Walter Jacobson's Perspective

There’s been so much talk about NASCAR, Trump and DeSantis that you may be missing another one of those infamous money mysteries in Chicago’s City Hall, a multi-million dollar mystery involving David Brown, the recently departed Superintendent of Chicago Police. There was a report ten days ago in the Chicago Sun-Times that during David Brown’s 14 months as Superintendent, City Hall spent more than $3 million on a company in Boston, MA named PLET. Questions by reporters about police connections and that no-bid contract are not being answered. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

Why is former governor Chris Christie spending his riches campaigning for president? Chris Christie has been helping himself become, and stay, rich. And he’s been helping his buddies in the business world stay rich with him. During Christie’s retirement, his business buddies are paying him back with huge amounts of money to be their lobbyist and consultant. The moral of the story being: Have a career in public office, then retire and get really rich. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

Finally, now at last, only two more days to go for NASCAR’s dynamite Chicago street race. The science people are saying NASCAR drivers will average only five miles a gallon of gas as they add pollutants to those Canadian wildfires already clouding our skyline. And, just one day after Chicago’s NASCAR street race, Chicago’s July 4th fireworks and their pollutants will arrive. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

Come late spring or early summer, there is nothing more Chicago than a neighborhood weekend art fair and food fest. The fairs and fests have so much to enjoy and to learn and understand. And I heartily suggest them for everybody of every age. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

There’s a problem in the grocery business: Shrinkflation – products being sold at the same price as usual but smaller in size. Makers and sellers of all kinds of things have figured out that consumers are not paying attention to smaller packages. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

NASCAR is on its way to Millennium Park. Good news for NASCAR. Miserable news for us. The inconveniences! No parking, driving, or even pausing anywhere near Millennium Park. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is crisscrossing the United States and several foreign countries trying to outrun Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination for President. But who is paying for his travel? And why did the Florida legislature just pass a bill making it illegal to disclose the travel records of the state’s elected officials? Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

It’s hard to feel sorry for Tucker Carlson. He’s been lying for a long time. And his embarrassing comments made it clear he had to go. But what’s next? Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

The recent settlement requiring Juul Labs to pay $438 million, including $68 million to Illinois, for marketing electronic cigarettes to minors is good news. Even better news is that the number of young people using e-cigarettes is downward bound. Walter Jacobson gives his Perspective.

More killings with more guns. The news keeps getting worse. Why not do whatever is necessary to prevent the selling of guns and bullets at bargain prices? Wouldn’t that be worth a try? Walter Jacobson gives his perspective.