Way to Go Ed Burke
To one of Chicago’s most powerful politicians, Saul Rodriguez was just another young real-estate developer. Rodriguez, then only 24, wanted to build five condominium buildings in Ald. Ed Burke’s 14th Ward in 1999. So he hired William Barbaro Construction, whose owner, William Barbaro, was a regular contributor to the campaign funds of Burke and then-Ald. William Banks (36th), head of the City Council’s zoning committee at the time.
In July 1999, Rodriguez applied for the zoning change he needed for the project. City planners objected, questioning the proposed increase in residential density of the Southwest Side neighborhood. But as the alderman for the ward, Burke all but had the final say, according to City Council tradition, and he gave the go-ahead. In early 2000, the City Council’s zoning committee and then the full council approved the project.
Rodriguez built five two-story buildings on the south side of the street in the 2700 block of West 37th Place in Brighton Park. He estimated each building would cost $190,000. One factor Burke says he didn’t know at the time: Rodriguez was a reputed narcotics trafficker.
Burke may not have know diddly-squat, but he knew not to ask the right questions, that's for sure. And he's a clue for any newbie reporters skimming through the Chicago political sewers - 99.9% of any zoning change in the city of Chicago probably involves a payoff, a connected construction firm and a whole lot of winking and nodding. Investigate that why don't you?
UPDATE: See post for 19 January
Labels: city politics, corruption
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
64 Comments:
Is it finally Ed Burkes turn and is he being looked at for a Federal investigation? This is probably dirty political shit Rham weasel is stiring up a week later for endorsing Chico. Digging up dirt......
Burke is backing Chico. Is Rahm's finger prints on this story?
Now, think WHY this story just hit.
Could it be, Rahm, that you loosed this little tidbit on Burke as payback for endorsing Chico?
This should be listed as 'yet another greenlighted story'.
Wow, we're playing hardball already. Ouch.
bring back that funny jibjab video with j-fled and masters dancing in the gym
And of course Burke knew nothing, right? Funny, a man who prides himself on being in "the know" with his finger on the pulse and being wise beyond his years, knew nothing about the guy. Strange how he and Daley sometimes just never know things and were totally unaware.
When it comes to these crooked assed politicians and their bullshit, "we didn't know nuttin'" has always sufficed.
When it comes to coppers, everybody and their brother knows everything down to whether or not you fold your underpants longitudinally, latitudinally or diagonally and will dutifully report their findings to local msm to insure much spillage of ink on paper and maximum exposure on TV.
"Chicago Cops Investigated For Conspiracy To Fold Underpants Funny... Superintendent Notifies Dept. Of Justice."
Breaking (wind) News online comments section would be on fire.
"Greedy coppers conspired to fold their underpants funny! Take away their sweet pensions and early retirement! Tell weis to cut their pay!"
Meanwhile, rotten cocksuckers like Daley, Burke, J-fled and 3M skate away scot free.
This city has gone mad...
He's surrounded by the real police and none of them knew of this man's criminal background? Why I'm shocked, simply shocked.
Useless as a pair of glass gonads.
Burke is as corrupt as our unions.
news flash--- the chicago firefighters union is expected to ratify the new contract in february--- the problem is the retro payout will be taxed at the new higher state income tax level which means that the fire fighters are getting screwed out of a lot of cash---
SCC, please. How could a guy who was a former Chicago police officer possibly have known something like that?
This cop-turned-alderman could not possibly have suspected that something wash amiss, could he?
He wasn't trained to detect bullshit, was he? And if someone were to threaten him, should he not have tax payer supported bodyguards?
Any other citizen would expect the same, wouldn't they?
Rahm vs Ed Burke
Rahm may have flexed his muscle but it's hard to say who will win the battle over the endorsement.
news flash--- the chicago firefighters union is expected to ratify the new contract in february--- the problem is the retro payout will be taxed at the new higher state income tax level which means that the fire fighters are getting screwed out of a lot of cash---
1/18/2011 03:14:00 AM
So? I thought this was a police blog.
I tried to get a variance from my Alderman a couple of years ago. The meeting was going pretty smoothly until he found out I work for the city. If his advisor didn't tell him it was ok, he seemed intent on denying my request because he was worried, very worried that it would seem like he gave favoritism to a city employee. The guy actually seemed uncomfortable about the entire matter because I live in his ward and his office is in the district I work.
"A 24-year-old real estate mogul? With enough sense to know to go directly to the aldercreature for a zoning change? And to hire a construction firm that was a regular political contributor to the aforementioned aldercreature?"
