Former Daley aide’s corruption and patronage trial began today

March 4, 2009 by James Bregenzer
Filed under: Corruption, Crime, Mayor Daley

The corruption and patronage trial of former Daley aide and Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez began today.

Sanchez is accused of abusing his connection with the Daley-supporting Hispanic Democratic Organization and his position as Streets and Sanitation commissioner to award Mayor Daley’s allies with promotions and city jobs.

Chicago Breaking News reports:

While he was city Streets and Sanitation commissioner, Al Sanchez sat atop a powerful political organization that traded hundreds of city jobs for campaign work, stripping the legitimacy from Chicago’s hiring system, federal prosecutors said today.

In opening remarks to a federal jury at Sanchez’s trial, a prosecutor said auditoriums full of applicants seeking city jobs waited for interviews that didn’t matter because of the corruption.

“It was a sham from top to bottom,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Steven Grimes. “Mr. Sanchez used city jobs as currency.”

As Chicago politics’ excessive patronage and widespread corruption continue to embarrass Chicago on a national level, Cook County needs government reform more than ever.

Support Commissioner Peraica and his efforts to reform Cook County and dirty Chicago politics.