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Elections: Board of Review Commissioner
The Pot and the KettleCan either of these well-connected men really help the little guy keep his property taxes down?
By Ben Joravsky January 31, 2008
Jay Paul Deratany is running what can only be called a Claypoolian campaign against incumbent Cook County Board of Review commissioner Joseph Berrios. Reaching out to liberals on the north lakefront and northwest side who voted for Cook County commissioner Forrest Claypool in his ill-fated run for the county board presidency, Deratany’s working overtime to link Berrios to board president Todd Stroger. “I call it the Berrios-Stroger tax machine,” says Deratany, a trial lawyer. “They’re driving up our taxes.”
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Board of Review Commissioner
The Pot and the Kettle Can either of these well-connected men really help the little guy keep his property taxes down?
By Ben Joravsky
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Berrios is the longest-serving member of the board, a three-person panel that plays a key role in determining who pays what in property taxes. To understand how, you need to know a thing or two about property taxes—I’ll keep it short. The amount you pay is determined by multiplying the assessed value of your property, as determined by Cook County assessor James Houlihan, by the tax rate. The lower your assessment, the lower your bill. So each year thousands upon thousands of property owners come before Berrios and his fellow board members, Larry Rogers and Brendan Houlihan, to argue that their assessments are too high.
As Deratany points out, the big winners in recent years have been corporate entities like owners of the John Hancock building, the Citicorp center, the AT&T building, the Prudential Plaza, and other major downtown commercial real estate. For instance, last year the Hancock, represented by house speaker Michael Madigan’s law firm, won a $4.8 million property tax break when the board lowered its assessment. Deratany contends it’s a conflict of interest for Berrios, who’s also chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, to hear cases represented by elected officials like Madigan and alderman Ed Burke, another prominent property tax attorney. “This is appalling,” he says. “We have a system where Madigan comes before Berrios to get a break for his client. If that’s not them scratching each other’s butt, I don’t know what is.” According to Deratany, the loser in this is the average property owner who doesn’t have the benefit of well-connected representation. And he has a point. When the board reduces the assessment on a piece of property, it shifts the burden of who pays what from the property owner who successfully appeals to everyone else. Berrios says he never lets power brokers like Madigan or Burke influence his decisions. “I don’t care who the lawyers are,” says Berrios. “I judge each case on its merits after going over the evidence. We have a file on every appeal. You can look at them and judge them yourself.” Traditionally, review board incumbents like Berrios have been impervious to challenges, in part because the office is so obscure. Plus the campaigns of board commissioners tend to be well funded, thanks to contributions from lawyers who do business before them. But the tide has been turning since 1998, when the law changed and commissioners began running within districts as opposed to countywide. In 2004 Larry Rogers Jr. defeated incumbent Robert Shaw in a south-side district, largely with the help of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. In 2006 Brendan Houlihan defeated Maureen Murphy in a suburban district, thanks to strong support from James Houlihan (no relation). Berrios’s district encompasses most of the city’s north side, where Claypool and James Houlihan are very popular. Though this is Deratany’s first run for office—he briefly considered shooting for judge a few years ago—he’s not exactly a neophyte. He’s friends with David Axelrod, political strategist for Barack Obama and Mayor Daley. In fact, Deratany represented Axelrod’s son Michael in the aftermath of his well-publicized squabble at the United Center with the wife of former Bulls player Antonio Davis in 2006. Thanks in part to Axelrod’s influence, Deratany has endorsements from Claypool, Cook County commissioner Mike Quigley, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, and assessor James Houlihan. Deratany says his campaign is part of a larger insurrection against Todd Stroger’s rule as county board president. If he wins, it will be because he effectively stamped Stroger’s face onto Berrios’s body and made the two inseparable in the eyes of voters. “The little bungalow- belt owner doesn’t have the connections to get denial after denial,” says Deratany. “We have to change the system.” Berrios makes no bones about his allegiances: he’s an old-school Democrat raised in Tom Keane’s powerful 31st Ward organization and he’s proud of it. “I’m not the one with a conflict of interest,” he says. “Deratany has the conflict of interest ’cause of his ties to [James] Houlihan.” If elected, Deratany would essentially be a judge ruling on Houlihan’s assessments. “The board needs more independence from Houlihan, not less,” says Berrios. “He’s trying to make his name by beating up on Stroger. That’s all he says—Stroger, Stroger, Stroger. If he thinks the city and county’s spending too much on taxes he should run for mayor or county board.” And here Berrios has a point. The main reason property taxes are rising is that the city and county keep raising them. It would take a major revolt against the system—against Mayor Daley as well as Stroger—to put a stop to that. Of course, neither candidate is calling for that.
