BigGovernment.com Highlighting Chicago Corruption
James Patterson of BigGovernment.com has a great series of posts highlighting corruption in the city of Chicago — especially focusing on longtime power-broker, Alderman Ed Burke.
You can read the first post in this series here.
The second post (here) focuses on mafia attorney-turned-informant Bob Cooley — and features the following video showing Cooley’s involvement in “Operation Gambat”, which brought down many local mob and political figures:
Guess Whose Teaming Up to Oppose Tony Peraica?
Commissioner Peraica has been an outspoken fighter for honest reform and tax relief in Cook County.
So it’s not secret why opponents of reform want Tony gone.
We’ve already written about the “Two Eddies” who have teamed up to oppose Tony in the past — and will no doubt do it again in 2010 (we already have indications that “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak is actively recruiting politicians to work against Tony in next year’s elections.”
And McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski — who is challenging Peraica as a Democrat — has actually bragged about raising big bucks from Melrose Park Village President Ron Serpico and Cicero Mayor Larry Dominick.
Yes, that’s the same Larry Dominick who infamously stationed armed gunmen outside the Cicero polls during his re-election.
And, please, please, please read our prior post on Ron Serpico.
Speaking of Ron Serpico, the bad news just keeps coming for his town of Melrose Park. We previously posted about his former consultant, Anthony Bruno, being charged with federal tax fraud. And we’ve also posted about the conviction of Serpico’s former chief of police, Vito Scavo, on federal corruption charges.
Now, both Scavo and Bruno are in the news again — this time for an alleged scheme to shakedown a local Melrose Park movie theater. The Sun-Times reports:
A high-profile municipal consultant worked with a crooked Melrose Park police chief in the late 1990s to strong-arm a movie theater chain into hiring private guards, federal prosecutors allege.
In a sentencing memo to the court, prosecutors have accused Bruno of a separate crime: working with former Melrose Park Police Chief Vito Scavo in 1999 to extort Cinemark Theatres into hiring security at levels the company did not want. When Cinemark balked, Bruno threatened to hold up a certificate of occupancy the company needed to open the theater, prosecutors say.
Bruno denies any extortion, saying he simply persuaded Cinemark to honor a promise to hire the guards. He also said there’s no proof he knew Scavo intended to supply the guards with Scavo’s own firm. Bruno isn’t charged in connection with the Cinemark allegations. The statute of limitations has expired, officials say.
In June, Scavo was found guilty of strong-arming Kiddieland, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and other places into hiring security firms he owned. The firms operated out of the Melrose Park police station using squad cars and on-duty cops. Scavo is awaiting sentencing.
Just remember that these are the same folks who want to see Tony Peraica defeated next year.
Do you stand with these insiders — or with the side of reform?
Alderman Ed Burke Is Against Cook County Jobs
Filed under: Economic Growth, Reform, Spending, Uncategorized
Union-sponsored blog Progress Illinois crows today about a Sun-Times article in which Ald. Ed Burke states his opposition to building a new Wal-Mart in Chicago.
For a primer/refresher on Ed Burke, please read here.
In short, Burke said he’s withholding support for a new Wal-Mart until the company backs the Big Labor-backed “Card Check” bill pending in Congress. That bill would rob American workers’ right to a secret ballot in union organizing elections.
In addition to being undemocratic, that bill would no doubt cost good-paying jobs.
Of course, at the same time unions attack the job-producing Wal-Mart … they outsource their “picketing” work lowly-paid temporary workers.
But, mind you, Burke’s motivation is anything but high-minded. It’s purely political. He is the uber-insider on the Chicago City Council (who has worked hard to unseat Tony Peraica, the host of this blog) who works hard to take care of his political contributors…even if its at taxpayer expense.
According to State Board of Elections reports, his semi-annual campaign finance report for only the last half of 2008 shows $17,000 in campaign contributions for labor. The Burnham Committee, of which Burke is an officer and which contributed $150,000 to his campaign committee in 2008, received about $9,000 in labor contributions during 2008.
Burke has obviously decided to stand with his labor backers — rather than these Chicago citizens who know that Wal-Mart will bring much-needed jobs during an economic crisis.
Who is “The Burnham Committee”?
In our previous post, we mentioned certain political contributions made by “The Burnham Committee” … which is chaired by Chicago Alderman Ed Burke.
But what is exactly is this organization?
Well, according to Illinois State Board of Election reports, the committee’s purpose is “to support the women and men who share Burnham’s dream of a ‘people’s city.’”
Apparently that includes helping Burke himself, whose committee “Friends of Ed Burke” received a whopping $150,000 contribution from the group on 9/24/08. According to this recent story, Burke certainly does fancy Chicago a “people’s city” … helping those “people” who supported his committee and law firm get city deals.
The Burham Committee also supports stalwarts of honest, accountable government such as Rod Blagojevich, to whom the committee contributed $25,000 on 11/3/06.
The Committee has also spread around significant cash to other local candidates (almost all Democrats), including current Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who received $10,000 from the group on 2/19/08 and another $5,000 on 10/3/08.
To be sure, a smattering of Republicans have received cash from the organization, such as State Sen. Dan Cronin ($200 on 2/5/08), State Rep. Jim Durkin ($500 on 8/21/07 ), and State Rep. Bob Biggins ($250 on 4/15/08).
So, who contributes to The Burnham Committee? As you can imagine, a number of Cook County politicos, businesses and friends close to Ed Burke (such as Calvin Boender, the “friend” at the heart of the city deal referenced in this Sun-Times article, contributed $1,500 on 8.5.08, and another $1,500 on 6/20/07.)
