This just in… Laski charged
Friday, Jan 13, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
From the AP:
Chicago City Clerk James Laski was charged Friday with soliciting payoffs and obstructing justice. Laski, 52, appeared in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney Schenkier and was released on $10,000 bond after agreeing to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet so that federal officials can keep track of his whereabouts.
More in a minute.
Hauser wrote that Laski began taking bribes from the owner in 1997, when the owner asked for Laski’s help in getting one of his trucks on a city contract.
“If I get this truck on, I want $500 a month,” Laski said, according the affidavit.
The arrangement took effect in 1998 and continued until 2001 when the owner asked to bring a second truck under contract, the affidavit said.
The second truck was brought on, and Laski began receiving $1,000 a month, Hauser wrote.
The payments typically were made in cash, sometimes at Laski’s home and on two occasions at the City Clerk’s satellite office on South Cicero Avenue, Hauser wrote.
The arrangement continued until 2003, when scrutiny surrounding the Hired Truck program led Laski to halt the payments, according to the affidavit.
Man, that was fast wasn’t it? From investigation to arraignment in just a few months.
Who do you think replaces him?
- Cal Skinner - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 3:31 pm:
So, who will be in the “Inner Circle?”
- In the Land of Silos and Cows - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 3:32 pm:
Dan Burke will replace Laski for the interim, but do not be shcked if an african-american alderman gets the nod over a hispanic alderman. Daley will need that consistant voting block, over the erratic voting hispanic voting block that can’t decide collectively to be against Daley like the african-american wards could do. Daley is more afraid of Jesse Jr. then of Luis G. .
- The Colonel - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 3:55 pm:
Another Daley crook will replace him, probably not Dan Burke — he’s honest.
- In the Land of Silos and Cows - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 4:00 pm:
Dan is the Deputy Clerk, thus … until a clerk is chosen, Dan is the Interim City Clerk by being the deputy.
- Napoleon Dynamite - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 4:09 pm:
Dan Burke retired from being Deputy Clerk, if I’m not mistaken, about a year ago. And on top of that, there’s positively no way the Mayor would give that position to a white, Irish state representative. My bet is on someone like Barbara Lumpkin or maybe Ron Huberman….
- Ron - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 4:12 pm:
Wow! I am from the Southern Illinois area close to East St. Louis. Thought we had corruption. Just name someone who has no ties to Daley, Blagojevich, Mell, Jackson, Madigan, Jones, Durbin or Obama. At least that will leave out the current city and county employees and their relatives.
- Anon - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 4:29 pm:
N.P is right. Burke is retired. Expect an Af-Am or Hisp. But Daley would quell the Hisp most with that appointment. Af Am already have Judy Rice as Treasurer. Look for Danny Solis or someone not on the radar screen right now.
- In the Land of Silos and Cows - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 4:49 pm:
I apologize for the error, it’s Kantor for the Interim … but stand by the belief of an african-american over a hispanic based on the premise that hispanics, all hispanics, are not unified enough to cause Daley duress like the african-americans can at the voting booth
- Punley Deiter Finn - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 5:50 pm:
Given the 14th Ward’s historic claim on the office and the desirability of appointing an Hispanic, why not Gery Chico? Gery got his start in life with Alderman Burke and he’s certainly Hispanic. The Mayor likes him. He did a bang-up job as chief of staff in City Hall. He writes wonderful articles in the Sun-Times. He’d be perfect. If not Gery, then perhaps his protege Marcus Nunez.
- Deep Water - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 6:47 pm:
Almost at the top of the world largest pyramid scheme. Mayor Daley and John Daley hopefully next. Hmmmm, and Daley know nothing? Patrick McDonough.
- Beowulf - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 7:36 pm:
Rumor has it that Mayor Daley is asking Angelo Torres to grow a beard and wear Foster Grant sunglasses so he can recycle him. Daley told Torres that he “must have” the Hispanic vote.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 10:03 pm:
Any truth to the rumor of State Rep. Todd Stroger as a replacement? I understand he has a backgound in finance and of course his father is Cook County Board President?
- Levois - Friday, Jan 13, 06 @ 10:31 pm:
Let the games commence.
- Bob - Monday, Jan 16, 06 @ 11:44 am:
I beleive Daley will appoint a Hispanic,he needs
to counter Gutierrez who beleives he is the Hispanic King. Look for him to appoint Danny
Solis.
- Larry Horse - Wednesday, Jan 18, 06 @ 11:54 am:
Anyone notice that Laski looks almost exactly like a white version of John Stroger?