The Blog

For those citizens who have long since abandoned any hope of rational, civilized and honest campaigning, who have determined that elections are now a 'sport', akin to the Roman gladiator contests, this race should be entertaining. If I were inclined to gamble, I'd be wondering what the line is on this one. Any bookies out there willing to post the odds?

Colon beat Colom 58% to 42%. How exactly would Mell's troops have been able to swing a 16 point deficit, without outright fraud?

I agree. If Mell was THAT distracted and extended by a political unknown in his race to the extent he could not help his protege, he has bigger problems.

The 35th ward already voted out Mell as the mouthpiece for the ward in '03. In '07 Vilma fared no better. I believe '07-take-2 will reflect the neighborhood's disgust with the Vilma routine. Her campaign has been an erratic disaster. I take that back...the only thing not erratic about it is that it has been consistently dirty and shady. She really hasn't proposed any tangible ideas...wait, does she have ideas??? Or does she have robot circuitry that is programmed by slimy Uncle Mell? She was thoroughly unimpressive as an alderman before, routinely frustrating her constituents by her flat out NASTY attitude. Time has not been kind to her as her mean streak is alive and well.

tmc makes the common assumptions that ALL those who voted for Rey will show up and vote the same, no additional voters will choose to vote, or if they do, there will not be enough of them, should they vote for the challenger, to keep the incumbent from being retained. It's a one-on-one election and, while one can draw some probabilities from the general election's results, they, by no means, assure the results of this election. If run-offs were, as implied by tmc, a waste of time, they wouldn't be required, by law, to be held.

Rey Colon lied to and betrayed many of the people who brought him to the dance. That is why he could lose. Nothing to do with Mell or Avila or anyone else. Rey Colon does not keep his word, he goes out of his way to hurt people, and his 03 supporters are now against him in the primary with Sotomayor or with Vilma Colom now or staying out. Vilma Colom is farrrrrr from perfect, but she is much more sincere than Colon. Colon is not a great alderman, and he is controlled by the wrong few developers and there is a money trail

Where to start? Alito said: "[Colon's] 03 supporters are now against him in the primary with Sotomayor or with Vilma Colom now or staying out." Yes, some of his '03 supporters are. Many aren't, including some who were on the steering committee and "brought him to the dance." Please don't stretch the truth. It certainly doesn't help your case. Is it really "betrayal" when Rey didn't give the Bruces, Kevin Lamm, etc. the control they wanted? The power they demanded for helping to get him elected? IIRC, they weren't elected alderman. And Rey didn't make any promised to them. Isn't it possible they had unreasonable expectations? "Rey Colon... goes out of way to hurt people." Specific examples, please.

If you think Rey Colon betrayed the people who brought him to the dance--Manny Flores makes Rey Colon look like the most loyal person. I am surprised there hasn't been anything written on all the people that Manny Flores lied to, betrayed, and screwed over.

If you think Rey Colon betrayed the people who brought him to the dance--Manny Flores makes Rey Colon look like the most loyal person. I am surprised there hasn't been anything written on all the people that Manny Flores lied to, betrayed, and screwed over.

Rey Colon does not go out of his way to hurt people. All politicians hurt people at times. Manny "liar,liar" Flores really hurt a lot of people. Rey Colon is not bad--the only reason he is in a race is the big shadow of neighbor Dick Mell, who is not bad either, but he can be a bully and likes Vilma.

Okaaaaaay. Three are three traitors Bruce Embrey, Bruce Anderson and Kevin Lamm. They go around saying they are activist. In 2003 they hated Vilma. Now in 2006 they hate Rey. They betrayed their own ideals and went with Mell to support Sotomayor who ran as a spoiler to hurt Rey Colon. And now, they are supporting Vilma. They are not activist they are hypocrites in search of power. If they want power they should run for office. These guys have no integrity or loyalty. It also seems like they don't have much clout. Even when combined with Mell, otherwise Sotomayor would have done alot better then a miserable 19%. That is an embarrassing result. Who are these idiots? They didn't do Sotomayor any good. Therefore, Rey Colon winning in 2003 had nothing to do with these three stooges. Sounds more like a strategy of voting against the person in office. To change leadership in every election would only slow down any progress. Successful long-term planning takes more than four years to accomplish. Chicago would be in a time warp. It would look like 1965. These lazy hippies need to stop smoking the dope their smoking and get a life. They also need a class on integrity. What kind of an activist would be working with Mell and supporting HDO - Vilma? The Bruces' and Kevin Lamm what traitors you are, you are evil, cynical and miserable people with no pride. You should hide your face when you leave your house. You are an embarrasment to the community.

Is this like the Bruce that backstabbed William Wallace in Braveheart ?

Rey Colon is with the insidious HDO, being supported by the scandal facing embarassment Sen Iris Martinez and her thug hack Mickey Mantilla.

Interpreter made a good point: Why don't the Bruces, Kevin Lamm and other "activists" just run for office? Maybe there's a contradiction between their stated faith in the democratic process and the realization that "the people" wouldn't go for what they want. If they were truthful, that is. In any case, I'm pretty sure Kevin Lamm ran for State Rep a few years ago. The people spoke. He lost.

You know I read all of the bull most of you talk about and i wonder how it is that you live. First let me tell you, I have lived in Logan Square since 1975. I have lived through some good and bad thigs in the neighborhood but the last four years have really bothered me. I was a Vilma supporter who voted for Rey because i thought he might make changes for the better. Now four years later all I see is long time neighbors who have moved because they cant afford to live here anymore. Next to me there have been 5 buildings that have gone condo. I walk around and all i see is constructiona and more and more condos. All i can say is that I will be supporting Vilma this time around. At least vilma was rude but she took care of problems and was around. She didnt only care about what happens on the bouleverad like Rey Colon does. I see my neighborhood turning into th next buck town or lincoln park and I dont like it. Regarding Rey, I would like to ask him why he lied to all of us on the letter he sent out back in February. Why didnt he just say, hey I made mistakes and I have corrected them. There ws no need to lie and say it wasnt him. I take that very serious. I am all for forgiving the sins of the past and judging people only by what they do after fixing their lives but a liar I will not tolerate. My last point is this. Rey Colon promised to be a man of the people and for the people. If you look at Rey Colon and see the type of people (developers, realastate people and unions) that sorround him you hae to ask yourself if you are one of the people he is for. The little man gets hit again.

why are you instigating so much hatred in our community against Vilma Colom? She just wants to look after our best well being. She is inclusive, not exclusive. Vilma will work hard for all of us! Vilma is a teacher an edutator while Rey Colon..Criminal Record speaks loud and clear.. THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW

Say butt nut, its obvious to me that these three should have that class on integrity. I think we should get our other reps, Toni Berrios and Iris Martinez to teach it along with Mr. Intergrity himself, Rey Colon. Maybe Ed Nedza can sub if those three can't make it.

The story of Ray Rolon, a retired Maniac Latin Disciples leader, is a classic example of how the system works. Over the years, Rolon has worked in elections for Colom; Ald. Richard F. Mell (33rd), and Gutierrez in 1986, when he became 26th Ward alderman. Rolon would assign gang members fluent in English and Spanish to do door-to-door work. They'd canvass the neighborhood to see how many residents supported their candidate. Those residents were counted as "plus votes." On Election Day, his crew of gang members--a dozen per precinct--would descend on buildings with the most plus votes and urge the residents to go to the polls. If an elderly or disabled person needed a ride, it would be arranged. Rolon paid his workers $75 to $100 for the day and made them dress respectably in white oxford shirts and ties. "Larry Hoover liked that," Rolon said of the imprisoned Gangster Disciples chairman. "The Gangster Disciples started passing out shirts and ties to their guys on the South Side." Not that Rolon's workers always behaved respectably. They weren't above such minor dirty tricks as tearing down opposing candidates' signs. That work was often left to "shorties"--very young gang members who wouldn't be missed if they were picked up by the police. "I learned it from the mob," Rolon said of politics, "and then I used it for the Spanish aldermen. . . . In gang neighborhoods, a precinct guy's got to be connected to the gangs or have a gang member or leader working under him. That's the only way you're going to win your precinct in a hotly contested gang neighborhood. If the gangs don't work for you, they work against you."

Alderman Vilma Colom of the 35th ward was repeatedly cited in our interviews as a politician who is indifferent or even adversarial to the concerns of particular constituents, many of whom happen to be affiliated with LSNA. She informed us that she was elected to bring business to her ward and that inviting development is one way to stimulate businesses. While she respects LSNA for its work in schools, as she told us in an interview in the July 2001, she has a different opinion about LSNA's work on housing. She seemed unaware of LSNA's history of work on homeownership and its current collaborative work with Bickerdike and Chicago Mutual Housing on developing coops.

The garish off red and yellow (maybe it was supposed to be gold) signs were everywhere in my neighborhood. Touting the candidacy of incumbent 35th ward Alderman Vilma Colom, they were a testament to the power of a regular Democratic organization. Although Colom was a first term alderman, she appeared to have an extremely large and disciplined organization. Maybe she had some help? Honoring a fine old political tradition, the Alderman and Committeeman of the 33rd Richard Mell had pursued an expansionist policy. Colom was said to be a mere puppet of Mell. I can't say whether that is true, but they are very close. One of the many pieces of literature that was on the street featured Governor Rod Blagojevich (Mells son in law) asking the residents of the ward to vote for Vilma. Interesting that the governor of the state would take such an interest in minor (relatively) local race. The troops were out on election day, they were passing palm cards, checking who had not yet voted and running to try and persuade those who didn't, to come out to punch a hole in the ballot for Vilma. In addition to the Demo regulars, the redoubtable Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO) was out in force to support the seemingly unbeatable Colom. Despite the best of efforts, the mighty 33rd struck out. Showing a refreshing new streak of independence the majority Hispanic ward sent Mell's surrogate packing. Rey Colon a community activist and former superintendent of Humbolt Park walloped Vilma by a 12% margin. What makes the result even more interesting is the fact that Chicago was bitterly cold that day. This is when the machine is supposed to do its best work. They bring their people to the polls – no matter what the weather. The times may in fact be changing.

She doesn't respect her own personal financial situation, so how can we expect her to handle 35th ward finances??? DEBTOR: COLOM; VILMA 1636 N FRANCISCO CHICAGO, IL 60647 CASE NAME: MCCLURG COURT CENTR V COLOM CASE NUMBER: 90M1 0120366 FILING DATE: 8/28/90 TYPE: SATISFIED JUDGMENT ORIGINAL JUDGMENT DATE: 7/9/90 AMOUNT: $ 640.00 ATTORNEY: SPARACIO & ALLEN

She refuses to pay her own bills, how can we expect her generate grants & funding for our neighborhood??? COUNTY: COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1ST MUNICIPAL DISTRICT DEBTOR: COLOM, VILMA 1636 N FRANCISCO CHGO, IL 60647 CASE NAME: COLOM, VILMA CASE NUMBER: 90M1 0120366 FILING DATE: 4/24/90 TYPE: JUDGMENT AMOUNT: $ 1,640.00 ATTORNEY: SPARACIO & ALLEN

She refuses to pay other companies for their work, how can we expect her to help out 35th ward businesses? DEBTOR: COLOM; VILMA 222 W ONTARIO CHICAGO, IL 60610-3621 Doing Business As COLOM INTERNATIONAL 222 W ONTARIO CHICAGO, IL 60610-3621 CASE NAME: FUSION INT'L V COLOM CASE NUMBER: 90M1 0195681 FILING DATE: 9/17/92 TYPE: SATISFIED JUDGMENT ORIGINAL JUDGMENT DATE: 6/26/91 AMOUNT: $ 3,200.00 ATTORNEY: L.S. KAHN

Like this is all the info we need to understand the specific circumstances involved. Pretty lame attempt to attack Vilma. Debts in dispute are routinely taken to court, try watching 'The People's Court' once in awhile.

I guess Vilma can't be all that tough on crime if the cops aren't on her side. Neighbors for Rey Colon Chicago Police Sergeants' Association 1616 W Pershing Rd Chicago, IL 60609-2301 $500.00 4/4/2007 1A

I totally agree with you, which makes Vilma's mailers that attack Rey all that much more dubious.

When are criminal charges, DUI suspensions, potentially criminal failure-to-pay child support charges and forfeiture-of-bond arrest warrants equal to a civil, small claims court judgment? When it serves a political purpose to claim they are equal.

I wish I only had the debt that Vilma Colom had. Someone mentioned Ed Nezda--why don't we bring back Judge Figueroa. Rolon sounds like a smart political operative.

I think Ray is still around. In retrospect he wasn't that bad of an alderman, especially when you compare him to the guy he replaced.

