Hump Day Political News Roundup
By Kevin Robinson in News on May 23, 2007 5:00PM
As the rest of the media fawned over the new city council, and reminisced on the follies of councils past, other silliness was going on in the realm of politics in the City by the Lake. Let's take a look at what's up here in town:
The Old Council Does One Last Thing. Following up on an issue that we wrote about a while back, it seems that the City Council's zoning committee has held up the approval of a proposal to convert Wicker Park's Northwest Tower into a condo, including a parking garage and an adjacent mixed-use development. The 36th Ward's alderman, William Banks, chair of the zoning committee, announced that the decision has been deferred at the request of now-defunct 32nd Ward Alderman Ted Matlak. The new 32nd Ward Alderman, Scott Waguespack, has vowed to hold public hearings on the matter before making a decision.
Will You be Lisa Madigan's Friend? Lisa Madigan has subpoenaed MySpace for the names and profile information of potential registered sex offenders who have used the Web site. Along the way, MySpace has announced that it would turn over the information of 7,000 users that it thinks are registered sex offenders. Madigan is hoping to use that information to catch a predator that may have violated the terms of their probation or parole.
Payback Is a Bitch! Siemens Medical Solutions has been ordered to pay Cook County more than $1.5 million and was fined an additional $1 million in federal court yesterday in a massive contract fraud case at Stroger Hospital. According to prosecutors, two former Siemens executives set up a bogus minority-owned company to win a contract with the county worth $49 million. No word yet on how that restitution money will be used.
The Greatest Show on Earth. Turning our view to the suburbs, the Deerfield Village Board has agreed to bring Oklahoma-based Kelly Miller Circus as a joint fundraiser for the Deerfield School District 109 Education Foundation and the Deerfield Park Foundation. But not all of Deerfield's residents are happy about this decision. Animal rights advocates are opposing the move, charging that circus animals are routinely abused as part of the show. The circus is scheduled to be held Spetember 18 in Brickyards Park.