“I can imagine my grandchildren sitting on my knees one day and asking, ‘Grandpa, did you really print on paper with some stuff called ink?’ ” marveled Tyree, the publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Content will be the dominant thing. [Newspaper publishing will be about] how many people read it and respond to it.”

He acknowledged that the publishing company he purchased during 2009 has a long way to go.

“How many out there subscribe to the Sun-Times?” he asked members the capacity crowd, who paid $20 per person for breakfast and the opportunity to listen to him. When only a few hands went up, Tyree concluded, “We’ve got some work to do.”

“The business model has to change,” Tyree explained. “My friends in Japan tell me that we (American media) have a strange way of doing things. We give away up-to-the-minute stuff and then try to charge for what is 24 hours old.”

Tyree and his group of investors were the only bidders when they purchased the newspaper for a reported $5 million last year. The acquisition included the Southtown-Star Newspaper and approximately 50 smaller suburban publications. Key to the transaction was that Tyree and his fellow investors did not have to take on the Sun Times’ $750 million in debt. That was left in bankruptcy court.

Tyree didn’t talk only publishing. As chairman of the board of the international financial services firm Mesirow Financial, Tyree keeps his fingers on the pulse of the economy. He was emphatic as to what got the world into the mess it’s in, why it is not worse, and what the future holds for the economy and the workforce.

“There is one thing I am certain of: We’re going to get out of this s _ _ _ we’re in. We’ve got to, because our economy was driven by the consumer. That’s not going to happen again. The consumer that does not have credit capability is not going to lead. Our new economy has been driven, will be driven, by productivity. To be productive, you have to have skills, and you have to be able to use them 24/7, not just 9 to 5.”

Regarding the problem of preparing a 21st century workforce with a 20th century education, he added: “New skills are vital. The problem with most educators is that what they learned worked for them, so they teach it. Today, students need more. City college enrollment is up 35 percent. I fight to get our city colleges to teach more diversified skills.”

Tyree was far less bullish on real estate than he was on jobs, and he praised the government stimulus. “I don’t see any time soon that real estate comes back. It’s going to be a drag on the economy for a long time. That property you consider buying because it is now worth only 50 percent of what it once was, well, you have to be careful because it may be worth only 40 or 30 percent. Short term, the economy is not going to see a lot of jobs or new employment. Not until 2012. What Bush and Paulsen did and what Barack and Geitner continued were essential.”

Tyree marveled that the politicians can’t fix health care and cited health care costs as the top cause of personal bankruptcies in America. “Insurance is in for some big changes,” he said.

A product of Oak Lawn and the South Side of Chicago, Tyree credited his success to his experiences growing up.

“The South Side never leaves you. Never. Ever. Ever. I was blessed to grow up here, and the values I learned on the South Side play well everywhere. I went from St. Barnabas Grammar School to Marist High School, to Illinois State University, to Mesirow. When I started there, it had about 65 employees,” he said. “Mesirow has succeeded because we’re independent thinking, we’re patient, we’re employee-driven. We are diversified and we are not leveraged.”

The appearance by James Tyree was the first of the 2010 “Breakfast with the Experts” speaker series. It is co-sponsored by The Beverly Area Planning Association and Saint Xavier University.

Illinois Fair Map has proposed a constitutional amendment that would create an independent commission that redraws state legislative maps. Illinois law mandates that legislative district boundaries be redrawn every 10 years, but that power currently is in the hands of officials seeking re-election. That legislators re-draw their own boundaries is unfair, according to the reform coalition.

“Partisan gerrymandering is not only legal, it is embedded in the Illinois Constitution,” according to a statement on the coalition’s website, www.ilfairmap.com. Legislators draw district lines behind closed doors to protect incumbents and prevent true competition in elections, according Illinois Fair Map, which cited statistics that show 98 percent of incumbents have been re-elected in Illinois since 2001.