Also interesting are the contributions from International Profit Associates of Buffalo Grove, IL — a company that contributed $5,000 on 10/3/08; $1,500 on 5/28/08; $1,500 on 6/29/05; $2,500 on 6/7/06; $3,000 on 5/15/07; and $5,000 on 5/23/07. (That’s in addition to thousands the company has contributed to Ed Burke’s political committee.)
International Profit Associates (IPA) is the same company against which Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed suit in April 2009 for “cheating hundreds of small businesses out of thousands.” Nevermind the fact that Madigan’s campaign had received $16,200 in “in-kind contributions” for phone polling from IPA in 2002.
And this New York Times article reports on John R. Burgess, who owns IPA:
A disbarred New York lawyer with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois.
Federal authorities are pressing a sexual harassment suit against the company on behalf of 113 former female employees.
And, according to the Reverse Spin blog, numerous politicians have returned campaign cash received from IPA:
Since about 2002, politicians have returned tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions to IPA and Burgess. Ethically challenged Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has returned more than $100,000 from IPA. Andrew M. Cuomo, who ran for Attorney General in New York and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle are among the others who have also purged their IPA money.
No word on whether or not The Burnham Committee has ever considered returning their contributions from IPA. But feel free to email Ald. Burke to ask him if intends to do so. (Warning: don’t expect a response.)
We’ll leave it to you to decide if this cast of characters who contributes to and receives campaign cash from The Burnham Committee fits within the organization’s mission of creating a “people’s city” … but then again, the I guess it depends on which people you’re talking about.
“Two Eddies” Aim for 16th District Domination
Filed under: Campaign News, Corruption, Reform, Uncategorized
Longtime Chicago Alderman Ed Burke was in the news this week — this time for helping “friends with city deals.”
To those familiar with Cook County politics and corruption, this story about Burke was no surprise. During his career, he has been far from a model of clean and honest government.
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform describes Burke as a “career patron of Governor Rod Blagojevich.”
He has also long been a close political ally of uber-insider Ed Vrdolyak, who last year magically beat corruption charges in federal court after being indicted on fraud and bribery charges. Burke’s and Vrdolyak’s political alliance goes back to the “Council Wars” of the early 1980’s, when the two formed an opposition group — called “The Eddie’s” — to oppose Mayor Harold Washington’s policies, proposals and political organization.
The “Two Eddies” also share something else in common: they both vehemently oppose the reform efforts of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-16th).
Well, Burke’s opposition to Peraica most likely stems from him “sticking up” for his buddy Vrdolyak, a political power broker in Cicero and other Western Suburbs located within Peraica’s 16th District. Peraica has long tussled with Vrdolyak on behalf of the taxpayers — thus making Vrdolyak a political enemy.
And when Eddie V. is your enemy — so is Eddie B.
So, in 2006 the dynamic duo teamed up to try to defeat Peraica. Vrdolyak (specifically, the “Vrdolyak Law Group”) was the largest contributor to Michael LaPidus, who opposed Peraica in the Republican Primary for Lyons Township GOP Committeeman.
And Burke — through various political entities — ensured that William Gomolinski — Peraica’s Democratic opponent for the 16th District commissioner’s seat — was well-funded.
How well-funded? Well, according to State Board of Election reports, “The Burnham Committee” (a political committee of which Ed Burke is chairman) contributed $7,000 to “Friends of William E. Gomolinski” on 11/17/06.
The Burnham Committee previously made a $1,000 contribution to Gomolinski’s campaign fund on 3/22/06.
Also on 11/17/06, Friends of Edward M. Burke contributed $1,500 to the “Gomolinski Campaign Fund.”
So, the double-team was apparent: Eddie V. hit Peraica in the Primary … Eddie B. hit him hard in the General Election.
What will the 2010 election cycle hold? That remains to be seen. But with Vrdolyak having avoided jail time, the Vrdolyak-backed LaPidus already stirring up trouble in Lyons Township, and Ald. Burke still freely engaging in his shenanigans, it stands to reason that the “Two Eddies” will once again make a play to take over the 16th District.
This Deal Smells, Plain and Simple
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.
Today’s Required Reading
A few recommended snippets from around the Web for today:
- Tony Peraica posts “The Truth About County Taxes, Health Care” over at Illinois Review
- Over at McHenry County Blog, Cal Skinner writes a post entitled, “Why is Ed and Anne Burke’s tax bill lower than ours in McHenry County?”
- Finally, Hal Dardick writes at Clout Street of a possible run for Cook County Board President by Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown.
Alderman Ed Burke - City Hall Profiteer
It appears Chicago news organizations are finally putting some heat on longtime Chicago political insider, Ald. Ed Burke.
This summary from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform sums up Burke’s insider career, especially:
“Career patron of Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Today, however, news organizations are turning up the heat on Ald. Burke, with this Sun-Times excerpt saying it all:
Ald. Edward M. Burke’s law practice saw 16 companies that did business with the city leave its client roster last year, but the powerful 14th Ward leader slowed the bleeding by picking up nine new ones.
Overall, Burke’s team of lawyers served 31 clients who did city business in 2008 — a decrease of seven from the year before, according to annual aldermanic financial statements released Monday. Among the powerhouse clients who stopped using Burke’s firm were Walsh Construction Co. and Teng & Associates, each of whom have multimillion-dollar city construction and engineering contracts.
Despite this, Burke remained the City Council’s leading member when it comes to having financial ties to businesses with city deals. Besides his law practice, the Finance Committee chair reported capital gains from 58 companies, including four with city contracts.
Burke has most financial ties to city contractors
Who knows who’s paying which pols for doing what?
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