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Bob C at 7:42 AM on 1/31/2008
The conflict of interest is with Deratany. He accepted over 180,000 from assessor Hynes. Deratany has to rule on Houlihans decision.
The Assessor already controls the other Houlihan (Brendan).
We have to fight the assessor.
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Braindead at 10:36 AM on 1/31/2008
We are better off with Todd and Joe in charge. Where else will all those wonderful campaign workers find jobs but with the county?
Some well-to-do fathers buy their offspring stores and boutiques to run. Not Joe. He bought his daughter a job as state rep! That's how much respect Joe has for the electorate. We in the 39th legislative distict are doubly lucky to be represented by the amazing, capable, articulate, bold, and innovative and forceful Toni Berrios as well as Joe! It's good to know that the traditions of the 31st ward will carry on long into the future. Tom Keane can rest in peace at last. With two Berrios's to represent us, we in the 39th legislative can hold our heads high knowing we're the envy of all of Chicago. Eat your hearts out Chicago.
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Corey at 1:23 AM on 2/1/2008
JOE BERRIOS' LONG HISTORY OF CORRUPTION (more to come)
Profile of Joseph Berrios." Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. June, 2005. below
-Documents a controversy where two of Joe Berrios’ employees lowered their own property taxes.
"Suit says heavyweight pol put his mistress on payroll." Chicago Sun-Times. 1/30/2005. below
-A lawsuit filed by Edgar Lopez (a former friend a political associate of Joe Berrios) alleges that Berrios had a sexual relationship with his now estranged wife, Lillibeth Lopez, and then secured her jobs using his political position.
"Blagojevich criticizes Ryan for using firm; Owner at center of Metra probe." Chicago Tribune. Rick Pearson and Ray Gibson. 08/02/2002. below
-Joe Berrios has paid almost $16,000 to a political research and mailing firm who was indicted in a bribery case.
"Voters make a list; enemies check it twice." Chicago Sun-Times. Abdon Pallasch. 02/24/2007. below
-Joe Berrios and his Board of Review ally Shaw commit enormous amounts of man power in trying to discredit the election filings on their political opponents. Although technically not illegal, this process is clearly shaddy especially since the manpower is comprised of their employees who are taking "vacation time."
"Reform plan: appoint tax board." Chicago Sun-Times. Tim Novak. 01/31/2002. below
-Critics of the Board of Review say that campaign contributions from tax attorneys essentially amount to bribery. Joe Berrios is one of the worst offenders and uses the money to maintain a strangle hold on his post.
"Tax board ripoffs stick us with bill." Chicago Sun-Times. 01/23/2002. below
-Editorial very critical of the tax appeal board. Political patronage and insider deals are rampant which means that everyday citizens and less connected business are stuck with the bill.
"Tax-cut clout is on the menu at Carson's." Chicago Sun-Times. Tim Novak. 01/20/2002. below
-An example of how a small business are being assessed at a significantly higher level than larger ones strictly on the basis of political connections. Very in-depth analysis of how the Board reached its decision regarding Carson’s Ribs and Al’s Beef. The Sun-Times reported that in 2000, the board valued Al's Beef on Ontario at $181,000 while it valued the larger Carson's Ribs building across the street at $12,453. The three commissioners on the Board of Review received $35,000 in contributions from the attorneys representing Carson's.
"Contributions buy clout at tax review board." Chicago Sun-Times. Raymond Coffey. 12/14/1999. below
-Article skeptical about the "coincidence" that those who have donated to Board of Review campaigns usually see significant reductions in return. A long time political foe, State Senator Miguel del Valle, of Berrios is introducing a bill which would make such campaign contributions illegal.
