The U.S. Census Bureau’s decennial effort to count every American — a campaign many government leaders consider essential — is running desperately short of census takers. Despite what many would consider a generous salary — $15 an hour — and with the official start of the campaign, April 1, less than a month away, recruiting is running up to 60 percent behind projections in some more prosperous neighborhoods.
Key factors: The tightest labor market in decades, a dwindling pool of unemployed and retired workers, a record low number of stay-at-home moms, and a new ban on politicians’ personal recommendations for hires.
* From this morning’s paper
Restaurant spices congressional campaign
A general manager of the Hyde Park restaurant Medici, Kirsten Schley, is demanding that the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) remove her likeness and the restaurant’s name from Rush leaflets and billboards. The INC. Column reports that Schley is angry the pictures were displayed without her permission and that supporters of Rush’s challenger, state Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago), are threatening to boycott her restaurant in retaliation.
Rush campaign spokeswoman Maudlyne Ihejirika calls it a “simple misunderstanding,” adding that she would “not be surprised if (Schley) was being goaded into this by one of our opponents.”
Illinois Street closes tonight
To ease completion of a sewer project, the Chicago Department of Transportation planned to close Illinois Street from Columbus Drive to McClurg Court tonight at 10 p.m. Until its reopening, in time for the morning rush hour on Tuesday, traffic will be detoured along Wacker Drive.
In sports
The Blackhawks lost to Montreal, 4-1.
Still undecided about what to do with John Starks, the Bulls host Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
More Top Picks Best Cooling Vests For Outdoor Work
Full schedule in Sports.
DAYWATCH
Coming up …
The Harold Washington Library Center presents four authors reading from their autobiographical works in “Rape: Breaking the Silence”; 5 p.m. … The Chicago Cultural Center hosts the Manodharma Trio, a sax-piano-percussion ensemble that cross-pollinates Indian music with jazz; 7 p.m. … Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas discusses his new book, “Out at Home,” at Barbara’s Bookstore in Oak Park, 7:30 p.m. … … The Civic Opera House stages “The Elixir of Love,” through March 19. … Fourth Wall Productions opens “Wrong Turn at Lungfish,” 7:30 p.m. Park West hosts the Flatlanders, a reunion of the circa-1970 folk band whose members went on to acclaim as solo songwriters, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock; 8 p.m. … Double Door launches the Bottle Rockets, 9 p.m.
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