More Waste
Remember, it's the greedy cops and firemen causing all the problems - not this crap:
- She has a driver who makes $94,000 a year and a cleaning lady making $57,000 a year. Is Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas wasting tax dollars?
In a joint investigation with the Better Government Association, CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman has been following these employees and found that their job titles have nothing to do with the work they actually do.
Gee Pammy, finally found some fish in the barrel that is Cook County, eh? We wonder who's giving her the green light.
Labels: corruption, county
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
77 Comments:
cheezbouger, cheezbouger, cheezbouger. It's all greek to me.
SCC-
You're right. Somebody greenlit this story. Pammy can't do anything without higher up approval. Why isn't she pounding on the bullshit O' Hare expansion waste? That story is worth millions of dollars.
Its those dam coppers and their uniform allowance! Omg! The benefits are astounding!...NOT
There's a lot more than that going on. Look at every politician in chicago cook county and you will see that millions upon millions are wasted. I guess "tightening our belts" only applies to the average joe.
Will they do an expose showing the non-police work being performed by thousands of sworn officers? Bodyguards, graphic arts, desk dollies, and thousands doing who-knows what outside of patrol. Its likely a lot of POLICE in Chicago would be shocked to see what quite a few POs are being paid to do (or not do).
"Pappas said she needs to keep Hatzisavas close because she uses him for security. Pappas claims that over the past ten years she has received repeated threats and provided records that she says document the threats.
"But, what is Hatzisavas’ security training?
"He’s alerted to speak to me in my language. I switch and speak to him in Greek if I think there is a problem," Pappas explained.
...and then what? Does he draw a ceremonial sword, shout, "OPAA," and charge the threat with a hunk of flaming cheese?
I always thought that a high state official whose official portrait was taken in a rugby shirt was kind of weird, but this?
So tell me something that I already don't know. Fucking politicians wasting our money and constantly raising our taxes. The whole country is going down the drain and nobody seems to care. We need a revolution!
Disgraceful! One more long time politician to add to the 'vote 'em out!' list.
Oh Pam Zekman our hero !
You couldn’t swing a dead cat in city hall without hitting a story about waste and corruption. This is more a story about how the blind can suddenly see.
But I am sure the cure to her blindness is only temporary !
democrat strategy 101. waste tons of money-raise taxes after elections-blame someone else.take $ from people that work and give it to the freeloaders.
But as long as she wants to run, the morons will re-elect her!
It's about time that the spotlight gets put on Cook County and Chicago corruption.
Pappas is only the tip of the iceberg.
It's not just the salaries - what about all the money in benefits and pensions?
And I am sure these people could not hold a job in the private sector for half of what they are making.
It's OK to go after Maria Pappas without making Shortshanks nervous. Maybe she had thought out loud that she should run for mayor and ZEK got the word to bite!
How about those building engineers? For the money they get paid what do they really do? Or Motor maint.? I think they should just use Jiffy-lube for oil changes.
She told Pam that the driver was her security because he understands Greek and she goes back and forth between Greek and English.
Does that make him a Spartan? If I learn some Greek will I be tougher?
Politicians... If you think it's great to live here, then be an average citizen just like the rest of us!!! If you're scared, pay a bodyguard out of your own pocket.
Where was Pam Zekman in 2010? Pappas was up for re-election in 2010, not 2011. By 2014, "most" people will have forgotten the Pappas' Scandal.
did you ever sign a log at water pumping stations , all the $80,000 a year engineers do is take readings , most work done by outside contractors
It's OK to go after Maria Pappas without making Shortshanks nervous. Maybe she had thought out loud that she should run for mayor and ZEK got the word to bite!
1/14/2011 07:21:00 AM
bingo.
Does that make him a Spartan? If I learn some Greek will I be tougher?
1/14/2011 07:56:00 AM
only if you can survive the initiation ritual.
bobbo said...
How about those building engineers? For the money they get paid what do they really do? Or Motor maint.? I think they should just use Jiffy-lube for oil changes.
1/14/2011 07:25:00 AM
-------------------------------------
There are a lot of political weasels who were hired as Building Engineers and belong to Local 150.
pam look at cpd sworn police officers working as office clerks
that is not the job description of a police officer
put office police in a beat car and hire civilians to perform clerical duties and our new mayor will not have to hire any more officers for a few years
$94,000 a year to drive paapas , pick up cleaning etc
only in cook county
if perriwinkle doesn't cut this waste , she'll be 1 term like todd
These two salaries need some context. Find out if these people are longstanding employees or her hires into these high salaries.
