— The City Hall ghoul poll is taking bets on the longevity of Corporation Counsel Jim Montgomery. The majority bloc thinks he`s history, but the Washington allies are more specific: They give him nine more days.
— Hmmmmm . . . INC. hears that State`s Atty. Richard Daley`s office is trying to put a hold on an alleged six-figure Milwaukee bank account of a major target in the FBI-mole probe!!! ”The guy owes a lotta bills, and as the county`s chief law enforcement officer, they want to make sure the revenue doesn`t get disbursed,” an INC. source said. It`s called encumbering the assets.
— Double pssssstttt! Now after you`ve wiped that off your face, here`s some residue to discard. INC. hears that five of the wards that are being remapped are getting special city treatment. Isn`t it true that the Streets and San Department has assigned extra trucks to pick up their bulk garbage?
Isn`t this a way the Washington bloc can ensure support of its candidates. Ah, the basis of political reality: garbage.
A LETTER FROM LEE . . .
Car czar Lee Iacocca may talk tough but he sent Interior Secretary Don Hodel a valentine. Iacocca began sending out thank you cards to 6 million people who were past or present owners of Chryslers by offering them $500 rebates on a new car . . . and there was speculation that Hodel–who fired Lee last week from his Statue of Liberty spot–did not get one! Not true. The day after Valentine`s Day, Hodel opened his mailbox at his Virginia home and found a letter from Lee. Hodel said Iacocca apparently has become so ”reconciled” to his firing that ”he has offered me a $500 rebate on a Chrysler.”
THE POL PARADE . . .
— How come New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, a Democrat, is promoting ”Jimmy” Thompson as presidential timber? During a visit to Springfield last week, Thompson gave a more than friendly introduction to the New York guv when he addressed the Abraham Lincoln Association. Cuomo said during his speech that governors made better presidents than senators and suggested that Thompson would be a contender for the White House if he wins re-election. Later in the week, Cuomo said in Washington, D.C., that his buddy ”Jimmy” ought to be considered for the Republican nomination if he wins an unprecedented fourth term this fall.
— The honchos at the Rehab Institute of Chicago angered some staff members during the visit of Veep George Bush and his wife. A memo dispatched by a rehab mucketey-muck asked that staff members not try to see or greet the veep as he traveled through the building therapy area. ”They were told the visit would gain national press attention, and the exposure can only add to the institute`s reputation for high-quality care,” a source said. ”The staff they weren`t trusted. The note was condescending and obnoxious.”
— Although some observers suggested that Big Jim`s heavy title with the Bush group represented an endorsement of the veep`s presidential candidacy, Thompson pals say otherwise. If Thompson wins re-election, he`s still thinking about running for the presidency himself.
MUSIC NOTES . . .
Kenny Rogers, who underwent surgery last week, just got his doctor`s okay to go ahead and host Tuesday`s Grammy Awards. And INC. hears that promoters of his March 16 concert at the Rosemont Horizon are so certain that Kenny`s voice will be back in shape by then that a second show is being added. . . . Speaking of the Grammys, it oughta be interesting to see how the presenters for the new ”Best Polka Album” category do in announcing the nominees, including Chicago`s own Eddie Blazonczyk and Lenny Gomulka. . . . Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard and Ricky Skaggs have been signed to headline the May 10 Marlboro Country Music Festival. . . . The Peace Museum just got a nice present for Yoko Ono`s 53d birthday. An acoustic Martin guitar that once belonged to John Lennon arrived at the museum Tuesday, with a note from Ono saying that she wanted to do ”something special” for her birthday. STAR TRACKS . . .
Barbra Streisand doesn`t get involved in a whole lotta projects outside her own career, but she`s supporting both the Pro-Peace March from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., and the May 31 ”Hands Across America” project for the hungry and homeless. . . . ”Hands” organizer and agent Ken Kragen and Lionel Richie, one of his top clients, are back together after a short professional separation. Richie had been concerned that Kragen`s outside activities were diverting his attention from Richie`s career, but the two have worked out their differences.
ON STAGE . . .
”YOUNG CHURCHILL” OPENS MARCH 4 UPSTAIRS AT THE RED LION PUB, 2446 N. LINCOLN AVE., FOLLOWED BY ”GRANDMA DUCK IS DEAD”
ON APRIL 1. . . . BRUCE (”SHEAR MADNESS”) JORDAN HAS RICHARD GERE TO THANK, SORT OF, FOR HIS ROLE IN THE IMMEDIATE THEATRE`S
”HABEAS CORPUS.” SEEMS THAT JAMES DEUTER, WHO`D BEEN CAST IN THE ROLE JORDAN PLAYS, IS IN A LEG CAST BECAUSE HE DISLOCATED
HIS KNEE ON THE SET OF GERE`S ”NEW ORLEANS” WHEN IT WAS FILMING HERE LAST MONTH. SO JORDAN GOT THE ROLE, AND . . . DARE WE SAY
IT? BREAK A LEG, BRUCE. INC.LINGS . . .
Wednesday birthdays: Lee Marvin, 62; George Rose, 66; Smokey Robinson, 46; Prince Andrew, 26. . . . INC. hears that for the first time in its 35-year history, WFMT-FM is planning an on-air ticket giveaway promotion for an outside event. Isn`t the Joffrey Ballet coming to town?
