Monday, June 1, 2009
News / Clout City "Some mistakes were made"
Posted by Mick Dumke on Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Alderman Tom Allen told the members of the City Council’s finance committee that the ordinance he was proposing, which would place a temporary hold on privatization deals, was just a simple little thing that they might find helpful when they try to, you know, do their jobs.
“It’s very narrow in its scope,” he said. “It deals with the sale and lease of city assets that would reap a revenue of over $100 million in value, and basically it gives us a little more time to do these sales, to deliberate more, to hold public discussion, get citizen input, and get some objective, neutral financial analysis to give us some guidance.”
His colleagues seemed pretty sure that stuff all sounded good, if not altogether familiar. But as Allen went on to say that his ordinance would require a review period of 30 days before the city cut any more big privatization deals, he set off a vigorous debate about the merits of the meter deal they rubber-stamped six months ago as well as the wisest, fastest way to cover their asses for it.
The parking meters have become such a political problem out in the neighborhoods that even Mayor Daley’s most loyal aldermen are feeling exposed.
In the past few years the 12th Ward’s George Cardenas has flipped his vote at Daley’s request, floated the mayor’s unpopular ideas for him, and delivered the administration's speeches on the council floor. But this time he didn't sound so happy about taking hits for the Boss.
He grew especially prickly when Gene Saffold, Mayor Daley’s chief financial officer, said a month-long waiting period was a lousy idea--a "risk to the city"--because interest rates could swing dramatically in that amount of time, ruining a deal carefully negotiated over the course of months.
“Isn’t it true there’s also a risk in rushing through a tremendous asset sale of a billion-dollar proportion without any pre-planning of the cost to the city in revenue, reputation, and political capital?” Cardenas asked.
“I would not want to come up with the kind of process that results in rushing,” Saffold told him.
That inspired guffaws.
“But that’s what happened!” Cardenas cried out. “You have to come up with a plan … and present it to this body so that we understand it and everybody can feel comfortable voting on something that we know works for this city, works for our constituents, and works for us politically. That's your responsibility!”
"There's plenty of blame to go around," said Ed Burke, the finance committee chairman, who then noted that the council didn't need a new law to extend its deliberation time. “Any two members can defer the report of the committee until the next City Council meeting and in effect get the time you were looking for.”
Richard Mell, who at the time of the meters vote admitted he often didn’t read through things he voted on, said he thought Burke was being unrealistic. “For the last one, if two people had stood up and moved to defer and publish this they would have been heaped with scorn for holding up the deal because we were told we had to do this immediately.”
"But wouldn't they now be seen as prescient?" Burke said.
Eventually the conversation shifted back to Saffold. Scott Waguespack wanted to know why aldermen hadn’t been shown the city’s financial analysis of the meter deal before being asked to approve it. “Can you make a definitive statement today on what information you think can be shared with the City Council before a vote on a major asset sale?”
Saffold hedged. “I wholeheartedly support the council’s need for information,” he said. But he insisted it wouldn’t be a good idea for the administration to share information with the council before the bidding process is through—otherwise bidders might be tipped off about what they should offer.
In that case, Waguespack said, maybe it would be helpful not to ask the council to approve another lease agreement just two days after the bids were opened.
Aldermen, though, still weren’t happy with being shut out of the process until late. “At some point in time you made the decision that this is a deal we can go with,” said west-sider Ed Smith. “Then why would it be a problem once you’ve decided to go with the deal to come here and give us that information?”
Saffold said he would—once the winning bid had been selected and the deal was in place.
Smith said something had to change because too many people were too pissed off. “We are getting beat to death on this parking meter deal," he said. Voters "are really giving it to us because it appears some mistakes were made.”
No one contested that point.
The measure passed the committee once the waiting period was lowered to 15 days.
Comments (20)
Showing 1-20 of 20
Absolutely pathetic. Kindergarteners take more responsibility for their actions.
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Every Alderman that voted for the meter deal needs to lose their job-all of them. It is sickening to let them slide on this. All 50 of them spend their days licking His Highness's butt instead of worrying about us. Enough is enough. They will be fighting off anyone running against them with more venom than usual since they know this is the last straw for many voters.
Take a minute, or two, to read the first 3 articles, and the comments thereto: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/ just to put into perspective what's really going down in this town.
