* Tony Rezko’s defense attorney Joe Duffy has been able to show time and time again today that Stu Levine’s memory is shot to heck…
Later, Levine would admit that it was “possible” years of drug use may have affected his memory.
When Duffy asked if Levine had yet told the jury he was a felon, Levine said the jury had been told that, but didn’t remember whether he had testified to it or if it had been read from his plea agreement.
Had Levine been shown his plea agreement on the stand, Duffy asked.
Yes, said Levine. It had been marked as an exhibit and shown to him.
Duffy asked the government to produce it.
“Your honor, we’ll stipulate that there is no such exhibit,” said assistant U.S. attorney Chris Niewoehner, rising to his feet.
* And then there was Levine’s truthfulness…
“Would you like to change your answer?”
“Yes sir.”
Those phrases became the exchange of the day Thursday between attorney Joseph Duffy and the government’s star witness in the Antoin Rezko trial, Stuart Levine.
* The memory and honesty points are extremely important because of stuff like this…
Levine had testified earlier that [he and Rezko] were introduced at a dinner party on Nov. 2, 2002, just days before the election that brought Gov. Rod Blagojevich to power. It was at that dinner that Levine testified he learned that Rezko had been blocking a real estate deal on which Levine had been seeking a sizeable kickback.
But Duffy produced a Levine credit card receipt showing a $761.87 transaction dated that day at a Lincolnwood hotel where Levine often went for all-day drug binges.
“I do not have a memory of being there on that date,” Levine insisted.
Duffy then asked Levine, “Can you honestly tell this jury you didn’t do drugs on Nov. 2, 2002?”
LEVINE: “Yes, sir.”
DUFFY: “Your memory is so clear you remember not using drugs on that day?”
LEVINE: “I do not remember using drugs on that day.”
The feds do have some tapes, of course, but most of those tapes include Levine talking about what Rezko said. Terrible memory, lack of truthfulness goes right to the heart of Levine’s crediblity as the feds’ star witness.
*** UPDATE *** More trouble for Levine’s credibility…
Levine confessed he had used bogus fees to swindle the estate of millionaire businessman Ted Tannenbaum, his mother’s first cousin who had been close to Levine and taken him under his wing. […]
“And yet the man who had been so good to you for 20 years - you stole from his children, didn’t you?” Duffy said.
“Yes, sir,” Levine said meekly. […]
“If I describe you as a liar, is that a correct statement?” [Duffy] asked.
“Yes, Sir,” Levine said.
“So I would be correct if I called you a thief?” Duffy asked.
“Yes, Sir,” Levine said.
“Can you argue with me - you are a con man, are you not?” Duffy asked.
“Yes, Sir,” Levine said.
Oy.
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Ozinga takes a page from Oberweis’ playbook
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Ozinga Bros. launched its first radio advertisements on WLS-AM to air through June. The ads promote a more environmentally friendly, porous concrete and mention the Ozinga name 8 times. Coincidentally, Marty Ozinga is also gearing up to run for the 11th District congressional seat.
The DCC questioned whether Ozinga was blurring federal election rules about electioneering. Candidates can be fined by the Federal Election Commission for overlapping and coordinating their business and campaign operations, like this blast from the past:
For example, Jim Oberweis, of Oberweis Dairy, ran television advertisements about the dairy - bankrolled by the dairy - that featured him prominently at a time he was seeking the GOP U.S. Senate nomination. The FEC fined his campaign $21,000.
The Democrats’ regional director, Ryan Rudominer said “Here you have Mr. Ozinga taking a page from the Oberweis playbook. The perception is that it’s like a campaign ad.”
* Although the timing of the Ozinga radio ad is “ironic,” the Ozinga campaign said that this is the first time the company has purchased radio advertising. Interesting.
“Go green with Ozinga,” the ad says, along with, “The next time you see the red-and-white striped trucks, remember Ozinga, your resource for a better tomorrow.” However, the ad never explicitly mentions Marty Ozinga, just the company.
Then there was this overly zealous defense by WLS for the ad:
It was the phone call from WLS general manager John Gallagher, who defended the ads, requested I send along the DCCC statement and generally went to bat for Ozinga, one of his advertisers.
