Fish in a Barrel
Even as convention business has plummeted, the number of people on the payroll of the government agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier who are paid more than $100,000 a year has grown.
A Chicago Sun-Times analysis of payroll records shows 54 employees of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority were making at least $100,000 as of September 2009. That's eight more than the agency, familiarly known as McPier, had in 2006, the records show -- a 17 percent increase.
They made one of the "clout hiring lists" that have come to light in recent years showing they had someone with political connections recommend them for a job at some point with Mayor Daley's administration or that of ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The name of Nonda Harris' brother might be familiar: John Harris, a former Blagojevich chief of staff who has pleaded guilty in the ex-governor's corruption case.
Sheahan, who once headed Daley's Office of Special Events, recommended 37 applicants for city jobs
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Ochoa -- a onetime Blagojevich campaign fund-raiser appointed by the then-governor as McPier's CEO in January 2007 -- recommended more than 70 people for positions
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Michael R. Degnan, son of former top Daley aide Tim Degnan...
- Marasso, a son-in-law of late Chicago Ald. Fred Roti (1st), took an unpaid leave of absence from his night job guarding the old domestic violence courthouse at 13th and Michigan in July 2001 before resigning that post in August 2003. He now makes $129,280 a year as McPier's facilities director for Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Labels: city politics, corruption
posted by SCC at 12:09 AM
88 Comments:
We state again... membership in the lucky sperm club via injection, ingestion or gestation is at the very root of of Daley Inc. corruption along with political/social/ethnic/fraternal affiliation.
"We don't want somebody nobody sent," is their motto.
Was the Shakman monitor appointed by Daley?
Though we had a Federal judge start overseeing hiring?
dats silly talk,silly silly silly.....move along now,nothing to see here.
Good old Skinny Sheahan also collects on a couple of pensions. We can't even get a raise on our one and only job. They need to pay all the top heavy people more money while they also collect on other pensions.
Is that Nick Roti's (Nagis?) father?
I give. Who are the thirty seven recommended?
chicago is the most corrupt town in the midwest and maybe the whole country.... remember, it's not who you know, but who you blow----
30 years ago a six figure salary was a big deal. That's no longer the case... most people with a college degree and over ten years of work experience make a six figure salary. If not, they're either in the wrong job or they're losers... kinda like the average "journalist" at the Scum Times: college degree + ten years experience = less than $100K per year... Losers!
Daley is done! When you piss off the business community, you are finished.
Even the so-called "bought Reverends" sense the demise of Daley and company.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! But voters will once again head to the polls and VOTE the LITTLE MAN IN. City has no clue.
SCC,
More like, one mammoth, disease-ridden, putrid, bloated and shit-eating catfish, AKA Daley; who is surrounded by a school of bottom feeding carp.
More King Daley international successes:
Dubai Has Tallest Tower; Chicago Has Hole
City's Spire Project Languishes, While UAE Celebrates Its Burj Khalifa
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Chicago.Spire.Burj.2.1405314.html
SCC,
Crain's does a much better job of exposing the corruption than the dimwitted rags. Please everyone, read the linked article below:
McPier meltdown
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?article_id=32690&seenIt=1
Keep the DemocRatic tradition of taxing business out of Illinois up:
"Compounding the operating losses is a mountain of debt brought on by its massive and, some say, overly aggressive financing of the McCormick Place West Building, which opened in 2007. McPier expected money from taxes on hotels, restaurants, taxis and car rentals to cover annual debt service, which totaled $130 million in 2009. But those taxes never covered the bond payments — even during banner convention years in the middle of this decade — forcing the agency to drain a reserve fund and dip into the state's general sales tax fund for the first time in 2009.
McPier tapped $18.8 million, and officials say they'll need $34 million in sales taxes next year. The cumulative funding gap is expected to exceed $500 million by 2021, a sign the financing model for the $882-million expansion was fundamentally flawed."
Keep the "Chicago Corruption Machine" DemocRatic practice of "Pay to Play Politics" up:
"McPier CEO Mr. Ochoa says the agency does not award contracts based on campaign contributions. Yet McPier contractors continue to pump out donations to state and local officials.
