5 Things to Know: Eyes on Daley, more gun control and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
Call him Al. This could get interesting. The Rev. Al Sharpton last week announced plans to set up a Chicago office - setting the stage for potential confrontations with Mayor Richard Daley and civil-rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
Sharpton, the activist from New York who has his share of critics, was quoted as saying he wants to keep an eye on Daley's administration, which has been rocked by allegations of police brutality. Meanwhile, speculation is Jackson - who himself has been known to throw a news conference or two - doesn't appreciate the turf encroachment. Still, the two recently teamed up against fired radio host Don Imus for racist comments he made.
The wisdom of Richie. The mayor lashed out at Congress as he beat the drum once more on the issue of "common-sense" gun control. Surrounded by hundreds of handguns and rifles police accepted last month during a cash-for-guns collection, Daley said federal lawmakers in Washington are ignoring pleas from urban centers.
"They're spending millions and millions of dollars to protect Congress," he said at a news conference. "When you go in there, you have to go through metal detectors, in order to get to meet your congressmen or senators. It's amazing. And those are the same ones who believe people should carry guns."
Prosecutors to get raises. Cook County's prosecutors have felt like proverbial red-headed stepchildren, given that they make less money than the unionized public defenders they spar against in the courtroom. After much grousing in the press from the assistant state's attorneys, the Cook County Board agreed to pay parity. Members, however, declined to identify a revenue source. Can a tax hike be far off?
BP boycott? In response to British Petroleum's plans to dump additional toxic substances into Lake Michigan from a Northwest Indiana refinery, Ald. Ed Burke has suggested a citywide boycott of BP and financial firms with ties to the corporation. BP has an Indiana state permit, but its expansion plans have caused a public-relations disaster for the company, which claims to be eco-friendly.
What's new. The newest musical to be presented here under the "Broadway in Chicago" banner is "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," a touring version of the show that played in New York. Movie buffs may remember the 1988 comedy upon which it is based. It starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine as two feuding con artists abroad. Performances run through Aug. 12. See www.broadwayinchicago.com <http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/> for details.
Mike Ramsey is Chicago reporter for GateHouse News Service. He can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net <mailto:ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net> .