“If the DCCC is raising an issue on it, and we’ve had run-ins over the years, I’d like to know the grounds they are making that claim and get attorneys involved,” he told me. “If the DCCC is going to come after them for that, they’d have to go after half the people running for office in the United States, no matter when the contract was signed.”
Question: Does this tightrope walking constitute a violation of FEC regulations, or is this fair game?
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Question of the day - Baseball edition
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Moises Alou takes it back…
Any holdovers still blaming Steve Bartman should let the infamous Cubs fan off the hook, Moises Alou says.
The former Cubs left fielder, now with the Mets, said he wouldn’t have caught the now-infamous foul ball in the 2003 National League Championship Series that hit the heel of Bartman’s hand in the eighth inning of Game 6, prolonging an inning in which the Marlins later rallied for the lead.
“Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, ‘Bartman! Bartman!’ I feel really bad,” Alou told the Associated Press. “You know what the funny thing is?” he added. “I wouldn’t have caught it anyway.”
* Mariotti reacts…
I’ve always maintained that Alou’s angry reaction to Bartman’s wretchedly ill-timed reach for the ball triggered the tragicomedy. If he simply had trotted back to his position in left field, the familiar air of dread wouldn’t have seeped into Wrigley Field with the Cubs a mere five outs from their first World Series since 1945. Maybe Gonzalez would have started an inning-ending double play instead of botching a groundball. Maybe Prior would have settled down and completed the mission instead of becoming unnerved, as he has suggested.
* And adds…
Monday at Wrigley, as his new statue was unveiled in a revamped plaza by the Clark Street entrance, Ernie Banks made a wonderful comment. He said it’s time to bring Bartman back to the ballpark and let him throw out a first pitch.
* The question: Are Cub fans big enough to follow Ernie Banks’ lead? Or are they so emotionally tied to being perennial losers that they’ll never forgive Bartman?
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Ethics investigation demanded
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Roll Call demanded an ethics investigation of Jerry Hurckes, the Chicago-based chief of staff for Congressman Dan Lipinski yesterday…
The case of Hurckes seems to involve no question marks at all — and deserves an investigation by the ethics committee. Ethics rules do not bar aides from holding elective office but warn that “staff should take care … to avoid any undertaking that is inconsistent with congressional responsibilities”
And, “in dealing with the public, staff who serve as local officials should always make clear in which capacity they are acting. They should discourage any suggestion that their local constituents will receive any special treatment from the congressional office, beyond that received by any other residents of the congressional district.”
Yet, in a 2007 mailer sent to local voters, Hurckes took credit for securing $4 million in federal funding for the village, including money for the Oak Lawn Children’s Museum and emergency traffic lighting. […]
Hurckes denied securing earmarks and Lipinski refused any comment after stories on the aide’s activities appeared in Roll Call and local papers. They ought to answer to the ethics committee.
Agreed.
[Background here]
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There are no guarantees in this world
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Southern Illinoisan editorializes that some newly proposed fees at Department of Natural Resources facilities aren’t a bad idea…
Even with the proposed increases, according to the department’s own documents, state facilities would remain a good bargain compared to facilities in neighboring Midwest states.
The state’s fiscal picture continues to be bleak, and it would be unfair to allow basic increases in power and maintenance costs to be shouldered by all taxpayers, including non-users of our scenic sites.
* The Southern adds…
We’ve seen special funds that are levied for specific purposes raided by this administration in the past to cover general state funding needs. That practice should not occur with this new money that will help keep our splendid sites in the best shape possible.
* And that’s the problem. There will be no rock solid guarantees with this crew in charge…
Senate committees controlled by Democrats approved bills that expand health-care programs by $43 million for the budget year that ends June 30 and add back $53 million in House Democrat pet projects that Gov. Rod Blagojevich cut from the budget last fall.
To pay for it all, Blagojevich would be given authority to take $530 million out of hundreds of state accounts that are set aside to pay for certain programs and are not funded with general tax dollars — for example, regulatory funds set up to collect licensing fees from certain professions. […]
Although the health-care expansions would cost $53 million through June 30, Republican lawmakers said it will add $300 million to next year’s budget.
It never ends.
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The “Big Guy” knew?