"We've certainly heard from Illinois businesses that feel if they want to compete for state contracts, they have to play in the campaign contributions arena," says David Morrison, assistant director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "When you see someone make a huge donation and then get a tangible benefit, it sure looks bad.""
It pays to be part of the "Chicago Corruption Machine"
"No one gets hired at McPier because of politics, Mr. Ochoa says, but two of McPier's three assistant general managers hail from the patronage-heavy 19th Ward on the city's Southwest Side. James "Skinny" Sheahan is the brother of former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan, whose service to Mr. Daley dates to 1981. James Sheahan served as the city's director of special events from 1992 to 1998 before moving over to a $165,470 post at McPier.
The assistant general manager at Navy Pier is another 19th Warder with a familiar Chicago surname. Michael Degnan, son of longtime mayoral confidante and former state Sen. Timothy Degnan Jr., has worked at McPier since 1985 and earns $141,606.
McPier employs 32 senior directors of various departments, including Nonda Harris, the brother of former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris, who draws a salary of $153,359 as senior director of development.
Nonda Harris, a former city aviation worker, shows up on the clout list of former Blagojevich fundraiser Chris Kelly, who committed suicide in September after being indicted on corruption charges. John Harris pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud earlier this year after agreeing to testify against Mr. Blagojevich at the former governor's trial next year.
The salaried workforce is rife with supervisory titles. There are, for example, 47 managers and 10 assistant managers, 34 directors and 14 assistant directors, and 40 people who have the word "coordinator" attached to their job descriptions."
Keep voting DemocRat and witness Chicago become Detroit II.
Every incumbent politician in Chicago, Crook County and in Illinois state office must be ousted!
VOTE EVERY INCUMBENT OUT NOW!
"Stuffing the ballot box may be a Chicago tradition, but it didn't save the convention for McPier."
When is the "REAL" Chicago Tea Party?
Daley is literally destroying Chicago.
Are you registered to vote?
Even the mainstream media realizes that Daley must go!
What will it take USA Patrick Fitzgerald?
Parking fees are now $4.25 an hour on a downtown meter. In six months, you will be reading about all the businesses that are fleeing Chicago, in the Tribune and the Times.
I can't understand why, LMAO!
If it is so easy to pick these fish off in this proverbial barrel; where are the Feds?
The systemic collapse of the "once" second largest city in the USA.
Will Chicago residents laugh about the "Chicago Way" when this town is a remnant?
Daley II's Legacy = Destroying Chicago
I am tendering the Crain's article to the Wall Street Journal and the Investor Business Daily.
Every business and corporate entity should be made aware of the caustic and corrupt practices in Chicago.
Orlando, Las Vegas and Tampa will reap the benefits of Chicago's unabatted corruption.
19th Ward political whores/hacks
Chicago outfit guys
Hispanic sellouts
Reverend Uncle Toms
$
+
Rigged Elections
=
King DicKtator Daley aka Shortshanks
DUMP DALEY IN FEB 2011
Follow the money!
So check out the headline in yesterday's Detroit Free Press. Feds are investigating 2 of the city's pension funds.
One involving millions taken from the police departments pension fund.
Yet..no investigation here in Chicago..Why?
These base salaries are generous enough. I wish the media would give us the actual costs by including the weeks of vacation pay and the cost of The health care and pension benefits these people enjoy plus any transportation reimbursement expenses that are paid by us the employer.
Sheehans deal is really sweet. He's paid $160k to do something the city should not even be involved in paying somebody to do (why is the city managing conventions when it's outsourced parking meter revenue?).
Plus the guy collects a combined $55k or so from three other pensions while he's still working and sucking from the public teat and collecting that $160k salary.
I'd like to have seen the reporter educate us on the pension he's going to get on his current $160K job and report on the seedy under-side of all this where these guys kick-back a good piece of these salaries back to the Daley crime family in raffle ticket purchases and undocumented campaign contributions.
We taxpayers are being so fucked it is mind-boggling.
Buck Naked
(not a cop)
1/05/2010 02:58:00 AM
All due respect, saying a $100K salary these days is not a lot of money is an untruth plus when you include all the rest of the benefits these guys get, you're really dwelling in the land of error.