“Mapmakers study voting patterns based on such variables as age, ethnicity, income, geography and education. Using sophisticated computer programs, they can draw maps that will virtually guarantee candidates of one political party will consistently be chosen over candidates from an opposing party,” states Illinois Fair Map.

“Obviously, the folks who are drawing the maps are making sure they win. Our current system is flawed and political. It’s a winner-take-all system that has benefitted insider Democrats and Republicans over the past decade. It is the Illinois voters who have lost out,” said Jan Czarnik, executive director of the League of Women Voters. Czarnik’s organization is the coalition member that started the initiative.

Other members of Illinois Fair Map are the Better Government Association, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Illinois Reform Commission member Sheila Simon, and former members Patrick Collins and Brad McMillan. McMillan posted a statement on the Illinois Fair Map website.

“We were hopeful that the legislature was going to address redistricting reform in 2009, but with the year winding down now, it appears that we need to take it directly to the Illinois voters,” said McMillan in the Dec. 3 posting. “We want to put the power in the hands of the people – not the politicians.”

According to McMillan, the amendment would allow for an independent commission to draw the state’s legislative district boundaries after the 2010 census in an open and transparent process. The state’s practice of drawing from a hat to determine which party controls the redistricting process would be eliminated, instead calling upon the Supreme Court as the fail-safe. The amendment does not address congressional districts due to constitutional limits of citizens initiatives.

Andy Shaw, executive director of the Better Government Association, said his organization joined because it is committed to cleaning up Illinois government through civic engagement. “For too long, government has been run by people behind closed doors. This is a rare opportunity to actually let citizens have a voice – and decide on their representatives.”

The Illinois Fair Map proposal also gives voters a chance to participate by starting their own drive and collecting signatures. A copy of the petition and the amendment is available at the website. Supporters are urged to print copies, collect signatures, have the petitions notarized and submit them to Illinois Fair Map in care of the League of Women Voters by April 1.

“We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from people in the community,” said Mary Schaafsma, the Issues and Advocacy Coordinator for the League of Women Voters. “It’s a citizens’ initiative.”

Shaw is cautious yet optimistic that positive change may come either from passage of the amendment or from legislators themselves.

“It is an uphill battle every way – legally, practically, logistically – but there’s a reform movement in Illinois right now that’s unprecedented, and we have to take advantage of it. I think the chances are better than 50-50,” said Shaw.

“This is such a simple issue. Should we be able to choose our elected representatives, or should they choose us?” Shaw explained. “The answer, in Democracy 101, is pretty obvious to everyone but the [state] reps themselves, which is why an amendment may be necessary. If, however, state lawmakers get religion over the winter, they can enact this without the torturous referendum process. Let’s see what happens.”

Boyer was the latest to take the dais as part of the Breakfast with the Experts series sponsored by the Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA) and SXU. He spoke for approximately 30 minutes before taking questions from those who had paid $20 a plate to attend. One of the first questions was from O’Toole, and it was a doozy. The question about Sox Fest was not a curveball or changeup, to borrow from baseball vernacular, but rather a fastball right down the middle.

“Why do I have to take a room at the Palmer House [hotel]? It seems like an illegal tie. I’m not going to sue the Sox, but I do want to know why,” O’Toole asked Boyer.

Boyer showed that he wasn’t a bad tap dancer when he responded, “The philosophy is all about paying for the event.”

To that, O’Toole countered, “Then raise the ticket prices [for Sox Fest].”

“It’s kind of how we have to do business. We have to pay for the event,” Boyer reiterated. He spoke a language that all Chicagoans understand when he added, “The Palmer House was one of the only places we could go. We [White Sox] get a kickback or a cut from every room that is used. In the City of Chicago, it’s union. There’s no way around that.”

O’Toole said after the event, “He really didn’t answer the question. I don’t buy that about the hotel. I go to 60 or 65 [Sox] games a year. I go for the baseball. I’m not there for ‘Mullet Night’ or ‘Elvis Night.’ Going to Sox Fest is like getting some baseball in the offseason. I live in the city. I could take the train in. Why should I have to stay at a hotel?”

