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* Letter…
March 7, 2022
Dear Governor Pritzker:
We are writing to ask your administration to freeze any unreleased funds associated with four projects contained within the 2019 Rebuild Illinois initiative which are tied directly to indicted former Speaker Mike Madigan.
The massive 22-count indictment of Madigan calls into question the legitimacy of these projects and whether they inured to the benefit of the community and the taxpayers or whether they were advanced at the behest of Madigan on behalf of or to benefit his private law clients or other politically-connected individuals or entities.
According to a January 2022 report published in the Sun-Times, the 2019 Rebuild Illinois capital package contained $144M of projects directly tied to former Speaker Madigan. Records show that among other projects, Madigan secured $98M to address train brake noise outside three hotels near Midway Airport owned by two brothers, who were clients of Madigan’s property tax business. According to the Better Government Association, the brothers said they never requested the funding. The report also identified three additional projects tied to Madigan, totaling $6M for a control tower at Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, $31M for The Academy for Global Citizenship, a charter school near Madigan’s former House district, and $9M for John Hancock College Prep, a Chicago public high school in Madigan’s former district. According to the BGA, the Academy received tens of millions more than it requested and no funding was requested for John Hancock by CPS.
Although some of the funding for these projects may have already been allocated, and projects completed or underway, we request another layer of review to determine whether they were an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. If not, and any unallocated funding remains, the General Assembly should reallocate the funds for much-needed capital or infrastructure needs.
We applaud your strong support of much-needed school projects, critical infrastructure needs, roads and bridges, mental health clinics, food pantries and other legislative priorities via the Rebuild Illinois program.
Likewise, we appreciate your strong rebuke of Madigan’s actions as alleged in the indictment and share your view that they constituted a stark violation of the public trust. We join you in your commitment to ensure accountability and integrity in state government and am hopeful we can work together to restore not only the misappropriated public dollars but the trust that Illinoisans have in their elected officials.
Thank you,
Rep. Ann M. Williams
Rep. Terra Costa Howard
Rep. Deb Conroy
Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
Rep. Kelly Cassidy
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Rep. Jonathan Carroll
Rep. Kathy Willis
Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
* From that news report…
For the better part of the past decade, hotel owners Jon Weglarz and Mark Weglarz fought to put a damper on the noise caused by screeching train brakes outside their Midway Airport-area properties.
Now, it appears they’ve finally succeeded — with the intervention of the Weglarz brothers’ longtime property tax lawyer, then-House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, who delivered $98 million in taxpayer money for what undoubtedly would be one of the most expensive brake jobs in history. […]
Records show at least $144 million went to four projects backed by Madigan that avoided the usual review process and benefited people the former speaker has ties to.
Beside the money for reducing the noise from trains near Midway Airport, those projects also included $31 million for a charter school records show asked for only $1.5 million, $9 million for a new Chicago high school building that the Chicago Public Schools hadn’t sought that funding for and $6 million for a Romeoville airport control tower that a Madigan political ally had wanted for years.
* The Question: Should the governor freeze any unreleased funds associated with those four Madigan projects? Please explain your answer in comments.
*** UPDATE *** This question is now moot. From Jordan Abudayyeh…
At the request of members of the General Assembly who voted for the capital plan, the administration will freeze the funding for the projects outlined in their letter.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 12:53 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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No. The BGA’s opinion is not evidence of a crime. If the law says to spend the funds on those projects, the Governor should implement the law.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:00 pm
No, perhaps review, but not freeze. Not based on solely the BGA’s assessment.
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:01 pm
No.
I’m not sure how Lewis Airport even shows up on a list of things related to Madigan.
“airport control tower that a Madigan political ally had wanted for years.”
Okay, but as someone who lives fairly close to the flight path out of Lewis airport, the increase in air traffic has been rather substantial over the last 10 years. Lewis also has a fairly decent Aeronautics program and improving the condition of the airport for those on that educational path seems like a good investment. Believe it or not, Lewis airport is one of the top five busiest airports in the state.
This process started back in 2018 with the passage of federal legislation and FAA rules that allowed Lewis
to put in a request for this upgrade. Prior to that they were working for almost a decade to start the grant process.
It’s not a bad deal JUST because someone connected to Madigan wanted it. If it was the Morris airport in Grundy county I’d be a lot more suspicious of it, but it’s not.
The only project that may need more scrutiny, but not cancellation, is the railroad work. But even that, it’s so difficult to work with the FRA to get anything done locally I can’t see how Madigan would help sway a federal review board.
== avoided the usual review process ==
The FRA has anything but a ‘usual’ review process. If you miss the FRA deadlines in a proposed project, your project gets put to the back of the line. I’d have to look back on the specifics, but I recall a local project that had to have a similar fast track approval by the state in order to meet the deadlines of the FRA for the project. It is next to impossible to correctly align state and federal agencies schedules to keep projects on time.