"Board has great financial appeal." Chicago Sun-Times. Raymond Coffey. 11/09/1999. below
-Editorial critical of massive amount of money given to Board of Review members by tax attorneys even when elections are not close.
"COURT TOLD OF SANTIAGO GIFT TO BERRIOS." Chicago Tribune. Matt O’Connor. 01/15/1999. below
-State Rep Miguel Santiago is accused of giving $11,000 to Joe Berrios at a time corresponding when he went on the County Treasurer payroll as an alleged ghost employee.
"Cook County treasurer pleads guilty in ghost payrolling case." Associated Press. 11/26/1998. below
-Joe Berrios is implicated by Cook County Treasurer Chief Fugslang as having asked him to create a ghost position within the Treasury for a political ally of his.
"5 DIVERT CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO HELP PAY LEGAL EXPENSES." Chicago Tribune. Ray Gibson and Rick Pearson. 08/01/1996. below
-Joe Berrios is one of five politicians to announce that he used campaign funds to pay legal fees for criminal charges against him
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Barking Back at 6:37 AM on 2/1/2008
What I find amusing is that all the accusations never have to do with his job. Those Deratany groupies never talk about his evils. As all know, prostitution is illegal in Illinois. Is Deratany a prostitute? He was paid big money to do what ever the Assessor wants him to do. That is a whore!! If you expect someone to be independent when they are given $350,000 then you too are on crack. Speaking of crack, isn't that the same guy who wants to make drugs legal (Richard Dennis). I guess Deratany is a druggie. Richard Dennis has never given money to those who oppose making drugs legal. Also, is it true that Deratany hired convicts, drug dealers and sex predators to circulate his petitions? I guess when Deratany hired circulators from 2049 West Jarvis (The Jarvis Building) his only question was "do you live in my district" and when they answered no, he hired them!! That is from his former campaign manager. He isn't as clean as we would think.
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Braindead at 10:22 AM on 2/1/2008
Done with that pipe yet Corey? Mr. Back is right, those contributions Joe takes would never ever have any effect on Joe's job. Joe's character speaks for itself. Mr. Back has work to do at the Board of Review so stop telling lies about Joe. Mr. Back gets to work early too.
I was lucky enough to have Mr. Santiago as my alderman. He never went jail like his predecessors Mr. Keane and Mr. Martinez. For politicians of the 31st jail is an occupational hazard. God bless former state senator Ed Nedza too.
After Mr. Santiago lost his aldermanic seat, with Joe's help, he became a lowly state rep. Joe took pity on the impoverished Mr. Santiago. He made Mr. Santiago's wife, the amazing, capable, articulate, bold, innovative and forceful Leida J. Gonzalez-Santiago judge of the 6th circuit court. Whenever some smarty pants do-gooder lawyer makes the case for merit selection of judges, I proudly point out Judge Gonzalez-Santiago.
Joe has done so much for us. Can Jay Paul Deratany do as much as Joe has to us? Eat your heart out Corey, eat your hearts out Chicago.
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Kathy at 12:03 PM on 2/1/2008
JOE BERRIOS' CHARACTER DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ITSELF: (more to come)
Tax cut for Tadin mansion
January 31, 2008
Michael Tadin, onetime king of the Hired Trucks, got a $28,430 break on his property taxes last year when the Cook County Board of Review cut the assessed value on his Gold Coast mansion. Days later, Joseph Berrios, chairman of the county agency, got $1,000 in campaign contributions from Tadin's trucking companies.
All three board members signed off on Tadin's tax break. Says Berrios: "My staff agreed with the other two people. I feel good about this one.''
Cook County Assessor James Houlihan -- who's backing Berrios' challenger, Jay Paul Deratany, in Tuesday's election -- had assessed Tadin's home at $479,885. Tadin appealed to the Board of Review, which cut the figure to $281,953. That meant Tadin paid $38,430.27 in property taxes vs. the $67,150 he would have had to pay.
This was the second time the board cut Tadin's assessment.
