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I was just on WBEZ talking about Mayor Nick Blase’s surprising arrest and the attraction of the insurance business for Cook County politicians. We only had five minutes, but here are some things I pulled up on my computer that I could only touch on during the spot.
· 24th Ward Alderman Ben Lewis was “manacled to his chair and shot in the head three times” in 1963 - likely because of a fight over who had the right to peddle insurance to businesses in the Douglas Park ward.
· Just about every ward and township organization in Chicago and Cook County had its own insurance business at one time. When George Dunne took over as 42nd Ward Democratic Committeeman in 1961, he automatically inherited the right to sell insurance in the Loop ward. That insurance agency was Near North Insurance, which collapsed a few years ago after Mickey Segal was busted.
· Congressman Frank Annunzio was once a partner in the notorious 1st Ward’s insurance business.
Ah, Illinois. Don’t you just love this place?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 9:49 am
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The transition from the protection racket to the insurance racket or from the numbers racket to the lottery racket is an easy one. You don’t need a new business plan, just new business cards.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 9:55 am
About 20 years ago, I had a client who bought a parking garage in the Loop as a real estate investment. They were a conglomerate, with their own internal insurance company. They were informed by a “connected” insurance company that all Loop parking garages were covered by that company. My client told them that wouldn’t be necessary because they had their own insurance company. They were informed that the police would be directing traffic away from their garage unless they complied. They did.
Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 10:05 am
Think about it - insurance is easy to sell when “customers” come to you. You don’t need a law degree, (or any education) and no one can see if someone is over paying for it.
Comment by Pat C Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 10:39 am
Recorder of Deeds and ousted Proviso Democrat Committeeman Gene Moore was in the insurance business, too. He suffered politically when his insurance company received a large sum from the local high school district. He was then unseated as Committeeman by Karen Yarbrough.
Yarbrough owns a rival insurance firm.
Comment by Anon-mouse Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 11:02 am
Of course, just because Mayor Daley’s brother owns an insurance company that has been selling insurance to many of the “hired truck firms” that the Feds and the Chicago Sun-Times have made infamous is “purely coincidental”.
And, just because George Ryan’s son owns an insurance agency down in Kankakee County that provided insurance to many entities and individuals that sought special favors from Governor Ryan was (once again) “purely coincidental”.
Illinois just happens to be a state where a lot of “coincidents” seem to happen. I heard that New Jersey was also a state where many coincidents seem to happen.
Comment by Beowulf Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 11:39 am
To those in the “greater Niles area” Blase being corrupt is no surprise. It is kind of like George Ryan years ago…there were always the whispers, the winks, the rumors, but nothing specific that you could prove. Looks like the Feds think they can finally prove something.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 1:32 pm
Well, most people have to work for a living. It is harder for teachersdoctors, accountants, office workers, etc. to campaign and get away from work. Insurance agents and lawyers can have more flexible scehdules and have multiple jobs. They can be a politician while retaining their law practices. This is not a knock, but just the way I see things.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Jun 9, 06 @ 2:23 pm