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday’s Tony Rezko trial wasn’t great for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rezko and Stu Levine were allegedly trying to shake down Tom Rosenberg for a big contribution to the governor’s campaign or a large finder’s fee. Rosenberg then flipped out and threatened to go to the authorities when he became convinced that his investment allocation deal at the Teachers Retirement System was being held up for nefarious purposes…
Chicago businessman Tom Rosenberg became furious after a $220 million allocation from the state teachers pension fund for his investment firm had stalled, millionaire attorney Stuart P. Levine told the court.
Rosenberg threatened to complain to federal investigators that he suspected Rezko and another Blagojevich fundraiser, Christopher Kelly, were engaged in corruption at the state teachers pension board. […]
“[Rezko] indicated to me that he had made the governor aware of the situation” and what Rosenberg had said, Levine said. He said Rezko indicated that Blagojevich agreed Rosenberg should be calmed and that while he should get the $220 million allocation for his investment firm it would be “the last thing that Mr. Rosenberg should get from the state.”
He quoted Rezko as saying Blagojevich indicated “he doesn’t care what happens to Mr. Rosenberg - that he feels he owes Mr. Rosenberg nothing.”
* And we don’t have to rely solely on admitted drug-lover Stu Levine for this one, either…
Political insider William Cellini also spoke to Rezko about the Rosenberg solution and, in a phone conversation with Levine that was secretly recorded by federal agents, reported hearing the same thing from Rezko about Blagojevich’s knowledge and approval.
“Did he tell you, too, that the big guy said Rosenberg means nothing to him?” Cellini asked on the call played in court Wednesday. Levine explained to jurors that “the big guy” was Blagojevich and that Cellini’s comments meant that the governor did not feel that he owed the uncooperative Rosenberg anything.
* If you read carefully, there is no explicit statement that the governor knew about the alleged shakedown, which Rezko’s lawyers have claimed that Levine concocted himself. Reading only what was actually said, Blagojevich only allegedly knew that Rosenberg was freaking out and making threats. But it’s definitely implied that he knew more, which is why the Sun-Times put the story on the front page with this lede…
Despite Gov. Blagojevich’s repeated denials that he knew anything about alleged pay-to-play schemes, “the big guy” was told about one plan to squeeze campaign contributions from a firm seeking state business, according to bombshell testimony Wednesday at Tony Rezko’s corruption trial.
* Meanwhile…
A measure allowing voters to dump the governor and other statewide officeholders through California-style recall petitions advanced Wednesday in a key test vote in the House, though its approval is far from certain.
Proponents said the bill was prompted by their dissatisfaction with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has been criticized by Republicans and his fellow Democrats for what they say is his autocratic and aloof style of governance. But they argued the measure also is good public policy already embraced by 18 other states, including California, which replaced an unpopular governor with action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003.
“I would not have filed it but for the dismal performance of this governor,” said Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), the bill’s sponsor. “Our state is dysfunctional. . . . We are stuck at an absolute impasse because the governor refuses to lead and refuses, frankly, to show up for work. He won’t govern, and he can’t govern.”
The House adopted an amendment to the bill on an 80-25 vote, which Franks said indicates it likely will be approved by a wide margin when he tries to send it to the Senate next week. The favorable reception in the House also underscores Blagojevich’s running feud with Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), who voted for the amendment.
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A veritable font of information
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Deputy Gov. Louanner Peters “testified” yesterday to a House committee about a million dollar grant to fire-ravaged Pilgrim Baptist Church which instead wound up at a school that doesn’t seem to exist. I put quotes around “testified” because Peters wasn’t exactly forthcoming…
[A]t least 59 times in the roughly 90-minute hearing, Peters professed ignorance toward what Blagojevich has called a “bureaucratic mistake.”
“I would not have any idea who in the governor’s office would have the most answers,” Peters told members of the House State Government Administration Committee.
* The governor blamed a couple of former staffers for the grant, but wouldn’t name them. Neither did Deputy Gov. Peters…
Peters refused to name the two state officials the governor blamed for giving the church’s grant to the school.
“I don’t understand why you can’t answer,” Franks said.
“I don’t have an answer, sir,” Peters said.