I personally know one woman on that list and trust me she is a glorified secretary who accomplishes NOTHING day in and day out then laughs all the way to the bank. She's a mope.
This has been going on for years.
I see James Fitzgerald's name on that list. Hmmmm, would his brother be Mike Fitz (recently deceased) of Local 134 fame?
No politics? Kiss my ass.
Too bad there is no legal way to dispose of these people..... :D
1/05/2010 03:32:00 AM
Thank you for posting that link to the Crain's article.
While long and in some places financially esoteric, it is one fucking informative piece of writing.
After reading it, it is obvious that the whole enterprise is laden with so much debt, there is no fucking way it can be a profitable endevor, even if there hadn't been a tanking of the economy.
And these $100+K not-it-alls that created the whole thing are quoted as saying they'll be profitable in 2011 or 2012 after "right-sizing".
They are out of there g-d damn minds!
Everyone should link to that Crain's article. There is so much debt it's a dead duck. With so much competing interests in the State for money, I don't think., g-d I hope, the rest of the State says fuck you to their politicians when it comes to voting on siphoning State tax revenues to subsidize a development plan developed by a group of asshats that couldn't find their asses with both hands fiscally speaking.
When, if, this story gets legs statewide and it has to the dollars are so big, every politician is going to shat in their pants.
Thanks again for the link.
Buck Naked
(not a cop)
only in chicago sam rotie third wife has a big job at o hara i bet the first two and the kids are all working for the city
McPier is nothing more than a midsize shopping mall.Do you think any shopping malls in the area are paying out salaries like that?
I assume the "news medis" people check blogs like this all the time for tips and info on who's "whistling on who!" All they have to do is walk in to McPier and start the cameras rolling! But do they? Too much work when you can report on off duty police involved in anything! Its all about selling "rags" and nothing to do with "investigating!"
Daley is simply "cleaning the bones" from Chicagos' carcass! He knows he is going to lose soon so he his taking care of all who remained silent for all these years and protected his kingdom! Selling as much as he can (imagine a kickback from the sale of the meters, 10% of 1.5 billion) just to push it through the city council! No shoe boxes for Daley!
WHEN WILL THIS END??????????????
STOP voting for these democratic crooks!!!! Anyone who votes democratic is an idiot.
Daley will be Mayor as long as he wants. Whoever would replace would probably be worse. There are no decent politicans in this state.
I hate the media, I mean really hate them. I know Chris Fusco well from high school. He is a very smart, honest and good man. He donated part of his liver to his dying best friend despite his parent's reservations being that he is an only child. He is the one media person you could trust not to lie or manipulate.
And if YOU go for a job there, your (real) credentials don't measure up.
What are the credentials of all these people? Any degrees? Any certifications?
That's the problem with Illinois - no one knows what they are doing in all these Director jobs.
The ignorant nitwit who claims that if you have a college degree and ten years experience you should be making over 6 figures or be a loser obviously does not have extensive experience in the private sector. That statement just is not true. Check with the US Department of Labor for any region in the country. The clout heavy people in this town always claim they can make more money in the private sector and sacrifice for our collective good. Most of them could not get a job selling insurance.
If not, they're either in the wrong job or they're losers
next time you or a loved one is hospitalized make sure to call the nurse caring for them a loser. most would qualify as that by your reasoning. you might make more than 100k but you're idiot.
And when Daley's gone, then what?
I feel for the poor sad sack who becomes Chicago's next mayor. (BTW, anyone who runs for mayor or who would want to be mayor of this city needs their head examined). What the hell are they gonna do to fix these problems and pay off the debt and fill the budget hole, not to mention deal with what will be an uncontrollable, power hungry city council? The future will make the "council wars" of the 1980s look like Romper Room.
This city is fucked forever. Get out while you can.
I might blow but I ain't blowing Skinny Sheahan.
Check into who owns the irish store on Navy Pier. Wasn't that supposed to go up for bid? Hahaha Like hell it did!
