— Police Supt. Fred Rice plans to close city auto pounds in two police districts (Grand Crossing and Fillmore) and turn over the towing and storing chores to contractors. Why? To get the cops now doing those jobs back on the street and to save money. ”It costs the city $100 to tow and store a car, and the owner pays only $50,” Deputy Supt. Matt Rodriguez said. ”It`s a test program for the rest of the city, and contract bidding has already started.” INC. suggests an amnesty day for owners to retrieve their cars from the pounds at no charge, which could reduce the city`s cost for storing them. P.S. Our compliments to Rice if he can pull it off. The auto pound has always been a favorite cop toy.
— At least 25 employees in the city Department of Streets and Sanitation were pulled off their jobs Wednesday and questioned by city Corporation Counsel James Montgomery about the Shakman suit filed by former Snow Command Director John Malatesta, who was fired last week. Were these men members of a Malatesta-organized ”social club” that the city feared was trying to sabotage services? Stay tuned.
Where`s the burrito?
Will Jane Byrne be the new Clara Peller? Byrne just filmed a TV commercial for Chi-Chi Mexican American restaurants, a Kentucky-based fast-food chain that is new here. Byrne, following in Geraldine Ferraro`s footsteps, said she had no problem lending her name and face to a commercial venture. With no apologies to John Houseman, Byrne told INC., ”I earn my money the American way: I work for it,” and she added that ”Hispanics are the fastest-growing community in Chicago.” The money, she says, goes directly to her political fund. The commercials will air next month. Life is strange.
City ditties . . .
Henrotin Hospital has invited ”bids to purchase” from several Chicago hospitals and four national hospital corporations, and INC. hears that Northwestern Memorial Hospital is among the very interested parties. . . . INC. spotted Ald. Marty (”I wanna be attorney general”) Oberman (43d) pedaling his bike through a red light Wednesday afternoon at LaSalle and Illinois Streets. . . . Subtlety be damned: Firefighters for Justice and Equality, an anti-union organization of black Fire Department command personnel, issued a press advisory Wednesday on mayor`s office stationery with the city seal.
Now back to you, Sue . . .
If you see more women popping up on ”World News Tonight,” here`s why:
The women at ABC-TV have been complaining about unfair treatment. They claim that they don`t get paid as much as men, that they don`t get as much air time as men and that they aren`t promoted to top positions, such as nightly news producers, as rapidly as men. When news and sports head Roone Arledge called the female correspondents into his office a few weeks ago to clear the air, one pulled out a computer printout logging every on-air minute of ”WNT” for the last few weeks. The printout showed in black and white that men dominate the broadcast. Barbara Walters took the company line, saying in essence, ”ABC has been veddy, veddy goot to me.” And Arledge`s ”special friend,” Kathleen Sullivan, who`s been put on the fast track and anchors ”World News This Morning,” was not-so-strangely silent.
Washington whirl . . .
At a Georgetown dinner party a few nights ago, former White House chief of staff Michael Deaver was saying that he thought Coca-Cola`s decision to introduce the new Coke was the dumbest public relations move of the year. A news magazine photographer usually assigned to the White House overheard him and interrupted him to say, ”The second-dumbest PR move.” In Washington circles, President Reagan`s stop at the Bitburg cemetery still qualifies as No. 1. . . . The Washington, D.C., post office is bracing for a flood of mail addressed to ”Rosty, Washington, D.C.,” now that House Ways and Means chairman, Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D., Ill.), has invited the public to write him with opinions about Reagan`s tax bill. Washington insiders gave four stars to Rosty, who had the unenviable job of following ”the Great Communicator.” INC.lings . . .
Auditions may be held in Chicago next month for ”Starlight Express,”
Andrew Lloyd Weber`s musical on roller skates that`s scheduled to open on Broadway next year. Though open calls have been held in New York and Los Angeles, he still hasn`t found 56 expert skaters who can also sing and dance. . . . Tickets go on sale Friday for Rick Springfield`s just-announced July 29 date at Poplar Creek. . . . Thursday birthdays: Benny Goodman, 76; Keir Dullea, 49; and Gale Sayers, 42. . . . Former Fire Department information chief Tom ”Mr. Wonderful” O`Connell is joining Pat Cassidy`s WMAQ-AM radio morning news show. Starting time: Thursday. Assignment: On-the-street beat.