The sad thing about Vilma with the Home Depot is that she was unwittingly not only doing the bid for Mayor Daley's City of Chicago Planning Department BUT the land on which Home Depot was built--not only got sped through with Zoning and permits but was owned by Rod Blagojevich's own ANTOIN "TONY" RESKO and SENATOR JAMES "JIMMY D THE GREYLORD BAG MAN" DELEO also the lawyers were none other than MICHAEL DALEY (the brother of the Mayor) and JACK GEORGE of DALEY AND GEORGE Vilma was used and abused like a PR hooker on North Avenue. Mell knew all about it which is why he feels bad today because the Home Depot and Vilma's arrogance lost her the last election. I am just glad that Tony Rezko and Jimmy D and Mikey Daley all made money. They don't have congestion, traffic, crime and parking problems in their neighborhoods. Tony Resko can go live with the Sultan of Oman or hide out in the Christian villages in the mountains of Syria. Jimmy D can go to Aruba or his block long home with his Bentleys or Mercedez or Cadillacs or couple of million dollars worth of cars from, well you know were from. (Start singing the Godfather theme song and remember Greylord and Currency Exchanges and a car thief with money in the freezer) Michael Daley--should we even go there? Remember you can't talk about the Daleys--they are bigger gangsters than the DeLeo patrons. Throw in PATTI MELL, the ice queen, more arrogant than Vilma, did she make money off that real estate deal too? At least Dicky Mell feels bad and is trying to make it up to Vilma. Col Smedley wrote WAR IS A RACKET wel...Political war is a RACKET TOO Vilma and Rey are just two stupid PR pawns in a money game that is bigger than both of them. HDO has supported both of them at different times.

I have been reading this blog from the joint with Frankie (Calabrese) Jimmy( Marcella)and we are really starting to get MAD! When Jimmy Deleo gives money to Candidates like Matlak and Colom, thats are money! When Jimmy Deleo gives jobs away to his Goomod Tanya, like the one she has controlling hiring at Navy Pier....thats us giving him the muscle. When Jimmy DeLeo tells that have utfray Governor what to do, thats us "THE BOYS!" So in the future get it straight, we are Jimmy DeLeo!

That's MARCELLO, you fag, and don't misspell it again. Thanks, T & T, for setting the record straight. We gots our reps to keep up.

Deleo gave money to that hack MAtlak?? Figures.

I just want to put my 2 cents in about Senator DeLeo, He is a man of great substance. Senator DeLeo has been a great leader in Springfield, He makes Senate President Emil Jones look good, He does not showboat, He gets the job done for the Democrats. Senator DeLeo is an associate member of the Children's Special Olympics and has been a friend of the union working people, He also received the prestigious Justinian Society of Lawyers "Award of Excellence" in 2001. I think some of the people taking shots at him are jealous because is will take over when Senate President Jones retires after his next term, Senator Deleo has been a voice of reason with all the craziness going on in Springfield. He would make a great Governor.

Dat's right, Al baby, you tell 'em. (uh, come by the club for your envelope later, wink-wink)

No jobs for the precinct workers. But plenty of great jobs for the mistresses and girlfriends. Although, the girls from Florida still remember the Helicopter ride, the main one got mad. Vilma and Rey, if either are alderman, aren't in charge of nuthin, just puppets on the strings of the money people in a hot real estate ward.

I just have to point out the Aqua Teen Hunger Force ad with 'Click our colon' printed above it. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not, but it sure is hilarious.

Zina Murray, who has worked for Alderman Colon and > who submitted a > development proposal to the City for the MegaMall > has challenged the > nominating petitions of Esteban Burgoa and James > Villalpando. > > > > Campaigns and free speech are a fundamental of our > democracy, why is > Alderman Colon afraid of letting these 2 citizens > campaign? In the ETHICS section is the question: Who are your top 5 contributors and how much has each contributed to your campaign? Rey Colon's answer: 1. Armitage Produce $2,500 2. Zina Murray $2,500 3. Debit Connections $2,500 4. Balcor $2,500 5. Star Auto Group $2,500 Well Rey, that's a flat out lie. Developer Mark Fishman and his directly controlled property LLC's are Rey Colon's biggest recent contributions. On Nov 4, 2006, Colon received almost $7,000 in that single day from Mr. Fishman and his LLC's. Indisputable fact on IL Board of Election website D-2's. Mark Fishman and Fishman LLC contributions in 2006 1530 Kedzie LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 1832 N. Humboldt L.L.C. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2114 Spaulding LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2118 N. Whipple L.L.C. 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2134 Concord LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2142 Concord LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2319 N. Kedzie L.P. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2330 N. Spaulding Ltd. 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2418 N. Sawyer L.L.C. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2515 Milwaukee LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2516 N. Kedzie L.P. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2700 N. Spaulding 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 3000 N. Whipple LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 3240 W. Fullerton Condo Association 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 3500 Green Bay LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 4715 N. Sheridan Rd 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 7500 SSD LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 E K W LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 11/4/2006 ----- Stoofy's Doo LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 Westgate Acquisitions LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 ----- M. Fishman & Co 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 11/4/2006 M. Fishman & Co 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 7/27/2006 Rey, care to amend your IVI-IPO filing, or do you stick to this significant misrepresentation to public? Next- Rey's campaign manager is officially listed as Martha Ramos, his fiance since before the last election. Ms. Ramos is also the 35th Ward Chief of Staff, a full time City of Chicago position. Ms. Ramos is also realtor and President of Realty World Teemar, Inc in LSq on W. Fullerton. A person can indeed wear several hats at once. However, the potential for at least appearance of possible conflicts is obvious. Last- the flyer of allegations mailed regarding Alderman Colon's past was first attributed to challenger Vilma Colom and then to Mr. Burgoa. Since it exists, and so many have vented about accountability and candor recently and in the past, including inference of the crime of corruption against one of the current candidates expressed in 2005 by the current nonpartisan director of IVI-IPO

Hey Albert, this is a discussion about the 35th ward race, why are you stroking your mob pal Deleo here, He is a great guy....Not. read a bit more about him here http://z14.invisionfree.com/GangstersInc/index.php?showtopic=113 Eto testified against top mobster Ernest Rocco Infelice in 1991, telling jurors how he paid protection money to him. In another case, Eto regaled a courtroom with how he allegedly bribed state legislator James DeLeo with $900 to fix parking tickets in traffic court in Chicago. DeLeo, though, was not convicted of any significant charges in the case. Also the fix was in on his case, they let him off with a slap on the wrist Deleo, James A.State Rep. �� 1-filing false statement http://www.angelfire.com/sc/Centner/Greylord.html As far as your buddy becoming State Senate Prez after Emil Jones...it will never happen

Rey seems to have a credibility problem. He 'fessed up to getting arrested for DUIs in the Sun Times. That makes , given the legal actions given their timing, a publicity stunt. What integrity!

Has anyone figured out why Jesse Ruben Juarez, one of Manny Flores' main political guys, is working so hard on Vilma's campaign? I would think Manny would be with Rey?

Manny is with both, or with one or the other, or neither, or all whatever is the user Manny Flores benefit. Manny Flores does nothing but lie and use people. With those credentials he probably will be the next Congressman.

"He 'fessed up to getting arrested for DUIs in the Sun Times." he isn't a school bus driver, you know. sad (and telling) that all complaints about him are just smears that have nothing to do with the JOB.

Show Us the Money TIF districts are siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars away from schools and other city services, and nobody even has to tell us why. By Ben Joravsky February 4, 2005 The Fullerton/Milwaukee Tax Increment Financing district is raking in so much in property taxes that city officials have managed to spend only half the money. Yet they now want to expand the district and rake in even more. "How can they take more money if they haven't spent the money they have?" asks Carter O'Brien, who lives in Logan Square just outside the district. Good question. O'Brien's also wondering where the new money would be spent. As he and other city residents are learning, TIFs have generated huge sums, yet it's difficult to find out how much money's in a given TIF fund, much less how it's being spent. Jason Hardy, a researcher for the Center for Economic Policy Analysis, has spent years studying TIFs and probably knows as much about them as anyone. He doesn't like them. "They're very difficult to regulate," he says. TIFs were designed to fund development within their boundaries. The Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district runs roughly from Belmont to Armitage along Milwaukee, darting several blocks west along Fullerton and Armitage. The TIF was set up by the City Council to start on February 16, 2000, and won't end until 2023. For 23 years the amount of property taxes the city gets from the area for schools, parks, police, and other services is frozen at the amount it was getting on February 15, 2000. Any increase in property taxes from then until 2023 (the "increment") goes to the TIF. Of course since taxes will rise if the value of property in the area rises, property owners will see their taxes go up just as they would have without the TIF. According to the county clerk's office, which keeps track of these things, the area that's covered by the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district generated about $4.1 million in property taxes in 2000. It generated $6.7 million in 2003, so $4.1 million went to schools, etc, and the extra $2.6 million went into the TIF fund. Over the past four years a total of about $6 million has gone into the TIF--money that would otherwise have gone to fund schools, etc. What did the planning department, the main body deciding what TIF funds get spent on, do with the $6 million? According to city documents analyzed by the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a not-for-profit watchdog, the department set aside about $700,000 for grants to unnamed merchants who wanted to fix up their properties, and it earmarked another $2.45 million for the construction of a shopping strip at California and Armitage (there's no indication whether that was in loans or grants). It's not clear what, if anything, has happened to the remaining $3 million. In fact, it's not clear what happens to a lot of TIF money. There are now 131 TIF districts in Chicago, encompassing roughly 30 percent of the city's geographical area. According to the clerk's office, they siphoned off about $287 million in property taxes in 2003. To find out what I did about TIF spending I had to go to four different public agencies (the county treasurer, the county assessor, the county clerk, and the planning department) and two private ones (the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group and the Center for Economic Policy Analysis), then piece together the information. There's no overall TIF budget that has to be approved by the City Council, though the aldermen have to sign off on the regular city budget every year. There's no annual public hearing at which planning commissioner Denise Casalino lays out how her department intends to spend TIF money, though every year the department lays out for the public how it intends to spend its other funds. City, county, CTA, Park District, and Board of Education annual budgets are all openly scrutinized at public hearings, but not the TIF budgets. What's more, itemized tax bills sent to property owners in TIF districts state that the TIF receives none of their tax dollars (as I explained in my December 10 column). That's simply not true--if you own property in a TIF district, the TIF is getting some, or all, of your tax dollars, no matter what your bill says. If you want to know how much goes to the TIF, you have to do some complicated math using information collected by an obscure section of the county clerk's office--information that as far as I can see isn't available in any printed document or on the county's Web site. City and county officials say they don't have the computer technology to break out TIF expenditures on tax bills, but you have to wonder whether someone simply doesn't want taxpayers to know that TIFs are getting so much money at a time when schools are laying off teachers, the CTA's cutting service, and potholes aren't getting filled. Now, I don't want to suggest there's no oversight. The City Council, the Community Development Commission, the Chicago Plan Commission, and the Joint Review Board all have to approve the creation of a TIF district. But no proposed TIF has ever been scotched. All of the people sitting on the two commissions and the board are mayoral appointees or appointed by mayoral appointees, and they generally give the planning department whatever it asks for. When it comes to spending TIF funds, the board and the commissions pretty much drop out of the picture. The Plan Commission has to approve major projects but not their funding. The aldermen do have some say in how TIF funds are spent in their wards, but according to the ones I talked to, they often don't know what money's available or what it's being spent on. And when TIF districts cross ward boundaries they probably know even less. In short, the planning department seems to be handing a lot of taxpayer money to developers, architects, planners, consultants, and lawyers with very little oversight. Many activists think TIFs generate nothing more than a giant slush fund. When the state created the TIF program back in the 80s it enacted very specific guidelines. TIFs were intended only for "poor and blighted" communities that weren't going to get much private investment without one. Municipalities that set them up had to be very specific about what the money they took in was funding, and the state had to approve the projects. But state legislators and administrators long ago diluted those rules. A TIF district no longer needs to be poor and blighted--there are now TIFs in some of the city's wealthiest areas, including Lincoln Park and the Loop. There's no longer any requirement that the city reveal exactly how it plans to spend TIF money or that the state approve a project. When the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF was created it was championed by the planning department and Alderman Vilma Colom, whose 35th Ward contained most of the district. The stated purpose of the TIF was to spruce up the community. It never got any more specific than that. At a public hearing in 2000 the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, a prominent community group, gave the TIF its qualified support. Speaking for the association, Kathy Tholin asked the city to create a citizens' advisory committee to oversee the TIF and make sure funds weren't used to "create upscale housing," arguing that money that went to housing should be for affordable housing only. She also urged that TIF money be used to support three local public schools and "to expand job opportunities for local residents." In the five years since the TIF was created Colom has been voted out of office. No citizens' advisory board has been created, and it would be hard to create one because the TIF district now runs through five different wards, thanks to the 2001 redistricting. According to planning department documents, none of the money that's poured into the TIF has gone to local schools and none has been used for affordable housing. Yet Milwaukee Avenue looks much as it did five years ago. Planning department officials say they have no specific projects in mind in the area covered by the proposed TIF expansion, which would be primarily west along Belmont to Tripp and filling in along Milwaukee. But few of the activists believe them. "The city won't say what they're doing," says one, "so everyone's wondering what's really going on." He notes that the expanded TIF district will include the Mega Mall, a big, bargain-priced shopping center at 2500 N. Milwaukee that was left out of the original TIF district. He and other residents suspect the city wants to use TIF funds to replace the mall with a high-end retailer. They also worry that TIF funds could be used to finance upscale condos near Belmont and Pulaski. "There's a lot of speculation," says the activist. As with most TIF-related matters, the city only fuels such speculation by shrouding its plans in secrecy. Pete Scales, the planning department's press spokesman, didn't return calls for comment. On January 3 the department held a public meeting on the expansion. About 50 people showed up and barraged officials with questions. "They kept telling us that this was really a matter of just correcting the TIF, just putting in properties that should have been included in the first place--as if that was going to reassure us," says O'Brien. "From their perspective, the whole city should have been included in that first TIF. I kept asking, 'Why are you expanding the TIF if you don't know what you're doing with the old one?'" He was told the department was still looking at ideas.

