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* From WILY radio…
As members of the State Senate Executive Appointments Committee prepare to decide whether to support Gov. Pat Quinn’s reappointment of Department of Corrections Director S.A. “Tony” Godinez, this picture was sent to our news department.
The picture shows an IDOC inmate transport bus parked Friday afternoon, outside Club Coyote, a “gentlemen’s club” on U.S. Highway 51 in De Soto that features exotic dancers and serves alcohol.
* I also received this photo from several people. There has obviously been a concerted effort by opponents of Director Godinez to get this photo out, including by former Illinois prison warden Andrew Ott, a sworn Godinez enemy.
Here’s the photo, which I’ve cropped down to an easier-to-view size. The full photo is here…
* The Department of Corrections says they investigated the photo, including viewing video from the club’s surveillance camera. The agency determined that the bus driver used the parking lot to turn around after missing a turn. IDOC says the the incident occurred at 8:30 in the morning. I called the club at 10:40 this morning and got an answering machine.
So, once again, it looks like there’s no there there and that Godinez’s opponents are going way over the top in their attempt to discredit him.
*** UPDATE *** AP…
An Illinois prison-monitoring group says Menard Correctional Center inmates reported concern about “aggressive cellmates” during a visit shortly before a string of three inmate murders since January.
The John Howard Association visited the prison in far southern Illinois in December. Its report, released late Tuesday, said several older inmates were worried about cellmates. And the independent watchdog said housing inmates with long sentences with those facing shorter stretches “can be problematic.”
The study is here. It also noted this…
Staffing at Menard has been inadequate for many years. Influx of staff from other southern facilities closures should somewhat improve conditions.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 10:51 am
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The DOC’s story sounds credible since the bus’s lights are on and it is right in front of the door. Also there are no other cars in the lot (that I can see).
Comment by 332bill Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 10:59 am
So who is the brain surgeon who decided to park a public vehicle (much less a large DOC bus) in front of a strip joint? LOL
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:03 am
Brings new meaning to the concept of work release.
You can photoshop anything, so who knows?
Still, if the photo is legit, who was lurking outside the shake-em-shack at 8:30 a.m. to get the shot?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:04 am
Sounds like a nonstory, but you have to admit that it’s funny. Any bets on whether Leno picks it up?
Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:05 am
===who decided to park ===
Can you read?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:05 am
I’ll bet there are a whole lot of people that have used that parking lot to just turn around. At least that’s what they tell someone who sees them leaving.
But this is obviously a non story.
Comment by Been There Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:07 am
First, I am not affiliated with WILY Radio…
To the Post,
===I called the club at 10:40 this morning and got an answering machine.===
This might not be their “Business Hours”, so I am not surprised, at this moment, they did not answer.
I will say this, IDOC better be “very comfortable” that the driver missed a turn and went on his way because if it does turn out that more than turning around is happening, Yikes!
This picture on its own looks “bad”, people shopping the picture with such a blatent and open agenda is disappointing.
Glass houses…if you want to go down this road… they always seem to be built. Karma always comes around.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:08 am
Why the need for the 237 point turn?
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:14 am
===Can you read?===
Why read when there is a big interesting photo to look at?
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:20 am
~~who was lurking outside the shake-em-shack at 8:30 a.m. to get the shot?~~
Someone with a phone, probably. It’s a funny picture, it was passed around on the internet, someone sent it to WILY.
Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:28 am
I’d be more interesting in understanding what the problem is at DOC. After all, there are formal channels for expressing dissatisfaction, including reporting to the OIG, grievances, and so forth.
IDOC is an awfully big agency that eats up an awful lot of taxpayer money. But the director doesn’t seem to be responsible for a lot of the problems and recent changes there, they were political decisions by the Quinn Admin. On the other hand, if he’s not up to the job, they should find somebody who can do it. Yet that could be difficult with the March primary in sight. How many truly talented individuals want to take on a tough job that might not be there for them in less than a year.
Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:29 am
Rich,
I don’t know the Director and I don’t have an axe to grind with him but are you accepting the Department’s explanation? It’s possible but not necessarily fact.
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:37 am
What do AFSCME spokespeople say? It was one of their drivers who took this unexpected turn.
Comment by state worker Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:37 am
Being a photographer and a good observer, I notice 2 other things about the photograph. The bus is obviously moving, since it is slightly more blurry than the stationary objects around it. There are no other cars in the parking lot, so it is obviously before operating hours. I would guess that someone driving by at that moment just happened to think that it would be a cute photograph.