O’Toole concluded, “Why don’t they just have Sox Fest at the ball park?”

According to the Chicago White Sox website, a weekend pass for SoxFest is available only if fans purchase a two-night package deal for $259 plus taxes and fees. The White Sox mandate that purchasers book a room at the Palmer House, where the event will be held. If the event does not sell out, a limited number of Saturday-only and Sunday-only passes may be sold. SoxFest is Jan. 22-24.

O’Toole was one of approximately one hundred serious Sox fans (and a few admitted Cubs fans) who had breakfast at the Center on the SXU campus and listened to Boyer’s lecture on “The Business of Baseball.” For the most part, everyone seemed to be on the same page with Boyer, who described going to U.S. Celluar Field as “a driveway to driveway experience.” Boyer and fans defended the Sox ball park.

“I’ve been to many ball parks, and it [U.S. Celluar Field] is among the best. I don’t understand why people knock the park,” one fan told Boyer.

“Criticism of the ball park isn’t current,” Boyer agreed. “That comes from people who haven’t been to U.S. Celluar Field lately.

Over the last six years, the White Sox have spent an estimated $80 million on improvements to the ball park. Boyer told the audience, “We’re trying to make people as happy as we can. We want you to walk out of the ballpark and say, ‘Wow! I feel like I got value for my money.’ In the city of Chicago, we’re lucky to have two great ballpark experiences. Ours is just better.”

Boyer believes Sox fans will have that ‘Wow” experience again during 2010 because of good young talent and personnel moves made by Sox general manager Kenny Williams. Boyer mentioned holdover young stars Gordon Beckham and Carlos Quentin and mid-season acquisition Jake Peavy. New members of the Sox lineup will include Juan Pierre, picked up from the Dodgers on Dec. 15, and free agent signee J.J. Putz (pronounced poots). Pierre will play center field. Putz will be a set-up man for the closer, who will be either Matt Thornton or Bobby Jenks.

Boyer confirmed a link between his putting fans in the stands and the general manager’s ability to acquire talent when he said, “Kenny says that if fans don’t come out, the Sox won’t have money to compete.” Alluding to the Sox projected 2010 payroll of approximately $100 million, Boyer quipped, “I told Kenny, ‘Dude, could you please stop telling people you don’t have any money. The reason you don’t have any money is because you spent it.”

According to USA Today, the Sox 2009 payroll was $96,068,500. Putz reportedly signed a one-year contract for $3 million plus incentives. According to CBS Sports.com, Peavy earns $11 million annually.

Referencing the 2003 book Moneyball, a fan asked Boyer if he would hire a general manager who completely relies on statistics. Written by Michael Lewis, Moneyball is the story of how Oakland A’s president (then GM) Billy Beane based all of his decisions on statistics while operating the franchise on a very low (by baseball standards) budget.

“The guy out there [Beane] hasn’t won any rings,” Boyer responded. He drew laughter when he added, “If you asked Ozzie [Sox manager Guillen] about Moneyball, he’d probably say, ‘Are we going to the casino?’”

Boyer said that the Sox 2010 slogan, “It’s White Sox baseball. It’s black and white,” is based upon the team’s passion, pride and tradition. White Sox tradition also was brought up by a fan in attendance who asked how much of Bill Veeck’s legacy is left. Veeck was the legendary promoter who owned the Sox twice. The first time was in the early 1960s, and the second time was in the mid-1970’s. Some of those at the breakfast mentioned that they had read Veeck’s autobiography, Veeck as in Wreck.

“Bill Veeck reached out to fans. He was the guy who would hang out with them in the parking lot and drink with them at the bar,” said Boyer. Alluding to Veeck’s problems as owner of the St. Louis Browns and the Sox, Boyer added, “He wasn’t a good businessman. He ran a couple of teams into the ground. He was a great promoter.”