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Susan Cooter at 12:10 PM on 2/1/2008
JOE BERRIOS NOT CORRUPT??
"5 DIVERT CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO HELP PAY LEGAL EXPENSES." Chicago Tribune. Ray Gibson and Rick Pearson. 08/01/1996. below
-Joe Berrios is one of five politicians to announce that he used campaign funds to pay legal fees for criminal charges against him.
"Plan would bring Board of Review out of shadows." Chicago Sun-Times. 3/26/2007. below
-Plans to limit campaign contributions from tax attorneys is meet with luke-warm reception from Board of Review Commissioners, including Joseph Berrios.
"Here's one race guaranteed to hit you right in the wallet: Of all." Chicago Sun-Times. 10/25/2006. of Review and an effort by ma
"City claims victory in tax-hike fray." Chicago Sun-Times. 03/13/2007. below
-Joe Berrios voted against raising the Sears Tower’s assessed market. BUT JOSEPH BERRIOS did lower the assessed value of buildings associated with political heavy hitters like Madgan and Burke.
"Put a spotlight on tax appeals." Chicago Tribune. 10/25/2006. below
-The Tribune is critical of Joe Berrios and Murphy for not making any real effort to bring transparency to the Board of Review. They endorse the candidate running against Murphy.
"Appeal season open at review board." Chicago Sun-Times. Larry Finley. 09/15/2006. below
-An explanation of the tax review process along with numbers and statistics regarding past reviews.
"Day without pay? Some pols say no way; Devine, Pappas, even some who voted for plan keep every dime." Chicago Sun-Times. Steve Patterson. 01/23/2005. below:
-Joe Berrios is one politician who declines to give up a day’s pay in an effort to address the budget deficit.
"Brother helps Dolton mayor get tax break; 'No written ethics rules' prohibited action: spokesman." Chicago Sun-Times. Kristen McQueary. 01/08/2005. below
-Robert Shaw, a political ally of Joe Berrios, signed off on a large tax break for his brother, the mayor of Dalton.
"Pro-am participation a nice perk for a few politicians." Copley News Service. Bernard Schoenburg. 09/02/2003. below
-Joe Berrios receives VIP treatment at a professional golf outing from people with whom he is professionally and politically connected.
"How a political insider hit the housing trifecta." Chicago Sun-Times. Tim Novak. 12/23/2001. below
-Leo Louchios, top aid to Sec of State Jesse White, is under criticism for receiving favors in acquiring property, building a house, and then having drastically reduced property taxes. The Board of Review, lead by Shaw and Joe Berrios, are seen as part of the problem.
"County Board of Review fires 2 workers." Chicago Sun-Times. Tim Novak. 11/28/2001. below
-Two Board of Review employees, one employed by Jospeh Berrios, are investigated and fired for illegally using their positions to reduce their own taxes.
"Clout still goes a long way in Cook County." Chicago Sun-Times. Mark Brown. 11/27/2001. below
-Two Board of Review members are catching heat for using questionable and possibly illegal practices to lower their own taxes, including Joe Berrios. Incident is shining a light on the importance of political clout and connections with the Board in general.
"PLAYING THE PROPERTY TAX GAME." Chicago Sun-Times. Tim Novak. 10/28/2001. below
-Politicians are often afforded major tax breaks on appeal in Cook County while other people in the same neighborhoods see their taxes rise significantly... friends of Joe Berrios.
"Cook Democrats take on GOP over new tax review board." Chicago Sun-Times. Mark Brown. below
-Joe Berrios leads a challenge against new electoral maps for Board of Review elections.
"Master of Deception." Chicago Sun-Times. Steve Neal. 02/14/1996. below
-Documents close connections, especially political, between State Rep Santiago and Joe Berrios. The end result is more than suspicious circumstances in the ghost employee scandal rocking the Cook County Treasurer’s Dept.
"JUDGE NULLIFIES CHANGES ON TAX APPEALS IN COOK." Chicago Tribune. Andrew Fegelman. 10/24/1995. below
-An effort by the GOP to dismiss the sitting Board of Appeal in mid-session is declared unconstitutional. However, the reasons for the desired change resonate with many citizens given the Board’s unfavorable status... Joe Berrios being the most corrupt.
