* Patrick Elwood at WGN…
Residents in Lyons left a City Hall meeting frustrated Tuesday evening. The meeting came just days after the town’s City Hall was raided by federal agents.
The village’s monthly public meeting started at 7 p.m. and was over by 7:06 p.m. Those residents who wanted to say a few words were not allowed to speak.
The FBI raided the town halls of Lyons, McCook and Summit, and just days before that, raided the Cicero and Springfield offices of Sen. Martin Sandoval. […]
As a WGN reporter interviewed Earl Johnson, a Lyons resident who is an outspoken critic of Mayor Christopher Getty, a man who residents said is an ally of Getty walked by and spilled soda as the on-camera interview was conducted. He then set off his car alarm.
* Some on-scene tweets from the BGA…
- Sean - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:38 am:
Politics as usual for the area. Machines (and nepotism) don’t sleep, but they do hide when they’re chased. Tough guy charade falls quickly.
- 32nd warder - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:39 am:
its just so bizarre. i really hope the feds make quick work of this nonsense and clean up this corruption. taxpayers deserve a government that works for them!
- Downstate - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:42 am:
Hard choices ahead for many of these politicos. In particular, “When do I turn to become a state witness?” Because being the last one to turn has absolutely no value.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:50 am:
Nothing says “I’m innocent” like hiding in the back room.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:54 am:
Maybe attorneys advised them, for their own protection, not to say anything?
Sure it’s against everything an open meeting should be, and governing, but FBI raids will do that.
If they’re lucky, they’ll get to speak to the Feds to get on the bus first and fast.
Now, if it’s too late for bus riding and talking…
- efudd - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:00 am:
Montrose with the base-clearer.
Maybe the smart thing to do legally, but man oh man, does that look bad to the citizenry.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:00 am:
The Citizens for Christopher Getty Candidate Committee spent $115,923 at the Oak Brook Gibsons. He does have good taste in restaurants !
https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/citizens-for-christopher-getty-22589/
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:02 am:
Goons gonna goon.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:05 am:
Good work to Casey Toner for keeping a close eye on the plethora of shady small towns around the Chicagoland area
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:07 am:
It’s really easy not to say anything. At the beginning of the meeting, have the mayor make a brief statement on how they cannot comment on pending investigations. Let the people say whatever they want to say. And have no response other than, “thank you.” And have no further comment on the matter. Or you can make everyone look like complete clowns. I guess they think that’ll work out for some bizarre reason I can’t fathom, because you know people are going to talk to the media if they can’t talk to the mayor and council.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:10 am:
“…spilled soda as the on-camera interview was conducted. He then set off his car alarm.”
Such a lame and infantile move. Did he really expect this to prevent anything from being reported?
- don the legend - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:10 am:
As a famous anchorman would say, “Stay classy Lyons.”
- NoGifts - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:37 am:
-Ducky- truer words were never spoken.
- Shemp - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:44 am:
===It’s really easy not to say anything. At the beginning of the meeting, have the mayor make a brief statement on how they cannot comment on pending investigations. Let the people say whatever they want to say. And have no response other than, “thank you.” And have no further comment on the matter. Or you can make everyone look like complete clowns. I guess they think that’ll work out for some bizarre reason I can’t fathom, because you know people are going to talk to the media if they can’t talk to the mayor and council.===
Exactly this. Also, that’s insane campaign money for a village of 10,000 and some hefty campaign donations for a small town.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:59 am:
==Such a lame and infantile move. Did he really expect this to prevent anything from being reported?==
Why didn’t Casey Toner report the name of this guy - is he a minor?
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 12:01 pm:
Beards. All the beards.
- Father Ted - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:13 pm:
I’m not in any way excusing what happened, but only the BGA could refer to what I presume was the board’s executive session as hiding in a conference room.
- mcdouble - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
Arent local governments supposed to have a public comment period on their agenda for members of the public to address the board?
- Shemp - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:20 pm:
===I’m not in any way excusing what happened, but only the BGA could refer to what I presume was the board’s executive session as hiding in a conference room.===
Even if there were a closed session, the board still needs to adjourn the meeting in open session. They can’t meet in closed session then sneak out.
- In 630 - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:53 pm:
Wow, Getty really did get into the family business. His dad did time, too.
- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 4:16 pm:
I believe that’s called an illegal closed meeting.
- Downstate - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 4:21 pm:
I doubt there was much discussion in the closed board room. The fear of listening devices had to be on all their minds.
- Quicksand - Thursday, Oct 3, 19 @ 5:00 am:
When will the offices of British owned Camelot; manager of the Illinois Lottery, be raided?