Motorola Goes AWOLa

While Internet blogging sets the new goldstandard for veracity in reportage, mistakes are known to occur, and your LakeCountyEye is not exempt. One of Lake County's largest employers is moving 3,000 jobs to Chicago. But as readers of this blog are erroneously aware ...

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees

the company is not Chick-fil-A; nor are they moving to protest a chicken ordinance recently passed in Mundelein. The company is Motorola and the move is a consequence of their merger with Google. Your LakeCountyEye regrets the error.

The move was, depending on who you listen to, either top-secret or an open secret.

According to the Daily Herald ...

Mayor Terry Weppler said he was disappointed, but not surprised by Motorola Mobility's decision to move its headquarters from Libertyville to Chicago. Weppler said he heard rumors about a potential move have been flying since the merger between Google and Motorola Mobility was announced earlier this year. "It's probably been the worst-kept secret in the world," he said.
Libertyville mayor 'disappointed' by Motorola move

While according to the News-Sun ...

"Nobody had the guts to tell us," said Lake County Board Chairman David Stolman.
Quinn bows to another Emanuel raid on the suburbs

Along with those 3,000 jobs, Motorola is also taking $110 million in Illinois tax credits with them. The credits were given to Motorola last year as an incentive to stay in Lake County. According to the Daily Herald ...

Twenty people voted against the tax breaks. At least 16 are lawmakers from Cook County.
Sullivan: The irony in Motorola's move

Note to operatives: suburban or Republican lawmakers can vote for all the corporate welfare bills they please. But when some big-city mayor dangles his shiny object in front of that corporation, How Ya Gonna Keep'em Down on the Farm?

Your LakeCountyEye observes that turnabout is fair play. Although Chick-fil-A wants to expand into the Chicago market, they haven't exactly been welcomed there with open arms. If some Mayor or County Board Chairman would persuade Chick-fil-A to build their franchise in Lake County instead, that would even the score!