6 percent — forever. This is money that instead of going directly to essential services like paved roads and police and fire protection, it’ll also go into the Ricketts family pockets.

Mayor Emanuel has every right to not engage in talks with Ricketts, especially on wasteful spending such as this. Ricketts told one of the super-PACs he pumps millions into, “I think it’s a crime for our elected officials to borrow money today, to spend money today and push the repayment of that loan into the future on people who are not even born yet.” Of course, that’s only true if the money is not benefiting his business and his family.

Scott Beu

Elgin