Monday, March 31, 2008
News / Clout City The New Reformers
Posted by Ben Joravsky on Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 6:22 PM
You never know what injustice is going to stir the soul of a Chicago alderman.
For instance, a few days ago aldermen Tom Allen (38th Ward) and George Cardenas (12th Ward) were moved to outrage by the $75,000 Shakman compensation award to Jay Stone, son of alderman Bernard Stone (50th Ward).
Federal monitor Noelle Brennan awarded Stone the money on the grounds that his 2003 campaign for 32nd Ward alderman was unfairly torpedoed by the throngs of patronage workers who were dispatched by Donald Tomczak to work for Ted Matlak, the incumbent.
"We've got potholes to fix. We spend $20 million on snow removal and the federal monitor decides in her infinite wisdom to give somebody $75,000 because they lost an election? Can I sign up for that program?" Allen told the Sun-Times.
Cardenas was even hotter. "It's an outrage. This is crazy," he told Spielman. "The monitor has no clue."
I realize it may seem odd that Alderman Stone's son would claim benefits for the excesses of a machine that his father has loyally served. And, yes, Matlak probably would have beat Stone in 2003 -- though not by as much -- even without Tomczak's muscle.
But you can't blame Jay Stone -- an passionate independent -- for the politics of his father, who didn't even support him in the race.
Furthermore, political campaigns are at the heart of the Shakman case. The compensation awards stem from a lawsuit filed by Michael Shakman in 1970 after his unsuccessful run for delegate to the state constitutional convention. Shakman argued he lost because because of all the payrollers forced to campaign for his machine-backed opponent.
Eventually, Shakman's lawsuit freed payrollers from having to campaign for the machine. And it freed independents, like Jay Stone, from having to face an election-day patronage steamroller. It's one thing if all those city workers really were for Matlak. It's another thing if they were coerced. Funny, Matlak didn't do nearly as well after the feds shut down Tomczak's political organization (Matlak lost to Scott Waguespack last year).
So, yes, Allen could have filed for Shakman compensation, provided, like Stone, he had enough guts to go up against anyone with as much clout and city workers as Matlak had back in 2003.
I appreciate that aldermen Allen and Cardenas are finally speaking out against wasteful city spending. But I find it curious that they choose to take their first great stand over the relative peanuts dished out to Stone. I mean, just think of all the potholes we could have filled and the snow we could have plowed with the money saved from, oh, let's see, Hired Truck, the Duffs, the Soldier Field renovation, overruns at Millennium Park, the Block 37 underground train station, and countless TIF handouts to well-connected downtown developers. Funny, those scandals and deals came and went with nary a peep of protest from Cardenas, Allen or most of their council colleagues.
I suppose the aldermen are selective opponents of wasteful spending. As long as it's Mayor Daley doing the wasting, it's OK.
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J-stone never applied for a city job. My best friend lost his bid for alderman. He ran up against one of the strongest ward organizations in Chicago. He was never compensated,like J-Stone.I also knew a man who was passed up for promotion for 10 years,in the Dept of Human Resources, in favor of less qualified individuals with clout. He was given a token $7000. Real victims of hiring and promotion fraud have to suffer more injustice. Michael Shakman sold out the workers and citizens to receive his retirement allotment. We don't need this fake liberal bullshit, that serves noone but Daley,and some fake elitist,whom want to bask in their own glory.
The Monitor (and Ben ) has no clue. Hey Ben, Soldier Field was funded with Hotel/Motel taxes, not road fund or corporate $$$ so no potholes to be filled with that money. The money that went to the Duffs was going to go to SOMEBODY for the cleaning contracts, minority or otherwise, so it would have been used to fill potholes either. but why let facts get in the way of a good rant.....
A staged embarrassment to undermine the intent by dragging it into the absurd...these guys are slick and we're a bunch of chumps.
Remember we were elected to be stewards over are fellow citizen.Within the realm of our stewardship,we may deem it necessary to make a judgement for the betterment all.
Millinium Park- $ 300 million over budget. Soldier Field- $250 million over budget. O'Hare Expansion-$ 15 billion over budget.Plus the recent loan from our reform city council for $500 million (over budget expense already, O'Hare Airport expansion) prior to the property tax increase are reform City Council passed without a peep. Noelle Brennan and Mike Shakman are the only real Justice we have left in this Corrupt City!
Hotel / Motel Holiday inn...once your girl starts acting up ....than you take her friend! Cocoman is right, taxpayers pay for everything with this City Council. Hip Hop Hippity Hop you don't stop....