The country-wide business community already knows. I own business's in other states and I attend conventions and meetings all the time. The full force of lost conventions and tourism has not even been brought to the forefront yet. NOBODY wants to have their shows in Chicago for a multitude of reasons but first and foremost is McPier. Theft, "The Mob" as everyone not from here calls them, (which they are anyway), over-taxation, rude, lazy, shiftless, dishonest workers, bad weather, high crime, unpredictable airport conditions with crazy cabbies swindling everyone etc. It's just a nightmare of a place to have a show and I've been to shows in at least twenty staes and five other countrys. I don't do the shows here and I live here. So there ya go.
Now they need to look at the Chicago Police Department.
As the ranks of those protecting the citizens has shrunk, the amount of brass worn by exempt members of the the Chicago Police Department has GROWN. (Good headline, the papers can have it). Starting with the Superintendent who's salary more than doubled that of the last Superintendent. ( Yeah he was suppose to have 2 jobs, but he only ever did one and that one not well. Assistant Deputy Sup. at Academy where a Commander Sufficed for years. A Chief and a Commander in IAD where there use to be a Commander years ago. Two chiefs in Patrol. And a Chief and a Deputy Chief (Daley and Murphy) in Detective Division, jobs created for Political Favoritism. And the list goes on. This is not to say some of or all of these people are not decent hard working folk. But while the officers have not had a raise and for 2 1/2 years, the exempt staff, led by the Superintendent are giving back a few unpaid days a year and complaining about it.
If JFED was the inspirational leader he claims to be he would give back about 100K of his salary, reduce the exempt staff, change back to historical levels the rank of exempt staff running units, and close at least 2 districts that have no business being open.
Will this get the contract settled? Obviously not. But the savings could allow the for the promotion of detectives. Or purchasing new lap tops, Or just saving US TAXPAYERS some money.
The problem with JFED and his FED and Political buddies is they are free agents. They have no commitment to the team or the city, other than their pay check. When the next big pay day comes along, they will be gone, and those of us who have dedicated our lives to the CPD and caring for the citizens will still be here. Hopefully the Department will not be so far gone that it won't take more than a few years to rebuild it.
We are trying to bankrupt the U.S.
We have bankrupted Illinois.
We have bankrupted Cook County. We have bankrupted Chicago.
Thank you for your continuing support!
signed: Your DemocRAT Party
This can only mean one thing the media smells Da Mare's blood in the water and feels more comfortable publishing these articles of corruption which have been going on for years.Big things should follow.
HEY FEDS....LOOK...YET ANOTHER CORRUPTION LADEN ENTITY...TAKE A GOOD, LONG LOOK...IAM SURE YOU WILL FIND SOMEONE TO INDICT...IT JUST KEEPS GOING ON AND ON....
I know a lot of cops that make over 100 K a year. We might want to stop throwing stones.
Carol Maresso and her clouted husban are alos part of the marasso mess; just different spellings, like the Greek, Italian thing.
I see the former head of the Illinois Restaurant Association with a 6 figure job at McPier. This is the same women who ran the Museum of Science and Industry. I thought the restaurant association and the museum were independent organizations? The fact that all of the connected people's kids get good paying summer jobs and internships at these entities tells you different. What doesen't the democratic organization control? Do not forget that when the issue of smoking in restaurants came up the restaurant association's stance is what the city counsel and state legislature ultimately passed with the blessing of Daley.The tentacles run deep.
Unfortunately the damage that Daley has done cannot be undone anytime soon. The parking will continue to get more expensive and there is no way to get it back, not the skyway, nor parking garages. Yes business will continue to leave. Do you really think that another mayor can do all this??? Not likely. Just hope that he doesn't outsource the water dept before he leaves.
".......30 years ago a six figure salary was a big deal. That's no longer the case... most people with a college degree and over ten years of work experience make a six figure salary. If not, they're either in the wrong job or they're losers... kinda like the average "journalist" at the Scum Times: college degree + ten years experience = less than $100K per year... Losers!
1/05/2010 02:58:00 AM........."