...and who set up the TIF again without having any plan as to how the funds would be spent? oh, right - Vilma Colom.

Did Vilma flunk her new mission? http://mesh.medill.northwestern.edu/mnschicago/archives/2003/02/fortythree_of_4.html Colom could not be reached for comment Wednesday but on election night (2003) was quoted as saying that "God has another mission for me. I have to accept that reality."

What Would Vilma (have) Done? http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=2868045 Two families may lose homes after developer violates zoning laws Homeowners turn to alderman for help Ron Magers March 14, 2005 - It's a homeowner's worst nightmare. Two Chicago families say they may lose their homes because the developer who built their condos violated city zoning laws. Now, the city of Chicago is suing the homeowners for the developer's mistake. Those homeowners hope their city alderman can help. "We love where we live. We want to start a family here and we don't want to be kicked out of our house," said Jeff Craven. Craven and his wife thought their basement condominium unit in Logan Square would be the perfect place to settle down. But now they may be kicked out of their own home. "It's hard to think about starting a family when you don't even know where you will raise the family," said Craven. Craven says when he bought the condo in 1999 he crossed his T's and dotted his I's with a real estate attorney. What he says he didn't know is that his condo unit is not a legal place to live. The city of Chicago says the developer, Virgil Tiran, never received the proper zoning. Now, the city is suing the developer, the condo association and Craven. The city says the same thing happened to another homeowner who bought from Virgil Tiran. "The developer was able to build a couple of extra illegal units and somehow sell them to victims and now they risk having the American dream ripped from underneath their feet," said Colon. Alderman Rey Colon says he will consider helping both families keep their homes by changing the zoning ordinance. He is, however, concerned that if he makes an exception, it will send the wrong message. "Making a zoning change decision helps the family in the short term but maybe putting other families in harms way in the long term," said Colon. Craven says the city should only be going after the developer, not suing him. The city's law department says Craven is listed as a defendant for legal proposes. A city spokesperson says the city believes that Craven had no idea he was buying an illegal unit. Alderman Colon will meet with residents Monday night and could make a decision on whether he will change the zoning ordinance by Tuesday. Experts say potential home buyers should check with the city's building department to find out how many units the property is zoned to sell.

HOMEOWNERS LOOK OUT! ZENA MURRAY WANTS TIF MONEY FOR THE MEGA MALL GUESS WHO WILL PAY THE BILL. YOU THE TAXPAYER. There was speculation a professional phone survey of Ward 35 voters was linked to Vilma Colom or Alderman Dick Mell, and big labor. Only last part appears correct, despite well informed assumptions including logansquare yahoo listserv Moderator. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/12835 The plot thickens >>>Moderator's comment: I got the same call this evening. Given the surveyor's difficulty with pronouncing "Colom," I believe this genuinely was a hired survey research firm. The question at the end summarizing the candidates' positions and background seemed somewhat biased in favor of Vilma, so i suspect thats who's paying big bucks for this.<<< From IL Board of elections filing, this was paid for by SEIU on behalf of Rey Colon campaign. SEIU Illinois Council PAC 111 E Wacker Dr Suite 2500 Chicago, IL 60601-4200 $ 8,400.00 3/27/2007 In-Kind Contribution Neighbors for Rey Colon polling: Bennett Petts & Normington 1010 Wisconsin Ave NW Suite 208 Washington, DC 20007 35th Ward election seems less about issues and instead rhetoric and misinformation from supporters of both candidates. A prime example is the City MegaMall TIF Redevelopment RFP. Rey Colon suppressed the Park Center plan supported by diverse coalition of community groups including voted support by business chambers of commerce, and The Center for Neighhborhood Technology, Friends of the Parks, State Rep. Toni Berrios..., plus thousands of LSq residents who voted overwhelming 75% support FOR a park opportunity. Rey Colon arrogantly ignored all that. Won't even hold a public meeting to get ideas and input. Instead, Colon is on record in full support of the City's continuing TIF mandate to seize the reopened MegaMall using eminent domain on behalf of private developer(s) who contributed $$$$ to him. Nov. 23, 2006 Tribune article on MegaMall http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/11333 Follow the money: 35th Ward election http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/12141 Nov 2006 "public meeting" about City TIF enabled redevelopment of the Morris B Sachs (Payless Shoes) Building at Milwaukee / Diversey / Kimball was forced on Colon by public outcry against his and City's "done deal" plan for very expensive taxpayer funded retrofit as affordable housing / homeless SRO. City supportive housing SRO plan and Colon's Letter of Support is public record in Minutes of 9/26/2006 TIF Community Development Commission Meeting which approved City TIF purchase. Rey Colon stated to LSq community at his October "State of the Ward" address he decided to do this and "did not need a community meeting for all his decisions." Outcry and intense protest quickly changed Rey's public position. I do commend the Alderman for responding to the outcry and for seeing TIF as a tool to facilitate something with the long vacant Sachs Building. The SRO plan finally had public discussion and he sought other ideas for the Sachs Building. A few of us have urged Rey to include derelict Kimball/Dawson site into the TIF and the Sachs Building opportunity. Letter published in Chicago Journal about Sachs Building and 11/2006 public meeting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/11512 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/11514 Chicago Journal's coverage on Sachs Building / TIF redevelopment How about candidates' debate / discussion of ISSUES?! A City Council Alderman is not only local coordinator and "Godfather" for City services / zoning / development; but also is supposed to provde legislative oversight of Mayor and City Budget, out of control TIFs, CTA problems, spiraling real estate tax assessments (just wait til late summer 2nd half Cook County Property Tax Bills when ALL of the recent assessment increase hits property owners).....

I'd say she has done remarkably well in her mission: God intended for her to be ushered into a nice job on the Cook County payroll where she can boil & toil and assemble a nice group of questionable hacks to operate her next failed attempt.

""Show Us the Money TIF districts are siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars away from schools and other city services, and nobody even has to tell us why. By Ben Joravsky February 4, 2005 The Fullerton/Milwaukee Tax Increment Financing district is raking in so much in property taxes that city officials have managed to spend only half the money. Yet they now want to expand the district and rake in even more. "How can they take more money if they haven't spent the money they have?" asks Carter O'Brien, who lives in Logan Square just outside the district. Good question. O'Brien's also wondering where the new money would be spent. As he and other city residents are learning, TIFs have generated huge sums, yet it's difficult to find out how much money's in a given TIF fund, much less how it's being spent. Jason Hardy, a researcher for the Center for Economic Policy Analysis, has spent years studying TIFs and probably knows as much about them as anyone. He doesn't like them. "They're very difficult to regulate," he says. TIFs were designed to fund development within their boundaries. The Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district runs roughly from Belmont to Armitage along Milwaukee, darting several blocks west along Fullerton and Armitage. The TIF was set up by the City Council to start on February 16, 2000, and won't end until 2023. For 23 years the amount of property taxes the city gets from the area for schools, parks, police, and other services is frozen at the amount it was getting on February 15, 2000. Any increase in property taxes from then until 2023 (the "increment") goes to the TIF. Of course since taxes will rise if the value of property in the area rises, property owners will see their taxes go up just as they would have without the TIF. According to the county clerk's office, which keeps track of these things, the area that's covered by the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district generated about $4.1 million in property taxes in 2000. It generated $6.7 million in 2003, so $4.1 million went to schools, etc, and the extra $2.6 million went into the TIF fund. Over the past four years a total of about $6 million has gone into the TIF--money that would otherwise have gone to fund schools, etc. What did the planning department, the main body deciding what TIF funds get spent on, do with the $6 million? According to city documents analyzed by the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a not-for-profit watchdog, the department set aside about $700,000 for grants to unnamed merchants who wanted to fix up their properties, and it earmarked another $2.45 million for the construction of a shopping strip at California and Armitage (there's no indication whether that was in loans or grants). It's not clear what, if anything, has happened to the remaining $3 million. In fact, it's not clear what happens to a lot of TIF money. There are now 131 TIF districts in Chicago, encompassing roughly 30 percent of the city's geographical area. According to the clerk's office, they siphoned off about $287 million in property taxes in 2003. To find out what I did about TIF spending I had to go to four different public agencies (the county treasurer, the county assessor, the county clerk, and the planning department) and two private ones (the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group and the Center for Economic Policy Analysis), then piece together the information. There's no overall TIF budget that has to be approved by the City Council, though the aldermen have to sign off on the regular city budget every year. There's no annual public hearing at which planning commissioner Denise Casalino lays out how her department intends to spend TIF money, though every year the department lays out for the public how it intends to spend its other funds. City, county, CTA, Park District, and Board of Education annual budgets are all openly scrutinized at public hearings, but not the TIF budgets. What's more, itemized tax bills sent to property owners in TIF districts state that the TIF receives none of their tax dollars (as I explained in my December 10 column). That's simply not true--if you own property in a TIF district, the TIF is getting some, or all, of your tax dollars, no matter what your bill says. If you want to know how much goes to the TIF, you have to do some complicated math using information collected by an obscure section of the county clerk's office, information that as far as I can see isn't available in any printed document or on the county's Web site. City and county officials say they don't have the computer technology to break out TIF expenditures on tax bills, but you have to wonder whether someone simply doesn't want taxpayers to know that TIFs are getting so much money at a time when schools are laying off teachers, the CTA's cutting service, and potholes aren't getting filled. Now, I don't want to suggest there's no oversight. The City Council, the Community Development Commission, the Chicago Plan Commission, and the Joint Review Board all have to approve the creation of a TIF district. But no proposed TIF has ever been scotched. All of the people sitting on the two commissions and the board are mayoral appointees or appointed by mayoral appointees, and they generally give the planning department whatever it asks for. When it comes to spending TIF funds, the board and the commissions pretty much drop out of the picture. The Plan Commission has to approve major projects but not their funding. The aldermen do have some say in how TIF funds are spent in their wards, but according to the ones I talked to, they often don't know what money's available or what it's being spent on. And when TIF districts cross ward boundaries they probably know even less. In short, the planning department seems to be handing a lot of taxpayer money to developers, architects, planners, consultants, and lawyers with very little oversight. Many activists think TIFs generate nothing more than a giant slush fund. When the state created the TIF program back in the 80s it enacted very specific guidelines. TIFs were intended only for "poor and blighted" communities that weren't going to get much private investment without one. Municipalities that set them up had to be very specific about what the money they took in was funding, and the state had to approve the projects. But state legislators and administrators long ago diluted those rules. A TIF district no longer needs to be poor and blighted--there are now TIFs in some of the city's wealthiest areas, including Lincoln Park and the Loop. There's no longer any requirement that the city reveal exactly how it plans to spend TIF money or that the state approve a project. When the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF was created it was championed by the planning department and Alderman Vilma Colom, whose 35th Ward contained most of the district. The stated purpose of the TIF was to spruce up the community. It never got any more specific than that. At a public hearing in 2000, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, a prominent community group, gave the TIF its qualified support. Speaking for the association, Kathy Tholin asked the city to create a citizens' advisory committee to oversee the TIF and make sure funds weren't used to "create upscale housing," arguing that money that went to housing should be for affordable housing only. She also urged that TIF money be used to support three local public schools and "to expand job opportunities for local residents." In the five years since the TIF was created Colom has been voted out of office. No citizens' advisory board has been created, and it would be hard to create one because the TIF district now runs through five different wards, thanks to the 2001 redistricting. According to planning department documents, none of the money that's poured into the TIF has gone to local schools and none has been used for affordable housing. Yet Milwaukee Avenue looks much as it did five years ago. Planning department officials say they have no specific projects in mind in the area covered by the proposed TIF expansion, which would be primarily west along Belmont to Tripp and filling in along Milwaukee. But few of the activists believe them. "The city won't say what they're doing," says one, "so everyone's wondering what's really going on." He notes that the expanded TIF district will include the Mega Mall, a big, bargain-priced shopping center at 2500 N. Milwaukee that was left out of the original TIF district. He and other residents suspect the city wants to use TIF funds to replace the mall with a high-end retailer. They also worry that TIF funds could be used to finance upscale condos near Belmont and Pulaski. "There's a lot of speculation," says the activist. As with most TIF-related matters, the city only fuels such speculation by shrouding its plans in secrecy. Pete Scales, the planning department's press spokesman, didn't return calls for comment. On January 3 the department held a public meeting on the expansion. About 50 people showed up and barraged officials with questions. "They kept telling us that this was really a matter of just correcting the TIF, just putting in properties that should have been included in the first place--as if that was going to reassure us," says O'Brien. "From their perspective, the whole city should have been included in that first TIF. I kept asking, 'Why are you expanding the TIF if you don't know what you're doing with the old one?'" He was told the department was still looking at ideas."" Does anyone, with a brain that works, think that TIFs are anything other than a SLUSH FUND for political favors? Does anyone, with a brain that works, fail to understand that this is what we get when we continually allow the incumbents to engage in their 'long-term-planning'? Does anyone, with a brain that works, truly believe that our 'public servants' are acting in OUR 'best interests'? EVER? "WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT Use the following formula to maximize the effectiveness of your vote: 1) The voter MUST know who the INCUMBENTS are. 2) NEVER VOTE FOR THE INCUMBENT. 3) If there is only ONE CHALLENGER, vote for that candidate. 4) If there are two or more challengers, then: a) If the incumbent is listed FIRST, then vote for the candidate who is listed LAST. b) If the incumbent is not listed first, then vote for the candidate who IS LISTED FIRST. Should you sincerely like an incumbent candidate, by all means vote for him / her. Remember, however, that those who have been in power for decades have been able to do so by being unified in their support of the party chosen. To counter this unity-of-purpose, the common citizen must have the same strength of unity, albeit, one focused on ousting the incumbents. The above is a strategy that will be the most effective at achieving this goal."