Comment by rusty618 Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:39 am
This story would be funny if it were not so tragic. This photograph and the wild attack by former warden Ott are efforts to drive a good man (Godinez) from his job simply for doing what was right and necessary. The Illinois budget gap had to be closed; the iDOC had to make cuts; Tamms was 2/3 empty, expensive, ineffective and cruel; other prisons too were redundant; and so the decision was made to close them. This is how government is supposed to work. Let the man do his job.
Comment by bartelby Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:51 am
The concerns should be investigated. Lots of mishandlings by DOC when my brother worked for them. Picture is a cheap shot, however. Was it to be assumed Godinez was on the bus? Stupid approach. Agree with Word…who is following with a camera to catch such thing?
Comment by LisleMike Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:57 am
===Being a photographer and a good observer, I notice 2 other things about the photograph. The bus is obviously moving, since it is slightly more blurry than the stationary objects around it. There are no other cars in the parking lot, so it is obviously before operating hours. I would guess that someone driving by at that moment just happened to think that it would be a cute photograph.===
(putting on glasses, pulling up picture, and 2 charts via easel)
“This is called the ‘Magic Bus’ theory, made famoous by the British band … The Who. (pointing to picture), If we really take this picture and examine possible rotations of the tires, we can see the bus ‘back up’ and ‘turn to the left’…(pointing to the other to graphs),…’back up’ and ‘turn to the left’…’back up’ and ‘turn to the left’…”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:01 pm
I agree with u Rich. My thought… it was probably some type of breakdown.
However, there are serious problems developing at rapid pace. The press is doing an admirable job of pointing it out. But when AFSCME leadership is supportive of the Director and won’t publicly criticize him… It’s hard for the press stories to gain legs. And really the Director is just carrying out the new reform energy (concocted behind some college professors desk) I think the violence, drugs, and gang influence are all headed back. Tamms… No Tamms… Doesn’t matter… When the IDOC is running in reverse of the reforms of the 90’s … A dysfunctional violent agency will be the status quo.
Comment by Retired in 2002 Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:12 pm
However it was noted that the IDOC spent 18 hours reviewing footage from several surveillance cameras at the club.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:28 pm
Were there inmates on board the bus?
Comment by WOW Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:29 pm
- Were there inmates on board the bus? -
A cruel morning for them if there were.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:03 pm
Possibly the AFSCME photographer was parked on the other side of the road, patiently waiting for his co-worker to “miss the turnoff” and hang a nice, photogenic u-turn in the strip joint parking lot.
Comment by Rudy Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:30 pm
The C/Os need to wake up and smell the coffee. It is over finished! By the time they try to replace Quinn Tamms and the other close facilities will have been sunk on the swamps they were build on.STOP CRYING GET OVER IT.
Comment by DEAN Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:47 pm
We’re 10-100 at the Club Coyote, over.
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:49 pm
Preacher, aww heck how’d you know it was us?
We are legion…oops…liberal…oops…leftwing!
Comment by LEFT WING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:54 pm
Quite humerous. Poor choices for sure.The Agency of IDOC definately could use some new leadership and management changes. Constant problematic dangerous issues occuring, for sure!
Comment by Are You Serious Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:00 pm
==- Were there inmates on board the bus? -
A cruel morning for them if there were.==
Did the driver at least crack the windows open while he was inside? Are we going to see mistreatment complaints from the prisoners left outside in a closed bus in the hot sun? Will the prisoners filing the complaints be from 7 different facilities (one of them federal), and include 2 who were released a week before this happened? Stay tuned!
Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:19 pm
This must be why the Agency appeared before the Senate today asking for more money. I hope it’s not in increments of rolled up dollar bills. The closures saved absolutely no money at all? 3 Murders now since January, overcrowding issues, who is accountable for these problems in Idoc over the last two years?
Comment by Are You Serious Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 5:14 pm
If prisoners were ordered into the Coyote Club to watch the show,I’m told they have may a case for “cruel and unusual punishment”
Comment by Julia Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 6:19 pm
-I am not affiliated with WILY radio-
Willy, that got by me the first time. That would be a great listen if you were, at least until the FCC tuned in.
To the Post, now I have wheeled a bus almost that big a couple times and they don’t turn on a dime. Having said that, I am calling ah, “Baloney” on the notion that this dude pulled in there to “turn around.” There are plenty of places along 51 to wheel a bus around, safely, without selecting this embarrassing and compromising location. Shame on you, someone.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 6:20 pm
- AA -,
Thought about doing a podcast, but the FCC got wind of it and took away everything but this laptop!
To the post,
Asking, honestly, is there GPS on the buses used to transport prisoners?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 6:45 pm
Rich while you are doing recon on the “night Club” maybe you should call the circuit clerks in Montgomery county and check out Andy Otts background!
Comment by c-dude Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 8:51 pm