Speaking of promotions, one ongoing Sox promotion, “Mullet Night,” came from Boyer, who is a native of Concord, Mich. Boyer referred to Concord as “the Mullet capital of the world.” On “Mullet Night” fans display their own unusual hairdos or wear wild wigs. They also can get a haircut from one of the event’s sponsors, Great Clips.

Boyer talked about joining the White Sox staff in 2004. “It was the height of Cubdom. The Cubs were just four outs from the World Series. We [Sox] stunk. Ozzie Guillen had just been named manager. He’s introduced, and he talks about drinking beer in the clubhouse, and nobody can understand him,” recalled Boyer.

Prior to joining the White Sox, Boyer spent six years working for the same owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, with the Chicago Bulls. It was the Jordan Era, but it wasn’t always glamorous, at least not for Boyer.

“Steve Shonwald was the vice president of marketing, and he said to me, ‘We’re getting inquiries about restroom advertising, and I want you to check into it.’ So I ended up writing a business plan. Later, Steve said to me, ‘Mr. Reinsdorf really likes your plan. We want you to be in charge of this.’ I was really excited, and then I thought, ‘Wait a minute. I’m selling ads that go above urinals and toilets.’”

Boyer is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he also played basketball. He needled himself and fellow Notre Dame alums when he said, “We’re the smartest people in the world, right?” A few hands went up after he asked, “Are there any other Domers out there?”

Boyer displayed his sense of humor early in his presentation. After learning there were a few Cubs fans in attendance, he said with a smile, “For you guys, we’ll make sure we speak a little slower and a little louder.”

Not since the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich has there been such bipartisan agreement in Illinois. While there may not be more money coming in the forms of revenue or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the answer to budget crises at every level of state and local government may be to become more efficient, i.e. lean.

That was the consensus of the eight elected officials who answered questions during the fourth annual “Breakfast with Your Legislators” held Sept. 29 on the campus of Saint Xavier University of Chicago.  After an hour of mingling with the capacity crowd that included local business leaders and members of the media, the eight participated in a panel discussion, fielded questions and presented their views.

State and Cook County officials agreed that the pension systems should be changed because they are cost inefficient as well as difficult to fund under the current formulas for contributions and eligibility.

“Our [state] pensions are supposed to be funded at ninety percent, and that number was just pulled out of a hat.  A problem is that people are retiring early and going to work elsewhere. They’re living longer, and it’s more costly [to the pensions systems],” said state Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago).  “One solution may be to require greater employee contributions. It would behoove us to make changes.”

Everyone agreed with state Sen. Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) that changes would affect only those who enter the system after new pension legislation is passed. A two-tiered system would feature current retirees, who entered the pension system under the current rules, and future retirees, who will enter after new rules are created.

“Anyone signed up for a deal, that’s the deal you should get,” Maloney said. “I think we have to look at new people entering the system. I think a two-tier system is going to get a second look. And I don’t think it will keep anyone from entering the teaching field. Pensions aren’t why people go into teaching.”

“It [the formula for those already in the pension system] isn’t going to change. That’s guaranteed by the Constitution,” said state Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Worth), who is chairman of the House Appropriations-General Services Committee.  Addressing the issue of underfunded state pensions, Joyce added, “The governor balanced the budget twice by taking pension contributions. Now it’s time for us to live up to our obligations.”

Cook County Commissioner John Daley (D-11^th) agreed that changes to the pension system are necessary. He said, “The retirement age for government employees is antiquated. That law was written when people didn’t live as long.

The Cook County Board also has pension woes. Said Commissioner  Elizabeth Gorman (R-17^th), “Cook County owes $104 million in pension obligations it hasn’t fulfilled.”  She added that pension laws have changed for new Cook County hires.

As for making Cook County government leaner, Commissioner Joan Murphy (D-6^th) suggested a desk audit of every employee is essential to determine which jobs are necessary and which can be eliminated. Murphy is the chairwoman of the Cook County Board’s Construction Committee and its Finance-Labor Committee.