I am a VILMA COLOM supporter I know that for a fact ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON wouldn't even dare walk in Precinct 02 which is VILMA COLOM home turf.He will get nothing but a bunch of doors slam in his face the "WHERE U BEEN ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON".I know for a fact oh so u were behind them parking meters on WRIGHTWOOD from LAWNDALE 2 CENTRAL PARK.Oh yeah your supporters the Munoz family on the 3600 block of WRIGHTWOOD were all behind this sceme.What is really a shame is that ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON grew up in the hood a PUERTORICAN just like me but here he is selling our neighborhood like its a auction what a sellout.I know forget about the west side of LOGAN SQUARE let me ride with the LIBERALS of LOGAN BOULVERAD damn these YUPPIES.I remember when LOGAN SQUARE was at all time worst but a certain lady who grew up in the hood VILMA COLOM work tirelessly to improve make progress.I want an ALDERMAN who might be aggresive and arrogrant but BOTTOM LINE MY TAXDOLLARS ARE BEING DONE THE RIGHT WAY CITYSERVICES THATS RIGHT.Isn't funny that ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON is pulling all the tricks out of his bag now on the 2500 block of ridgeway which is were VILMA COLOM lives there are now signs on the trees Bureau of Forestery will cuting branches trimming 2 little 2 late.Also ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON tell your volunteers the fools that they are stop ringing my doorbell at either 10 or 11 in the morning on Saturday morning.Vilma has a precinct captain who i may add is a straight up guy who knows me by my first and last name knows my birthdate by memory.TUESDAY APRIL 17,2007 VOTE FOR VILMA COLOM mark or punch 102.LATINOS COME OUT AND VOTE FOR A REAL PUERTORICAN from our HOOD don't let this YUPPIES take it from us.MIDDLE CLASS AND LOW CLASS LATINS AND WHITES AND BLACKS VILMA COLOM WILL FIGHT FOR US BELIEVE ME.

Vilma will work tirelessly...to piss off as many people as quickly as she can. The sad thing is that she will do this just be being who she is. She is mean, 2-faced, and a terrible choice as a representive...all she will represent is Mell's directions. By the way, Precinct 02 (Vilma's home turf)...she couldn't even pull off 50% of the vote, getting under 48%. I guess that means the majority of people in her home turf DO NOT WANT VILMA IN OFFICE.

Thanks, Rey, for your 'input'. Your developer buddies are rooting for you.

With all this talk about Rey and the evil developers, why have so many people apparently forgotten -- or are choosing to ignore for reasons they're not up-front about -- that the same thing was said of Vilma four years ago? That developers had "bought" her? If she's elected, what is the basis for thinking she'll be different? Oh, yeah. She says that she's "changed." Take that to the bank and cash it. In 2003 a postcard was handed out calling Vilma "Queen of the Developers."

why does everyone keep forgetting us? Vilma gave us those nice abandominiums to live in & now we need her back because Rey had them torn down!

Rey how about you stop crying like a little baby to the media that you are taking Vilma to court and tell the true to the voters of the 35Th Ward. You are not taking Vilma to court her case was dismissed. So why don't you are honest to our community? and take the challenge test with Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban and Villapando. lets walk to the Daley Plaza, pull your records and compare your social security to the archives and signatures as well Lets pull a FBI background under your name Reynaldo Rey Colon and a lie detector to find out if you are being honest or lying to the community. So stop talking and lying like a little kid to the community. The problem here is your behavior of not accepting the facts and lying to the community. How about the corruption taking money from the business community I am sure the FBI would love to talk to you regarding this matter Rey Colon. Stop trying to hide your criminal record under Vilma Colom and come out to the challenge. Does Rey Colon has the guts to take an FBI background check with a lie detector in front of Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban Villapando with the media standing by!

What politician in their 'right mind' EVER would voluntarily "take an FBI background check with a lie detector"?

is you idiots who seem to think that the Salem Witch Trials were a high point of American democracy. but hey, if Vilma was my candidate I guess I'd be doing anything and everything I could to distract from her horrific record when she was alderman.

Flores helps Colom win, then Mell is happy and HDO is happy. When the congressional election comes around Flores gets their support. If Colom wins then Mell and Joe Berrios and Victor Reyes are happy. Because then HDO gets it revenge on Iris Martinez, and Maria Berrios will be our new latina state senator.

Colom isn't going to win, barring election box stuffing circa the 1890s. She has been going downhill since the 1999 elections, there aren't that many clueless newcomers to the ward.

Vilma is a criminal the truth will come out soon. Good Luck

Why would HDO want to "get revenge" on Iris Martinez? They got revenge on our community and got her elected state senator. Without HDO our state senator's name would be Mike Wojick. She's the princess of HDO as well as "independent" Rey Colon's closest political ally.

why are you instigating so much hatred in our community against Vilma Colom? She just wants to look after our best well being. She is inclusive, not exclusive. Vilma will work hard for all of us! Vilma is a teacher an edutator while Rey Colon..Criminal Record speaks loud and clear.. THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW Rey how about you stop crying like a little baby to the media that you are taking Vilma to court and tell the true to the voters of the 35Th Ward. You are not taking Vilma to court her case was dismissed. So why don't you are honest to our community? and take the challenge test with Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban and Villapando. lets walk to the Daley Plaza, pull your records and compare your social security to the archives and signatures as well Lets pull a FBI background under your name Reynaldo Rey Colon and a lie detector to find out if you are being honest or lying to the community. So stop talking and lying like a little kid to the community. The problem here is your behavior of not accepting the facts and lying to the community. How about the corruption taking money from the business community I am sure the FBI would love to talk to you regarding this matter Rey Colon. Stop trying to hide your criminal record under Vilma Colom and come out to the challenge. Does Rey Colon has the guts to take an FBI background check with a lie detector in front of Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban Villapando with the media standing by!

Do the Bruces have the guts to take a lie detector test in front of Sotomayor?

does anybody have the guts to take a lie detector test in front of anybody?

I never thought I would actually be writing a comment over politics but I think it's time I expressed a little of what I feel. It is unfortunate that some Latinos in this area as well as any other predominant Latino area are loosing the battle to what it known as progress. How many Latinos out there can honestly answer and say that they have the ambition to see an upscale and successful Latino community. Well the reality to all of you Latinos is that the mentality you have lived with up to now is not working. I stand a greater chance at being shot by a Latino than by a White (or Yuppie as some of you may call them). Well enough is enough. I am a successful and proud Latino. However I am tired of the mentality that many Latinos have giving the impression that our communities have to be low-income. Vilma Colom is an example of what is totally wrong with our communities. She is always making up excuses as to why we (Latinos) should have things for free or cheap, instead of trying to show our teens as an educator (that she claims to be) how to become successful and even developers themselves. Maybe she can’t teach our children because she is narrow minded as many Latinos that have brought up with wrong concept of life. When are we ever going to see an upscale and successful Latino community instead of constantly showing everyone else that we can’t even learn to invest in our futures rather than our bling, bling. There are more Latinos out there with college degrees and yet as a community we can’t seem to put all of them in one area show that we can be successful together and not just only as individuals. I am proud to say that I was born in another country and in my 30 plus years of living in Humbolt Park, Logan Square and Avondale areas I have seen progress. However that progress has not come from low-income housing or gang intervention programs, instead it comes from people who want better in life and invest in their areas. I want more in life and I would rather form part of those who want success than those who want low-income. I am better than low-income. I deserve more than low-income. LATINOS WAKE UP. Nothing in this world is free, so stop buying the bling, bling and learn how to invest. It doesn’t matter whether you make $50,000 or $100,000 a year. What matters is what you do with your paycheck when you bring it home. In the end it doesn’t matter who is in office but what you do to improve your community, but if you had to choose Rey Colon appears to have a more educated background than the educator Vilma Colom. A Proud Latino,

"I never thought I would actually be writing a comment over politics, but I think it's time I expressed a little of what I feel. It is unfortunate that some Latinos in this area, as well as any other predominant Latino area, are loosing the battle to what is known as progress. How many Latinos out there can honestly answer and say that they have the ambition to see an upscale and successful Latino community? Well, the reality to all of you Latinos is that the mentality you have lived with up to now is not working. I stand a greater chance at being shot by a Latino than by a White (or Yuppie as some of you may call them). Well, enough is enough. I am a successful and proud Latino. However I am tired of the mentality that many Latinos have, giving the impression that our communities have to be low-income. Vilma Colom is an example of what is totally wrong with our communities. She is always making up excuses as to why we (Latinos) should have things for free or cheap, instead of trying to show our teens as an educator (that she claims to be) how to become successful and even developers themselves. Maybe she can’t teach our children because she is narrow minded as many Latinos that have been brought up with the wrong concept of life. When are we ever going to see an upscale and successful Latino community instead of constantly showing everyone else that we can’t even learn to invest in our futures rather than our bling, bling. There are more Latinos out there with college degrees and yet, as a community, we can’t seem to put all of them in one area, show that we can be successful together and not just only as individuals. I am proud to say that I was born in another country and, in my 30 plus years of living in Humbolt Park, Logan Square and Avondale areas, I have seen progress. However that progress has not come from low-income housing or gang intervention programs, instead it comes from people who want better in life and invest in their areas. I want more in life and I would rather form part of those who want success, than those who want low-income. I am better than low-income. I deserve more than low-income. LATINOS WAKE UP. Nothing in this world is free, so stop buying the bling, bling and learn how to invest. It doesn’t matter whether you make $50,000 or $100,000 a year. What matters is what you do with your paycheck when you bring it home. In the end it doesn’t matter who is in office, but what you do to improve your community, but if you had to choose, Rey Colon appears to have a more educated background than the educator Vilma Colom. A Proud Latino," Most of the above thoughts I agree with. The one thought that I DO NOT agree with is that "it doesn’t matter who is in office". It most certainly does matter. Think about it.

Reloaded, I agree with you. But Vilma (although not great), is no worse (nor better) than Rey Colon. Iris Martinez, Cynthia Soto--among undeducated others--also are the same everything for free, more grants to provide sex ed for heroin addicted mothers with crack babies. We need better representation.

"WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT Use the following formula to maximize the effectiveness of your vote: 1) The voter MUST know who the INCUMBENTS are. 2) NEVER VOTE FOR THE INCUMBENT. 3) If there is only ONE CHALLENGER, vote for that candidate. 4) If there are two or more challengers, then: a) If the incumbent is listed FIRST, then vote for the candidate who is listed LAST. b) If the incumbent is not listed first, then vote for the candidate who IS LISTED FIRST. Should you sincerely like an incumbent candidate, by all means vote for him / her. Remember, however, that those who have been in power for decades have been able to do so by being unified in their support of the party chosen. To counter this unity-of-purpose, the common citizen must have the same strength of unity, albeit, one focused on ousting the incumbents. The above is a strategy that will be the most effective at achieving this goal." far-fetched, but interesting.

why are you instigating so much hatred in our community against Vilma Colom? She just wants to look after our best well being. She is inclusive, not exclusive. Vilma will work hard for all of us! Vilma is a teacher an edutator while Rey Colon..Criminal Record speaks loud and clear.. THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW Rey how about you stop crying like a little baby to the media that you are taking Vilma to court and tell the true to the voters of the 35Th Ward. You are not taking Vilma to court her case was dismissed. So why don't you are honest to our community? and take the challenge test with Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban and Villapando. lets walk to the Daley Plaza, pull your records and compare your social security to the archives and signatures as well Lets pull a FBI background under your name Reynaldo Rey Colon and a lie detector to find out if you are being honest or lying to the community. So stop talking and lying like a little kid to the community. The problem here is your behavior of not accepting the facts and lying to the community. How about the corruption taking money from the business community I am sure the FBI would love to talk to you regarding this matter Rey Colon. Stop trying to hide your criminal record under Vilma Colom and come out to the challenge. Does Rey Colon has the guts to take an FBI background check with a lie detector in front of Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban Villapando with the media standing by!