This is small potatoes compared to other offices and officials that I know of. To me, this means that the pols are going after someone not following the party line. Pappas took over an office that was horribly run by a party hack until he died. Have we forgotten already about his boyfriend on the payroll and thousands of tax payers money sitting around on desks? The office works and she has consistently reduced the number of staff (patronage).
This story shows that politicians use the media for their ends. . . . the question is which politician pointed zekman in pappas's direction and what is his/her motive or gain from doing so.
there are so many stories of corruption out there, any muckraker or wanna-be-muckraker out of journalism school could "uncover" a garbage truck full of stories, if only the powers that be allowed it to happen
"Pappas said she needs to keep Hatzisavas close because she uses him for security. Pappas claims that over the past ten years she has received repeated threats and provided records that she says document the threats.
"But, what is Hatzisavas’ security training?
"He’s alerted to speak to me in my language. I switch and speak to him in Greek if I think there is a problem," Pappas explained.
Shortshanks used the same plan. If there was a security threat, Roti would speak to him in 'Bridgeportese.'
i.e. "Hey dere mere, let me scrutin dat crowd before you go in dere."
Finally, Pam is focusing in the right place. Probably because the increase in taxes now that it hurts more than the cops wallets, now people are asking..."where is the money going?" because it's not the cops or the firemen. finally...
Yet they won't approve new hires, a detectives class (over three years since the last one), sgts, or Lts. Class. No problem making exempts though.
DESK DOLLIE!! Yes, I am! I am a bid!!! And, I bet I make more arrests, write more tickets and have more activity than you, asshat!!!
the damned CPD Cops are spending too much time at Dunkin Doughnuts, thats why the City is so fucked up and broke!
signed, Richard M. Daley, Mayor
[aka shortshanks]
"Remember, it's the greedy cops and firemen causing all the problems"
Don't forget the greedy teachers!
True Zekman story: Early 1970s-she`s a Sun Times reporter. She`s working undercover in a far north side collection agencie trying to expose their tactics in bill collecting.
The company catches her planting illegal eavesdropping devices in the office. A/6 detectives investigate and are prepared to arrest her. Cook County States Atty. Bernard Carey killed it. No charges filed. My pal S.R was the lead detective in this matter.
P.S. Zekman admitted to planting said devices.
Who in the hell watches channel 2 ? a few screaming leftists maybe, certainly more views on this blog than cbs. Anyway i don't think rahm likes pappas so the fix is in.
You can only blame one person for all this mess. THE VOTER. Every four years, the voters keep voting these jerks into office. They must love getting stuck up their butt.
Why do any of these people have cars and drivers? Are all politicans and city/county Deputy/First/Commissioners disabled? Are they unable to utilize the CTA, utilize the various train services or find their way to a taxi?
Why do they have guards? If we don't want them around anymore, we just vote them out.
Obviously, Tom Dart will cover-up for Pappas. He as much as said so when he said they would provide personal security training for her driver.
They will end up deputizing and arming her Greek code talker and not another word about it will be heard from CBS or the BGA!
When Pappas was showed the video and asked how she could justify Hatzisavas doing personal errands she replied, “You know what, okay, alright, you know what, look.”
WOW! The definitive response of the cat that just got caught eating the canary!
put office police in a beat car and hire civilians to perform clerical duties and our new mayor will not have to hire any more officers for a few years
1/14/2011 09:16:00 AM
Ahh, I can see it now. An office full of gang bangers girlfriends with all of your personal info at their finger tips. Dude your clueless.
Why isn't she pounding on the bullshit O' Hare expansion waste? That story is worth millions of dollars.
1/14/2011 12:14:00 AM
The O'Hare revenue bonds financing Daley's mad expansion have been downgraded again. Huge story. Lots of info from this search --
http://news.google.com/news/ search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q =Chicago+airport+bonds
... wow. what a surprise. waste in cook county. never thought it was so wasteful. More importantly, did Toad Stooger land a 6 figure janitor job yet?
he looks very alert with her dry cleaning.
"Anonymous said...