* More…
Peters said it would be “inappropriate for me to comment on the circumstances surrounding the grant” because of an ongoing review of the matter by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which administered the grant.
* So, when will that review be completed?
Peters couldn’t say how long DCEO’s review would take.
* She gave the same treatment to reporters…
Peters did not answer questions after the hearing. “Walk fast,” a Blagojevich spokeswoman told her as reporters followed her down the Capitol hall.
Supreme arrogance.
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Morning shorts
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Candidate’s appearance at event in question
* Peraica tactic includes HDO ‘demonization’
* ACE Mentoring Program - Chicago Works Segment
* Beer spill shuts I-55 ramp for more than 7 hours
About 4 a.m., a truck carrying 1,440 cases of Beck’s beer toppled, spilling much of its load and shutting the northbound ramp near Burr Ridge for more than seven hours, Illinois State Police said. Beer, glass and cardboard littered the ramp after the driver, Clinton E. Maxey, 27, of Mt. Vernon, Ill., took the turn too fast, state police said.
* Suit alleges AT&T Illinois employees not paid for all hours
* Silly?
Even if Jay Stone didn’t deserve any payment, there are still another 1,423 recipients whose right to compensation goes unquestioned.
* Ceasefire, Chicago
* State’s plan to buy Wrigley lands it on endangered list
* Race card back in museum debate
* Senate committee advances measure clarifying smoking ban penalties
* House Approves Rep. Hamos Plan to Spend $2 Million on Infant Hearing Program
* Lawmakers: Can you follow the money?
* Lawmakers propose crosswalk cell phone ban
“Put me in jail,” said Decker, 45, of Chicago. “I’m not paying for talking on a phone. . . . It’s a God-given freedom that I have. What law is there that says I can’t talk on the street? It’s no different than if I’m walking with a friend and talking.”
* Verbal fireworks part of Capitol recall debate
* Lawmakers concerned by DNR fee hikes
Illinois’ public lands “are worthy and deserving of public investment with public tax dollars, as they have been for decades,” said Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria. “To simply take those away and suggest they become self-sufficient through user fees is really selling those natural resources short.”
* Survey: Fla. Teens Believe Drinking Bleach Will Prevent HIV
* AIDS, lies and how the Illinois Supreme Court might rule
* New organ donation commercial revealed
* Republican foe rips Durbin while launching challenge
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* 3:02 pm - I told subscribers about this development this morning. I still can’t understand how the Chicago media missed the lawsuit’s filing, which was last Friday…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s ongoing power struggle with state lawmakers has heated up again with a lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed last week by the governor’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services against Secretary of State Jesse White is aimed at authorizing his health care expansion without legislative approval.
The lawsuit aims to force White to publish rules allowing expansion of the state’s FamilyCare program for Illinois residents who can’t afford private insurance.
The governor has been trying for months without success to persuade lawmakers to pay for the expansion of the program. Twice, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has turned the governor down.
Download the entire lawsuit by clicking here.
* 3:05 pm - The House showed its eagerness to pass an amendment to the state Constitution today on recalling elected officials, but it’s highly doubtful this will ever see the light of day in the Senate….
In an important test vote, the House advanced legislation Wednesday that would allow voters to dump the governor and other statewide office-holders through recall petitions.
Those who want to give the public a chance to recall the governor would have to get signatures from at least 12 percent of the registered voters who cast votes for that office in the prior election. If they got enough signatures, a special election would be held asking voters if the office-holder should be removed and who the successor should be.
State lawmakers also could be removed, but a successful recall would require signatures from at least 20 percent of voters.
Judges were originally included in the proposed constitutional amendment, but they were removed under the amendment that passed Wednesday by a vote of 80-25, with two lawmakers voting present. Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), chief sponsor of the legislation, said he took the judges out to reduce chances that a state judge would someday strike down the amendment as unconstitutional if it becomes law.
* 3:09 pm - Mayor Daley threatened a property tax increase today unless the state comes up with another $100 million for Chicago schools. Gov. Blagojevich has proposed an $80 million hike for the city’s schools…
“We don’t want to raise property taxes, we want to avoid that. I want to make it clear, the Board of Education is forced to raise property taxes this year it will be because Springfield forced them to do that,” Daley said at a news conference.