I guess Rey's 'people' haven't seen fit to communicate this 'challenge' to him, 'cause it's unlikely he's reading Joravsky's articles, let alone the comments on same.

even Vilma herself has admitted that all those charges aren't true. Esteban, the KKK called and they'd like their white sheet back so they can lynch someone else.

Did anyone see Fox News last night how Rey Colon is using city resources to campaign?

don't watch Faux News. you got evidence, bring it on.

The man lie to the community. Now respect our point. the man said that is not me, now he says it is me. flip-flap. Remember that letter that he send out to the community that it was all lies fabricated against him back in february, well now the man says it is all true. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&... Rey how about you stop crying like a little baby to the media that you are taking Vilma to court and tell the true to the voters of the 35Th Ward. You are not taking Vilma to court her case was dismissed. So why don't you are honest to our community? and take the challenge test with Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban and Villapando. lets walk to the Daley Plaza, pull your records and compare your social security to the archives and signatures as well Lets pull a FBI background under your name Reynaldo Rey Colon and a lie detector to find out if you are being honest or lying to the community. So stop talking and lying like a little kid to the community. The problem here is your behavior of not accepting the facts and lying to the community. How about the corruption taking money from the business community I am sure the FBI would love to talk to you regarding this matter Rey Colon. Stop trying to hide your criminal record under Vilma Colom and come out to the challenge. Does Rey Colon has the guts to take an FBI background check with a lie detector in front of Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban Villapando with the media standing by!

Rey's had how many weeks to file this complaint? Why did he wait so long? The election is right around the corner and nothing will be resolved until after it. It must be cooincidence that he's starting it now. His respect for the voter's intelligence is obvious.

"well now the man says it is all true. " No, he did not. Better read it again (your link didn't work, by the way).

All those charges were a bunch of lies against myself by my opponents. Remember the letter he send out? Now the man says it is true. Who lie to the community? Rey Colon Who got caught doing the lie to the community Rey Colon. Now Rey Colon is trying to blame Vilma for uncovering his lies. Rey colon you did it to yourself!

Hey Rey's letter said the "literature included false accusations". I guess he forgot to mention some were true. Ooops....

tell it to the judge!

Rey ran as good government type last time. Now? The 35th ward ain't ready for reformers.

Vilma Colom did not send any mailers out. Rey Colon is lying again to the community. He is using this tactic to use the media against poor Vilma. The woman is innocent of any wrong doing. Carter Obrien has instigated hatred against Vilma, but he can not accept the fact Rey Colon lie in a big way to the community not once but more than you can imagine. This time around Rey Colon got caught with his lies on television and then try to blame an innocent lady name Vilma Colom.

Rey Colon is LYING, does have debts, DUIs and does not pay child support for his own kids. Rey Colon is abusing the Court system to falsey discredit Vilma. The hearings are closed and no findings of guilty against VIlma were made they are falsely releasing confidential material to the public

The man lie to the community. Now respect our point. the man said that is not me, now he says it is me. flip-flap. Remember that letter that he send out to the community that it was all lies fabricated against him back in february, well now the man says it is all true. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&... Rey how about you stop crying like a little baby to the media that you are taking Vilma to court and tell the true to the voters of the 35Th Ward. You are not taking Vilma to court her case was dismissed. So why don't you are honest to our community? and take the challenge test with Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban and Villapando. lets walk to the Daley Plaza, pull your records and compare your social security to the archives and signatures as well Lets pull a FBI background under your name Reynaldo Rey Colon and a lie detector to find out if you are being honest or lying to the community. So stop talking and lying like a little kid to the community. The problem here is your behavior of not accepting the facts and lying to the community. How about the corruption taking money from the business community I am sure the FBI would love to talk to you regarding this matter Rey Colon. Stop trying to hide your criminal record under Vilma Colom and come out to the challenge. Does Rey Colon has the guts to take an FBI background check with a lie detector in front of Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban Villapando with the media standing by!

Remember 4 years ago when she closed the alderman office entirely for weeks on end right after she lost the election in a disgraceful manner? What was she thinking??? I don't think she does think...I think she is a robot without any human emotion, programmed by Mell & the Machine. Remember how she treated the community when they asked Vilma not to accept slimy Mell's deal to bring a gargantuan Home Depot to their backyard? SHE TOLD THEM TO F___ OFF! This is a rude lady that is making monumental decisions that adversely impact people's homes...I wonder what she would have done if her home was across the street. Vilma will fight for white-collar, corporate millionaires, and lifetime shady politicians. SHE WILL NOT FIGHT FOR YOU & ME, THE HUMBLE WORKERS OF THIS WARD.

Vilma Colom. A right-winger pretending to be a Democrat, Vilma has gained a reputation in the community as an arrogant, disrespectful and mean-spirited politician. Last year, she voted against our Living Wage bill -- despite initially signing onto the bill as a co-sponsor. This past winter, she even went so far as to try to force a neighborhood church to close its homeless shelter because the powerful development lobbyists wanted to gentrify the neighborhood and move the "riffraff" out.

Esteban, I could use a man like you.

LoganSquare@yahoogroups.com, "KATHERINE ANDERSON" wrote: > > speaking of, i noticed a for rent sign in the pump room window recently. > what's going on?... The Pump Room The reason the store has a For Rent sign is that we are looking to sublease the space. We can barely make the rent! The store next door is leaving and the one next to that plans to leave too. Scare-Y for the strip. We were doing really good right after our move but the economy seemed to just tank in the middle of 2006 and it has been disastrous. We do NOT want to close, just move to a cheaper place. This may mean leaving the neighborhood, but I cannot afford to keep "bleeding" like this. I want to say Thanks to everyone who came by and patronized/patronizes or business. We appreciate your support. We have been featured in: Metromix Sun Times Drop Zone Chicago Tribune Red Eye npr, 91.5 FM, wbez Maybe it was the stripper pole? Maybe Mirca's dance on the pole? But...popularity has never been a problem for us....just the bills! People love the store but that just does not pay the bills.....y'know what I mean????? This is the saddest part of all of this. So many people want these new businesses to come to the strip, but, in my experience, the most vocal people do not even use the strip! ????????? Something BIG and different needs to happen there. Whatever happened to the Trader Joe's possibilities???? I was hoping to get my $2Buck Chuck Wine(Charles Shaw)and my Organic Vodka Sauce closer to home! :( Can't say we didn't try. If anyone knows someone looking for a storefront, 2630 N Milwaukee Avenue is 1,200 s.f., plus basement (another 1,200 s.f.) for $3,500/month. Please have them call me for a potential sublease. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated. Dulce Ramos licensed real estate broker owner of The PUMP Room Boutique 773-719-7100

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&id=5193768

Somehow Rey is responsible for a failing retail economy??? That is just plain stupid. The reason is that Americans have an never-ending appetite for buying on the cheap. That means we will quickly cut loyalties to the local merchants in favor of the uber-stores that import from China, just so we can save 25c on the cost of a widget. Vilma can't change that, Rey can't change it. I don't think the highly Barack Obama can change it. Let's not confuse ourselves here people. As I see it, the election boils down to a mean, arrogant, lady that was fired because she did a horrible job in the past versus a nice, friendly, qualified man that was not forthright in his past. Both are beholden to the machine, both have extensive ties to developers. Neither one can solve property taxes, that is a county issue. Neither one can solve the economy, that is an issue that is much larger than just one alderman. Neither one can solve those idiots that honk their car horns at 5 am, or those ignorant bangers that shoot their "enemies".

I'd like to see Vilma take a lie detector test in front of everyone and their mother. There would only be two questions: - Are you mean, grouchy, and arrogant? - When you lose the run-off, do your promise to go away forever?

I want Burgoa to take a lie detector test with just one question: - When Vilma tells you to wear a skirt and put on lipstick, do you say "yes ma'am" or "yes sir"

Is it just me, or does Vilma's website look like it was created by a 5th grader back in 1998? I hope that isn't the same kind of expertise she would potentially bring with her to a publicly elected office.

It took you 20 minutes to post these three lame shots at Vilma? You must be a city worker! I suppose you're now on your 45 minute per hour break.

I have to say that I'm outright stunned to hear that Rey Colon has come forward to ACKNOWLEDGE that the anonymous mailing regarding his allegations are in deed factual. I have a three letter word for that and it's W-O-W. I cannot comprehend why he lied to the constituents of the 35th ward. A honorable person would admit to the wrong doings. However, he continually went on record to say the allegations were not true. In my eyes, Rey Colon is a FAKE! He will never get my vote and I encourage others to also not give him your vote. As citizens its our responsibility to vote on April 17th, therefore, get out there and vote. To see the video or read the article, please visit http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&id=5193768 Renee Arundale

insteada pasting stuff from that yahoo thing, why doncha try POSTING THERE, eh?

Let's say Vilma gets voted in. Does she interpret that to be that the 35th actually wants rude, fumbling, 2-faced representation in office? Or does she interpret it as thinking that everyone voted for her in hopes of her being "new & improved"...and thus actually treats people with respect? My money is on her having a vendetta against everyone and everything and just handing over the reigns to Mell and taking home her nice paycheck so she can eat ice cream on her couch.

Let me see if u gather VILMA COLOM what 36%percent and MIGUEL SOTOMAYOR 19% percent thats well over 50% percent.ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON damn u in trouble then finacee MARTHA RAMOS u know DULCE RAMOS the licensed broker.Let me see why is it during the last 4 years any election do u see together ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON and STATE SENATOR IRIS MARTINEZ HDO its funny i thought our present ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON was an independent.FOOD FOR THOUGHT wow just cause he walks his dog down the boulverard REYNALDO has that many fans behind him lead us NOAH to the promise land.HEY residents of LOGAN BOULVERARD u dont speak for me or anyone else but u do speak for ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON he is a true puppet pull tha strings..Do i care that VILMA COLOM is arrogrant but bottom line your taxmoney is being used for the right things CITY SERVICES..TASTE OF LOGAN SQUARE I wish thAT WAS BACK but no the RACIST WHITES don't want us low-life LATINOS around no more.PALMER SQUARE ARTS FESTIVAL was a real success thats why it was half empty..

" on tha wood April 12th - 4:56 p.m. Let me see if u gather. VILMA COLOM, what 36%percent and MIGUEL SOTOMAYOR 19% percent, thats well over 50% percent. ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON, damn u, in trouble, then, finacee MARTHA RAMOS, u know, DULCE RAMOS, the licensed broker. Let me see, why is it, during the last 4 years, any election, do u see together ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON and STATE SENATOR IRIS MARTINEZ HDO. its funny, i thought our present ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON was an independent. FOOD FOR THOUGHT wow, just cause he walks his dog down the boulevard, REYNALDO has that many fans behind him, lead us, NOAH to the promise land. HEY, residents of LOGAN BOULEVARD, u don't speak for me, or anyone else, but u do speak for ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON, he is a true puppet, pull tha strings.. Do i care that VILMA COLOM is arrogrant, but bottom line, your tax money is being used for the right things, CITY SERVICES. TASTE OF LOGAN SQUARE, I wish THAT WAS BACK, but no, the RACIST WHITES don't want us low-life LATINOS around no more. PALMER SQUARE ARTS FESTIVAL was a real success, thats why it was half empty."

I really think I dislike Vilma more than George W. Why I won't vote for Vilma? I sat in her office 8 years ago to get a permit to put a small dormer on our 1.5 story house. Well within code, we had drawings, already met with the city, but she had an arrangement that ANY permit had to go thru her (not a zoning change - just a permit). She asked us (while I was VERY pregnant) what we needed more than 2 bedrooms for. Then she asked us "why should I do this for you? What is in it for me?" We knew what she wanted, we didn't pay. She then held our permit for 11 MONTHS. During the process, the city permit department could do nothing for us until they had her approval. Her approval???? Why????? When we would go to ward nights to meet with her (she would never see us at any other time) she never "got around to us." Ald. Doherty of the 41st ward finally pulled our permit when my husband went to see him (he grew up in that ward). Then came 2901-03 N. Richmond, upzoned from a Z3 to a Z5 without ANY community input (she made my neighbors send her certified mail letters of approval and also call her). You could follow the trail of donations to see how that upzone happened. Rey eventually got the project downzoned to a Z4 when he took office and did not approve the demolition of a graystone. Changed now?? I don't think so. She almost ruined us. We had to pay rent and mortgage until we could do the work to move in. And remember booting of cars??? My cousin's running car was booted when she took my uncle to dialysis on Milwaukee Ave. When she went to see Vilma, she said, "you shouldn't have parked there...."

