This Deal Smells, Plain and Simple

June 29, 2009 by Tony Peraica
Filed under: Corruption

This Chicago Tribune story needs no further explanation:

Ald. Edward M. Burke wrote a letter in his official capacity that helped a client of his law firm win City Council approval to develop a blighted stretch of land near Midway Airport.

It’s the second time Burke has written such a letter so someone he’s done business with could get a zoning change from City Hall. After writing those letters, Burke abstained from voting on both cases to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Just because he abstained from the votes doesn’t mean this deal smells good. He’s one of the most powerful members of the City Council. He wrote the letter.

And just who was the individual helped by Burke?

In the most recent case, Burke wrote a letter July 18, 2007, endorsing a development project for Calvin Boender — who was indicted last month along with Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) on bribery charges stemming from a different project.

But wait, there’s more:

This year, Burke persuaded Cook County Assessor James Houlihan to lower property tax assessments on three of five properties Boender owns.

Boender also has made campaign contributions to Burke.

In addition, Boender hosted a fund-raiser for Burke’s wife, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, four months before Ald. Burke penned the letter supporting Boender’s project.

In May, federal authorities accused Boender of bribing Carothers to win zoning changes for a West Side housing development in Carothers’ 29th Ward.

It’s deals like these that destroy the public’s faith in government and continue to tarnish our city’s and states’ reputation.