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Former state employee hits the jackpot…kind of
Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Yesterday Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias held a press conference to announce this crazy story:
A former state administrator was charged Tuesday with stealing $750,000 from the state treasury, in part to pay college bills, purchase a boat and go on a cruise.
Wow. I’ve heard of state employees receiving generous pension benefits, but she really hit the jackpot. Kirby, who retired from the state in 2006 before Giannoulias took office, was a 33-year employee there, overseeing a unit that processed state deposits.
A federal grand jury in the state capital indicted Kirby on charges of wire fraud and money laundering:
“This indictment represents a stunning disregard for the pubic trust and an appalling display of fraud by someone who was supposed to be responsible for protecting taxpayers’ dollars,” said Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, whose office uncovered the alleged wrongdoing, which predated his tenure.
* And how exactly did her master plan work?
In 2005, Kirby — a $67,000-a-year state worker — allegedly transferred $750,000 in government funds to a personal bank account she had established using her elderly mother’s address.
To cover that transfer, Kirby allegedly created paperwork falsifying the return of a $263,408 tax refund owed to a Downstate Pekin hospital. Later, in 2006, she allegedly took a generic deposit slip from the treasurer’s office and moved the remaining $486,591 from her own bank account back into the treasury.
Prosecutors alleged the net loss to state taxpayers was $263,408, money that she allegedly spent on a boat, a truck, a camper, a vacation to Orlando, a cruise, college tuition and a mortgage payment. The feds are now seeking the return of those funds.
* When interviewed, former Treasurer Topinka said “I guess it is conceivable that she could do this without anyone in the office knowing it. I was personally shocked by it, that it happened at all. But since it did, the state should throw the book at her as that kind of stealing is untenable. Makes me sick.”
If convicted on all counts, Kirby could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Giannoulias said his office has created safeguards to prevent similar problems, including multiple layers of review and backup documentation before such transfers are authorized.
* This is another job well done by the Treasurer, and is certain to please many tax payers. Glad to see that someone is doing their job…
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
20 Chicago public school students have been fatally shot so far this school year — seven in March alone — compared with 24 the year before, said spokesman Mike Vaughn.
* And…
According to data provided by officials from the U.S. Department of Justice, Chicago school officials are not alone in battling this surge in youth violence. The department cited the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics that reveal homicide is now ranked among the top three leading causes of childhood mortality, accounting for one out of 23 deaths of children and youth younger than 18 years of age.
* The question: What is the appropriate government response?
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Wrigley thoughts
Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Something occurred to me during the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting yesterday. Perri Irmer, who runs the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority said the state would be a good steward for Wrigley Field and pointed out how Tribune Co. had allowed the stadium to fall into ruin.
Considering the state of our roads, schools, budget, etc., I’m not so sure the state would be such a great steward of that park, but she was right about Mother Tribune.
The company has added seats, cut lucrative deals with neighboring businesses, sold out just about every game, but they haven’t bothered to fix the basic infrastructure of their stadium - which is at the very heart of the franchise. No Wrigley, no Cub Mania. Yet the Trib has shamefully allowed the place to become a dangerous dump.
So, now the state is asked to step in and do what Tribune Co. would not. Fix the place up. God only knows how prospective private owners might react when they figure out the place is about to fall down around their ears. You can bet that crossed Sam Zell’s mind as he plotted to sell the team.
Zell himself didn’t allow the park to deteriorate, but nobody forced him to buy the Tribune. And now we’re supposed to be left with this atrocity of a building.
Perfect.
* When the Tribune wanted to put lights at Wrigley it ran editorials threatening politicians who would dare vote against its interests. We can probably expect the same this time around as the deal grows closer, but yesterday’s hearing revealed a whole lot of reluctance and downright hostility to this idea. Here are some quotes from a Daily Herald story..
“It is stunning to me that we are dithering around with this issue, wasting one second of time, talent that we have in the state that we could put anywhere else,” said Sen. Christine Radogno, a Lemont Republican, during hearings at the Capitol. […]
“We have to pay pensions — that’s what we have to do. We have to pay schools — that’s what we have to do and we have to have pay our Medicaid bill,” [Sen. James Meeks] said. “And then to go on and find something that we don’t even have to do, that’s just what alarms me.”