Vilma: straight up b____ April 12th - 9:35 p.m. I really think I dislike Vilma more than George W. Why I won't vote for Vilma? I sat in her office 8 years ago to get a permit to put a small dormer on our 1.5 story house. Well within code, we had drawings, already met with the city, but she had an arrangement that ANY permit had to go thru her (not a zoning change - just a permit). She asked us (while I was VERY pregnant) what we needed more than 2 bedrooms for. Then she asked us "why should I do this for you? What is in it for me?" We knew what she wanted, we didn't pay. She then held our permit for 11 MONTHS. During the process, the city permit department could do nothing for us until they had her approval. Her approval???? Why????? When we would go to ward nights to meet with her (she would never see us at any other time) she never "got around to us." Ald. Doherty of the 41st ward finally pulled our permit when my husband went to see him (he grew up in that ward). Then came 2901-03 N. Richmond, upzoned from a Z3 to a Z5 without ANY community input (she made my neighbors send her certified mail letters of approval and also call her). You could follow the trail of donations to see how that upzone happened. Rey eventually got the project downzoned to a Z4 when he took office and did not approve the demolition of a graystone. Changed now?? I don't think so. She almost ruined us. We had to pay rent and mortgage until we could do the work to move in. And remember booting of cars??? My cousin's running car was booted when she took my uncle to dialysis on Milwaukee Ave. When she went to see Vilma, she said, "you shouldn't have parked there...."

A 'machine hack' alderwoman? Illegally interfering with the lawful issuance of a building permit, for the purpose of extorting swag from a hapless constituent? Sounds like this was the perfect opportunity for the 'victims' to seek law enforcement assistance and help to bust the bitch in the act of committing a criminal offense. Yet, according to the post, what the 'victims' did was to allow themselves to be strung along for almost a full year, then they sought 'help' from a political hack 'alderman', and everything was then okay. Other than zoning issues, and, perhaps the settling of disputes between the building department and the citizens, what business does any city official have with arbitrarily obstructing the lawful procedures of the building permit process? And what does it say about the poster's claim, that she and her husband did not bring this alleged attempted extortion to the attention of the appropriate law enforcement agencies? Either a missed opportunity or a fabrication. Which it is may be surmised by the timing of this post and the lack of actions at the so-called time of the alleged events. Nice try. Rey would be proud, if he could take the risks inherent in acknowledging either your skillfully concocted lie, or your sheep-like behaviors you so plaintively related, on his behalf. Next time, call the Fed Corruption Hotline, it's in the book.

right, good answer - someone trying to navigate the murky seas of building permits gets shaken down instead of assisted, and it's THEIR FAULT? sweet jesus, you should be forced to work at a battered women's shelter for a year you jerk.

The permitting process used to take a long time, that is why a separate DCAP was created a few years back. In Reloaded's defense, three months was not unheard of, even using the phenomena known as expediters. But the story sounds fishy, considering that length of time. Maybe Reloaded omitted something from the story. Perhaps it wasn't approved the first time around (not an unusual occurrence). Considering the similarities of this and a similar posting in the LSq. yahoo listserv and the other's obvious leanings such an "ommission" shouldn't surprise. I don't recall any others with this complaint, nor any one else coming up with this "arrangement" charge. Lets stick to the facts. I'm a Sotomayor supporter/fence sitter. The fabrications coming from some of Rey's supporters are helping stay me there. They were complaining about the negative pieces Mell's puppy tossed tossed out and they were rightly upset. Mike Z (Rey's ZAC chair) had a similar effect on me and several other friends with his posting (pure fabrications) on the listserv a while back. He might be one of Vilma's best vote getters.

Let's look at some recent election results for Vilma: 2007: 2,224 votes = 33.9% 2003: 3,439 votes = 41.6% Yikes, history hasn't been kind to Vilma. She really knows how to piss off her "base". She lost OVER 1/3 of her '03 votes. There must be a reason why people overwhelmingly will not vote for her. Probably because she blows as a public official.

So what are your hot-button issues my-o-my? Do you really think Vilma will continue having a ZAC, for all its flaws? Will she listen to any voices that don't agree with hers? Rey has not been perfect. But progress in Chicago's long-corrupt-and-inefficient system isn't measured in miles, it's measured in steps.

Say C- If you can find anything written down by her on ZAC let me know. On 2nd hand info she was mumbling something about a geographically based ZAC. It sounded interesting. No other details about implementation etc. She was at some meeting in Palmer Sq. Her method of campaigning seem to be "tell 'em what they want to hear". As far as I know it could have been improvised on the spot. If the past is any indication, I doubt she'll show much tolerance for dissenting voices. Her strongest message is something along the lines of having lost, I learned my lesson, and am humbled and humiliated by that experience. Even she's got to be awfully thick to ignore it. My guess is that if she gets elected she'll be good for about a year. After that... Progress around these parts is measured in even smaller units. Standing in place is fine with these two. My hope is its not backwards. The grind or pressure or whatever that 5th floor or Springfield puts on our reps/alderman etc. is tremendous and scary. Only the most principled and strongwilled seem to survive it. Del Valle seemed to have been one of the few, maybe Munoz and some others to be sure. I guess I don't feel Rey's really one of 'em. After working on a lot of local campaigns I'm just tired of watching all these people I helped cave in. I'm starting to think its too much to expect. (I'm not a Bruce or a Kevin either)

no, that's my take exactly - she's saying whatever she thinks it will take to get votes. splitting the ward into 5 parts has to be the most hare-brained idea ever. look at the headaches that come with resetting ward boundaries as a whole, and now she wants to micromanage that process? I see everyone getting pissed off with that. If she had clearly stated boundaries that she could be held to that would be one thing, I of course find the lack of clarification on the issue troubling. I think Rey's voting record is like 70-75% with Daley, when you compare that to his colleagues, he's definitely more independent than the vast, vast majority - Vilma was more like 90%+.

Anytime you meet with anyone in authority, bring your mini digital recorder, turn it on, (before the meeting), record everything, transcribe what you've recorded, then determine if what was said would be of interest to those who are drooling over the chance to bag a big one. Be careful in what you say and maybe, just maybe, you won't be a victim.

I have lived in Logan square all my life. My most memorably experience with Vilma was during the Logan Park fest when she kicked me and other volunteers out of the festival for registering people to vote. I dont feel its necessary to speak negativley about her, but after watching the Chicago Tonight debate you cant help but notice Vilma is not well educated or articulate. We should demand mroe from our leaders, and I will be proud to vote for rey.

Vilma is so disliked, her own nephew who lives in her building refuses to help her. I mean that speaks volume of the kind of person she is.

The negative rey pieces were a really cheap trick and Vilma lost point with me on that one. I wish Sotomayor was still in it, he could beat Rey. But Vilma is calling up everyone up promising them the world. I may sit this one out.

if we let Vilma win, that means Mell wins, and it means you won't ever see even a remotely independent alderman ever again.

I have to say that I'm outright stunned to hear that Rey Colon has come forward to ACKNOWLEDGE that the anonymous mailing regarding his allegations are in deed factual. I have a three letter word for that and it's W-O-W. I cannot comprehend why he lied to the constituents of the 35th ward. A honorable person would admit to the wrong doings. However, he continually went on record to say the allegations were not true. In my eyes, Rey Colon is a FAKE! He will never get my vote and I encourage others to also not give him your vote. As citizens its our responsibility to vote on April 17th, therefore, get out there and vote. To see the video or read the article, please visit http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&... Renee Arundale

Vilma's appearance on WTTW was pretty polished considering her other performances. She brutalizes the language worse than Daley or George Bush, she is rude and inconsiderate, and all this coming from someone that is supposed to truly value education. I think she just values some behind-the-scenes backslaps with slimy Mell and others. Last fall having talked to her one-on-one, with no prior interactions with her...I came away feeling dirty and disgusted. She is a very negative person, her meaness can't help but creep out, and I think that is reflected in all that she does and all the people she surrounds herself with. I voted Sotomayor in the election, and am fully throwing my weight behind Rey just because I am sincerely afraid of all the mess that Vilma would bring to office. She would be a HUGE step backwards.

To decide to 'sit this one out' isn't that unusual; 70% - 80% of all possible voters do so every election cycle. What are the requirements for voting in elections? Age, US Citizenship and Residency. How many people living in this city meet the requirements, but aren't registered? How many people living in this city who are registered, declined to vote in the past municipal election? In the November national elections? How will there ever be honest candidates for office, if only those voters backing the hacks show up to vote? Imagine if those vast numbers of non-registered voters were to register and support honest people. How might things be different for us all.

I have to say that I'm outright stunned to hear that Rey Colon has come forward to ACKNOWLEDGE that the anonymous mailing regarding his allegations are in deed factual. I have a three letter word for that and it's W-O-W. I cannot comprehend why he lied to the constituents of the 35th ward. A honorable person would admit to the wrong doings. However, he continually went on record to say the allegations were not true. In my eyes, Rey Colon is a FAKE! He will never get my vote and I encourage others to also not give him your vote. As citizens its our responsibility to vote on April 17th, therefore, get out there and vote. To see the video or read the article, please visit http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&... Renee Arundale

Anyone who's had any contact with 'vilma' knows that the incidents related by 'reloaded' are typical of her tactless demeanor. Where truly skilled shakedown artists are subtle, vilma is ham-handed. Where finesse is required, vilma barks and growls. When a kind word would win the day, vilma snarls. Those who wish to be treated like shit, by all means, vote for vilma. Then, prepare your anuses for some vilma finger action.

Democracy works when people care for their country and not their pockets.I will not support a liar who lie to your face not once but twice. I will not support a candidate that bribes the business community, it is anti-democratic to put money in my friends pockets and not for the benefit of the community. I will not support a dea-beat-dad who did not pay child support to his own flesh and denied having the child. I will not support a Drunk who got caught and was given a DUI. I will not support a person who continue to drive without a license 9 times. I will not support an Alderman who lies that crime is down when in reality is up. More than 15,000.00 incidents and counting in four year I will not support a person who supports crime. If you want this to continue in our community I urge you to vote for REY COLON. But my vote will go for a decent person and not a criminal!

DEAD BEAT DAD FOR ALDERMAN, You said, "But my vote will go for a decent person." So that leaves out Vilma. Who are you writing in?

When I vote for Vilma, I'm casting a vote for narrow-minded rudeness. I want my alderman to be programmed to say "no" the people and "yes sir, right away sir" to Daley, Mell, and all those other relics of history. I want my alderman to be confused and dull and not have a vision for improving the future.

2912 N. Sacramento In the battle of the Senior Citizen vs. Suburban Developer, I’ve been told that the Suburban Developer has won, and that the zoning change has gone through city council. A suburban developer, Corneliu Moldoveanu, applied for zoning change to build a 6 unit condominium at 2912 N. Sacramento. The community representatives on the zoning committee (ZAC) opposed the change because there was no reason for it. The building to be demolished is a nice 2 flat brick building. It is one of a pair of buildings set back in the lot, and together, they are attractive buildings, similar to most of the 2 flats in Logan Square. At the Alderman’s community meeting there was unanimous agreement that the change should not be granted. The developer then came back with a revised plan for a 4 flat. Rather presenting it to his zoning committee (ZAC) for consideration, the Alderman posted notices of a second community meeting to discuss the new proposal. At this second public meeting, approximately 15 neighbors, including the owner of the building next door, Walter Sopala., opposed the change. There were 4 people in favor. All were from the condominium down the block. 2 were moving to San Diego and selling their unit. 1 was an investor renting units in the condo building. Despite the community’s objections, and without discussion with the ZAC, the Alderman agreed to the zoning change. When Mr. Sopala asked the Alderman why he granted the change, he said, “The ZAC chairman recommended it.” Mr. Sopala’s family has lived in their home since 1949. He is 78 years old. Colon’s actions have ruined his life. Walter’s set-back house with its great green front yard will now be looking out at asphalt parking lots. The historic character of the block will be ruined. A brick 2 flat with an affordable rental unit is being torn down to benefit a suburban developer and add to the over supply of condominiums in a deteriorating real estate market. Why is this Alderman supporting mindless real estate development over his own constituents? Who does he represent? Does he plan to tear down all the older brick two flats in Logan Square?

Dear Bruce Anderson the President of United Seniors Against Rey Colon, How much did you calculate you will loose in $2,000 a month rents with the new condos going up at 2912 N. Sacramento. Are you blaming your empty apartments on condos? Welcome to the world of real estate.

The traitor. He knocked on my door and telling me Vilma had to go and supporting Rey Colon. Then 3.5 years later knocked on my door asking me Rey had to go and to support Vilma. Then came back and knocked on my door asking me to support Sotomayor. Now he sits in meetings with Mell conspiring lies supporting Vilma. Looks like a traitor, sounds like a traitor, smells like a traitor. Oh my God, it is a traitor, it Bruce Anderson.

Dear Dead Beat . . . You need to check your sources and learn how to read. I read the bull-shit lies Vilma printed. Those documents are the same I filed to assure child support payments when I got a divorce. Those documents only prove that Rey Colon paid child support. Crime is down. I wish crime could some how - disappear. But, what do you think are the chances of crime disappearing. A suspended license do not make anyone a criminal. The worst it gives you is a bad driving record. If you would read and inform yourself properly you will learn that anyone can get arrested on a DUI and have only drank one glass of wine. I do not support ignorance, and ghetto politicians, that only attract ghetto supporters that participate in low class campaigns. I will vote for the most dignified candidate, that I know will not embarrass the community I live in. My vote will go to Rey Colon.

