A Week's Worth of Corruption

By Sean Stillmaker in News on Jan 15, 2011 4:00PM

If you care where our taxpayer money is going or are disillusioned with business as usual this post is not for you. It was another week of the Chicago Way. Over $3 million is being spent on fraud, waste and abuse, close to another million more if you count these clowns’ pensions and benefits.

• Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas believes her clout entitles her to be treated like a princess. She has a personal chauffeur and maid earning $94,000 and $57,000 a year respectively (that’s tax payer money).

  "But the driver is hidden in the budget as a 'Project Leader.' The official job summary description includes; consulting with county officials 'in the design, development and implementation of varied and highly sophisticated computer software applications to enhance business operations.'"

  Brought to you by the Better Government Association.

• A company with zero employees and owned by a 97 year old woman was awarded a $2.5 million pest control contract with the city. The firm turned out to be a front for her son, the Sun Times reports:

  "Chicago-based Electronic Knowledge Interchange — a technology consulting company that employs Mayor Daley’s former Budget Director Bennett Johnson III — was awarded a $26 million amendment to its original $5.1 million Health Department contract without competitive bidding."

• Thomas O’Connor, a once high ranking supervisor of the Department of Fleet Management, crashed a city owned vehicle while under the influence in 2006. He covered it up and was subsequently fired in October 2008:

  "Less than three months after his termination from the city, O'Connor was hired by the Chicago Park District as Deputy Director of Facility Management. He is currently paid more than $100,000 a year."

  Thanks again to the BGA.
• And earlier this week the Sun Times reported that nine former city employees were paid $383,205 after they pleaded guilty or were found guilty in corruption cases.