There was more, but you get the idea.
* The Tribune’s story today was entitled “Getting to Wrigley sale may take lots of pitching.” They’re gonna need a whole lot more than that to sell this turkey.
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* What a freaking mess…
As Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration was steering $1 million to a private, family-run school, state and federal authorities were trying to collect thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes from the school, the Tribune has found.
That was just one of many issues Loop Lab School managed to sidestep.
Even though Blagojevich said his administration made a “bureaucratic mistake” in giving the money to the school, a number of potential roadblocks were cleared to make the grant possible: The governor gave a rare and swift pardon to the school’s director, a convicted felon; the school for the first time in its 25-year history registered as a charitable organization with the state; and the school filed three years’ worth of required state tax documents in one day.
And the kicker…
Loop Lab School had hoped to move into its space in fall 2007. But the city stopped all interior work on the property when inspectors found the contractor did not have required approvals and permits. Now, the building is in foreclosure and may soon be taken over by new owners.
Rep. Jack Franks is holding a hearing on the issue today, but he hasn’t been getting much cooperation from the administration. He does expect some adminstration officials to testify, however.
* Speaking of schools, it’s stuff like this that make you understand why the House passed a bill yesterday to revamp the Illinois State Board of Education. From a press release…
State Representative John Fritchey (D-Chicago) is calling upon Governor Rod Blagojevich to release almost one-half million dollars in funding which has been promised to local Chicago schools. The FY08 budget, passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor after an amendatory veto, included funding for 14 elementary schools and 3 high schools in Rep. Fritchey’s district totaling $495,000. […]
The school grants were not among the items vetoed. In spite of this fact, the Illinois State Board of Education, at the direction of the Governor’s office, has refused to release the funding for over eight months.
“These are dollars specifically earmarked for books and computers for school kids, at schools in the Governor’s backyard no less,” said Fritchey, in whose district Blagojevich also resides. “Yet these students and these schools are falling victim to the Governor’s political agenda. The situation is made even worse when you look at some of the questionable programs for which budgeted dollars have been released. It is pure hypocrisy for the Governor to claim a commitment to education while holding hostage money for books and computers”
Fritchey and the governor have been on the extreme outs for years.
* Also, I’m told that Rep. John Bradley’s district got stiffed bigtime by the guv. Bradley and Blagojevich are also enemies.
* BB (Before Blagojevich), the Board of Ed was a pretty independent body. Blagojevich convinced the General Assembly to let him take control, and he has used it as a parking place for political appointees and forced it to bow to his bidding. The Board won’t challenge the governor on school funding, even this year when Blagojevich’s funding proposal represented the smallest increase of his entire time in office.
* Yesterday, the House signaled that it has had enough…
The Illinois House has approved a plan to reduce the governor’s influence over the State Board of Education.
The measure would toss out the current board members, who were appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich. Then a special panel would nominate 27 possible new board members for the governor to choose from.
The House approved the bill 86-21 Tuesday. It now goes to the state Senate.
Much of the vote was simply based on ill will towards the governor. Some of the opponents were Blagojevich allies, but others (including House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie - no Blagojevich fan) made solid arguments that the bill was the wrong move to make.
Check out the bill yourself.
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Gimme a break
Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Right up front let me say that I don’t approve of forcing public employees to work campaigns in order to get promotions, or to get hired in the first place. But this is just goofy…
Chicago aldermen ridiculed and condemned a federal hiring monitor on Friday for awarding $75,000 to the son of the City Council’s elder statesman as compensation for a 2003 aldermanic election that was stacked against him.
Jay Stone, son of Ald. Bernard Stone (50th), got one of the biggest chunks of a $12 million fund created to compensate victims of City Hall’s rigged hiring system.
Federal monitor Noelle Brennan believed Stone’s claim that he didn’t stand a chance against then-Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd) because Matlak had the support of a political army of city workers commanded on city time by now-convicted former First Deputy Water Commissioner Donald Tomczak.
* Sure the odds were stacked against him, but Jay Stone raised just $14,501.40 for that campaign. Did the fact that he was running against the Machine hurt his fundraising? Most probably. But his father is an alderman, for crying out loud, and he couldn’t even get the old man’s support.