Democracy works when people care for their country and not their pockets.I will not support a liar who lie to your face not once but twice. I will not support a candidate that bribes the business community, it is anti-democratic to put money in my friends pockets and not for the benefit of the community. I will not support a dea-beat-dad who did not pay child support to his own flesh and denied having the child. I will not support a Drunk who got caught and was given a DUI. I will not support a person who continue to drive without a license 9 times. I will not support an Alderman who lies that crime is down when in reality is up. More than 15,000.00 incidents and counting in four year I will not support a person who supports crime. If you want this to continue in our community I urge you to vote for REY COLON. But my vote will go for a decent person and not a criminal!

THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&id=5193768

One of Vilma's old classmates at Schurz told me that she flunked her junior year of high school. wowee

That's only because she ditched her last class that year, the one on human relations.

SINCE VILMA UNCOVER THE LIES OF REY COLON. YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY TO THE POOR HONEST WOMAN. ACCEPT THE FACTS REY COLON IS A DEAD BEAT DAD AND DENIES HIS OWN FLESH.

Slaps around his wife and refuses to pay his bills. CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS - DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION NAME: BURGOA;ESTABAN BURGOA;YOLANDA CASE NAME: BURGOA;ESTABAN, et al. CASE NUMBER: 01D 0005537 FILING DATE: 4/4/2001 TYPE: DOMESTIC RELATIONS ATTORNEY: ANTHONY N PANZICA COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1ST MUNICIPAL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF: GERALD MNGMNT DEFENDANT: BURGOA; ESTEBAN 4307 N WINCHESTER CHGO, IL 60613 BURGOA; YOLAND 4307 N WINCHESTER CHGO, IL 60613 CASE NAME: GERALD MNGMNT v. BURGOA; ESTEBAN, et al. CASE NUMBER: 89M1 0713502 FILING DATE: 4/10/89 TYPE: CIVIL SUIT - DETAINER

Esteban is the most suitable spokesman for vilma, they're cut from the same cloth.

yeah i'm back for one last time here im driving south on KIMBALL heading to tha WOOD and guess who i see knocking on doors MR>JOEL MONARCH he's a joke just like the rest of u fools.SEIU ain't doing nothing this election besides putting reminders on constituents doors yeah thats going to make come out n vote.Latinos we in for a fight with these rich upper middle class WHITES u meet up for coffee at STARBUCKS with there 2 or 3 dogs left tha cats at home.LATINOS we will let ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON u know the former OA gaNGBANGER tha one who grew up in our NEIGHBORHOOd.DEAD BEAT DAD what no more sour grape story of u losing your job at the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT or tha YMCA..IM out PEACE TUESDAY APRIL 17,2007 lets her bring her back ALDERMAN VILMA COLOM MARK MARCA #102 para la proxima concejal de districto 35 barrio de LOGAN SQUARE,HUMBOLDT PARK,AVONDALE,OLD IRVING PARK..LATINOS N LATINAS we will send the message too these racists WHITES LIBERALS YUPPIES yeah u know what I'm talking out..NAH NAH NAH HEY HEY HEY REY COLON IS GONE ADIOS ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON...

Shame on Bruce Anderson. Developers have only the community at heart. Screw those ingrates who were against that wonderful development next to the Sopalas. So, most of 'em were against it. Mike Z liked it. That should be enough.

I don't understand the comments about Manny Flores. I've met him and he seems like a stand-up guy.

What don't you undertand about Manny Flores? He does look good when you meet him, but he is rotten filthy inside. He is a liar who cheats and lies and uses and plays both sides like he did this last election. Everyone is getting hip to his game including the Mayor.

You are a traitor. I hope you saw that wonderful piece Rey put out on Vilma's crime rates. Sure a cynic like you might say there's not really much an alderman can do about crime, short or getting a badge and busting criminals himself like Mike Wojick did a few years back. Rey to his credit has found a way an alderman can lower those crime rates. I want you to go up to the Sopalas and their neighbors and tell them that the building in question is the bulwark against crime on the 2900 N. block of Sacramento. I'm sure they'll feel better if they knew they were helping old Crimefightin' Rey Colon do his job. Your buddy Mike "Alberto Gonzalez" Jaskula

I will vote for whoever can put a stop to all those lazy nimrods that think honking incessantly on a side street at 5 a.m. is OK. grrrrr! Oh yea, and I will NOT vote for Vilma because she is mean, spins the truth in all that she says and does, and she was terrible the first time around.

nice to see Vilma's supporters showing their true, bigoted colors.

You can only expect the highest professionalism to come out of the Vilma camp. Those people are sooo kind and friendly with good intentions. With all of her goodwill in the community, it really is a wonder she was voted out in a landslide 4 years ago.

Guess this proves there's no race or class dimension to this campaign

Why IS Jane Heron so active in the last 2 weeks in Reys campaign ? She is not the best spokesperson. I mean she is about as easy to dislike as Vilma. PLEASE COME WEDNESDAY APRIL 18 SO THIS IS OVER !!!

none of the posts here are by Jane Heron...

Who cares if Jane Heron posted here or not ? She is a miserable, shriveled up old hag.

The Grammar Police are looking for Vilma. They are concerned that her inability to speak or write without serious errors is a bad example for the community.

Vilma's English is as good as Rey's Spanish

I think it says alot about a campaign when its got Luis Gutierrez doing your phone messages. They should just let Jane babble.

THE POLICE IS LOOKING FOR CARTER HE WORKS FOR REY COLON.

So, vilma's got some snitchbag working for her?

Well, we'll all know, 24 hours from now, who'll be kissing Daley's ass for the next 4 years, with or without much resistance. Annnnnnnnd....... THERE OFF!!!

come on now, Rey voting with Daley 70% of the time is a hell of a lot different than Vilma doing it 90% of the time. btw, I hear our good friend Mr. Burgoa has been found guilty of some election law violations - oops, guess maybe he isn't a good poster child for the law after all.

I want the teacher for alderman, Vilma is more honest to the community. Rey colon is going to jail for corruption. I hear the FBI is after him. It is just matter of time.

".....is going to jail for corruption. I hear the FBI is after him. It is just matter of time." Don't you mean YOU ARE?

Does this mean Esteban won't be going around to the polling places today with his loudspeaker? He'll be missed.

And a huge sigh of relief passes over all of the 35th ward! Don't forget to take the weirdo Esteban Burgoa with you Vilma...and please don't come back.

Well numbers don't lie, voters were PISSED OFF with Vilma's stale & dirty approach to politics. I feel bad for all the people that wasted their donations to her...they just went to print out lies, inaccuracies, and made people dislike her even more.

Vilma manages just 37%! I wonder when she'll get the message that people don't want her bad attitude in office?

Very interesting: total votes cast down exactly 10 from the Feb election. Approximately 80% of Miguel's votes went to Rey. Vilma picked up 246 additional votes over Feb, while Rey picked up 1,035. I think the sad note in all of this is the amount of extra time that citizens had to register to vote for the run-off...and we did not see it, nor did we see any additional turnout from the already registered. Are we apathetic from a long, dirty, and frustrating campaign? Or is everyone too busy watching mindless reality TV? Probably a little of both. Good luck to both Rey & Vilma in their next steps.

"I think the sad note in all of this is the amount of extra time that citizens had to register to vote for the run-off..." Tho your point seems to be that there was no significant difference in voter turnout, it may be the case that many voters who did not participate in the regular election, did participate in the run-off, and vice versa. In any case, this particular contest might not be the best example to draw conclusions from, for a variety of reasons. The encouraging things are that there were a significant number of machine incumbents voted out and that there was a greater amount of discussion and debate on the very relevant subject of political corruption, malignant neglect and the arrogance routinely exhibited by those participants in that very same corruption. Maybe during the next few years, the people will begin to realize that Richie 'Mumbles the 2nd' Daley is also an integral part of same. That is, of course, if he manages to remain free from indictment.

Yeah its a sad night for anyone who believe in VILMA COLOM too lose 1609 votes i wonder if that includes early voting and abstenee ballots.Unfortuntaley ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON will be around for maybe a couple of more terms..I want him too not to forget about us PUERTORICANS and LATINOS BLACKS AND WHITES..U know the ones who are in the struggle.I hate saying this CONGRATULATIONS ALDERMAN REYNALDO REY COLON..

I'll be back.

Sure you will, like a dose of the clap.

"Approximately 80% of Miguel's votes went to Rey. Vilma picked up 246 additional votes over Feb, while Rey picked up 1,035. " You don't know that Miguel's votes went to Rey, these may have been people who sat out the last election.

Vilma tried to come back in '07 and was thoroughly rejected by the ward. Hopefully Vilma has learned that she isn't the 35th ward darling that she thinks. Esteban is the 35th ward weirdo and probably basks in all the attention. He will be back and he too will be rejected. Then he will join Vilma as an honorable inductee to the Hall of Shame!

The the totals picked up comes close to the total Sotomayor had. People either tend to vote or not. A significant number of people register and don't vote or rarely vote. Thats why walk sheets/ frequent voter lists are used by the people working the precincts for a candidate. If you've ever used them, they're reliable. I doubt if the all 1300 or so of the Sotomayor supporters sat out, I suspect most voted. I think only a very small percentage sat out. The pool of frequent voters is fairly stable.

As I have said before... People HATE Vilma. People LIKE Rey. That is the only reason Rey won. Rey has now a blank page to take Logan Square to Wicker Park style. So,enjoy the next 4 years 35th Ward. You Re-Elected a Liar, Con Artist, Pompous, Arrogant Suave Alderman.

I will happily take all the good & bad of this supposed "wickerparkification" that you claim Rey will bring, as long as the alternative is getting Abandamoniums forced on us by Vilma. Her incompetence and meddling ways are very scary to me.

Rey's ways are just as scary as Vilma's only better packaged.

While many of us were blogging away about the election or urging our neighbors to vote - I spent the day in housing court. 2834-36 North Albany has for the last six years been the source of over 90% of all violent crime in our four block area. We have even been robbed by residents of the building. 2834-36 is a six flat with 32 units in it. Many units have more than one occupant. It is a disgrace to our ward, a blight on our safety and a dangerous environment for those tenants not involved in crime. The building had 47 violations. Some even severe heath violations. As it turns out - I need to be thanking Vilma. The landlord and owner Carlos Soto said she gave him the permit and permission to run an illegal SRO. When we took this issue to Vilma I had the same response - what is in it for me? And Vilma refused to stand up to the landlord or the gang-controlled building. "too many votes" So quietly Rey began the process of helping the block. It is a shame we are in court - but if you know our block it comes as no surprise. Judge Rey on his choices - which if you examine the issues are not so black and white - or hispanic. He has weighed some of our issues carefully and in this instance took a chance that Vilma would not have dared. Zoning issues and criminal issues regretfully are connected in our ward. Decent housing and affordable housing do not equate to dangerous housing. The choices Rey has made in regards to older building are difficult ones. The building on 2912 N. Sacramento is not nearly as pleasant as the previous emails have indicated. I walk by it every day. I lament the fact that it will be a condo - but it is better than the trash, car parts, needles and other debris that points to an unkempt and dubious occupants. As for being 78 - that is an awfully long time not to pick up your trash. Too much attention has been focused on issues that have little bearing on our actual living conditions. This is a real issue that is ongoing and critical to the ward - and one that Rey has kept an eye on throughout the election. I am glad to have voted for Rey - and I ask that we all take some time to get involved with some of the real issues. Real issues that with a little input from residents can make our ward a lot better for all of us. The point? If you don't like what Rey or any official is doing go and talk with him. Bring your neighbors. Unlike Vilma he'll listen. Maybe Vilma should go and live in 2834-36 Albany. I am sure I can arrange a good deal on a unit. Thanks Vilma for wasting our time and money.

The 78 year old lives next door to 2912 Sacramento. The "trash, car parts, needles" Are not his. I've been by these buildings a few times. I've never seen the "trash, car parts' etc. Perhaps you have a different 2912 N. Sacramento in mind. I tried talking to our revered and beloved alderman about a zoning issue, my name and number was put in the log by none other than our hero Martha. I never got a reply.

I went by a few weeks ago, it's not a very good example of a red brick 2 flat as its supporters have claimed - in fact, the phrase "brick shithouse" is what comes to mind. additionally, this building (and it's twin next door) was built all the way to the back lot line, it's a sight impairment to people in the alley, I don't know how on earth garbage trucks make that turn. a single family home or two flat would have been more appropriate, but houses set back on the lot like that are not necessarily "historic" - sometimes they are just the result of crappy planning.