Total Bullshit must have been posted by someone who has been out of the private sector for a long time.....
the city of chicago is the most corrupt town in america--- all of you superstars that are banging joe six pack with parkers and movers are just another part of the problem... you are to stupid to realize the truth--- and all that activity you generate will get you nowhere--- just wait until you step on your cock and get it shoved up your ass---
MEANWHILE THE CARPENTERS AT MCRIPOFF ARE TAKING 30% CUTS IN PAY. LIKE A SCRIPT RIGHT OUT OF THE SOPRANOS. F'NG SICKENING
Follow the money!
So check out the headline in yesterday's Detroit Free Press. Feds are investigating 2 of the city's pension funds.
One involving millions taken from the police departments pension fund.
Yet..no investigation here in Chicago..Why?
Shit rolls down hill, and we're on the bottom!
Anonymous said...
Even the mainstream media realizes that Daley must go!
What will it take USA Patrick Fitzgerald?
1/05/2010 04:14:00 AM
He kept his position as long as he leaves daley alone!
Time to strip them all, and their Bank Accounts, and return the stolen money to the Taxpayers, NOT the Politicians, so they can steal it again.
What I find truely amazing is the fact that with TONS of Federal Agents swarming ALL over Chicago/Crook County area, just how very few Politicians actually get caught go to jail as a result of their investigations. If I was in charge of them, I'd fire most of them for Incompetency. Then I'd rename the Bureau the Federal Bureau of Incompetency, until results greatly improved. If you can't catch any big fish in this giant Sea of Corruption, then you surely must be swimming with the fish yourselves.
getting one of these jobs is just the tip of the iceberg---- now you have to hustle up more money as long as you remember to kick up to the top..... daley is laughing all the way to the bank as he and his cancer stricken wife will be long gone very soon--- word has it that daley was inspired by tiger wood's shirtless magazine pose and he will also pose topless for mad magazine......
FEEB FEDS=ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL , AGAIN....
I LOVE BEING A CLOUT BABY , NOW STOP COMPLAINING AND GET YOURSELF SOME. FLIP
I GOT SO MUCH CLOUT, DO YOU KNOW WHO MY UNCLE IS, WHY I'LL HAVE ALL YOUR JOBS. AND CODE THEM 19-PAUL
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KEEP COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT BEING CONNECTED OR HAVING NO CLOUT, TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK IN THE MIRROR, WE ARE ALL ARMED POLITICIANS WITH CLOUT DOING THE DIRTY DEED. SOME JUST HAVE MORE CLOUT THAN THE NEXT, AND THATS JUST HOW IT IS. BE GREATFUL THAT YOU HAVE A JOB,LOVING FAMILY, SOME GOOD BOSSES AND CO-WORKERS- PARTNERS AND BEST OF ALL WE GOT SCC /BLOG.
This city is sickening.
We taxpayers are being so fucked it is mind-boggling.
Buck Naked
(not a cop)
1/05/2010 06:54:00 AM
Little known fact, what the reporters need to investigate now are all the "buy-outs" that are going on. Word on the street is the powers that be started offering "incentives" to resign months ago. So, people are going to be leaving, but with nice little packages, courtesy of...US.
---not a cop
It's so bad it would be laughable,if it didn't effect my pocketbook. McPier is the "Ecquator of Corruption". It is where Outfit,Patronage and Truly Ridiculous meet. Yet we have no contract? Hello how about "Cozzi Day" soon?
Of course and the city says it has no money for promotions and new hires.
"We've certainly heard from Illinois businesses that feel if they want to compete for state contracts, they have to play in the campaign contributions arena," says David Morrison, assistant director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "When you see someone make a huge donation and then get a tangible benefit, it sure looks bad.""
Why, except for tangible benefits, would ANYONE make a campaign contribution to anyone? You make a contribution so your personal agenda gets pushed, that's it.
How about making ALL campaign contributions over say $100 illegal? Then, the politician has no reason to hire the next guy over you.
It's not Nick Roti's Relative it's Sam Roti the fake commander of the Mayors Detail thats a direct link to the Mayor. His wife works in some 6 figure job at Ohare and his daughter is a high paid city lawyer fresh out of law school. Where is shakman on that? Turning a blind eye on Cmdr S Roti's while him and his immediate family sock away at least 500,000 of the taxpayers money. He has family all over the city and McPier in bullshit jobs. But no one notices.