SEIU really screwed up in putting a weak candidate against George Cardenas. It made him look strong,which he is not. Tom Allen is more interested in taking Bank's job than anything else,and protecting his Brother Dan Allen. Ed (I want the Olympics) Smith is attemping to take Ike Carothers spot in being the new boss of the Westside. These fools knew what they were signing,but didn't care.
I'm sure if the alderman get a ticket thay just turn it in to be cleared. by next year it will be a quarter a minute thanks daley and the fifty dummies.
Angry Voter, Your wrong, we are the dummies. We vote for the same name ,time and again. Daley-Madigan-Burke-.. You can see the results, our City,State and County are the the most corrupt in the nation. Lets throw them all out in 2010 and 2011.
"The measure passed the committee once the waiting period was lowered to 15 days." This cuts the public out of the loop. The Council meets about once a month. The originally proposed 30 day lead time allowed for at least the possibility that the Mayor's administration would introduce a deal at a City Council meeting, and perhaps the text would be posted on the Mayor's website and have a crude sort of "first reading" in the Council meeting's "communications" section, and go through the normal committee process, where the public is often permitted to comment. In agreeing to 15 days the Finance committee is recommending the institutionalization of a fast-track, no public comment legislative process for hizzoner.
Everone must come out of their COMFORT ZONES and ready themselves for what is required to remove this TRAITORIST CULTURE FROM POWER. In 2001 people quickly dropped their cultural differences to band toggether as AMERICANS to defend our DREAMS AND COUNTRY. Why then can't we relaize who is the threat to OUR HOME VALUES, CHILDRENS FUTERES AND THE AMERICAN CREDE OF DEMOCRACY. Terrorist can't do to us here in chicago what our POLITRICKS do on a daley basis. Now that we have all these colledge degreed people sitting at home ,we need to get involved with our local govt. and stop this IGNORANT CULTURE OF LOCALLY GROWN PUNKS AND HOODS FROM RUNNING OUR CITY. THE TIME HAS COME PEOPLE FOR YOU TO REALIZE THAT KICKING THESES TRAITORS SQUARLY IN THEIR COLLECTIVE A SSES WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF YOU TAKING A FREE 10 DAY HAWAIAN VACATION. TREAT YOURSELVES PEOPLE AND VOTE OUT ALL 51 OF THESE BUMS, YOU WILL ENJOY THE RIDE.
These alderman are the worst. I can't even hear the name Bernie Stone without vomiting in my mouth after his antics last fall. The City asked the aldermen to voluntarily forego the 6% raises they gave themselves due to the economic crisis, and he said they could kiss his fat rump!!! In the real world, people are ostracized for that kind of behavior. But here in Chicago, you get elected for it! TERM LIMITS people. It's not that difficult of a concept. Aldermen like Stone should have been done 30 years ago. In a democracy, the people get the government the deserve:(
We need to cut down to the number of Alderman,State Reps., State Senators, MWRD Commissioners, County Commisioners....Why? Three people run our State: The Daleys The Madigans The Joyces Democracy in Il. is dead.Why have all these extra elected officials , when they all are lap dogs for the big three.Get rid did of all them. Save some tax money.
from the tags you assigned, did some Stone witticisms end up on the cutting room floor?
Where is the money Daley? Your nephew get a piece of the meter deal too? Your son running a sham operation? Lets get Daley Mr. US prosecutor and friends.
ANYTHING Positive to say, or is it whine,whine,and than whine some more? Hugh, does ANYTHING on a National Level ever "Bother" you,or are you only a Local Whiner whose world revolves around TIF'S, Zoning,Slandering Local Officials, etc.? Seriously, Hugh, Are you REALLY more worried about what you can Accuse ,Falsly, Local Officials of, and NOT Give a D#MN about County, State, and National. Where is your whining about the Springfield Debacle? What about D.C.? Are You, Hugh, Happy with the "Change"?
Is Paul volpe lying for Daley? must be, their numbers make zero sense unless they were being paid by Morgan Stanley as consultants.
Keep on hugh with the keeping on. Don't be discourage by Hacks or Daley idol groupees. Local officials are scum and bottom feeders.
daley is the boss of the shitcago outfit.i'm sure someone in his clan will make money for years on this deal!
Men and women of Chicago, it is time to rise up against the Daley machine. Let no number of political hacks get in the way. run them over, don't wait. Feb 2011 there will be a new Mayor and new aldermen. And the Daleys will be kicked into the dust bin of corruption.
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