The three Burkes
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oy…
You’re kidding me, right? The Chicago Police Department is going to reopen its investigation of a 70-year-old gangland murder because a powerful alderman thinks the victim, crooked lawyer Edward J. O’Hare, didn’t get enough credit for his role in helping bring down Al Capone?
We’re going to do this at a time when Chicago Police are crying out for more manpower to deal with the daily crush of crime, not to mention a backlog of hundreds and hundreds of other unsolved murders from the department’s cold case files in which the perpetrators might actually still be alive and walking the streets?
Incredible as it seems, that’s exactly what emerged Tuesday from a meeting of the city’s Police and Fire Committee, orchestrated to that end by the only guy who could pull it off, Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th).
Burke, the City Council’s resident historian, apparently has a bug up his butt about the Nov. 8, 1939, killing of O’Hare, the father of the war hero after whom our airport is named. O’Hare was gunned down in his car by shotgun-wielding assailants.
* Politics, old style…
[Rep. Dan Burke] pleads guilty to passing out about 7,000 pumpkin pies and hams over the holidays — all donated by Pete’s — the local grocery story — to Burke’s brother, Ald. Edward Burke’s 14th Ward organization. Most voters got coupons to redeem the hams and pies at the store. On top of that, he gave out free turkeys to the poor and passed out about 2,000 cards that give voters 20 percent discounts on prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, Dan Burke said.
“All that’s been checked out, and it’s all legal,” Burke said. […]
Burke is one of only two non-Hispanic members of the Hispanic legislative caucus. The other is State Rep. Deb Mell. [Ald. Ricardo Munoz] said he was offended by a quote Burke gave the New York Times that if [Rudy Lozano Jr.] was elected, as a new member, it would take him two years to find the “bano.” That’s the Hispanic word for bathroom.
Dan Burke said “what few people in the district read the New York Times” were amused by the quote. And it referred to Burke noticing that Rod Blagojevich had not found the members’ bathroom after three years in the Legislature.
The bathroom is in the back of the House chambers. I think even Rod was smart enough to find it. Then again…
* Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, Ed’s wife, was mentioned in a recent article about the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver…
In 1967, [Shriver] listened to an idea by a woman named Anne Burke who wanted to hold a track meet for Chicago kids with intellectual disabilities. Eunice grabbed the modest idea and, in only one year, had nationalized it into the very first Special Olympics in 1968, just seven weeks after her brother Robert Kennedy was assassinated.
How did that Sesame Street song go?
“One of these things is not like the other…”
* We didn’t do Morning Shorts today, so here it is…
* With state payments still late, human service agencies consider cuts
* Illinois cigarette tax back on lawmakers’ radar
* Organization plans to renew effort to pass state cigarette tax hike
* House votes to ax McPier Board
* House approves bill to replace convention center board
* House OKs minimum prison term, release notice
* Lawmakers vote to require all prisoners to earn their good time credit
* House lawmakers react to controversy over early prison release
* Lawmakers endorse plan to allow Quinn to borrow $250 million
* Burr Oak Cemetery scandal: Illinois Senate approves new limits on cemeteries
* Senate OKs cemetery overhaul following Burr Oak scandal
* House advances higher school standards for money
* State set to hear arguments in Verizon sale
* State might earn millions for its schools if teachers area evaluated differently
* This week in (recent) history: A Roland Burris anniversary
* New state site helps find housing
* Body shop faces ban on city work
* Tribune watchdog: $685,000 a year to run nonprofit
* Troubled nursing homes: Chicago aldermen consider tougher oversight of facilities that house many felons and psychiatric patients
* Board chief: My efficiency plan saves $300 million
*Huberman Fleshes Out Anti-Violence Plan
* Alderman gets 70-year-old O’Hare murder reopened
* CPS’ Project Protection
* District seeks federal school funds
* Daley cancels public schedule to be with wife
* Ousted Teamsters Officers Ask to Stay On
* Asian carp DNA found closer to Lake Michigan
* Asian carp DNA found in water samples from the Chicago River
* Asian Carp DNA Found In Wilmette
* Asian carp: Sen. Dick Durbin tries to reassure Great Lakes states suing Illinois over invasive fish
* Durbin says Illinois’ not in denial‘ on carp threat
* River, lock businesses fear fallout of canal’s closing
* Many Will County officials pushing to speed plans for Illiana Expressway
* DuPage County rejects proposed Islamic center
* Vacancies Abound before Chicago Rebounds
* Lake County farms vanishing
* Berwyn police gang unit makes impact
* Will Channel 7 be ‘Lost’ without election coverage?