FBI...Famous But Incompetant..FBI. Forever Bothering Italians..I like the 1st one..
tell family and friends that to vote for daley, any incumbent, or anyone recommended by the democratic party, is a vote against their family and friends in the police department.
it's rigged, corrupt etc....
the G is not blind, they are owned.
the solution is "grass roots".
just watch out for those drones.
the real fun starts when most of us realize there isn't gonna be a pension.
If given a choice between a supportive, loving father that expects me to stand on my own two feet and earn (or get) my own promotions, doesn't try to control me, encourages me to make my own choices , tells me to question authority but do it with dignity and have intelligence on your side, has disagreed with me but supported my right to protest his beliefs, publicly, on this job., would teach me anything on earth except how to steal, cheat or lie, or a man with the power to give me the power to overpower others for money, I'll take the first one. I know too many of these power people and they just don't seem happy. Do you want to have authority or do you want to have peace?
Anonymous said...
It's not Nick Roti's Relative it's Sam Roti the fake commander of the Mayors Detail thats a direct link to the Mayor. His wife works in some 6 figure job at Ohare and his daughter is a high paid city lawyer fresh out of law school. Where is shakman on that? Turning a blind eye on Cmdr S Roti's while him and his immediate family sock away at least 500,000 of the taxpayers money. He has family all over the city and McPier in bullshit jobs. But no one notices.
1/05/2010 10:18:00 PM
---------------------------
Squeeky at the airport is an airhead to boot.
If you're speaking of the Hotel, Motel, Restaurant Workers. That is a front for the mob. Google Alan Dorfman or Joey Lombardo maybe Alderman Burke.
Thats nothing compared to the envelopes SS collects to ensure the card-carrying guys work the shows. Right Skinny? Blow yourself.
Daley won't lose an election, but he's not going to run. It all boils down to the big security leak! That's why these pesky reporters have gotten so cocky the last few days. The Chi-Town Hustlers' blatant, felonious, arrogance is showing like a Notre Dame nuns cotton slip. The whole world is looking on, embarrased, but too mesmerized to look away. Oh my god, Daleys former aid let three people (maybe even one a terrorist) sneak into the White House and now they're trying to cover it up. Chicago REALLY IS A GANGSTER TOWN AND OBAMA REALLY IS ONE OF THEM. Damage control time. Betcha.
"I LOVE BEING A CLOUT BABY , NOW STOP COMPLAINING AND GET YOURSELF SOME. FLIP
1/05/2010 06:43:00 PM"
CAN'T JUST COULDN'T STOMACH AFFIXING MY LIPS TO SOMEONES ANUS
degnan's kid also runs a ticket broker business on city time,and the ig turns their heads as usual!
Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...
It's not Nick Roti's Relative it's Sam Roti the fake commander of the Mayors Detail thats a direct link to the Mayor. His wife works in some 6 figure job at Ohare and his daughter is a high paid city lawyer fresh out of law school. Where is shakman on that? Turning a blind eye on Cmdr S Roti's while him and his immediate family sock away at least 500,000 of the taxpayers money. He has family all over the city and McPier in bullshit jobs. But no one notices.
1/05/2010 10:18:00 PM
---------------------------
Squeeky at the airport is an airhead to boot.
1/06/2010 05:36:00 AM
Sam "fat sam" roti, is also a restaurant owner,and a car salesman to boot,just another not needed clout hack! Will the mayors 2 commanders take furlough days?
I ran the name Roti and found 10 with Govt jobs. Don't know if ALL of them are related, but hey, I'm just saying.
http://b2.caspio.com/dp.asp?AppKey=d2341000f0h0f9a6f4f2e8h1b0a5
".....word has it that daley was inspired by tiger wood's shirtless magazine pose and he will also pose topless for mad magazine......
1/05/2010 05:46:00 PM"
nope.
even Mad magazine has higher standards than that.
Anonymous said...
Check into who owns the irish store on Navy Pier. Wasn't that supposed to go up for bid? Hahaha Like hell it did!
1/05/2010 10:46:00 AM
Two cops own the Irish Store!!!!
The city contract doesn't say two cops own the irish store.
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