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Sweet Cub tickets come with a harsh pricetag

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Illinois

The head of the city ethics agency has warned Chicago aldermen and other elected officials that if they accept the Cubs’ offer to buy coveted playoff tickets at face value, they must attend personally and have their presence announced publicly.

The warning came in an advisory memo this week from Steven Berlin, executive director of the Chicago Board of Ethics, as news stories revealed about 70 percent of the city’s 50 aldermen, 85 percent of Chicago state and federal officials, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner had taken advantage.

As a result, some aldermen who were planning to give the tickets away have contacted the team to say they won’t be purchasing them, said team spokesman Julian Green, without providing specifics. In addition, the Cubs will display the names of public officials who did accept the offer on a digital board at the park, he said.

Green said the team had asked the ethics board for an opinion on offering the tickets to public officials, as it has for more than a decade, before extending the offer.

* The Sun-Times has more detail…

Berlin replied that the ticket “offer itself is not prohibited,” but comes with a “critical caveat”: Elected officials and city employees accepting the offer must attend the game “in his or her official capacity — not as a private Cub fan.”

“It could be construed as a prohibited gift to the city official if they are not announced or if they give away or resell all tickets they purchased at this special price,” Berlin wrote.

“Every city official who purchases tickets [must] be advised at the time of purchase that the Cubs will announce their presence on the Jumbotron or via the PA system at some point during the game.”

Berlin further wrote that the Board of Ethics “will consider any actions inconsistent with this advice as potential violations of the ordinance, which could result in an investigation and public finding of a violation — most definitely a result to be avoided.”

Berlin noted that he had already engaged in “extensive conversations” with Mike Lufrano, vice-president of community relations with the Cubs. But, after reading the Sun-Times story, “It was “not clear that the Cubs had followed our advice given on Sept. 30.”

I don’t really blame the politicos for taking up the team’s offer. Hey, it’s playoff baseball. And it’s not without precedent.

But these tickets are so difficult to come by unless you’re already a season ticket holder that I assume public outrage will surely result. Crime is rising, as are taxes (a buddy of mine says his city water/sewer bill alone is rising by $1600 a year) and the teachers are threatening a strike. Plus, this national campaign has everyone going a little insane.

In the past, the electeds would just ignore the public outcry, figuring it would pass. And it always did. We’ll see what happens this time.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 9:44 am

Comments

When the Cubs post the names of the special political attendees on their video board, I would predict that the crowd will start booing.

My prediction. Any bets?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 9:49 am
My bet - gates at Wrigley open tonight at 6pm, names get displayed at 6:01pm

Comment by Lincoln Parker Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 9:52 am
Lincoln Parker wins the internet!

Go Giants!

Comment by North Side White Sox Fan Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 9:53 am
It’s probably easier to skirt if you owned part of a team, like the Red Sox… but I digress.

The 2019 election is a long ways away.

Now, if the electeds have to get up and say something to distrupt the beginning of the game? Yikes.

But that’s not happening.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 9:54 am
Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the first base field box seats, section 33, row 7, seats 12 and 13, and let’s give a warm Wrigley Field welcome to Proco Joe Moreno!

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:00 am
And… you have to sit with Ronnie Woo Woo.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:14 am
47th Ward - EXACTLY like that’s really gonna happen for every elected official who attends.

Comment by L.A. Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:15 am
–When the Cubs post the names of the special political attendees on their video board, I would predict that the crowd will start booing.

My prediction. Any bets?–

Wow, Louis, really going out on a limb there.

What kind of odds are you giving on the sun setting in the west tonight?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:16 am
Much ado.

Comment by A guy Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:19 am
At StubHub, standing room is going for around $140. Lower deck box seats a little over $500. Realize it’s just the Division Series. And realize MLB will be controlling a lot of prime seats once the World Series begins.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:21 am
The more I think about this idea of exposing the insiders who get special access to tickets (among other perqs), the more I like it. The Cubs should consider a City Hall version of the sausage race between innings. Instead of sausages, they could have Aldermen chasing a $100 bill around the field.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:28 am
“City water/sewer bill alone is rising by $1600 a year”

That’s a *lot* of water. My family of four, in a single family home, will pay less than $400 *including* the garbage fee. I don’t water my lawn much, but we aren’t otherwise crazy about water-use reduction.

If that’s a *business* bill, and it’s a moderately water intense business (or a pretty big apartment building) that makes sense. But for an individual bill, a $1600 increase over 2015 rates would mean a crazy anmount of water being used.

Comment by Chris Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:29 am
47th 10:28
Your suggestion is beyond funny, but people come to the ballpark to escape the stress and problems of everyday life in the city, not to be reminded of it.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:34 am
The Billy Goat, accompanied by Bartman, begins the walk down Clark towards Wrigley.

Comment by Piece of Work Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:36 am
You know how much scrolls across a video board during a game? They won’t do them all at once. Most people won’t even notice. Except for a tracking firm that will be videotaping the entire board during the game for future oppo material.

While people may be upset the elected folks got a deal, every single person out there would take it if they could get it. I would, wouldn’t you?

Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:42 am
I laughed out loud when I saw versions of these articles in several places last night. Openly publicizing in advance that pols get special arrangements to buy coveted playoff tickets (even if at full price) is enough to inflame lifelong Cub fans who cannot buy tickets at all. Well done, Ethics Board!

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:51 am
===every single person out there would take it if they could get it===

Um, there are Cub haters out there who wouldn’t. I can think of one. But that’s just me.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:54 am
===Um, there are Cub haters out there who wouldn’t.===

I’m surprised at you Rich. You’re a smart guy. Wouldn’t you grab the chance to pay face value for tickets you could re-sell for a small fortune? You can hate the Cubs, but why do have to hate on capitalism?

And let’s be honest, pretty much every Alderman who said they were going to “give” those tickets away was thinking the same thing: How much can I get for these seats?

They can’t help themselves. That’s how Alderman think. Ubi est mea.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:59 am
===but why do have to hate on capitalism?===

Not a big fan of scalping. If someone gave me tix at face value, I’d probably auction them off for charity.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:01 am
That’s why you have no future in elected office Rich.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:03 am
I’m a Sox fan and wouldn’t attend a Cubs playoff game with a free ticket.

Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:25 am
@wordslinger, you trying to place a bet with me? LOL!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:38 am
I heard about this on 670 the Score the other day–by the way I love that station.

They were suggesting that folks call their aldermen to ask them to give away the tickets to exceptionally deserving constituents. I thought that could be a great PR idea as long as the aldermen understand the proper context of “deserving” in this situation.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:44 am
Where is the State’s IG to insist on state reps and senators being introduced as well??!!

Comment by Longsummer Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:59 am
What a great idea…they really deserve it cause they’ve done a great job of handling the State’s challenges…

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:20 pm
Wait a minute. Is this the Chicago way?

Comment by Keyser Soze Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:21 pm
sorry the City’s challenges…

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:21 pm
I wouldn’t be so upset that the politicians got these sweet tickets if the politicians were first doing their jobs and we had a balanced budget. Until they do their jobs they shouldn’t get to enjoy the perks of the office that they all wanted so badly and we elected them to do.

Comment by Just Me Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 8:28 pm