-------
Rodriguez may be any number of things up to and including a 24 Karat shithead, but he isn't stupid. Quite to the contrary, none of this should come as any surprise. He's shrewder than hell.
Underestimate the street-corner goons, but never, ever, ever underestimate the intelligence of the guys tasked with moving the big weight. There are some terrifyingly bright assholes at those levels.
Fucking disgrace, since they're also usually the ones who could've made something for themselves in a legit way, but they couldn't resist the allure of the fast and easy buck.
Enjoy your 50 years as a guest of the BOP, Saul.
just like blago got greenlit. this is probably not enough to take him down.......just enough to make him fall back in line.
"Among Rodriguez’s alleged partners in crime was Lewellen, 54, a Chicago police narcotics officer when he recruited Rodriguez as an informant, officials say. The city paid Rodriguez a total of more than $700,000 for information that led to the seizures of his rivals’ drugs and cash, according to a source." [Emphasis added]
I about spit out my coffee reading this shit. $700,000!?! That has got to be a mistake. If not, I'm quitting the Department and becoming an informant. So long, suckers!
(ot) look here SCC will we get our pensions?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/41129099
Let them play hardball with each other. They are all insiders or former insiders and probably know plenty about the political dealings. Good! Expose is all! That is if the Chicago press cares enough to print any of it, which I doubt.
"CORRECTION
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Ald. Edward M. Burke received campaign donations from a contractor who built homes in Burke’s ward for a reputed drug kingpin. The contractor never made campaign contributions to Ald. Burke. Burke received campaign donations from a constituent and longtime family friend who had the same name as the contractor."
Well, this correction pretty much kills the whole attempt to link Burke to this drug kingpin, Rodriguez. Maybe the Scum-Times ought to doublecheck it's sources (Rahm?)before swallowing the bait. Nice job.
"Burke may not have know diddly-squat, but he knew not to ask the right questions..."
Tricky Dick Daley may have pioneered the "I don't know nuthin'" approach to government corruption, but he's obviously not the only one to use the technique successfully.
Chicago politics: a culture of corruption (Daley's Legacy).
This city has gone mad...
1/18/2011 12:32:00 AM
LOL.....I do think that you may be on the edge :) Funny stuff
Anonymous said...
news flash--- the chicago firefighters union is expected to ratify the new contract in february--- the problem is the retro payout will be taxed at the new higher state income tax level which means that the fire fighters are getting screwed out of a lot of cash---
1/18/2011 03:14:00 AM
Gee, thanks to the CW Team and FOP our retro was paid last year, at the lower 3% Illinois Income Tax rate. Damn are we lucky!
That helps make up for us getting fucked out of the 6% the FOP left on the table in the 16.1% offer.
10.1% plus the 2% we didn't have to pay, that's 12.1% if you look at it that way. Jeez, the FOP actually took care of us!
Thanks CityWide Team! We didn't get fucked quite as bad as we thought!
Anonymous said...
SCC, please. How could a guy who was a former Chicago police officer possibly have known something like that?
This cop-turned-alderman could not possibly have suspected that something wash amiss, could he?
1/18/2011 04:24:00 AM
Hell, how was Eddie to know? Eddie is only the most powerful Alderman in the City and the Chairman of the most powerful Committee in the City Council.
How was the sharpest pencil in the drawer supposed to know that a 24 year old Hispanic drug dealer wasn't the real estate hot shot he pretended to be? Nobody told him, no one clued him in.
federal investigation you can bet on that has ERV been talking to the fed 18 MONTHS IS A LONG TIME
When thousands of zoning and development deals passing thru aldermanic offices, occasionally, one or two proposals are going to squeak through without any scrutiny. Gee, what 24yr old real estate mogul wants to be scroot'ind ?
Probably sold that land for $1 a parcel and $$$$ to campaign funds.
Want to bet the tax & water bills haven't be paid?
This is Daley/Rahm controlling the media to make Burke look bad. No question. The media can make or break you. The made Quinn in the Dem. primary and made Bobama.
Mr Wonderful Mike Mealer was over heard asking why so many par forms have been put in to leave 017.
Answer:
Well when you constantly treat people so badly like you do Mealer, thats what happens.
banks was known for shutting down businesses or buildings. he would have inspectors, police, issue ticket untill the owner gave up. banks then wouuld purchase the property and have it re-zoned. his family would then start building on the property. he did this untill the real estate market tanked. lost all his earnings. he is a horrible human being.
"With All Our Rage, We Are Still,
Just Rats, In A Cage"
Useless as a pair of glass gonads.
Burke is as corrupt as our unions.
1/18/2011 02:34:00 AM
Enough is enough……I know that an FOP election is coming up but what the Fuck…..
