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In a 43-6 vote, the Chicago City Council voted to create a new Office of Compliance to police city hiring. Critics have charged that the new office will compete with, and therefore undermine the effectiveness of, the city Inspector General. Daley lauded the vote while reassuring critics, telling the Tribune, "it is the primary responsibility of the inspector general to investigate allegations of misconduct. ... At its core, this department is about assuring that the city is complying with the many local, state and federal requirements." Attorney Michael Shakman is one of those critics. "We think the inspector general should continue to have primary responsibility in any area that involves complaints of patronage hiring and any area that involves hiring practices to make sure it's patronage-free," he told the Sun-Times.
In remarks during a meeting of the council's Budget Committee before the vote, 50th Ward Ald. Bernie Stone announced that city Inspector General David Hoffman is investigating absentee ballots cast in the last election. Stone said that a man and a woman in his ward were issued subpoenas to appear at the Cook County complex at 26th and California. According to Stone, the subpoenas were delivered by an employee of the IG's office, but that they were interviewed by assistant state's attorneys. "Some of you aldermen had better be advised that [Inspector General David Hoffman] is going all over different wards in this city issuing subpoenas to various people in this city," Stone said. "I didn't know whether he had authority to do that, but he's doing it."
Although Hoffman is barred from investigating aldermen, the Cook County state's attorney's office isn't, and it is conducting the investigation. Allegations include steering South Asian voters toward absentee ballots, and promising city services in exchange for votes. "I can't figure out what the hell the inspector general is doing in on this. Nobody involved is a city employee," Stone said. "We fully understand that the City Council has prohibited the inspector general's office from investigating aldermen, and we completely abide by that prohibition," Hoffman told the Chicago Tribune. But it appears that both offices are working together on this investigation, with the city IG looking into possible misconduct on the part of city workers in the election, a charge that came up during the race.
While Stone referred to the charges as "absolute crap," it seems that he's the only alderman under investigation. The vote on Wednesday still must be approved by a federal judge Wayne Andersen, who is overseeing the Shakman case, which has been going on for almost 40 years.
Image via Miller Shakman & Beem.
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For all of you who though the new blood on the Council would for some reason lead to more real resistance to Daley, I guess this shows you what a hopeless idea that was.
Chicago's new motto: "19th Century Government in a 21st Century World."
While Stone referred to the charges as "absolute crap," it seems that he's the only alderman under investigation.
I just don't see how the first part of this sentence contradicts the second. Unless your goal is to discredit what the guy is saying with innuendo (which doesn't work here), shouldn't it be:
Stone referred to the charges as "absolute crap." He is the only alderman under investigation.
But Kevin here believes Stone is guilty of more than just being an old man and thinking his ward should have lots of nice condos. He can't prove jack, so he resorts to (failed) innuendo.
And what is wrong with promising city services for votes? Isn't that THE ENTIRE POINT of aldermen? You vote them into office and they do good things for your ward. We have seen what happens when they try to legislate. I'd rather they forget the goose liver and stick to making sure the potholes get filled.
"And what is wrong with promising city services for votes? Isn't that THE ENTIRE POINT of aldermen? You vote them into office and they do good things for your ward. We have seen what happens when they try to legislate. I'd rather they forget the goose liver and stick to making sure the potholes get filled."
A prime example of the attitude that sees government as a reward for political support, an view straight from the 19th Century. While politics and government obviously are, and should be, closely related, government applies to all citizens, not just supporters.
Take this example: Say an alderman refused to fix the sidewalk on a street where the residents voted against him. That could hurt the wider ward, as it creates a tiny blight in the neighborhood--people go through the ward, for instance, and see this crumbling sidewalk, and form an impression. Besides that, it reinforces the us vs them take-no-prisoners mentality that is responsible for much of the civic and financial ills currently seen in this state and city.
It was obvious from the beginning that if Hoffman ran his office independently and ethically, which he has, he would butt heads with Daley. The proposed Office of Compliance is simply an attempt by Daley to neuter the IG's office. If the Office of Compliance is struck down by the courts look for Daley to retaliate by cutting funds to the IG's office.
this is daley trying to control all investigations into the criminal enterprise thatis chicago city goverment the IG's office didnt do only what daley wanted so now he will take away there responsibilites and there budget will be cut to the bone next year. Daley doesnt like independence and he surely doesnt want any real investigations.
Here's are some more City Hall cronies who will, in reality, do the opposite of what their department's name will claim. The usual Daley Doublespeak.
"The Office of Compliance." It's part Dilbert and part George Orwell.
the man in that photo looks like the undead.