I just don’t see anything ‘there’ on these public works projects. I could be convinced that holding off on sending money to the two schools mentioned is a good idea, but I’d need to know the conditions of those schools. $9M might just be the cost of a full HVAC replacement these days with the price of nickel where it is.
Comment by TheInvisibileMan Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:18 pm
No. Since when is the BGA the arbiter of fact?
Comment by ;) Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:20 pm
==we request another layer of review to determine whether they were an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.==
Let the legislative branch conduct the review.
Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:21 pm
Freeze the funds, and investigate further. When the amounts listed weren’t even requested by two of the entities receiving funds, and were not vetted by the usual process. that’s enough right there given Madigan’s indictment to freeze and review. What State law says in irrelevant, since Madigan also controlled what bills were called and passed.
Comment by thisjustinagain Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:24 pm
== What State law says in irrelevant ==
Maybe they should file a TRO?
Comment by TheInvisibileMan Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:28 pm
This letter seems very short sided. They don’t even know if Madaign requested these projects on behalf of other members or the impact it will have. For example, the Academy for Global Citizenship is a very successful charter school. I think holding it hostage over unrelated allegations is politics at it’s worse.
Comment by ponderings Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:32 pm
Dear Gov. Since we didn’t bother reviewing these items before when we blindly voted for them and whatever goodies possible in our own districts, can you renege on these projects even though they’ve been announced and possibly some money even released.
Signed, The Brave, now that he’s gone even braver.
Ack
Comment by A Guy Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:34 pm
No. Pause and review, and let the funding flow if the projects are justified.
Comment by offtheclock Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:34 pm
The noise abatement and control tower work, yes.
The funds that were not even requested by CPS, no.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:34 pm
Perhaps “the 19″ should talk to the suburban officials asking the Surface Transportation Board to “mitigate” the Canadian Pacific / Kansas City Southern merger … to the tune of $5.5 billion up to $9 billion. (CP, to purchase KCS, is paying $31 billion.)
Then go talk to the suburban officials who in 2007 had to deal with Canadian National’s acquisition and revitalization of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern. Particularly they should inquire how “accommodating and flexible” CN was to local needs.
That should put them in the right frame of mind to properly review the train brake noise request.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:48 pm
In the bigger picture, I hope this now narrower group of reps don’t get stuck veering off this path, to both their and our detriment, due to wanting to re-live their large single accomplishment of standing up against Madigan.
Not trying to take anything away from what they have accomplished.
They have a lot of political capital right now, but using it here seems to be incredibly wasteful. You can’t unburn your gunpowder. Use it wisely.
Comment by TheInvisibileMan Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 1:59 pm
@AnyoneRemember CN stinks, they are the main reason that the north central service metra line to Antioch (through O’hare) doesn’t run on the weekend. They prefer corporate profits over allowing economic growth for western Lake County.
Comment by Lake Villa Township Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:05 pm
= * The Question: Should the governor freeze any unreleased funds associated with those four Madigan projects? Please explain your answer in comments.=
“or other politically-connected individuals or entities”
Absolutely freeze ALL the promised, and granted out, expenditures of these electeds, especially those in leads held over from the Madigan era, and investigate their cash cow promises to only god knows whom and investigate all the who, what, when, how, why.
These electeds may appear to live modestly, but sumthin deeply wrong is going on. What is truly behind the simmering in the Illinois Dem caucus?
Comment by The Hills 60010 Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:09 pm
No.
At most a review should be instituted but none of these projects look that different than what any other member could request presumably.
Comment by Nick Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:15 pm
As a casual spectator, when I see something like this, I wonder why it’s being handled like this. Why the grandstanding? Don’t these people talk to each other? Why would legislators go out of their way to create an issue for a governor of their own party in an election year where things are uncertain? Do they want a Republican governor? From way outside, it looks like the guv hasn’t done well with legislative liaison during his term, but jeez. This seems short sighted and not very competent.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:16 pm
Nick- LOL that none of the projects look out of the ordinary. A school requests 1.5 million but receives 31 million- you think that’s ordinary?
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:19 pm
- Excessively Rabid -
“Don’t these people talk to each other? Why would legislators go out of their way to create an issue for a governor of their own party in an election year where things are uncertain? Do they want a Republican governor?”
Obviously there must not be much discussion going on. The Governor will be re-elected, he might get there with the campaign limping and with a stank, but the GOP has not bothered to field a statewide viable candidate.
What is truly going on in the Dem caucus?
Comment by The Hills 60010 Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:39 pm
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to make quieter trains?
Comment by Anon E Moose Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:54 pm
The Weglarz brothers built 5 or 6 hotels between an international airport and one of the largest rail yards in America, and Illinois taxpayers have to pay for the soundproofing?
Words fail me.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 2:57 pm
The BGA is not credible?
When you don’t like the facts shoot the messenger
How dare those Democrats work to restore faith in State government.
