Presidential library

President Barack Obama speaks at the UIC Forum, Jan. 11, 2012. Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin/UIC Photo Services

“I’ve agreed to be helpful.”

Tony Podesta, 1967 UIC graduate and Washington, D.C., lobbyist, on volunteering to help UIC’s quest to become the site of the Obama presidential library, Dec. 16 New York Times

“The goal, in my opinion, is the right goal. But how to implement it, this is something else. There’s so much room for improvement.”

Nadereh Moini, research assistant professor of urban planning, on the CTA’s new Ventra fare payment system, Dec. 17 Mashable.com

“It doesn’t really rehabilitate George Ryan from the scandal. He may get a sense of there are people who remember the good things he did.”

Dick Simpson, professor of political science, on former Gov. George Ryan’s invitation to speak at a memorial to Nelson Mandela held in Chicago, Dec. 16 Kankakee Daily Journal

“Our estimates showed deficits in the absence of pension modification on the order of $6 billion or so. We’re re-running that analysis now with the new pension reform, but it’s likely to show continued deficits, even if the tax increase stays in place, of several billion dollars.”

David Merriman, professor of public administration and economics, on the potential for recent pension legislation to make a substantial improvement in Illinois’ financial situation, Dec. 13 Illinois Radio Network