“How about anything, Danny?”
Monday, Feb 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Fran Spielman…
Ald. Danny Solis wanted lawyer and political power broker Victor Reyes to help raise money for him, but Reyes had a complaint, according to a transcript of an August 2015 cellphone call between the men secretly recorded by the FBI.
Reyes said four other aldermen — George Cardenas (12th), Roberto Maldonado (26th), Proco Joe Moreno (1st) and Rick Munoz (22nd) — had referred him business. But Reyes griped that Solis, then the powerful chairman of the City Council’s Zoning Committee, had given him nothing.
“How about anything? How about anything, Danny?” Reyes is quoted as saying in the transcript in the explosive federal affidavit obtained by the Sun-Times. “How about anything. Not just the big one. How ’bout one f—ing thing … Maldonado sends me business. Moreno sends me business.”
“I will. I will,” Solis said.
“Rick Munoz sends me business,” Reyes continued.
“I will send you business this month,” Solis said.
“You haven’t sent me any. I don’t know why,” Reyes said.
Go read the whole thing.
- Steve - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:18 am:
If there is other evidence some Aldermen, other than Alderman Burke, might be in trouble here for “directing business” to certain individuals.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:21 am:
Same as it ever was, ever since they started wheeling-and-dealing for furs and plots at the old Sauganash Hotel at Wolf Point.
- Rutro - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:25 am:
Most interesting are the no comments.
- Sonny - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:27 am:
My word Sun Times release the documents already. This is getting to be some Comey stuff — the elections are in three weeks.
- chi - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:34 am:
Reyes’ statement to the Sun-Times took some chutzpah.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:39 am:
The key important detail, besides “this is standard” in thinking of “how things are done”, is with so many recordings, and discussions within a bigger picture or smaller moment, the detail is the inherent trust it appears so many have that they discuss things they all “know” are inherently unethical, with illegal being debatable, given what little “we” know…
The trust to each in these conversations… it’s nog like 1 or 2, there are 4 names bantered about so recklessly, so freely, that is the key important detail… no fear of… each other turning on any.
That’s mind blowing.
- Steve - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:52 am:
The subjects covered in this Fran Spielman article will probably generate other articles. But, it just a guess.
- Perrid - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:54 am:
Yep, just a bunch of friendly guys who respect each other referring people to each other because of their mutual respect. Move along, nothing to see here. /s
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 9:56 am:
OW, it’s akin to organized crime to the extent that there is a mutual assurance that everyone is in and plays ball. The threat of one going down is lessened by the fact that if one goes, they all go. The mentality seems to be if you won’t play ball, how can I trust you?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:06 am:
Dirty deeds done not quite dirt cheap.
- Angry Republican - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:13 am:
I can’t wait for the Netflix series about this. I wonder what the title will be and who will be the lead actor.
- ;) - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:18 am:
So the feds are now in the business of monitoring business referrals? Oh man…Doctors watch out, you’re next.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:30 am:
It sounds like the Reyes-Solis exchange is more serious than other exchanges between Reyes and the four other alderman. No one knows what is in the next 10 pages of the affidavit, so all the crowing about there not being a crime here or there is premature.
- AnonInIL - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:41 am:
Sadly, Solis should have told Reyes, “You can’t find business any other way than thru me & those aldermen?! You’ve got some problems!” But, maybe Reyes knows about some skeletons. In all actuality, ties to Reyes should be looked into.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:48 am:
“How about anything? How about anything, Danny?
How about anything. Not just the big one. How ’bout one f—ing thing … Maldonado sends me business. Moreno sends me business.” This sounds strikingly similar to the comment that Miriam Santos went to jail for: “It’s time to belly up to the bar.”
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 10:52 am:
The Reyes 4…. they had influence over things. Victor’s ego may yet do him in. Didnt think id ever see it but maybe now.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:01 am:
This ain’t the referring of doctors. It’s much more.
Moreno and Maldanado have to be pretty scared right now. Lots of projects in their wards went right through Burke and Solis and lots of developers made lots of money.
Not sure about Cardenas in all of this, but he was close to Danny.
Reyes is Teflon. If they didn’t get him with Daley, they never will.
What comes next?
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:03 am:
“So the feds are now in the business of monitoring business referrals? Oh man…Doctors watch out, you’re next.”
That’s a joke, right? You really see no problem with this?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:11 am:
The big one, right off the bat for Reyes, was the JC Decaux bus sheter contract right after he left the Mayor’s Office.
- Urban Girl - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:54 am:
Kudos to the Sun-Times. If I did not already subscribe to the Sun-Times, this would definitely get me to start. I am somewhat annoyed by how there are rolling out the information slowly, but I admit that I wake up most mornings wondering what’s next.
- Roman - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:58 am:
== strikingly similar to the comment that Miriam Santos went to jail for ==
I thought the same thing. Not exactly subtle. It’s harder to convince a jury you were engaged in friendly logrolling when you’re on tape talking like that.
- west wing - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:59 am:
The city council was formed in 1837. As Bill Daley says, it’s a dinosaur in terms of age and function. Let’s whack the council from 50 to 15 (or whatever the magic number is) and reduce these little dynasties and empires that lead to greed and pay-to-play. Chicago would also have some great competition for 15 seats –
- "Old Timer Dem" - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 12:15 pm:
AnonInIl brings up a good point. Reyes and Solis founded HDO to benefit Richard II. Reyes certainly knows where the bodies are buried.
- Thank you, next. - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
Reyes’ words are damning. And unfortunate. Why should have Solis steered business his way? Is Reyes is the man behind the curtain…
- Levois - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 1:26 pm:
What I see in this article is eye opening. One aspect of the process at work…
- 13thone - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 3:54 pm:
“Someday, and that day may never come, I’ll call upon you to do a service for me. But, until that day, accept this justice as a gift”
“I want reliable people, people who aren’t going to be carried away. After all we’re not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks”
- revvedup - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 8:02 pm:
The dirt is so thick, they’ll need a Streets & San payloader to clean it up by the time it’s all over. But some alderpeople think the big issue is Solis wearing a wire, not the corruption itself. This is why Chicago can’t have nice things. As the late Mike Royko said, the City seal should have the words “Where’s Mine?” on it.