Dominick Wants to ‘Smash’ Peraica
All you need to know about this video is this: if Cicero Village President Larry Dominick wants to “smash” Tony Peraica — it’s because Peraica is on the side of the taxpayers. Read more about Mr. Dominick here, here and here.
Yes, Tony supported Dominick’s first campaign back in 2005 because Dominick ran as a reformer, but has turned out to be just another Cook County political insider. Tony chose to stand with the taxpayers instead of the Cicero Mayor. Simple as that.
My Discussion with Rep. Fritchey about Todd Stroger
by Tony Peraica
This this latest episode of Cook County Perspectives, Rep. John Fritchey and I discuss the performance of Cook County President Todd Stroger:
Grand Jury Investigation into Stroger Administration
Commissioner Peraica is quoted in this story about the subpoena of county financial audit documents as part of an apparent grand jury investigation.
Uh-oh….stay tuned for more on this developing story.
Horrible, Horrible Poll Numbers for Stroger
Todd Stroger might want to start thinking about a new line of work, as new poll numbers put his approval rating in the sub-basement:
Battered for championing Cook County’s sales tax increase and for hiring friends and relatives, Board President Todd Stroger heads into the election season with a strikingly low job-approval rating and thin support from voters, a Tribune/WGN poll has found.
Only 1 in 10 Cook County voters approve of the job he is doing, and just as few want to see him re-elected following a first term marked by tax and hiring controversies, the poll found. The numbers are lower than the 13 percent Gov. Rod Blagojevich had just months before his December arrest on federal corruption charges.
No doubt his staunch support of higher taxes for Cook County citizens hasn’t helped his poll numbers.
Amazing what happens when you stick your finger in the eyes of those you’re supposed to represent, eh?
I Voted to Support Tax Rollback — Sims Enables Stroger
Filed under: Reform, Spending, Taxes, Todd Stroger
by Tony Peraica
I — along with 12 other commissioners — voted today to override Todd Stroger’s veto of the sales tax rollback we passed this summer.
Unfortunately, Commissioner Sims flipped (she supported the rollback in July) and voted today to provide the enabling vote in support of Todd’s override.
She betrayed her fellow commissioners — and the Cook County taxpayers.
Click here to read the official statement we released today.
Chicagoist has a great story here (which highlights my criticism of the vote).
Click here to watch ABC 7 Chicago news story that aired regarding the vote.
Part 4 of My Interview with Chicago News Bench
Filed under: Mayor Daley, Reform, Spending, Taxes, Todd Stroger
Following is Part Four of the series of interviews I completed with Chicago News Bench. In this video, we discuss Cook County corruption, Tony Rezko, Mayor Daley, and the county’s oppressive sales tax. Please watch this interview here:
News of Note from the Past Week
It’s been a busy news week here in Cook County. Here is a collection of stories from the past week — many of which will make your blood boil:
- Workers give to Stroger’s campaign, get big raises (Sun-Times)
- Stroger Announces New County CFO (Polish News)
- Cook County Forest Preserve Budget Vs. Executive Raises (Examiner)
- Stroger Isn’t Qualified for His Position (Steve Rhodes blogging at NBCChicago.com)
- Report: County Staffers Got Raises for Campaigning (CBS 2 Chicago)
And, if you missed it, we invite you to view the most recent edition of “Cook County Perspectives” in which Commissioner Peraica interviews Rep. John Fritchey (Part 1 is below)…
Cook County Perspectives: My Discussion with Yesse Yehudah (Part I)
Here is Part I of my discussion with Yesse Yehudah, CEO of F.O.R.U.M:
Privatization or Cronyization?
Mayor Daley has become a public fan of “privatization” over the years.
He privatized the Skyway. Talked about privatizing Midway Airport. Privatized the parking meters.
And now he’s privatizing city trucking (gee, there’s never been a city trucking scandal before, has there?)
Anyway, true privatization is supposed to save taxpayers money by putting out certain government functions to bid to private companies. That is — putting it out in a competitive bid. Basic free market economics teaches us that this competition breeds better service and lower cost.
Unless, of course, the privatization is rigged and the bidding is anything but competitive.
Which brings us to this story in this morning’s Chicago Tribune:
About 60 recently laid-off Chicago truck drivers picketed Friday at a city facility on the South Side, protesting that politically connected private companies are now doing work public employees performed for Mayor Richard Daley’s administration.
Under a deal that went into effect July 1, the city hired private contractors to haul construction debris from city work sites for the Water Management Department. Among the companies chosen was Reliable Asphalt Corp., which received a $158 million, three-year contract.
Reliable owner Michael Vondra has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local politicians, including Daley, the Democratic organization in the mayor’s 11th Ward power base and the pro-Daley Hispanic Democratic Organization. City records show Reliable’s lobbyists on the deal are Victor Reyes, a former Hispanic Democratic Organization chairman and top mayoral aide, and David Bonoma, son of Daley’s longtime secretary.
Privatization is a convenient buzzword behind which the Daley Administration can hide behind to dole out lucrative contracts to political cronies while pretending to save the taxpayers money.
Tax Appeals Scandal Grows
The plot thickens in the story of whether or not State Rep. Paul Froehlich abused the tax appeals process for political gain.
As this Fox News Chicago story shows…the investigation may go well beyond Rep. Froehlich:
Reform Tweets
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- Project Shield a big drain on taxpayers http://ff.im/gUAyV
- Corruption in City of Chicago Hiring Process http://ff.im/gJhye
- Ex-Bridgeport Village couple building a case against City Hall http://ff.im/gCjwn
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