Dec 12, 2008 12:51 pm US/Central
Rat Sign Behind Blagojevich's House Disappears
Streets & San: 'We Didn't Remove It'
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich leaves his home on Dec. 11, 2008, in Chicago. The rat extermination sign seen on the utility pole next to him has now vanished.
Brian Kersey/Getty Images
Someone took the rat poison warning sign in the alley behind Governor Blagojevich's house down. The culprit is unknown, but the motive seems obvious. CBS 2's Mike Parker gets to the heart of this latest Blagojevich mystery.
Since the governor's arrest Tuesday, CBS 2 has managed to only get fleeting glimpses of him, but one of those glimpses awash in symbolism has become an internet sensation.
It's the photo snapped by award winning Sun Times photographer John White on Wednesday of the newly accused Blagojevich. Blagojevich is cheek by jowl alongside a posted city notice, warning of a rat problem and rat poison in the alley behind the gubernatorial home. Ah, the irony.
"Yeah, its passing around on the internet. It's kind of an entertaining coincidence," said Blagojevich neighbor John Powell. " maybe a little justice from above."
"If I was one of his people, I probably would have taken it down," said a city official, who asked to remain anonymous.
What is it with the furry vermin and democrats?
During the 2000 Presidential campaign, Republicans aired a TV commercial that caused the Al Gore camp to cry foul for its subliminal message.
Now, an unknown person along Richmond Street has had it with the "rats" sign behind the Blagojevich home. They've ripped it down. Although it's not a federal offense, it's bothering some dog owners in the neighborhood.
"I've got a dog here and I want to be reminded, don't let it go under the dumpsters 'cause that's where they put the poison," Powell said.
Despite this, the city of Chicago is ever vigilant. Streets and Sanitation spokesmen say you can take the signs down, but sooner or later, probably sooner, the city will put them up again.
Streets and Sanitation spokesman Matt Smith said, "The signs are posted for safety reasons and should not be taken down."
It states: "This block has been safely baited where needed as of 10/6/08 … Rat bait has been buried where rats can find it, but where it's unlikely to be found by children and pets. If you do suspect that the bait has been ingested by person or pet, immediately contact your physician or the poison control center."
The sign also includes a toll-free phone number for the poison center.
CBS 2's Mike Parker and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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