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Let& #39;s take a look at Kass& #39;s new podcast.
This episode was largely about newly released #Census data. I had some back-and-forth on the subject on Twitter today with Kass& #39;s guest Ted Dabrowski from the right-wing site Wirepoints you can read here:
https://twitter.com/KassWatch/status/1390374345588023296">https://twitter.com/KassWatch...
This episode was largely about newly released #Census data. I had some back-and-forth on the subject on Twitter today with Kass& #39;s guest Ted Dabrowski from the right-wing site Wirepoints you can read here:
https://twitter.com/KassWatch/status/1390374345588023296">https://twitter.com/KassWatch...
The TLDR is that while IL conservatives are gloating about the fact our state lost about 18K people and a Congressional seat, while other states gained, Dems are pointing out that& #39;s far short of the nearly 250K population loss projected earlier, and we could have lost two seats.
Overall it was a deeply pessimistic podcast with Kass and Dabrowski arguing that Illinois is going to hell under Democratic leadership due to crime, high taxes, remote learning, yadda yadda yadda, causing people to move to other states.
No doubt, IL has some issues, but Republican leadership isn& #39;t the answer. We need to address Chicago& #39;s crime problem by investing in underserved communities, and shifting some resources from policing to social programs.
Better funding for public schools, job training, affordable housing, physical and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, transit – these are all part of the puzzle for preventing crime and improving lives, which will make people want to stay here in Chicago and IL.
True, IL should be doing more to cut costs and bureaucracy. It would be wonderful if we could figure out a way to simplify the many layers of local government. 50 aldermen. State senators and representatives, county boards, 4 Chicagoland transit boards, etc. – it& #39;s excessive.
But it& #39;s clear things don& #39;t function any better when Republicans are in control in Springfield. The years of budget stalemate under Bruce Rauner, as he tried to hold the state hostage in order to gut unions, were a total mess.
Funny comment from Kass about new Census figures that IL has only lost about 18K, rather than the nearly 250K he previously reported based on earlier projections: "I don& #39;t buy the 18K number, but I don& #39;t want to be accused of saying fraud. It& #39;s just that I don& #39;t buy it." 
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Aside from Census, a few more takeaways from the podcast.
In his intro, Kass talked "crumbling politics, @CTULocal1 muscle, and a weak mayor."
Per Kass watch rule, a CTU dis means I have to repost this thread. https://twitter.com/KassWatch/status/1375310068757979136">https://twitter.com/KassWatch...
In his intro, Kass talked "crumbling politics, @CTULocal1 muscle, and a weak mayor."
Per Kass watch rule, a CTU dis means I have to repost this thread. https://twitter.com/KassWatch/status/1375310068757979136">https://twitter.com/KassWatch...