"Records: Berrios took $53,000 from campaign." Telegraph Herald. 09/19/1995. below
-Joe Berrios is accused of pocketing almost $53,000 in campaign funds without properly disclosing what for.
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Braindead at 1:20 PM on 2/1/2008
A ps to you Corey
Why bring up Edgar Lopez's wife? Lets just say that some women like their men "portly".
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Barking Back at 8:07 PM on 2/1/2008
Susan, Corey and Kathy, it is a shame that you can't think for yourselves. It seems that the latest tag on Berrios has to deal with a three member board which is that someone starts it. I guess if Berrios only agreed with the decision that makes him a criminal according to the prostitute Deratany. I think that is a criminal act when you prostitute yourself like Deratany to the tune of $400,000. Maybe Joe Berrios is a goof for not taking more money from the attorneys like the Assessor. That really is the crime. I can see the commercial saying why vote for Berrios if he is too stupid to take the money like the Assessor and Deratany by proxy.
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Beware of Biting Dog at 3:19 AM on 2/2/2008
Joe Berrios has prostituted himself (and Toni Berrios) to the tune of more than $2,0000,000 which is the rough amount Berrios HAD in his five or so campaign slush funds.
The prostitute you mention is Joe Berrios and he's been pretty good at it for the past 19 years, cutting back room sweetheart deals.
What scum!
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Anti-Berrios at 11:52 AM on 2/2/2008
Berrios! What a good guy. getting his mistress on two payrolls...
I don't even care so much about Joe Berrios' adultery, it's more that he had Lillibeth on a ghost payroll. How can you have two full-time jobs at once?
Berrios did not respond to repeated phone calls and visits to his offices. His attorney called Lopez's counterclaim "ridiculous." Lillibeth Lopez kept a reporter at bay for four hours after Wednesday's liquor commission meeting in Springfield, then referred questions to her attorney who said she would file a written response this week.
Lopez made a name for himself in Springfield as the state representative who conceived Gov. George Ryan's trip to Cuba and headed up an investigation of the Roberto Clemente High School Local School Council's support for the FALN, a Puerto Rican independence group accused of terrorist tactics.
31st Ward party boss
Edgar Lopez now serves as the $95,000-a-year assistant director of the Financial Institutions Division of the state's Financial and Professional Regulation Department.
Berrios, whom Lopez called his mentor and father figure, is a senior figure in the state's Democratic Party. He is the longtime Democratic committeeman of the 31st Ward. He is one of three $100,000-a-year commissioners who sit on the Cook County Board of Review, which has the power to lower property taxes for individual businesses and homeowners in Cook County. He lowered the taxes on Lopez's home, saving him $500 a year.
With a $1 million war chest from satisfied business owners and supporters, Berrios has shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to Gov. Blagojevich and other politicians around the state, making him many friends. He also runs a lobbying business with former state Rep. Sam Panayotovich, the former executive director of the liquor commission. They lobby state legislators on behalf of Cicero and the Illinois Trucking Association, among other clients.
Lillibeth Lopez, 39 -- who was allowed by a judge last year to resume using her maiden name of Lillibeth Pacheco but hasn't yet -- was married to Edgar Lopez, 40, from 1992 until their divorce last year. At some point, she began a sexual relationship with Berrios, 57, Edgar Lopez said in his counterclaim.
During that time, as Edgar Lopez continuously went to Berrios for counsel and advice and asked him to be godfather to the Lopezes' now 10-year-old son, Berrios was steering him in the wrong direction, Edgar Lopez said in his suit.
During their 21-year friendship, Berrios served as Edgar Lopez's "surrogate older brother or father . . . personal accountant, political mentor, friend, advisor and confidant, godfather to his son, and to whom [Lopez] would turn for advice and counsel revealing his most intimate problems, including details concerning his marriage," Lopez's suit states.
In 1992, Berrios advised Edgar Lopez not to marry Lillibeth Pacheco because "the only thing she wanted from him was his money, and the power of being married to a member of the Illinois General Assembly," Lopez's suit states.
