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Yesterday's Sun Times headline was all about the 12 percent pay hike Donna Dunnings - Todd Stroger's cousin and just one of many beneficiaries of Cook County's Friends and Family Plan - got out of the new 2008 county budget. When Stroger hired Dunnings, they both bragged that her salary would be far less than the previous CFO.
Yesterday afternoon, however, Dunnings and aides from Stroger's office weren't talking about saving money for taxpayers. Instead, they were reacting to the Sun-Times's article, complaining about how unfairly her pay hike was being reported. "This is not just about truth in journalism, this is about a larger effort by the Sun-Times to distort public opinion against this administration," Eugene Mullins, a Stroger spokesman told ABC7. "All we do is ask for fairness in reporting. That's all we ever ask for." Dunnings pointed out that the pay increase was listed as part of the proposed budget, and that commissioners could have submitted an amendment to block that increase, "if they were so concerned about the salary of the first African-American female CFO."
"This underscores Todd Stroger's arrogance," Commissioner Forrest Claypool told the Tribune. "Everybody seems to be doing poorly except for Todd Stroger's family."
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I can't believe how rife the nepotism in these families are. A special review board could so easily show that better qualified candidates were passed over for jobs like these in favor of family.
In this case, no other candidate was even considered! Stroger Sr. just decided to give her a job, no candidate search, approval, resumes, interviews or anything.
The nerve of this woman to hide behind her race and gender. What a piece of shit.
"if they were so concerned about the salary of the first African-American female CFO."
this is easily my favorite part of this so far
"In this case, no other candidate was even considered! Stroger Sr. just decided to give her a job, no candidate search, approval, resumes, interviews or anything."
You see, I don't see how that isn't illegal. For all city contracts they have a bidding process (at the very least) for city contracts. Same should be for jobs. I mean, I've never heard of a job that hasn't been advertised first before picking a candidate - even if there is one person who could fill the position pefectly.
It would be nice to have a few Republicans - just a few, not too many - to keep this spend-happy board from spending more money.
Too bad those leftist wimps who disrupted Mass didn't have the stones to barge into a county meaning and raise some shit about nepotism, corruption and wasted tax dollars. That I might support.
Jaws of Josh - Just as a point of information, 5 of the 17 Commissioners are Republicans. Peter Silvestri, Gregg Goslin, Tim Schneider, Elizabeth Ann Doody Goodman and, of course, Tony Peraica.
It's hard to express over the Internet, but I'm making my surprised face right now.
Oh, and amen, Matilda.
She's black?
It's funny how these corrupt county creatures and the right wing freaks over at second city cop both think that the Sun-Times is out to get them. Boo hoo!
What a bunch of criminals\parasites\scumbags etc... I think the cell next to Ryan is free.
'Tilda: Too bad those leftist wimps who disrupted Mass didn't have the stones to barge into a county meaning and raise some shit about nepotism, corruption and wasted tax dollars. That I might support.
Exactly is what I'm saying!
Navin - they are out to get them ... and you. and me. the Sun-Times will stop at nothing. i mean, they really, really, want to be the NY Post, but just don't have the shittier talent or the great page designers to do it right.
jamgic,
So you'd rather not have some kind of light shined on corruption? Maybe there's a place for you in the Stroger admin.
what i'm saying is that the Sun-Times is a rag and it's reporting is spotty and over zealous at times. what i meant by the NY Post reference is that it's tabloid sensationalism or lack there of, creates the sense that they're not there to report news as much as they're tying to make news. I like that they go after Stroger, I just wish it was more consistent. we had a good source of this type of corruption in the Reader until it decided to clean house.
Oh I see.
I just wish it was more consistent. we had a good source of this type of corruption in the Reader until it decided to clean house.
Indeed.
Don't blame me, I voted for Claypool.
Crook County is the most entertaining place to watch corrupt politicians function, except maybe for the Marion Barry years in D.C.
Did anyone see Dorthy Brown (Cook County Clerk of Courts) get interviewed on Fox news last night regarding why she has a chauffer that is paid by the county (he was hired as a systems analysit by the way--not for security or chauffer duties)? Here is the link: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6120260&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
My favorite part of the interview is when she complains about making only $105,000 a year. The reporter doesn't miss a beat and responds "and you don't think that's a lot of money?" I think the scariest thing about the democratic machine here is their undeserved sense of entitlement. This shit would be hillarious to watch if I didn't live here.
@Tilda, jmagic, UTV: Let's get together and barge in on a county meeting then. It sounds like more than a few people are interested in seeing this happen, so let's grow a pair and do it.
Who is with me?
Anyone been watching "John Adams" on HBO?
The Founding Fathers had real "stones" when they broke from Great Britain. I sincerely think its time that Cook County government be overthrown by the will of the people. Fuck chants and protests, march on the county offices and demand a new government of, by and for the people. This current batch of rats, gnats and bureaucrats bear no resemblance to an actual governing body.
Palatine is right all over.
Down with the Cook County Board.
Find someone to have bail ready, and I'm in. Seriously.
I don't know how many people they let into the chamber, but one can always make noise outside and attract some media types. There are usually at least a couple at each meeting, especiallly these days.
Please, though: No fucking wussy anarchist types with fake blood. I didn't like amatuer theater in high school and I don't like it now.