"This is small potatoes compared to other offices and officials that I know of. To me, this means that the pols are going after someone not following the party line."......Wasn't Pappas making noise 2 weeks ago about the crappy state of pensionn funds?????I think Darth Shortshanks dimed her out to Zekman as an example for other stooges that might get a rare bright idea and babble to the media.
Can someone explain the purpose of Cook County government? I write a ticket. Go to court. Judge tells the defendant the $75 ticket will be reduced to $5 but he still needs to pay the $147 for court fees plus $5 for the ticket. Why can't the city bypass the county altogether and collect it's own fees?
Geez, why not let the politician hold office as long as they can. Just make it a pensionless position with no chance of a raise. Oh wait, that would make them a police officer. Never mind.
Easy folks, step back
They are commiting 'Donkicide'
Does anyone really want to talk them down?
You can find one of these overpaid gofers on the staff of every one of these asshole politicians who think they are royalty.
'Bridgeportese.'
NOW THAT"S FUNNY!
pam look at cpd sworn police officers working as office clerks
that is not the job description of a police officer
put office police in a beat car and hire civilians to perform clerical duties and our new mayor will not have to hire any more officers for a few years
1/14/2011 09:16:00 AM
--
Absolutely! Let civilians have access to all sorts of secure information! You get what you pay for, son.
All the GREEKS stick together, you should see Steve Georges and Elias Vellgaras kiss Maria's ass at the Greek festivals.
These two salaries need some context. Find out if these people are longstanding employees or her hires into these high salaries.
This is small potatoes compared to other offices and officials that I know of. To me, this means that the pols are going after someone not following the party line. Pappas took over an office that was horribly run by a party hack until he died. Have we forgotten already about his boyfriend on the payroll and thousands of tax payers money sitting around on desks? The office works and she has consistently reduced the number of staff (patronage).
1/14/2011 09:38:00 AM
=
I don't care HOW long the cleaning person has been there. I'll take that cleaning job for NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR right now. Unreal. Just unreal.
and then what? Does he draw a ceremonial sword, shout, "OPAA," and charge the threat with a hunk of flaming cheese?
Thank you. I laughed my butt off on that!
Maria cut the budget by 50% and increased the efficiency at the office. No other Cook County politician can come close to her. I'll vote for her for any time. This story was hand fed to Zekman. Things that make you go hmmmm.
more waste is right: Check Motor Maintainance, Fleet charges the police Dept. Dealer rates to fix these shitbox cars. so for example, your police car goes down with a bad water pump, the book rate says 3 hrs to repair, but Joe the mechanic does it in 2 hrs, he gets 2 hrs to kill, because if he fixes it too fast it looks real bad. No money really changes hands but on paper Fleet gets paid by the police dept. Say what you want but the only reason Daley gave Fleet control over the garages was because more money could be stolen.
"But, what is Hatzisavas’ security training?
"He’s alerted to speak to me in my language. I switch and speak to him in Greek if I think there is a problem," Pappas explained."
The "doomsday code" is --
mikros aspro sinifaki
--or, "The Little White Cloud."
(It's OK. SCC must not be Greek. I made that up. That is not secret information, but actually just the name of a song. A Greek guy taught me the phrase when I jokingly asked him to teach me the language. He emphasized that the important thing was to roll the "r"s.)
This'd all be even funnier if it weren't costing us so much, but I'll take what I can get...
When Pappas was showed the video and asked how she could justify Hatzisavas doing personal errands she replied, “You know what, okay, alright, you know what, look.”
RESET.
RESET.
RESET.
"Remember, it's the greedy cops and firemen causing all the problems"
Don't forget the greedy teachers!
--1/14/2011 12:30:00 PM
Boy, there is an image that needs to be popularized. I am SO sick of their endless crying. "Education" has become a bottomless pit, the very word used to justify absolutely anything.
"Neanderthal!"
You betcha. That's me.
Just unloaded their gun, didn't I? (snicker)
"He looks very alert with her dry cleaning."
--1/14/2011 03:28:00 PM
COMMENT OF THE WEEK! COMMENT OF THE WEEK!
Oh.
Pure nitric acid.
I wish I'd said that.
"...and then what? Does he draw a ceremonial sword, shout, "OPAA," and charge the threat with a hunk of flaming cheese?"
Thank you. I laughed my butt off on that!
--1/14/2011 06:27:00 PM
By the time he squeezes that lemon in the assailant's face, it's all over.