But then Berrios warmed up to her and got her a job on the Cook County payroll working for the chief judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. Then he decided to bring her in closer, working with him at the Board of Review. Berrios told Edgar Lopez he was bringing Lillibeth Lopez to work with him at the Board of Review because "he needed someone he could trust by his side," Edgar Lopez's suit states. Lillibeth Lopez makes $48,000 a year at the county, records show.
Before Edgar Lopez made any major career or financial move, he would seek Berrios' counsel, Lopez said. But Berrios was looking out for his own and Lillibeth Lopez's interests, not his protege's, Lopez's suit states.
"He trusted Mr. Berrios as you would your father," said Edgar Lopez's lawyer Lourdes Monteagudo, Mayor Daley's first deputy mayor for education.
Marital property
In 1996, Lillibeth Lopez and Berrios convinced Edgar Lopez to refinance a Humboldt Park apartment building he bought prior to the marriage in the 1000 block of North Mozart, adding his wife's name to the refinancing, Lopez said. That transformed nonmarital property into marital property, allowing Lillibeth to get $94,000 from the sale of the home in the divorce.
"Due to the unique privileges . . . Berrios enjoyed, he had access and opportunities to get close to [Lillibeth Lopez] to get to know her innermost wishes and desires," Edgar Lopez said in his suit. "Berrios knew of [Lillibeth Lopez's] humble beginnings and her extreme psychological need to feel 'protected,' 'recognized,' and 'financially secure.' Berrios would systematically, 'jokingly' criticize [Edgar Lopez] about his inability to provide for her as she deserved while in the presence of his wife, and would then hug and comfort her, as a father figure would innocently do, to reassure her that someone would always be there to look out for her."
All the while, Lopez would confide in Berrios "the most intimate problems he was having with his wife, innocently giving [Berrios] the feedback he needed to plan his next move to further cause the alienation of affection," Lopez's suit said.
Appointments by Ryan
In 2000, Lopez lost his seat in the state House to Cynthia Soto. Observers thought Gov. Ryan was giving Lopez a consolation prize by appointing him assistant director of what was then the Financial Institutions Department and giving Lopez's wife a seat on the Illinois Liquor Commission. But Lopez said in his suit that it was Berrios who got Ryan to appoint Lillibeth Lopez to the commission as a way for Berrios to show her he still had clout while her husband did not.
In 2001, Berrios counseled Lopez to buy a Kelvyn Park home in the 2900 block of North Kenneth, saying it would position Lopez well to win a new seat in the General Assembly because of how legislative districts were being drawn, Lopez said in his suit.
"In fact . . . Berrios had already negotiated to nominate his daughter to the seat," Lopez's suit states.
Some local politicians said Berrios tried to convince them to slate Lopez for one of the new legislative seats but that Lopez alienated many of them with his Clemente hearings. They found it easier to stomach Berrios' inexperienced 24-year-old daughter.
The lawsuits multiply
In 2003, Lillibeth Lopez filed for divorce from her husband. Edgar Lopez, who still hadn't figured out his wife was having an affair with Berrios, went to Berrios to ask him for a referral to a good divorce attorney, Lopez's suit said.
Instead, Berrios arranged a good divorce lawyer for Lillibeth Lopez, Lopez said in his suit.
Ostensibly to help him buy a new house and move out of the marital home, Berrios offered Lopez a $16,500 no-interest long-term loan. Then, after Lopez moved out of the marital house, Berrios began to frequent the home, Lopez's suit said. Lopez finally realized his wife was having an affair with Berrios, Lopez's suit said.
Lopez confronted his wife, asked her about the affair and she told him, "I can f--- whomever I please," Lopez's suit states.
After the divorce was final, Berrios sued Lopez to have him repay the $16,500 loan.
It was only because of that suit that Lopez decided to go public with his account of Berrios luring away his wife, which he spelled out in a counterclaim he filed against Berrios for alienation of affection, Monteagudo said.
Berrios bragged he has sway over many of the judges sitting in Cook County because of his seat on the party's slating committee, Lopez's suit states.