As well, for those who live in Lincoln Square/Ravenswood/western Uptown/eastern Albany Park: Be aware that good jogging weather is approaching. I am not sure how often the Gov. will leave his mansion/bunker this spring, but if you see him, do us all a favor and offer a loud, rude hello to Public Official A. Yeah, the man has no shame, but maybe you will ruin his tranquility for at least a few moments. It's the least that piece of shit deserves. Just watch out for his state cop bodyguard.
By "bail ready," I meant anyone who goes should have their own arrangements, not a common fund or anything.
god, simple, if only we had those convictions in America today, the willingless to sarcifice all--and not just a wish to feel like martyrs on TV. Send these rats running to their (taxpayer funded, no doubt) vacation homes.
Tilda: I will be sure to encounter him while he is jogging. No problem. I run that way all of the time, can run past his house, and have seen him, hair blowing in the breeze, on more than one occassion.
I will research bail and stuff. No fake blood. No injuring people or property. Just chanting, signs and some good clean disorderly conduct. I know that media attention can work in our favor; I have been a part of that kind of protest, and if the media is there, it could really help (although protesting the county board is a bit bigger than what I have been involved in).
Really, if we get enough people this could be a good start.
count me in. i'm ready.
no one arouses as much acrimony & scorn in me than todd stroger & his band of criminals. this could provide as a great release!
Next meeting is Tuesday April 9th at 10am
Board meetings are held at 10 a.m. at:
Cook County Building
County Board Room, Room 569
118 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60602
I'm listening...
The fine for disorderly conduct, which is what we would likely be charged with (unless anyone has reason to think we could be charged with something else) is not less than $5.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. (8-4-010 Disorderly conduct)
cook county politics makes me so sad sometimes.
Seriously Tilda, don’t do this.
Out of all the issues out there that need your attention. This is not the one to go to jail for.
Trust me, you might have very sound reasons to dislike Todd Stroger, but some of these folks also dislike him for differnet reasons as well
as your reasons. Reasons that you very much opposse.
Don't join in league with them.
And notice, aint no one talking about pulling this in city hall!
Spook, you write on this blog that people do not do enough for the good causes. You complain that people are not courageous or are too busy with their lives, or their protests are trite and meaningless.
Then you tell Tilda not to protest because this is not something that is worth going to jail for.
I understand that people have different reasons for doing this, but I'd say mine are pretty in line with Tilda's. If this is not worth fighting for, what is? Is this not a good enough cause? If everyone that participated agreed to the ground rules (no anarchist crap, no blood, just a loud but peaceful protest against nepotism in this county--loud enough to maybe get the media's attention, why is there a problem?
And I am not saying that I wouldn't do this in city hall, but the issue at hand is the county. I and others have protested this city in different ways.
I have to agree with Sparky on this one. Why not protest this? Why not go and raise your voice. Why not go and display your anger in a peacful protest?
The alternative is to continue to sit on your ass and bitch on a board. That gets no one anywhere and allows people like Stroger to continue to pull this kind of crap.
Part of the issue here is that the people of Cook County are not yelling loud enough.
i don't work far from there sparky ... "rabble, rabble, rabble" -- it'll be worth the $50 fine - hell, we can pay the fuzz off at the door.
The problem is moron lemmings live in crook co. and vote for the machine hacks that they are told to. The county gets what it deserves. You had your chance to get rid of stroger but being good progressive,liberal,lemmings you voted for him.
Lordie, lordie, lordie, Lord help me. For the first time( like that pink floyd song) I'm at a lost for words. Lets just see how long it last. I’m going home.
Sparky,
Now why you wanna start holding people accountable for their comments, and such?
What next, soulful Socratic intellectual engagement?
But honestly cousine, sense you’re trying to shame a cyber troll like yer Spook, into being accountable, yall made me actually think about this issue!
Yes good government and government accountability are worth fighting for,indeed.
And you and Tilda should be saluted for even considering being arrested. Because even when you know that you will be free in a few hours, and that the charges will be dropped- as in my case when I was 14 protesting Apartied South Africa-, its still a very scary feeling to be encased in a thick concrete windowless room with others locked up for shall we say less than purely non political reasons.
My point is that, taking into account what Dylan Rodriguez calls the continued massive institutional production of the U.S. Prison Industrial Complex, do you want to risk trivializing getting “locked up” for an issue that is not immediately about life or death?
Now I do consider our two tier school system “life or death” as well as the fact that we are economically/ethnically cleansing whole segments of Chicago. None of these issues have caused the protest in which we speak now about. I think the above issue that you are concerned with is a cause to organize around for the next election or on a specific vote before the board, not to get locked up over.
But I will say this upon reflection. While I refused to condemn the Holly Cathedral Six. I also don’t have the right to condemn you and Tilda, although I would not choose to engage in either protest. But, again I respect the fact that you would even consider resistance based protest. Gives a spook like me another ray of hope!
p.s. If I ever run into yall in this life or a next, the first round is on yer Spook, course I hear tell that in the next life, all drinks are on The House ;-)
Aw Spook, for the most part, I have always held people accountable for what they say on this site. You're not special.
And I agree with you about the economic and ethic segregation and disparities in this city. I address these issues in my own way, not by protest, but through volunteering in these segnments you speak of. However, protesting this would not be a bad idea. Why not organize something? I am sure you would have some support.
@ Von Erich
"She's black?"
I was thinking the same thing. Was she adopted, maybe?