When will DALEY feel the Heat of COCO-MAN again?
Has Orion ever posted anything truthful on here?
jay Stone didn't run a campaign worth 75000. It took years for someone to piece together a real campaign and run against the Tomczak machine in 32. The last election had everyone from Rham Emanuel and Madigan to Daley and city workers all over and tons of money and the new guy won because he had a campaign.
I would do it again. Some people are anti-semitic, are you? Jay is a nice guy. Quit haten! Name one thing you hate about Jay!
LISTEN AT THIS GUY !PLAY THE RACE CARD IN REVERSE. SO NOW WHEN SOMEONE CRITICIZES A JEWISH PERSON THEY ARE ANTI-SEMITIC. WELL I MUST BE,BECAUSE I THINK RON HUBERMAN IS A PIECE OF SHIT. J-STONE DIDN'T DESERVE THE MONEY,AND HE TOOK IT AWAY FROM NEEDY VICTIMS WHOM,HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT,AND ARE NOT PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO BE COMPENSATED FOR BEING A LOSER.MY FRIEND SOME PEOPLE ARE RACIST AND ENTHNOCENTRIC,AND SOME USE EXCUSES.
Daley is a crook we need a new Mayor Orion, TIF money was used taxpayer money was used at Soldier Field motel/hotel taxes should be going to the general fund
"Ian March 31st - 9:11 p.m. Has Orion ever posted anything truthful on here?" Actually, there is always one truth within every 'orion' post, that truth being that 'orion' consistently proves to be a POS. At least when 'orion' is posting under the monicker of 'orion'.
Danny, If you want Hotel taxes to go to the General fund, your beef is with the State Legislature, not the City. There is a law about what hotel funds can be used for, it must be for tourism purposes, not filling potholes.
2003 32nd Ward Aldermanic Election: Back to the Future The Upzoning Game: 32nd Ward (4) http://groups.msn.com/ChicagosAldermanicPrivilegeTheUpzoningGame/theupzoninggame32ndward4.msnw Joe Lake, Bucktown
"The money that went to the Duffs was going to go to SOMEBODY for the cleaning contracts, minority or otherwise, so it would have been used to fill potholes either" Riiiiight. And I'm sure the work would have done as cost-effectively as possible. Anyone remember the story of City-purchased asphalt being sold on the side? http://www.suntimes.com/news/hired/113115,hired_051005.article We're not in the market for your snake oil, orion. Corruption costs taxpayers big money.
Frank Coconutty got how much? I made that much in one day with MSS sewer cleaning. Also my cousin is robbing the pension fund blind! Everybody now....Hotel/Motel Holiday inn....When your girl starts acting up...than you take her friend ...I said Hip Hop Hippitty Hop the tax money don't stop!
Now the board is invaded by Vanilla Ice
That show with James Laski the former City Clerk who went to jail and attorney Frank Avila is a awesome great show. Avila and McDonough are real reformers. Watch it, you won't be disappointed. www.chicagoclout.com
WOW What a great show with Avila and Laski. That is incredible. Laski should run for Mayor. Frank Avila should replace Diane Burns and make 3 million.
I now the end is near and so I take the final curtain.....My friends , I had a few... I did it my way!
Laski for Mayor ? Am I missing something ? He shook down his best friend for money so his best friend could milk the taxpayers for $$$$$$$. This cable show from Chico and Mental?
75,000 dollars? Is there anyone else under indictment? INvestigations? I guess the same guys were there when Lorna Brett ran against MAtlak, so give her a 75k bonus. What more can be shaken out of those bums?
How come Mayor Daley won't make a comment about Frank Coconuts winning.....
I think the Mayor and his people are afraid of the Coconut, He has saved the taxpayers mega dollars uncovering the corruption of the Daley gang. Good work Frank, don't let the haters get you down.
