Reader Round-up: Peraica, Inside the Big Box, Natarus Note

The Chicago Reader had a couple of well written and insightful pieces this week.

First, Ben "The Works" Joravsky gives us a much closer look at GOP County Board President candidate Tony Peraica, reminding folks why this Democrat-turned Republican-turned Reformer might have a tough time winning, all of the Stroger-outrage aside:

IN A RAGE over Todd Stroger’s crowning in place of his ailing father as the Democratic candidate for Cook County president, pundits and ordinary citizens alike have been thumping their fists on the table and declaring, “I’m voting for the other guy!” So it’s a good time to take a deep breath and learn a little about the political unknown who, if the protest vote continues to gain momentum, just might win the November general election.

His name is Tony Peraica, and he’s a hardheaded, quick-tempered, far-right-wing Republican maverick who’s not afraid to pick fights with Cook County’s most powerful politicians--including erstwhile allies in his own party.

Joravsky is a talented writer with a shrewd understanding of the innerworkings of politics and government in Cook County. The piece includes a great anecdote about Madigan convincing Peraica to drop out of a State Senate race. Steve Brown denies the story, Peraica claims is true, but whether Peraica is spinning yarns or talking out of school, it assures that Madigan will have Peraica in the crosshairs this fall.

Joravsky's written a must-read series on TIFs and property taxes. I hope somebody gives this guy a blog soon, so we can hear from him more than just once a week.

ALSO this week, Mick Dumke writes a pretty insightful Big Box piece that isn't about Big Box, but about the impact the ordinance is having on City Council dynamics. Read Who's the Boss and you might feel like you actually were ringside for the Big Box debate.

I really enjoyed this little part:

William Beavers’s position was less surprising. The Seventh Ward alderman had earlier bluntly dismissed supporters of the ordinance as fools or tools. Now he attacked its chief sponsor, the 49th Ward’s Joe Moore, accusing him of meddling in other people’s business and stirring up trouble on issues he knew nothing about. “Joe Moore is sitting over there thinking he’s a savior,” he said. “Let me tell you about Joe Moore--he voted against affirmative action.”

There was a collective gasp. Beavers was referring to a 2004 ordinance setting new rules for awarding city construction contracts to minority firms. Moore rose and asked Daley, in his role as council president, for a chance to respond. Daley granted the request.

“I voted against that ordinance because it did not include Asians,” Moore said. “It wasn’t expansive enough.”

Beavers laughed. The Third Ward’s Dorothy Tillman mocked Moore, calling out, “Anything he can come up with! Anything!” Fourth Ward alderman Toni Preckwinkle, Moore’s closest black ally, jumped to her feet. “Mr. President, point of order!” she said. “I ask that we halt the personal attacks.”

Daley pounded the gavel. Beavers sat down, and Tillman momentarily lowered her voice. Neither of them had mentioned that one of their allies in the big-box fight, 50th Ward alderman Berny Stone, voted against the ordinance for the same reason Moore did or that 42nd Ward alderman Burton Natarus, another ally, had voted against it because he thought contracts should be awarded solely on merit.

It's not often you see the words "Burton Natarus" and "merit" used in the same sentence.