"Gee Pammy, finally found some fish in the barrel that is Cook County, eh? We wonder who's giving her the green light."
Yeah, one does get the sense of the dog being trucked out to the scene, given an article to sniff, and then being let out of its crate to go find what it may.
I just love that "swing a dead cat in city hall" line. Excellent.
My favorite of all is still our illustrious police superintendant who needs POLICE BODYGUARDS!!!!!! HELLO? Is it just me or is this guy softer than puppyshit? The police calling the police. My grandma could be the 300,000 CPD supt if she had bodyguards for fucks sake.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
"...and then what? Does he draw a ceremonial sword, shout, "OPAA," and charge the threat with a hunk of flaming cheese?"
Thank you. I laughed my butt off on that!
--1/14/2011 06:27:00 PM
By the time he squeezes that lemon in the assailant's face, it's all over.
1/14/2011 10:27:00 PM
Hey Man, Lemon juice BURNS the eyes.
Anonymous said...
did you ever sign a log at water pumping stations , all the $80,000 a year engineers do is take readings , most work done by outside contractors
1/14/2011 09:05:00 AM
Irish Welfare
'I don't care HOW long the cleaning person has been there. I'll take that cleaning job for NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR right now. Unreal. Just unreal.'
YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG. The cleaning lady makes $57 grand a year. It's the DRIVER/GOFER that makes the $94 grand.
I'm not mad at Pam for doing this story, even if someone within Pappas's office spoonfed it to her.
It needed to be told, it's completely unacceptable.
A male Greek footstool/gofer/valet making almost $100 grand? A personal cleaning woman making almost $60 grand? Pappas should feel ashamed.
She should have known if Zekman was coming to see her, she was in shit about something. Zekman doesn't hold interviews to tell you what a great job you've been doing. And for Pappas to say, "I'm not getting rid of them?" Well, we all know what we have to do as voters in the next election...but the Governor should start a recall action on her ass too.
If we can dump an asshole like Blago, why not Pappas? Or Preckwinkle should do it.
Pappas is wrong for doing this. But, sadly, she is one of the better county elected officials that we have. I hope Preckwinkl cleans this up, but I really doubt it. I will take a wait and see attitude. I think the Illinois attorney general should sue Pappas for the wasted money on personal servants. Lets see if that works.
Good Post, You spend most your time M'Fng the Irish who've been a non issue on this job for years. These fargn Greeks for being such a small minority have alot of juice on the CPD.
09;16AM Whats the big deal about civilians having access to information. They already do. Records, identification, data entry operators, civilian secretaries in exempts offices, the list goes on and on. Then the reports go to the ASA who have civilians and secretaries at every level and have complete access to all the CPD reports
Everyone is making a fuss over her 1 guard/assistant. So what. Look at all these other political hacks who have 5 and 10 guards. They're the ones who are wasting our money. Pappas has made the most cuts,spent the least, and saved us thousands of dollars. And big deal, the guy is Greek. I'm sure she would have a more diversified detail if she was like the rest of them, throwing money away for a big entourage.
Is Pam Zekman getting better looking or is it the cheap booze I'm drinking ???
Why don't these politicos pay for their personal valets, drivers and "body guards" out of their own pocket? The voting citizens should say NO to this next time at the polls.
Vote tea party or GOP
I think the Illinois attorney general should sue Pappas for the wasted money on personal servants. Lets see if that works.
1/15/2011 09:48:00 AM
pull your head out of the madigan assholes.
you'll breath better.
but the Governor should start a recall action on her ass too.
If we can dump an asshole like Blago, why not Pappas? Or Preckwinkle should do it.
1/15/2011 09:34:00 AM
Maria must really be getting the combine's panties in a bunch.
what could she know, what could she know?
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Is Pam Zekman getting better looking or is it the cheap booze I'm drinking ???
1/15/2011 03:44:00 PM
--------
You must be drinking anti-freeze
Is Pam Zekman getting better looking or is it the cheap booze I'm drinking ???
1/15/2011 03:44:00 PM
for your sake, it had better be the booze.
Another one on the "payroll" with the same name! In cook county treasure office! Stefania Hatzisavas. 42K Law Clerk! A family affair or perhaps as common as Smith in Transylvania? You go Pam!
It's all Greek to me!
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