Thanks to this seasoned architect, we all now know that some people's property doesn't deserve to remain standing. Soon, all the homeowners in our city/county, can expect their buildings to be subjected to this kind of 'quality review'. Should your life-long home be deemed a 'brick shithouse', prepare for the wrecking ball. Those homeowners located in areas not yet attractive to 'developers' have time to transform their homes into more acceptable to re 2912's obviously superior standards. Those homeowners located in those areas 'developers' are drooling over should immediately begin packing their belongings, as the bulldozers are rolling in their directions. Thank you, re 2912, for giving us all an early heads-up on our impending perils.

get your facts straight, you don't need to be an architect to follow this, but you do need to comprehend statements like: "The 78 year old lives next door to 2912 Sacramento" So to clarify: the longtime homeowner's house isn't the one getting torn down, it's the house NEXT DOOR in question. the issue has been whether the neighbor deserves to have a say in what replaces it, the guy who (repeating for the clueless) OWNS THE HOUSE, is the one tearing it down.

"A suburban developer, Corneliu Moldoveanu, applied for zoning change to build a 6 unit condominium at 2912 N Sacramento." "The building to be demolished is a nice 2 flat brick building. It is one of a pair of buildings set back in the lot, and together, they are attractive buildings, similar to most of the 2 flats in Logan Square." "Mr. Sopala’s family has lived in their home since 1949. He is 78 years old. Colon’s actions have ruined his life. Walter’s set-back house with its great green front yard will now be looking out at asphalt parking lots. The historic character of the block will be ruined. A brick 2 flat with an affordable rental unit is being torn down to benefit a suburban developer and add to the over supply of condominiums in a deteriorating real estate market. Why is this Alderman supporting mindless real estate development over his own constituents? Who does he represent? Does he plan to tear down all the older brick two flats in Logan Square?" "The building on 2912 N. Sacramento is not nearly as pleasant as the previous emails have indicated. I walk by it every day. I lament the fact that it will be a condo..." So, "get your facts straight", nowhere in my post did I claim that Mr. Sopala's home was the one about to be demolished, and nowhere in your post did you claim or imply same. You did state "it's not a very good example of a red brick 2 flat as its supporters have claimed - in fact, the phrase 'brick shithouse' is what comes to mind." and "additionally, this building (and it's twin next door) was built all the way to the back lot line, it's a sight impairment to people in the alley, I don't know how on earth garbage trucks make that turn. a single family home or two flat would have been more appropriate, but houses set back on the lot like that are not necessarily "historic" - sometimes they are just the result of crappy planning." So. my comments and criticisms of your opinions were valid. Your statement that "the issue has been whether the neighbor deserves to have a say in what replaces it,..." is accurate and on point. Thank you for spelling it out for all of us 'clueless' ones. My points are also relevant, as those who hold that their opinions on the quality of vintage Chicago architecture, (as in "...it's not a very good example of a red brick 2 flat as its supporters have claimed - in fact, the phrase 'brick shithouse' is what comes to mind."), are a more valuable guide to determining whether or not developers are granted permission to demolish and replace said vintage buildings, (with whatever type structures will gain them the most profit), than the desires of the residents who have to live with the results of said replacements. Are you still confused? And do I need to 'clarify' further?

you claimed: "Thanks to this seasoned architect, we all now know that some people's property doesn't deserve to remain standing. " you apparently are still confused, as this comment makes no sense in the context of the situation, which is that the owner is selling his house, and doesn't care if it gets torn down. if you believe it "deserves to remain standing" there is an easy solution: buy it. then rehab it, or replace it with a similar building. here's a picture of the property: http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/filings/searchflat//searchdetails001.asp?FAddress=2910&TAddress=2920&Dir=N&Street=Sacramento&pinhelp1=If+you+wish+to+obtain+information+on+a+specific+residential+property+but+you+do+not+know+the+PIN%2C+simply+enter+the+address+in+the+%22Search+by+Address%22+function%2E+It+should+be+noted+that+due+to+the+transitory+nature+of+addresses%2C+our+address+file+might+contain+errors+or+omissions%2E+If+you+experience+difficulties%2C+please+call+the+Cook+County+Assessor%92s+Office+Taxpayer+Information+Department+at+312%2D443%2D7550%2E+When+entering+the+street+name+of+your+desired+property%2C+to+aid+in+your+search%2C+please+do+not+enter+the+street+suffix%2C+such+as+St%2E%2C+Dr%2E%2C+Ave%2E%2C+etc%2E+You+will+then+need+to+enter+the+city+name+in+the+box+on+the+third+line+of+the+section%2E+Please+note+that+you+do+not+need+to+select+a+class+to+conduct+a+search%2E%0D%0A%0D%0AOnce+the+required+fields+of+information+are+entered%2C+click+once+on+the+%22Search+by+Address%22+button+to+submit+your+search%2E+This+will+bring+up+a+page+with+your+desired+PIN%2C+corresponding+address%2C+city%2C+neighborhood%2C+class+code%2C+township%2C+age%2C+description+of+class+code%2C+assessed+value%2C+and+a+description+of+the+property%92s+characteristics%2E+To+compare+your+property%92s+assessed+value+to+other+similar+properties+on+your+block+or+in+your+neighborhood%2C+you+may+enter+a+range+of+addresses+on+the+search+page%2E+For+example%2C+you+may+enter+400+%96+500+N+Main+in+Chicago%2E+This+may+be+useful+if+you+are+considering+an+appeal+based+on+lack+of+uniformity%2E%0D%0A%0D%0A&City=Chicago&add_search=Search+By+Address&search_type=address&pin=13251220500000 that's not a historic quality brick two flat by any stretch of the imagination. there's no detail, no bay windows, it's a big, brick box. as such, I see no valid reason the owner shouldn't be able to sell it to someone who will tear it down. would I rather see it replaced with a two flat? Absolutely - but that's not my nor your call. The issue here is the zoning upgrade, I completely agree a 4 unit building is wholly out of character.

Thanks for picking out the one quote that seems to support the point of your post, namely, that you are not Mr. Sopala, you won't have a huge, block building next to your front yard, you won't have a fucking parking lot to gaze at from your front yard, and you don't give a shit what Mr. Sopala thinks or feels about it. Additionally, you reiterate your position of being a qualified expert on historical architecture, to wit, "that's not a historic quality brick two flat by any stretch of the imagination. there's no detail, no bay windows, it's a big, brick box.", said statement being quite revealing of your lack of appreciation for vintage architecture and your bias in favor of the 'developers' perspective. As to "would I rather see it replaced with a two flat? Absolutely - but that's not my nor your call.", well, who do you think has to approve of zoning changes? And who do you think that person has to answer to? While it's lamentable that the previous owner of the building adjacent to Mr. Sopala's home 'took the money and ran', this doesn't mean that the new 'owners' can build whatever they damn well please to replace it; they have to seek approval, whether to rehab the vintage structure, replace it with the same type of building, or with a building of a type that requires a zoning variance. The alderman has the political power to determine what changes, if any, are allowed. And Mr. Sopala's efforts to have his opinions on the matter heard and considered are valid and should be respected.

Should the neighbor also have a say in the interior design of the house. Did the Sopala's finance the purchase? Why should anyone have a say in what a property owner should do with their money and property? This subject is ridiculous. This is America a capitalist country. Since when do we intervene in what other people do with their money. Whoever is creating this subject is nosey and needs to mind their own business. How would you like it if someone started to tell you what to do with your money/property?

Well, that's one of the many interesting subjects of this discussion. Are you suggesting that there is no need for a Building Department? Or a Building Code? Or a Zoning Department? Or a Zoning Classification System? Or the ward's alderman having anything to say about the decisions made by same? Or the executive branch, ie. da Mayor's office, having any right, whatsoever, in interfering, influencing, or affecting same? Or any government agency or any politician having any authority regarding same? Or any adjacent property owners?

Rey is no match for me!

"While it's lamentable that the previous owner of the building adjacent to Mr. Sopala's home 'took the money and ran'," He sold his building, which is located in a very unusual part of a city lot. the new owner is entitled to build something else, and the fact is that no matter WHAT he builds, it is going to block off the "view" of Mr Sopala. nobody is razing mr Sopala's house. he is going to have to deal with the fact HIS house is an oddball, located in a place nobody on earth can buikld a house today -

"....the fact HIS house is an oddball, located in a place nobody on earth can buikld a house today -" C'mon, you can do better than this feeble response to my posted questions, can't you? "...nobody on earth..."? If this is the best you can do, try turning your brain on, BEFORE you post a comment.

Answer the questions posed, if you dare.

with an attitude like this, I can see why your "support" of Mr Sopala didn't go very far. I agree with you in principle, but is this the most important issue facing the ward? Were you really willing to hand the reins back to Vilma based on a re-zoning of this piece of property, and did you think the rest of us were going to fall for that logic?

The 'vilma' issue is dead and buried. Even though this particular discussion began as an 'issue', however relevant to vilma's attempt to regain the alderman's office, it raises issues that go far beyond election politics. That's why I posed the above questions and that's why I am interested in reading any posts which attempt to answer same. Please read the questions, think about what is being questioned, all of what is being questioned, and post any opinions you may have.

Now you are going really off course. This is America, where the government has established departments with professionals and experts on this matters. If there was a problem I am sure they would have said something. It is their job to provide expert consultation to the Alderman and Mayor. Because this is America, we have a system in place and departments that serve as the police on this type of matters. Everyone must follow the law from needing a license to operate a motorized vehicle to requiring a permit for building. In order to get the license I have to provide the credentials required. And by the way, neither the Alderman nor the Mayor have a say if I get my license. They hire people to determine if I meet the credentials. If you want to build you must acquire a permit. Before a contruction permit is issued city experts of engineers and architects review the plans and verify the structure is according to city code. To get certificate of occupancy to the property the city experts inspect the property to make sure it is compliant to city code and plans submitted. If zoning was passed, it must also meet established codes. It is obvious . . . if the 2912 project is moving forward there has been no violation and they are in compliance. Otherwise the appropriate city department . . . not "da Mayor's" office, would be getting involved. I am sure the Mayor has much better things to do. I think your attitude on this matter is not healthy, you seem overly obsessed with this matter. Maybe you need to get a job or something to keep you busy.

Coming soon to what. To give the toll booth cashiers their change. You Sotomayor are a head cashier for a toll booth area. That explains why your speeches were full of nothingness. I am not comfortable giving my vote to a head cashier. He obviously knows how to reconcile a drawer. But, what on earth was he thinking about running for office. He does not have the credentials. You are right Rey is no match for you. Rey Colon is a heavyweight. You are in the lightweight category. You only made the lightweight category because you probably wore boxer shorts that added on an extra 50 pounds. Did you vote during the run-off? What kind of a leader runs for office and refuses to vote. That is stupid, stupid, stupid. You have very stupid advisors.

Now you're being disingenuous. Where do we begin? Have you ever had to deal, in any way, with the Building Department? Do you have any knowledge of the actual hiring practices of same? Not the hiring practices on paper, but the ones applied in 'real life'? What specific knowledge do you have regarding the City Building Code? And it's actual, real life 'enforcement'? What experience have you had with the Zoning Variance process? Not the process on paper, but the real life experience? What do you think is being referenced, when the phrase 'Da Mayar's office' is used? Or 'the Alderman'? Do you really believe that "neither the Alderman nor the Mayor have a say if I get my license."? If so, is that because "They hire people to determine if I meet the credentials."? "...if the 2912 project is moving forward there has been no violation and they are in compliance. Otherwise the appropriate city department ..." Are you making this statement from your own personal experience, or merely quoting the 'official' position of the authorities? As for "I think your attitude on this matter is not healthy, you seem overly obsessed with this matter. Maybe you need to get a job or something to keep you busy." You mean like, say, as a city building inspector?

"If zoning was passed, it must also meet established codes." zoning and codes are two utterly separate topics - btw, anyone notice how during the Donald Stephens coverage he tried to explain giving a job for a known Outfit collector in Rosemont upon release from prison, by saying "it was a very low job, he was just a building inspector" oh, the humanity - yeah, putting mobsters in positions to shake down homeowners and developers is a "low level" job, right.

Now we're getting somewhere. Anyone else want to share their experiences on the "expert consultation to the Alderman and Mayor." provided by the "professionals and experts" hired by the "the Alderman and Mayor." who "has much better things to do."?

'orion' comments on 'Colon v. Colom, round XXXV' by Ben Joravsky on April 6th "ORION April 6th - 4:51 p.m. I agree. If Mell was THAT distracted and extended by a political unknown in his race to the extent he could not help his protege, he has bigger problems." and "Orion April 7th - 6:09 a.m. Is this like the Bruce that backstabbed William Wallace in Braveheart ?" Thus concludes the 'orion' comments on this article. See individual article comments for the further adventures of your hero and mine, the ever enthusiastic ...... 'orion'.

Sotomayor will kick ass in 4 years! Rey Colon will go down...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/415690,CST-NWS-bomb06.article

Vilma knock on my door a couple of days ago asking us to support Bradley I was cracking up, I told her that I was not voting for anyone that comes from Mels camp and I was sure not voting for Iris that if I happen to vote I would consider voting for Carlos, She got all bent out of shape and stormed out my property. LOL Vilma understand that you have no pull in the 35th ward anymore. Drew

Vilma is an idiot. Iris Martinez is pretty good, but that nasty Joe Berrios is funding Bradley. As if Bradley is going to win. Joe Berrios won't even win his own neighborhood or block against Ray Hernandez.