* Iowa, Illinois see drop in roadway deaths
* New Lincoln penny to be unveiled in Springfield
* Davlin’s budget: Eliminate 55 positions, close library branches
* MidAmerica Airport slammed in NBC News report
* Morton school district applies for federal funds
* Injured prison guards prompt stepped-up security
* City employee, County Board member back on job after suspension
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:29 am:
I saw a Dan Burke tv spot on TBS last week. I don’t think I’d ever seen one for state rep. before. I always thought TV for state senate was weird.
- southside irish - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:47 am:
The fact that Dan Burke feels the need to buy votes for this election just shows what a weak and powerless individual he is. Rudy Lozano doesn’t need to buy this election because he is earning it, by hitting the streets and talking to voters. Thanks to capitol fax and the sun times for covering this issue when almost noone else will touch it.
- Scooby - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:47 am:
I don’t understand how Dan Burke did something wrong by finding someone willing to donate food to low income people in need and helping int he delivery process. That strikes me as a good thing, a very good thing.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 11:55 am:
“I don’t understand how Dan Burke did something wrong by finding someone willing to donate food to low income people in need and helping int he delivery process. That strikes me as a good thing, a very good thing.”
The problem is if he did it this year and only this year when he has a challenger in his election vs. this being an annual activity of his. Moreover, there are ways he could facilitate/broker the donation without it being his organization doing the handout.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:01 pm:
The demographics are finally catching up to Dan Burke. Ed better watch his back too, although isn’t he sitting on like $4 million in his campaign account and never has an opponent? If Dan gets past this one, he’ll be front and center in the remap process.
I’ve always thought the Burkes could use more sunshine, especially Ed. Fran Spielman does a story on his ethics disclosure every year and Sneed blows kisses to her favorite source, but beyond that, nothing much gets written about the second most influential Irish family in Chicago. There is a good book in there somewhere.
- Scott Summers - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:08 pm:
We’re saved! New federal cash coming to Springfield on February 11th!
Hallelujah! A new infusion of federal cash is coming to Springfield!
And the date has been set: February 11th, 2010.
Whew, not a moment too soon. Illinois state finances are in such awful shape. What a relief!
Thank you, feds! Thank you! Thank you!
Now we don’t have to make any tough financial decisions! No budget cuts, right? No tax increases? Hooray!
We’ll pass the cash through right away to the vendors we’ve been stiffing for months. And to the social services agencies writhing in agony because of our slow-pay policies. And to the schools and community colleges and universities struggling to make ends meet.
And whatever is left over — hey, we’ll put it toward the massive pension shortfalls!
Why, this surely will turn our dismal credit rating right around!
Imagine! Rolls and rolls of cold, hard cash! And they’re bringing it in from Washington! The governor, and the treasurer, and the comptroller, and members of the General Assembly — surely they’ll all be there!
Perhaps we’ll need to charter a fleet of armored trucks, so we can haul it all away!
And think of all of the jobs we’ll be creating! I mean, we’ll need to hire guards for the armored trucks, right? New jobs for Illinois!
Details are still being worked out. But the date is definite. On February 11th, federal officials will be at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield to show off the loot.
That’s right. They’ll be there to unveil a new design for the Lincoln penny.
Read all about it: www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1409370872/New-Lincoln-Penny-to-be-unveiled-in-Springfield-Feb-11
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:13 pm:
I voted for Burke, and all I got from him was the bird.
I voted for Burke, and now I finally got a piece of the pie.
Yeah - Burke giving away TDay foodstuffs will really swing an election.
Just how stupid do the people complaining about this giveaway think voters are?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 12:23 pm:
So does Huberman still get two leased cars as Chicago Public Schools head?
Yup, there is no fat to trim anywhere in government or schools. Not one bit!
- Steve Bartin - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 1:59 pm:
We all should be glad that Alderman Burke is concerned about an old Capone murder case. The author of the forthcoming book can get a free plug. Alderman Burke is an expert on the subject of the Chicago Mob. Plus, Alderman Burke has lived history. He used to hang out with Alderman Roti, the high ranking made member of the Chicago Mob at Counsellor’s Row restaurant. Maybe, Roti told Alderman Burke about old Mob murder cases : we can only guess? What’s not in dispute is Alderman Burke “feelings” for a Chicago Mob member.
http://nalert.blogspot.com/2008/03/chicago-democrats-and-chicago-mob.html
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 2:06 pm:
I think Blagoof was found sniffing around the woeman restroom when first around and started prowling then he moved out into the city. He was never on the floor long enough to find the men’s room.v
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 4:30 pm:
I wonder if, 70 years from now, they will be opening an investigation to determine who signed the city up for a parking meter contract that will be ending soon.
- Paletero05 - Wednesday, Jan 13, 10 @ 10:13 pm:
The hams, pies are a sign of desperation. They were donated to his brothers’ Ward office. The people “complaining” about the giveaways are not because they think it will sway voters, it’s because HE thinks we’re stupid enough that it will sway voters. Plus its just plain dirty.