Performances, Sharp Writing Propel “Three Billboards.”
There’s a righteous anger propelling Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and it doesn’t pertain simply to the plight of its main character, grieving mother Mildred Hayes. While her fury is wholly justified, the writer/director is speaking to greater concerns than simply one person’s ire, addressing as well the sense of moral outrage so…
Amazon deals
In “How high can you go?” (Nov. 16, 2017) I looked at the various proposals to lure Amazon’s proposed second national headquarters to Chicago. The issue of economic development subsidies looms large in the debate. I’ve done my share of complaining about them. ((See “Such a deal” from Jan. 26, 2012,…
New developments
In Business as usual” (Nov. 9, 2017) I looked at, por rather down on, the new economic development initiative known as the Sangamon County Project. There is more to be said. The focus of the effort, as ever, is on attracting makers of goods, not sellers or movers. The obsession with manufacturing as the centerpiece…
Shooting for the stars
In “Stellar! Stellar!”—a column lumbered with my lamest title ever—I explored the new fund drive to help build the University of Illinois’ Springfield campus. For space reasons I was unable to explore one of the hoped-for outcomes of that campaign, UIS’s plans to posthumously turn Lincoln into an adjunct faculty member by means of a…
School district concerned about road
Financially, at least, New Berlin School District 16 stands to gain if the Springfield City Council allows a 50-duplex development on the far west side of the city. While the proposed duplexes would be within city limits, they would be outside the boundaries of Springfield School District 186. In addition to more tax revenue from…