“Cook County [government] has 20,000 jobs, all under the office of the board president,” Murphy said. “A desk audit is essential, and it must be done by an independent (outside) auditor.”

Joyce agreed that government waste must be eliminated, and he drew a laugh when he said, “Once a program is created, it is virtually impossible to get rid of it.”

“Getting tax delinquent properties back to being tax producers is crucial,” said Blue Island Mayor Donald Peloquin. “We need local government or developers to get those properties back to where they produce tax revenue again. That and population density, where large numbers of people live and shop in an area, are essential. That’s what we have in Blue Island, where residences are in or near our commuter rail lines and our shopping district.”

The Chicago bid for the 2016 Sumer Olympic Games was rejected by the International Olympic Committee. Still, Peloquin said the Olympic spirit seemed to have brought governments on every level together.

“I haven’t seen this type of spirit of cooperation in the 24 years that I have served as mayor,” he said. “It is promoting fresh thinking about regional approaches and solutions. That’s not just for Chicago. It’s for the whole region.”

At the breakfast event, held just days before the Olympic host city announcement, Ald. Ginger Rugai (D-19^th) expressed optimism about the jobs that would come to Chicago if it were selected to host the games, noting that the biggest employer in her 19th Ward is Saint Xavier University, the host of the event.

Maloney added that recent changes in the state capitol have invigorated state government as well.

“The mood and spirit of cooperation in Springfield is much better now than it was under the previous administration,” Maloney told the audience. “We will go back and get down to work.”

Peloquin said that construction projects would be major infusions to the area economy. He suggested that connecting interchanges would create jobs. “The only two interchanges in the country that aren’t connected are here [in the Southland]. Connecting I-57 to I-294 would create thousands of construction jobs.”

Everyone agreed that federal stimulus money would be a boon to the economy, but no one could explain exactly why the South Suburbs didn’t seem to get much of it.  Murphy and Joyce tried.

“The state didn’t direct any of the [stimulus] money to CMAP [Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning]. That’s why none of the money went to the Southland,” Murphy told the audience.

Joyce said that while that previously was accurate, that funds were again going to CMAP. He added, “Some of the [federal] grants require matching funds, and that has been a problem. The application process also slowed things down, especially when bids were involved instead of an automatic award.” A $15 million road construction project is coming to the Southland, according to Joyce.

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning provides funds for studies and determines which projects will receive funds. It is especially important to funding transportation planning and improvements. Without recent legislation sponsored by Murphy and passed by the Cook County Board, CMAP would have forfeited $11 million short term. That would have caused CMAP to lose out on receiving approximately $2 billion in stimulus funds.

Daley cautioned that stimulus money was not a long term solution, but more efficient budgets are.

“Even if we get stimulus money, it will run out eventually,” he said. “The keys are how you make it work and how you make it last.” Daley also said, “The Cook County Board president should hold the line on salary increases, and any budget that is presented should have an eight to 10 percent cut.”

Gorman agreed with Daley about stimulus funds. “We can’t depend on this type of money to balance our budget. We need to think outside of the box to get through these difficult times.”

Opinions differed regarding the benefits of raising taxes to balance budgets.

“I don’t think there is a need to raise the sales tax to balance the state budget. We need to get our own fiscal house in order before we talk about any increase in the sales tax,” said Joyce.

Murphy favors a tax increase for Cook County. She said, “No one wants to raise taxes, but sometimes you have to do it. We [Cook County Board] had not raised the sales tax in 16 years.” Murphy added that Cook County is the second largest county in America and has approximately 5.3 million people.

“Breakfast with the Legislators” was presented at Saint Xavier University by the Beverly Area Planning Association and the chambers of commerce of Blue Island, Evergreen Park, and Oak Lawn. The event was sponsored by AT&T. State Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) was scheduled to appear but did not attend.

For more information on how the state of Illinois is spending the funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, check out the state’s website.

Joe Gatrell can be reached at .