Each week Chicago Reader columnist Ben Joravsky and Mr Radio rendezvous under a neighborhood el track to talk about Ben's latest "The Works" column and reveal the rest of the story. http://mrradio.org/benj.php Copyright 2007, 2008 Wordspace Press and Ben Joravsky en-us no Mr Radio Mr Radio glow@mrradio.org Fri, 3 Oct 2008 16:55:00 CDT Mr Radio 09:48 How Tax Increment Financing districts get gerrymandered; the dark underbelly of the public process; and public officials' off-the-record feelings about TIF. Length 9.8 minutes. Fri, 2 Nov 2007 10:01:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj11-1-07.mp3 Mr Radio 09:54 Ben and Mr Radio create a roadmap for taxpayers that reveals exactly how much of one's taxes get siphoned off to Tax Increment Financing districts. Length 9.9 minutes. Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:01:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj11-22-07.mp3 Mr Radio 08:48 Demystifying the process for appealing property-tax assessments; Ben's plan for a fairer taxing scheme; and how champions of downtown talk on both sides of their mouths. Length 8.8 minutes. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:09:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj11-29-07.mp3 Mr Radio 09:20 Why persons challenging Cook County incumbents often don't make it to the ballot; Ben's idea for open elections; and, which would you rather determines your government--football or elections? Length 9.3 minutes. Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:01:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj12-13-07.mp3 Mr Radio 06:45 Tho he's written no article about the Reader's layoff of his fellow staff writers, here Ben reveals how the layoffs have affected him, what the writers brought to the Reader, and what he sees in the paper's future. Length 6.8 minutes. Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:21:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj12-28-07.mp3 Mr Radio 09:20 Will the Cubs' owners get the same (huge) tax break as the the Sox' owners; the red herring of the Cubs' threat to move; and what Mayor Daley really wants. Length 9.3 minutes. Wed, 9 Jan 2008 10:53:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj1-3-08.mp3 Mr Radio 07:33 Why news media fear the mayor; Ben's defense of the Sun-Times; and the silence of the Olympics. Length 7.5 minutes. Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:07:50 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj1-10-08.mp3 Mr Radio 09:18 Why you don't need a TIF primer; how West-Side residents discovered a city slush fund; and why the city won't contribute more to the CTA. Length 9.3 minutes. Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:15:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj1-17-08.mp3 Mr Radio 09:21 Where to find the real dirt on candidates; whether back-room drama trumps voting records; and the big Chicago issue that candidates won't face. Length 9.3 minutes. Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:01:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj1-24-08.mp3 Mr Radio 04:03 What Ben wants in a state's attorney; who not to vote for; and the criteria by which to judge a real reformer. Length 4 minutes. Mon, 4 Feb 2008 13:15:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj1-31-08.mp3 Mr Radio 04:10 What the Board of Review does; and conflict of interest everywhere you look. Length 4.1 minutes. Mon, 4 Feb 2008 19:40:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj1-31-08bor.mp3 Mr Radio 09:45 The roll call of abused schools; why city government hides how much revenue it needs; and Ben's perverse delight in reporting. Length 9.7 minutes. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:45:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj2-7-08.mp3 Mr Radio 09:10 The Block 37 debacle dissected; bonds better for building; and Alderman Ben and Alderman Dave's lesson in democracy. Length 9.7 minutes. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:55:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj2-14-08.mp3 Mr Radio 08:42 Winners of the Chicago citizenship award; how voting beats recycling; and Chicago elections--the new basketball? Length 8.7 minutes. Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:35:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj2-21-08.mp3 Mr Radio 08:45 The plan that doesn't plan; a TIF reform that Ben actually likes; and, did the alderman deserve a scolding? Length 8.8 minutes. Mon, 3 Mar 2008 19:40:00 CST http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj2-28-08.mp3 Mr Radio 08:15 Daley and Thompson's negotiations hidden in plain sight; if the public screams, the Board of Ed did good; and a look inside the bureaucratic mind. Length 8.3 minutes. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:10:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj3-6-08.mp3 Mr Radio 09:00 The wealthy--our feeble hope; why you should embrace entitlement; and why the ward map looks like a jigsaw puzzle. Length 9 minutes. Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:00:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj3-13-08.mp3 Mr Radio 08:45 How citizens become robots; how a non-robot sees his role; and, can advisory councils survive a purge? Length 8.7 minutes. Tue, 8 Apr 2008 20:00:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-4-3-08.mp3 Mr Radio 07:11 The single dumbest move the Park District has made; moving the Bears out of Soldier Field; and the recipe for rubber stamps. Length 7.2 minutes. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:00:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-4-11-08.mp3 Mr Radio 07:07 Background on a mayoral ally; Ben's great disappointment with bicycling advocates; and whether the press should count student murders. Length 7.1 minutes. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:45:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-4-17-08.mp3 Mr Radio 09:13 Better soccer-field sites than Lincoln Park; why the end doesn't justify the means; and the latest on residents' litigation. Length 9.3 minutes. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:49:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-4-24-08.mp3 Mr Radio 10:00 The selective sight of lakefront protectionists; preparing for indictment of the mayor; and Bush's payback to the Daleys. Length 10 minutes. Tue, 20 May 2008 21:01:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-5-15-08.mp3 Mr Radio 8:11 Public-building development demystified; another way to keep public schools under control; and how alderman sign away their power. Length 8.2 minutes. Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:46:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-5-29-08.mp3 Mr Radio 8:52 Ben's confession and pledge; the fundamental Olympics question for Chicagoans; and how corporate leaders committed themselves to a lie. Length 8.5 minutes. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:20:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-6-5-08.mp3 Mr Radio 7:57 Whether Obama needs Mayor Daley to win Chicago; the mayor's greater strength--patronage army or voter apathy; and corruption as a tourist attraction. Length 8 minutes. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:40:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-6-12-08.mp3 Mr Radio 9:21 Why Mayor Daley needed more than a slim majority vote on the Children's Museum; whether Ben needlessly dramatizes; and astounding aldermen denials. Length 9.4 minutes. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:05:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-6-19-08.mp3 Mr Radio 8:56 Chicagoans' immunity from trespassing in the Dead Zone; how Mayor Daley undercut Bensenville residents' clout in the state legislature; and the demise of some of DuPage County's most venerable affordable housing. Length 9 minutes. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:50:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-7-3-08.mp3 Mr Radio 7:04 The astounding depth of Olympics opposition; the Olympics as fuel for a real-estate boom; and the Olympic development that'll happen regardless of the Olympics. Length 7.1 minutes. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:50:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-7-10-08.mp3 Mr Radio 8:06 How the owners of Michael Reese Hospital snagged a sweet selling spot; the TIF two-fer; and Government Property Purchasing 101. Length 8.1 minutes. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:18:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-7-24-08.mp3 Mr Radio 7:46 How public schools deprive the public of public space; why the Park District would violate its vendor policy; and how to have healthy debate in your ward. Length 7.8 minutes. Fri, 1 Aug 2008 18:18:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-7-31-08.mp3 Mr Radio 10:06 For residents who might want to take the City of Chicago to court over improperly financed development, Ben and Mr Radio walk thru a list of potentially suit-winning properties. Length 10.1 minutes. Fri, 8 Aug 2008 11:10:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-8-7-08.mp3 Mr Radio 6:32 The vulnerability of park permit holders; how Ben avoids virtual censorship; and why Ben sleeps well at night. Length 6.5 minutes. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:20:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-8-14-08.mp3 Mr Radio 9:04 When off-the-books tax revenues exceed on-the-books revenues; the city's corporate budget as a distraction from its other budgets; and why Ald. Tom Allen bears watching. Length 9.1 minutes. Thu, 4 Sep 2008 16:20:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-8-28-08.mp3 Mr Radio 8:51 Why the governor won't mess with TIFs; why Chicago students can't compete; and how Chicago Public Schools will lose $1.7 billion. Length 8.9 minutes. Fri, 5 Sep 2008 23:50:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-9-4-08.mp3 Mr Radio 9:54 What, exactly, the Chicago Plan Commission approves; Mr Radio's plan for plan commissioners' redemption; and Ben's secret way for residents to present their cases. Length 9.9 minutes. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:50:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-9-11-08.mp3 Mr Radio 6:36 A re-do on Rep. Skip Saviano; the subway station you'll never see; and pole-vaulting under Block 37. Length 6.6 minutes. Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:55:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-9-18-08.mp3 Mr Radio 8:46 Why Chicago has local school councils; how control of public schools became re-centralized; and your choice: democracy or oligarchy. Length 8.8 minutes. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:40:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-9-25-08.mp3 Mr Radio 7:29 The firefighter rebellion; dissecting the TIF take; and a great idea for county clerk David Orr. Length 7.5 minutes. Fri, 3 Oct 2008 16:53:00 CDT http://mrradio.org/sounds/bj-10-2-08.mp3