Wouldn’t it be good politics for JB to do the same?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 3:14 pm
Canadian National a.k.a CN a.k.a Consistently Negative.
Comment by tallone Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 3:20 pm
Are any of the proposed freezes in any of their own districts?
“My districts projects are good.”
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 3:29 pm
Fundraising is fun, when you don’t have to do it. How much money have these legislators received from various Madigan campaign funds, in-kinds, bodies that worked on their campaigns, money that was directed to their funds from individuals?
For some of these legislators we are talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. Who knows maybe one of them is in the millionaire club, over the years spending over a million dollars, that they know was raised by Madigan.
I am sure there are some local charities that would take that money if they wanted to rid themselves of money they took from Madigan.
Comment by Add it up Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 3:49 pm
No freeze, but nothing wrong with a review. But I hardly think any government action should rest on anything BGA has to say. Not exactly straight shooters any more.
Comment by Leslie K Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 3:49 pm
“Why the grandstanding?”
You must have not been reading this blog in the last week.
Comment by Notta Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 4:04 pm
Big no. I cannot justify punishing workers and communities by eliminating already approved spending plans in their communities, simply because a person who successfully advocated for those spending plans may be in the future found guilty of unrelated crimes. Punishing citizens for their leaders is generally unjustifiable.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 4:05 pm
No. Just no. move on, don’t let MJM live rent free in your heads for ever.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 4:11 pm
No freeze should be necessary (it might not even be legal). A quick review is appropriate. If the review indicates a problem, then run a bill to stop the project.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 4:20 pm
=== At the request of members of the General Assembly who voted for the capital plan, the administration will freeze the funding for the projects outlined in their letter. ===
Based on my comments in my above post, the governor just lost my vote. I don’t think he can afford to lose many more strong dems in a year like this either.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 4:32 pm
No. If you are going to review projects in districts, while you are at it. Try freezing… ALL the projects for those who voted for the capital plan in ALL the budgets for the past 5 years.
Comment by Freezin' for All Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:09 pm
Hannibal Lecter — same. He just sacrificed a bunch of kids to score a cheap political point.
Comment by Mockery Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:09 pm
A group of white privileged members just killed funding for two schools in Latino communities. That’s really smart.
Comment by Mockery Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:12 pm
==He just sacrificed a bunch of kids to score a cheap political point.==
I think that’s a tad dramatic when the schools didn’t even request anything close to the type of money they got or didn’t even request the money at all.
==those projects also included $31 million for a charter school records show asked for only $1.5 million, $9 million for a new Chicago high school building that the Chicago Public Schools hadn’t sought that funding for==
Comment by ElTacoBandito Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:26 pm
==Based on my comments in my above post, the governor just lost my vote. I don’t think he can afford to lose many more strong dems in a year like this either.==
Hmmm this sounds like one of those Trib readers that is always ready to move to Indiana
Comment by ElTacoBandito Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:28 pm
=== I think that’s a tad dramatic when the schools didn’t even request anything close to the type of money they got or didn’t even request the money at all. ===
So what is your point? I can tell you that the community itself has been demanding more educational resources. The community members are the constituents, not the bureaucrats at CPS. I think we have seen many examples in recent years where the communities in Chicago are very unhappy with decisions made by CPS.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:30 pm
=== Hmmm this sounds like one of those Trib readers that is always ready to move to Indiana. ===
That is a boneheaded comment. I have never voted for a Republican in my life (and may not vote for one in this race) but just bc I believe there should be additional funding for a magnet school in my community that means I am ready to move to Indiana? You really don’t have any idea what you are talking about. The move to Indiana people are always wanted to spend less money - not more
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 5:34 pm
So these legislators in mostly wealthy suburban white districts don’t want striving Hispanic students to get more school funding? Got it.
Comment by Lake Effect Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 6:12 pm
No. If you are going to review projects in districts, while you are at it, freeze ALL the projects for everyone, and let’s see really what’s going on here.
Comment by Freezin' for All Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 6:26 pm
===At the request of members of the General Assembly who voted for the capital plan===
Not so subtle dig by Gov. Pritzker’s team. The law is the law. If these representative had such a huge problem with these projects, they shouldn’t have voted for the capital plan.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Mar 8, 22 @ 10:02 pm
From the article itself, you get a sense that perhaps the issue was the fact that a Madigan affiliated lobbyist was hired & requested a higher amount than ordinarily is allotted. The members who wrote this letter should have asked if a few of these projects could have the amount of capital funding **reduced** by half or 2/3. Obtaining the lost funding may involve meeting folks who have sufficient resources & a commitment to the project, which may necessitate lunches or dinners with a few people from a business or a family, or holding a few fundraisers. Asking that the governor stops a charter school from receiving 100% of their requested funding seemed inconsiderate. Asking that he lowers the allocation amount (to half of the allocation or to 1/3 of the allocation) seems less inconsiderate.
Comment by Chris in ChiTown Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 3:43 am