Something very interesting has happened during the past 24 hours. First, CBS 2 Chicago reports that Cook County State's Attorney candidate - who ran as an "independent outsider" - relied on support from key members of the scandal-plagued Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO) for her recent fundraiser. At that same fundraiser, Ms. Alvarez posed for a photo with fugitive from justice Jorge Montes de Oca - and that same photo appeared on the cover of last week's edition of El Dia newspaper. In a move of shameless desperation, Ms. Alvarez labeled State's Attorney candidate Tony Peraica a "racist" for "insinuating" her ties to the HDO. But, in terestingly enough, Ms. Alvarez confirms those same ties to the HDO in a Daily Herald story this morning. Further, she confirms that not only did HDO leaders Eddie Acevedo and Tony Munoz attend her recent fundraising event - but that Acevedo helped emcee the event! And she still hasn't answered why she posed for a picture with Montes de Oca, a fugitive from justice at the time, who was arrested this week on charges of writing more than $50,000 in bad checks. We invite you to watch this troubling situation unfold firsthand by viewing the CBS 2 Chicago report here ... and then reading this morning's Daily Hera ld story. These reports confirm what we have known all along - that despite her claims of independence and reform, Ms. Alvarez has consistently relied on support from political insiders to further her political career. Let's look at some interesting tidbits: Ms. Alvarez recieves political contributions from major county contractors - mostly law firms - for her Primary Campaign. Ms. Alvarez has a pre-election sit-down with Mayor Daley (she confirmed this Fox Chicago Sunday) and scores a "surprising" win in the Daley-controlled 11th Ward. We now learn of her support from the HDO - which operates strongly in that same 11th Ward. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the HDO ... this troubled organization has long been knwon as City Hall's political enforcement arm, and was run by indicted former top Daley ai de Al Sanchez. Acevedo is an HDO leader, and Munoz has reportedly been a major recipient of campaign contributions from Hired Truck scandal contractors.
Frank Avila should be on CBS. He could be the new Antonio Mora but with a Chicago flair. Anita Alvarez is not part of HDO. Victor Reyes was for Howard Brookins. Anita Alvarez is independent.
"We've got potholes to fix. We spend $20 million on snow removal and the federal monitor decides in her infinite wisdom to give somebody $75,000 because they lost an election? ..." [Tom] Allen [(38th Ward)] told the Sun-Times. [George] Cardenas [(12th Ward)] was even hotter. "It's an outrage. This is crazy," Hey Tom! Hey George! Why the fuck did you vote for it, you idiots? AUTHORIZATION FOR CORPORATION COUNSEL TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REGARDING CASE OF SHAKMAN, ET AL. V. CITY OF CHICAGO ... in the amount of $12,000,000 ... Nays -- none
http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/journals/041107meeting/02Finance/pgs102298-102347.pdf#page=46
Tom Allen is a good alderman. George Cardenas is a joke.
Re: Mayor Daley's denigrating remarks about the monitor's awards. Mr. Mayor: Since the federal court has taken over the entire City government's personnel decisionmaking, you might want to consider holding your comments. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Federal judge sick of corruption of city of chicago appoints federal monitor who has oversight over hiring process. City lawyer Mara Georges agreed that the claims people make would mena big payouts if they prove it. They proved it, and JayStone got his $75,000. The CITY had to sign onto the federal plan for hiring.
A good man has be maligned and had his character assulted by this rag of a paper. Christopher Kozicki was forced to resign and was unfairly persecuted by the reader and its minions. The hiring fraud settlement is nothling more than a shelter for losers.
Go to www.chicagoclout.com for insider info on Shakman Settlement. Jay Stone got $75,000.oo it shows he is on top of his game.
http://bl103w.blu103.mail.live.com/mail/SafeRedirect.aspx?
Don't put the blame on anyone expect the people who committed the crimes. Matlak and Tomczak had their fun at taxpayers expense, and once again the taxpayers foot the bill. The story is that the city had to agree to the federal monitors decisions. Don't worry though, the Mayor cut $20 mill from his budget to pay for it this week.
Yeas -- Aldermen Flores, Haithcock, Tillman, Preckwinkle, Hairston, Lyle, Beavers, Harris, Beale, Pope, Balcer, Olivo, Burke, T. Thomas, Coleman, L. Thomas, Lane, Rugai, Troutman, Mufioz, Zalewski, Chandler, Solis, Ocasio, Burnett, E. Smith, Carothers, Reboyras, Suarez, Matlak, Mell, Austin, Colon, Banks, Mitts, Allen, Laurino, O'Connor, Doherty, Natarus, Daley, Tunney, Levar, Shiller, Schulter, M. Smith, Moore, Stone -- 48. Nays -- None.
"That show with James Laski the former City Clerk who went to jail and attorney Frank Avila is a awesome great show." what? it's 80% Avila and maybe 20% Laski Avila interviews himself w/ Laski sitting there occasionally saying "uh huh"
Its about time the Mayor was made to pay for the corruption. $12 million for sending patronage workers who were working on taxpayers dime to help re-elect people like Matlak is illegal. Period. I want the alderman who benefitted from the patronage work to pay up or get out, or pay us back if they are out.
George Cardena wishes that there wasn't the Shakman so he could hire and control people for Daleys and his political agenda
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