I am sorry but I blame the Shields team for all this shit. The comments have not been this bad about the FOP until mike Shields said he was running. Mike if your running run, go to roll calls and all that shit you need to do, but stop using the blog for your campaign!! That means everyone!! Citywide too!!!
The same issues that are on your web site Mike, are the same issues your blogging about! Then the Citywide team chimes in!!
Fuck, keep that stuff on your own blogs and not ours!!
What...he WAS a drug trafficer but he has turned his life around. Burke is just giving him a second chance.
Useless as a pair of glass gonads.
Burke is as corrupt as our unions.
I agree unions suck we should give up the union, negotiate on our own.
We don't need them take our money give it to an outside lobby group like they do in Washington DC.
OT want to raise tax money from people that abuse 911
you demand a police car sent out for a property crime that could be handled by 311 , charge them hourly rate , dui arrest , charge offender , add to court costs
etc
Burke can always invoke the " Daley defense "
The one Shortshanks used during silver shovel, trucks -for-hire, and all the other scams. It got used every time the 20 plus aldercreatures get caught & go to jail.
" hey, I'm just the mayor, I don’t know nuttin "
OT: CAMDEN, N.J. – Some police officers are turning in their badges as part of deep municipal layoffs that began Tuesday and that could be a blow to the quality of life in this city, one of the nation's most impoverished and crime-ridden.
As many as 383 workers, representing one-fourth of the local government's work force, are expected to lose their jobs, including about half the police force and one-third of the city's firefighters.
The officers began turning in their badges Monday as it became clear that no last-minute deal was going to save many jobs.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110118/ap_on_re_us/us_camden_layoffs
Re:
news flash--- the chicago firefighters union is expected to ratify the new contract in february--- the problem is the retro payout will be taxed at the new higher state income tax level which means that the fire fighters are getting screwed out of a lot of cash---
******************************
and you thought Shortshanks hated CPD more than CFD!!!!
I wonder if the same guy also built the new two story digs of Burke?
SCC, I agree that zoning is full of corruption. However, in our ward, we have asked our Alderman to down-zone (From C-1 to RS-3, etc.) over a dozen times. We did this to get rid of 6 unit buildings, drug houses, etc. We also have had areas up-zoned (is that even a word?) to bring businesses our to get a developer to help get rid of a drughouse for a 3 unit townhouse - a trade-off. Point is, SOME rezoning is constituent initiated - SOME.
With crooks like this at the wheel what will it take?
First Responders in all major democrat bullshit cities need to consult with attorneys representing the rank and file and come up with our own "coup protocol" to be used when these weasels finally welsh on not only paying into our pension funds but even paying us period.
BTW, SCC, this would not be a strike action, it goes way beyond that; the scenario would be applicable only in extremis.
There was an 8 part story on aldermen and zoning on the trib website last week. Talked about how gutierrez would buy a house for 800,000 and when it was finished the contractor would buy it back from him for 1.2 mil. Coincidentally Munoz would then change zoning for this contractors projects in his ward.
Rahm!! My man!
Put up or shut up. I would love to see the clout hacks on his security detail indicted as co-conspirators.
this is what is known as a tweaking.
the nose is tweaked as a warning.
if the warning is ignored, next comes the bung hole poke.
if the bung hole poke is ignored, then comes the deep penetration.
how deep depends, of course, on what the penetraitor thinks he might find, should the penetration go too deep.
it's a tricky business, politics, a tricky business, indeed.
Isn't that the same firm that built Burke's mansion behind Curie HS? what a joke, keep working and protecting the cowards...
Be safe CPD
So, did he violate the Patriot Act by not asking the right questions?
Do we really need alderman? it seems they are just there to skim money off everything that happens in their ward.
hello this blog is great i am not a cop but would appreciate any officers that can to please look into the home at 5701 S.Natoma! Burke builders owns this home but now a gang banger with 2 huge pitbulls lives here! he drives a big Suburban lic #H141492 with big chrome rims! I talked to him about letting his pitbulls run loose his reply "Please do not tell police"! Another reason this area is going to heck! Thank you to hard working officers God Bless all of you!
cfd gets taxed extra 2% on retro
that's what they get for riding chicago's finest coattails
SCC, can you please post this and if someone with more knowledge could expand on it.
This is cut from an article about the layoffs of police and fire personnel in Camden, NJ.
Redd said the combined salary and benefits for each rank-and-file police officer or firefighter cost the city an average of $140,000 per year. The salary packages of superior officers in both departments come to more than $200,000, she said
Now when politicans continue to say that out salary and BENEFITS cost X amount of dollars how come they fall to mention that those BENEFTITS that they claim like medical are not used unless we make a claim.