Curiously, the court case file has disappeared. The Sun-Times began requesting a copy of the official court file of the suit on Thursday, Jan. 20. A spokeswoman for the Clerk of the Circuit Court said the file cannot be located in any of the places it is supposed to be. At one point, Monteagudo had to write a letter to Clerk Dorothy Brown to have the office start listing her appearances on its Web site, she said.
Berrios, who lived in Cabrini-Green during his youth, moved to Humboldt Park and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago. According to old newspaper accounts, he got into politics when he got a traffic ticket and went to his alderman, Tom Keane, for help. Keane gave him a precinct to work and Berrios worked his way up through the ranks.
Coda
When independent Hispanic activists sued the regular Democrats to get a Hispanic legislative district drawn, they won the suit and then, much to their chagrin, watched as machine Democrats got the independent activists' candidate kicked off the ballot and replaced with Berrios, who became the state's first Hispanic legislator.
Eventually, his protege Lopez got the seat and annoyed the mostly Puerto Rican elected officials in the North Side Hispanic districts with his hearings into whether Puerto Rican independence activists misspent school funds at Clemente. Some of them teased Lopez because he is only half Puerto Rican. His father is from Ecuador.
But these days the real source of bochinche, a Puerto Rican word for gossip, about Lopez in the Hispanic neighborhoods is Berrios taking his wife, said one Latino elected official.
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Braindead at 9:34 AM on 2/4/2008
Joe Berrios has always done a wonderful job as 31st Ward Boss. Even when he wasn't ward boss during the years Ray Figueroa was around. Ray had the audacity to win a the alderman's spot and then beat Joe for the committeeman's job. Imagine that thinking he could do more than wonderful and honest Joe Berrios and his wonderful and honest organization. One day coincidentally, around election time, a city tow truck came to our block and left a car. This car had most of its tires(3) and some of its windows. It was unsightly. I guess that city tow truck driver forgot where the city car pound was. Joe's wonderful volunteers (they are really so much more than mere "volunteers") came around and offered to get that car out of there for us, mentioning how ineffective Ray was and how effective Joe was. Guess what! A few days later that same tow truck driver got that car out of there. Thank God for Joe.
You can imagine the tears that were shed by my neighbors and myself when powers that be redisticted us out of 31. But Joe doesn't disappoint. He gave us has daughter Toni to be our state rep. The neighbors rejoiced. To have this amazing, capable, articulate, bold and innovative woman represent us! A regular chip off the block. She gets things done. She even marched in a (Ceasefire) parade to stop crime. Felons all over the city trembled in their boots. Someone was kind enough to photograph Toni marching against crime and then sharing it with us in a campaign flyer. She's in the forefront of politicians speaking out against crime! She does all this and goes to community college at the same time.
To be represented by both her and her dad over a the board of appeals. But Joe doesn't stop. He's giving us the amazing, capable, articulate bold and innovative Rich Bradley to be our State Senator. Rich is true public servant. He also is a superintendent at streets and san. That's one guy who can "multi-task" And naturally Joe's behind him.
I can't wait to have Joe, Toni and Rich represent me. Eat your hearts out Chicago.
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Hey Barking at 11:36 AM on 2/4/2008
I love the the commercial your corpulent boss has on TV. Wah wah wah Houlihan's spending money to beat me. Wah wah wah
Your boss thinks nothing of throwing money around to beat his underfinanced political foes, but whines like a 4 year old when someone who has some bucks spends it to kick his fat ass out. Wah wah wah Houlihan is spending money to beat me wah wah wah. Your boss is bully, coward and a crybaby.
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pruhelolley at 12:49 AM on 8/29/2008
Find tips on teen nutrition & other health resources for teenagers to teach your teen healthy and nutritional eating habits. Your Teen's Nutritional Needs. What are the nutritional needs of teens? Find out the nutrition your teen needs to enjoy good health, higher energy, and emotional well being. Discover the role. This is the most important primary need for the teens. It is a need unique to the teens and is not found in other ZooWEB groups. School-based/linked clinics enable teenagers to receive the physical and mental health services they need. need teen in bikini for Teen Health Centers "The teen health.
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