Ron Sandack

Illinois has often been the topic of many internet jokes. The residents, past and present, make memes, songs, and Facebook groups about how horrible it is to live here and how they can’t wait to leave. What seemed like empty promises are actually becoming realistic population trends, as Illinois has faced a staggering declining population since 2014. In fact, Illinois ranks 49 out of 50 in net migration losses, falling only second behind Alaska. I have my own suspicions as to the factors cont...

The State of Illinois is gradually plunging into a deeper crisis over its public pensions. The analysis shows that the past 20 years have seen a 500 percent increase in the government’s burden as regards public pension. Currently, the Illinois state’s pension obligation to retired workers amounts to over $214 billion in underfunded obligations. This is as compared to the $85 billion worth of pension payouts that the state currently pays.
Among the leading underfunded state pension plans inclu...

Last year, big banks JPMorgan Chase and Fifth Third Bank created the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund. The newly founded but wildly supported fund provides needed loans to minority-owned businesses in the south and west sides of Chicago. These neighborhoods are known for their neglected and vacant storefronts, and the organization hopes to provide funding to aspiring businesses that can fill these lots and build up the outskirts of the City. As of this week, the mission will accept generous contri...

Last year, big banks JPMorgan Chase and Fifth Third Bank created the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund. The newly founded but wildly supported fund provides needed loans to minority-owned businesses in the south and west sides of Chicago. These neighborhoods are known for their neglected and vacant storefronts, and the organization hopes to provide funding to aspiring businesses that can fill these lots and build up the outskirts of the City. As of this week, the mission will accept generous contri...

As experienced runners like myself can attest to, running is an acquired taste—something that becomes more enjoyable with time. Unfortunately, some individuals run a handful of times before deciding that it’s not for them. I faced the same struggles when I took up running later in my life.
That said, each and every person, from those who’ve never tried running to those who’ve tried it and been disappointed, has the ability to fall in love with running. The trick is to take advantage of some s...

As experienced runners can attest to, excellent running technique is a must for those who wish to get the most out of their workouts and feel their best; it’s a means of boosting one’s conditioning and preventing the joints and bones from sustaining damage.
To illustrate the point and inspire as many athletes as possible to invest time and effort into mastering the basic tenets of running, let’s take a look at why technique is so important.
Technique Prevents Injuries
Running with improper te...

Beginning July 1st, the first set of many proposed tax increases on several goods will have taken effect across the state of Illinois. The goal of the increased taxation of these goods is to help fund the newest spending plan to fix state-wide infrastructure, like roads, bridges, and education buildings. These tax increases mean a lot of changes for citizens across the state, forcing them to dig deeper into their pockets for gas station amenities.
Consumers who drive will face a 19 cent incre...

For decades, Chicago’s worker’s compensation program was privately handled by Ald. Edward Burke. It was recently brought to surface that the program was operating under unfair practices, with under-trained staff and a lack of overall knowledge of the program. An audit performed back in January of this year confirmed the widespread suspicions of a corrupt program. It had surfaced that under Burke’s supervision, employees handling worker’s compensation claims were not properly trained in evalua...

Since Chicago’s Mobile Food Vendor Ordinance passed in 2012, local food truck owners and operators have been fighting against the restrictive ordinance and the various court rulings that upheld the confining regulations limiting how and where these small businesses can operate throughout the city. Arguably one of the most invasive outcomes from this ruling was that food truck operators are required to have GPS systems installed in their trucks so that the city has access to the location of th...

This past month, the Supreme Court issued a decision that officially allows Apple to be sued for charging a commission on apps bought from developers for its devices, leading to high prices that are not considered competitive in a recent Apple vs Pepper case. But before we get into this case, we need to talk about something else: The Illinois Brick Doctrine. Why do we need to talk about building materials in regards to a tech giant? Because Apple seems to have tried to hide behind an Illinois...

Unless you are brand new to Illinois, you know how terrible our roads are. Severe winters, tons of salt, and millions of vehicles have taken a toll. Every pothole seems worse than the one before it. When you’re fenced in by traffic on all sides, they are inescapable. It make matters worse — ironically — seems that the roads of Illinois are permanently under construction. This work often brings traffic to an excruciating slow-roll or screeching halt. It’s during these times that people wish th...

Illinois wants a voice. And by Illinois, I don’t mean Chicago, although that would be easy to assume; Illinois is more than its urban epicenter and surrounding collar counties, or at least that is what the rural communities in the state want you to know. As often is this case with states that have a large city center (think New York, Massachusetts, California, and Georgia), the rest of the counties can often feel overlooked in matters of policy, finances, and the like. If the city center goes...