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* State sues father, son whose escrow firm owes $1 mil.

* Prosecutors say escrow company endangered homeowners

Crestwood residents have to live with the knowledge that their officials allowed them to unwittingly consume contaminated well water for more than 20 years. They shouldn’t have to live with Stranczek running their town. He should resign.

* Brother of Daley pal quits CTA job

The brother of one of Mayor Daley’s closest friends in politics has quit the $116,000-a-year CTA job created just for him, paving the way for Robert Degnan to simultaneously collect two government pensions.

In 2002, Degnan retired as the city’s $115,260-a-year Fleet Management commissioner to accept a $95,000-a-year job at the CTA. By jumping through an early retirement window, Degnan got a lump-sum bonus of 10 percent of his annual city salary. He was also free to collect both a city pension and a CTA paycheck.

His May 31 retirement from the CTA means Degnan can now collect two local government pensions. His annual retirement check from the city amounts to roughly $92,208 or 80 percent of Degnan’s highest city salary. After just seven years on the CTA job, he’ll collect a $10,997-a-year CTA pension.

* Alderman want answers regarding Vanecko deal

* A way to curb Olympics corruption

* Chicago leads off presentation s to IOC members

* IOC chief: Economics shouldn’t drive 2016 Olympic vote

* Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee Delivers Presentation

* Official gets no-confidence vote for questionable payments, expenses

Cook County commissioners issued a no-confidence vote today against a suburban education official who a state auditor found repeatedly used a government credit card for personal expenses and approved questionable payments to relatives on his payroll.

The County Board’s unanimous vote comes in the wake of a state audit, first reported by the Sun-Times last week, that focused on Regional Supt. Charles A. Flowers and his state-funded office, which has amassed a nearly $1 million deficit.

“This is an example of flagrant corruption at its most heightened,” said Commissioner Liz Doody Gorman, a Republican from Orland Park. She introduced the no-confidence resolution and pressed — as the state’s top auditor has — for a criminal probe.

* Cook County Board calls for probes of regional schools office

* Cook County condemns schools superintendent, wants money back

* Flowers target of criminal investigation

* Cole gets weepy about Stroger

* Fired county worker says officials out to get him

* Putting power in principals’ hands

* Cutting fat is just first step toward healthier schools

* 1968 Chicago riot cops to hold reunion

Predictably, a protest to counter the event is being planned. Chicago Copwatch, a watchdog group, is organizing a march to the FOP hall the same night after a rally at Union Park at Ashland Avenue and Lake Street.

* 1968 Democratic convention riot police planning reunion

* Chicago to Michigan City: Intrepid kayakers open water path along 44 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline

* A Modern Wing and a prayer: Absence of crosswalk, signs and traffic light turns pedestrians into jaywalkers as they approach Art Institute addition

posted by Mike Murray
Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 9:25 am

Comments

On the subject of Robert Degnan : your tax increase is his pension.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 9:31 am
Regarding the Vanecko deal, its refreshing to see the City Council grow a spine.

Until now, the only time some members of the City Council have questioned the Daley administration is to ask:

“May I please go to the bathroom?”

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 9:36 am
Vanecko/Davis pension fund/leasing deal:

–The Department of Water Management says it needed a place to park dozens of dump trucks leased by the city to replace Hired Trucks.–

Somewhere, Tom Keane and Paddy Bauler are hoisting a stein and smiling. The demise of one hinky insider deal leads to the creation of another hinky insider deal.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 10:02 am
This city and state are so corrupt and crooked it makes me neauseas. That means you, Daleys and Madigans. I’m looking to move to another state. A lot of my friends have already moved away.
I feel sorry for all the poor souls who are stuck in this muck pit.

Comment by state employee Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 10:04 am
STATE

Please make your move out of state as soon as possible. It means one less job needed to be cut. You may want to consider California. The job prospects are not that good, but they have great weather. LOL

Comment by MOON Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 10:24 am
The Degnan baloney pension deal is well past moderation, beyond rabid, thus impossible to comment on.

Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 2:50 pm
===That means you, Daleys and Madigans.===

Guilt by innuendo, my favorite. Good state employee, could you please explain how Lisa (after all you did say Madigans, plural) is both crooked and corrupt?

That being said, if you are referring to corruption in the legal sense of official misconduct, can you remind me of what crimes MJM and Daley have been convicted of? None? How about indicted for? None?

Come on, open up our eyes.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jun 17, 09 @ 2:51 pm