Matlak won that 2003 race with 74 percent of the vote. It was hardly competitive. In contrast, four years earlier Matlak only took 54 percent against a much better candidate, Lorna Brett. And, remember, Matlak lost last year, despite bigtime backing from Mayor Daley’s organization.
Yet, Jay Stone gets 75 large. Go figure.
* Here’s Stone’s react…
“It’s not about compensating me for losing an election,” Stone said. “It’s compensating me for political discrimination.”
Cry me a river. I’d rather see employees who were forced to work for Matlak get those cash awards than worthless candidates like Stone. I mean, his daddy is an alderman, so he’s grown up with Chicago politics and that’s the best he can do? C’mon.
* Here’s Brennan’s response to the uproar…
“The compensation isn’t addressing the purported injury that [Stone] should have won. That’s not the issue. The issue is whether or not there were patronage practices in use against him….He submitted persuasive evidence that there were,” Brennan said.
If that’s the case, then a whole lot of other candidates should be getting checks. Where would that end?
* All that being said, Mayor Daley’s comments were just plain ridiculous…
“I guess all the candidates that lost will blame the unions and file a complaint against the unions for stacking it against them, taking political money and taking people off of jobs, so I think it’s silly to tell you the truth.”
* SEIU responds…
“It shows you the level of corruption that has existed in this city that people can’t tell the difference between a campaign volunteer and a political worker,” Morrison said. “Patronage workers are not volunteers—it is a requisite of their public job to do political work.”
Morrison said the only things SEIU offered as inducement for campaign help were “better government, a T-shirt and some pizza.”
Exactly.
But Brennan needs to find another line of work if this is the way she’s gonna run things.
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Morning shorts
Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Forum Series: “Should Illinois Citizens Call a Constitutional Convention?”
* Can a Constitutional Convention Fix Illinois’ Broken Government?
* Circuit Court Clerk Gets Chauffeur at Taxpayer Expense
* Accountability? Not in Daley’s government
Christopher Kozicki was the city official who rigged the test scores to make sure that young Andy got the job. Kozicki admitted to that in federal court in the trial of Daley patronage chief Robert Sorich and three others accused of all manner of illegal patronage hiring.
* Candidate’s appearance at event in question
* Controversy In Race For Cook Co. State’s Attorney
* 6 groups want to purchase Midway Airport
Six teams — one including some of the same players who paid $1.82 billion to lease the Chicago Skyway — will vie for the right to make Midway Airport the nation’s first privately-run commercial airport.
* Meeting Ron Huberman
* More clergy visits sought for those awaiting deportation
Often incarcerated for weeks before their cases reach court, immigrant detainees are experiencing severe depression and anxiety, with many unsure about the fates of their families, advocates said at a Tuesday news conference to promote state legislation that would grant religious workers greater access to those inmates in Illinois.
* Republicans stress unity at Lincoln Day Dinner
* No fooling: Sales tax increase kicks in
* House tries upping penalties on late payments from state
* Rep Paul Froehlich On County Secession Bills SB2591 And HB6307
* Illinois Senate in media’s corner
The Illinois Senate overwhelmingly sided with the state’s newspaper industry Tuesday in saying high school sports officials cannot dictate what happens with pictures taken at annual championship tournaments.
* Lawmakers look ahead to session
* Law targets adults who give kids guns
Hoping to target gang actions where adults use children to commit crimes, state Rep. Edward Acevedo wants adults responsible for the juvenile’s access to a firearm to also be charged with murder, which could carry significantly more prison time.
* Why the taxman may be visiting strip clubs
* House Democrats Shouldn’t Take Bait
* Million Dollar Blagojevich
* On tape: No way around clout
“I suggested that Mr. Rosenberg be given a choice,” Levine said he told Kelly and Rezko. “He either pay a finder’s fee or he could raise $1.5 million for the governor’s campaign.”
* Gavel-to-Gavel: ‘If you screw us, we’re gonna cut you’
* Money woes $$$$ . . .
Rumble is President Bush’s big bucks donors have been holding back the cash from GOP presidential contender John McCain because they want him to pick conservative Mitt Romney as his veepmate.
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