These cities are SELF INSURED. What ever company is printed on your medical card only administers the program. If the city claims they pay $30,000 a year for my medical BENEFITS but I never go to the doctor or make a claim in that year, THEY HAVE NOT SPENT A DIME. Therefor I have not used that BENEFIT and have not cost them anything.
Well since the city is self insured and they take out X amount of dollars out off my check every 2 weeks but I never make a claim how am I costing them $30,000 a year in BENEFITS?
Confused an angry as hell
He's surrounded by the real police and none of them knew of this man's criminal background? Why I'm shocked, simply shocked
=====================
You mean those guys surrounding him are the real police?!? Could have fooled me.
Perhaps he forgot drug trafficking was against the law.
It should scare the hell out of everyone that if Rahm wins he will have power beyond imagination with Obama in the white house and Eric Holder controlling who the justice department investigates. Way too much power for one man to have. The term "The Chicago way" will change to "The Rahm way." Way to dangerous!
OFF TOPIC from Camden, NJ:
About 335 workers, representing one-sixth of the local government work force, lost their jobs, according to Mayor Dana Redd. It was worst in the public safety departments, where nearly half the police force and close to one-third of the city's firefighters were laid off.
Banks is a major crook. New guy starting a business in the 38th ward bought a nice cornor lot for business. He was told buy Banks he would have to get signatures of the people that lived 500 feet from the business. He complied and 90% of them did sign to have the new business move into this spot that had been vacant for 8 years. When the signatures were brought to him and when Banks saw the signatures he almost had a heart attack. He stated that no pollack is opening a new business in my ward and ripped up the signatures. Banks had his goons escort him out. Knowing that he was fighting the Chicago crime family he sold the property for a loss and found another spot. Hope he rots in jail with Da Mayo, Burke, Madigan, Levar and the rest of the thevies.
OT: CAMDEN, N.J. – Some police officers are turning in their badges as part of deep municipal layoffs that began Tuesday and that could be a blow to the quality of life in this city, one of the nation's most impoverished and crime-ridden.
As many as 383 workers, representing one-fourth of the local government's work force, are expected to lose their jobs, including about half the police force and one-third of the city's firefighters.
The officers began turning in their badges Monday as it became clear that no last-minute deal was going to save many jobs.
--
Guess what? WE'VE been doing that for several years now. But, instead of a press release, it's been handled quietly, by attrition and a lack of hiring.
Have WE lost a quarter of our force yet? I'd say pretty darn close.
First Responders in all major democrat bullshit cities need to consult with attorneys representing the rank and file and come up with our own "coup protocol" to be used when these weasels finally welsh on not only paying into our pension funds but even paying us period.
BTW, SCC, this would not be a strike action, it goes way beyond that; the scenario would be applicable only in extremis.
1/18/2011 01:29:00 PM
I'm not a first responder, whatever that is, I'm a cop.
Why not go to Eddie Burke, someone has to teach him how to steal.
WTFC Story of my whole life is this city Nothing will ever change it will only get worse only when th eclouted are affected will it change
OT: Chico is going to announce tomorrow that our FOP will be supporting him.
Ot
I was in 006 tonight and happened upon a high level meeting in the community room. Apparently since it was such a success giving the gang bangers in 011 a harsh warning that now the brain trusts are going to do it in 006. Stay tuned.
Buck Ed Furke!
I'm not a first responder, whatever that is, I'm a cop.
1/18/2011 07:57:00 PM
No offense, but that's like saying,"I'm not in the military, I'm in the... Army, Navy, Marines" etc.
First responders, like the military is merely a term that describes our particular performance, along with our brothers in the Fire Dept. within city gov't. It's not intended to denigrate any/either department but rather to show our joint effort in a noble cause,i.e. running into danger when others are running out/away. (DNA-JFled)
I'm sure we both salute our military and first responders and respect the pride and dedication of each others individual choice in which to serve.
Stay safe and God Bless 'All That Serve.'
Anonymous said...
Banks is a major crook. New guy starting a business in the 38th ward bought a nice cornor lot for business.
----------------------------------
Banks is Alderman of the 36th Ward.
I'm not a first responder, whatever that is, I'm a cop.
lol... part of our problem... some of us are clueless.... all police and fire are considered 1st responders... as guess what... we are the 1ST ONES to respond to crises that occurs...
we are the 1ST ONES to respond to crises that occurs...
1/19/2011 05:33:00 PM
but i beat you there, every once in awhile.
Chalkie
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