Untouchable Government
- Choose Chicago, the city’s taxpayer-subsidized tourism bureau, secretly gave its chief marketing officer a six-figure payout when he left after just two and a half years on the job, newly released records show.
Warren R. Wilkinson abruptly left the organization in July 2013. That was less than two months after Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed President Barack Obama’s former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers as chairman of the Choose Chicago board, replacing Bruce Rauner, who stepped down to run for governor.
"Taxpayer funded?" That means it has to answer questions brought by the taxpayers, right? Or at least, their elected representatives, right?
- Choose Chicago officials won’t disclose the amount of Wilkinson’s severance. They say that as a private, not-for-profit organization, Choose Chicago doesn’t have to explain how it spends its $32 million budget, even though 87 percent of its money comes from taxpayers.
Oh, well pardon us for asking then. At least there is some oversight? Someone watching how the money is spent?
- Like some other not-for-profit Chicago agencies funded by taxpayers, Choose Chicago won’t divulge how it spends its money — a position that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has upheld.
Oh really?
- Choose Chicago is overseen by an unpaid board that includes Desiree Rogers, chief executive officer of Johnson Publishing Co; Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts; Gibson’s restaurants partner John Colletti; Teamsters Local 727 boss John T. Coli; Chicago Federation of Labor president Jorge Ramirez, and former Emanuel chief of staff Theresa Mintle, a cousin of former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Mintle is president and chief executive officer of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported last fall that Choose Chicago’s contractors included a consultant who’s a friend of Emanuel, as well as lobbying firms with ties to Daley and House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
And suddenly, all becomes clear. Now we just need a list the political contributions made by individuals connected to this "tourism bureau" and to whom the contributions landed and we'll all have a much clearer picture of what's going on here.
Labels: corruption, money questions
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
36 Comments:
The only thing "choose Chicago" has done is to fill the Daley crime families pockets, along with the rest of the elected tyrants deep pockets! Why are the Feds not looking into huge indictments of these criminals? Ahh waiting until Barry is gone the next republican president (think Trump) will unleash the United States attorney like a rabid pit bull, loading up bus after bus from city hall,the state house, crook county offices "delicious batman" as the joker would say!
Corruption....money grubbing, greedy, un-disiciplined, un-trustworthy, two timing, corrupt gangsters...that's what political hacks are and getting away with it by the trillions of dollars. All for ego and money in the bank. 'Chicago, My Kinda Town' may as well be a third world, developing country.
Good work, SCC.
You're just at the tip of the iceberg with this scam.
Another example of the crooked corrupt politicians playing by a different set of rules than us. When is this going to stop or at least be handled appropriately?
Your Lords and Masters do not answer to the little people like you and me.
They only answer to each other.
Back in the bad old days, the rich and connected used to run their charities the same way. The difference was that they finances the charities with their own money, not money from the government and the taxpayers. They threw dinners and galas for themselves, but they also gave their time and money to real charities helping real people.
Those people had honor and character. These people throw their parties and galas using taxpayers money, and cheat the charities out of the money. They talk a good game, but don't really give a damn about the people. they are just well connected grifters, out for themselves.
They are doing well for the city. So what if a few (million) dollars accidentally fall into their pockets? They say they mean well, so that is all that matters.
Nothing to see here kids. Now just move along or get a whack with my billy stick.
I'm not surprised Little Lisa upheld the no disclosure policy.
No keeses for her.
Ask a libtard what Little Lisa done to deserve to be governor besides cover up her stepdaddy's corruption and city hall's corruption? Enjoy the silence.
Civilian here,
My question is, how can this form of quasi-government not be investigated by the Federales? At the very least, the BGA should want to sink its' teeth into this (unless it is easier to go after smaller fish). And can't we find a few hungry investigative reporters over at our newspapers (or even in the televised media) to ferret some of this out? How about it Pam Zekman? Would love to see several John Kass' columns about this. Even a few editorials might help.
As for the AG, well, is anyone really surprised by her opinion?
Where's Andy Shaw and the BGA? Didn't he and the BGA know about this? Or, is Choose Chicago one of the government entities that he leaves alone?
Wow. Can they fund my pension now?
You have to ask yourself, is this still America? This sort of corruption is only the tip of the iceberg. My brother in law is a real estate developer. He doesn't have connections. In the same block another developer does have connections. The connected guy gets away with whatever he desires. While the un-connected guy has to do everything by the book and yet he still gets hit with violations.
Wow, so we the taxpayers fund $28M of their $32M budget and they don't have to tell us how they spend it?! And to think we were bitching about $1M given to a shithead prevent violence group with no oversight run by a "alleged" wife beater. Come on people, wake the fuck up! Its time to start taking back what we work so hard for!
Interesting that Bruce Rauner was the chairman of that board -- before Emanuel became mayor. Which means he was appointed by Shortshanks. . . . . which begs question, is he really a republican? or is he a democratic trojan horse?
And why has Lisa Madigan upheld the decision that they do not have to release their records?
I am all in favor of body cameras and body microphones. . . .
for elected officials and heads of taxpayer funded non-profits.
The same old connected players. Why cant the FBI investigate this
(OT) Choose Chicago? Hire police rahm, keep them locked up Anita and dart, straighten asshat judges out there's a solution!
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/clip/11625640/violence-is-cost-of-doing-business-on-chicagos-south-sides
Just look at their past references or appointments. The same people shifting around from one spot to another. Cronyism continues and debts are still piling up.
Remember all you suckers who voted for Rahm the Reform Candidate again, only your pension will be "reformed".
Choose Chicago was stupid from the get go. It served no purpose.
tax payer funded and yet we pay out of our ass for parking and almost anything else we choose to do just to enrich those vendors who kicked back to get the spot.
Well done, SCC! Now, if only the mainstream media weren't afraid of lost revenue and reported some of this!
Have lived here in Chicago for all of my 58 years . Born,and raised in Englewood 52nd Halstead St.I have seen a once livable, and economically viable community turned into a Total Fucking Shit hole. As of 2015 there are over 2,000 abandoned buildings the highest of any district in Chicago.Think about all this lost tax revenue in just this one district alone. All of this shit created by these same Mother fucking Self Servicing,parasites. The Daley,Madigan ,Burke Crime Families. O MY ! Nothing is ever going to change for the better here in Chiraq on the lake. This Titanic is sinking fast, and these same Rat Mother Fucking politicians will be the first ones to abandoned the ship leaving you, and yours to the Fucking Sharks !
Another Victory for Sminglelberry,Smingleberry & Smingleberry ! AKA: Daley, Madigan & Burke Crime Family Inc'
Where does any of the money go in this city? Chicago has collected billions of $$ of tax revenue into the pension funds for the past 20 years, and they're nearly empty. http://windycityteachers.blogspot.com/2015/06/where-did-money-go.html
The FBI only goes after who they are allowed to go after or who they are ordered to go after..That's why they never "got" Richard M. Daley.They weren't allowed to.
How about they reveal just telling us about how Where tax money went. 28 of the 32 million dollar budget comes from tax payers. So account for that?
hey ssc lets not forget lori healey , mcpier ceo at 350k a year big heavy 11th ward clout , rumor has it if rahm leaves she takes over n warms the 5th floor until Patrick daley Thompson is ready , is she single? does she have a boy friend? I bet if I dated her I be a commander now
Anonymous said...
The FBI only goes after who they are allowed to go after or who they are ordered to go after..That's why they never "got" Richard M. Daley.They weren't allowed to.
6/28/2015 10:17:00 PM
Wow! You are a bigger cynic and pessimist then Me and that is saying a lot.
Anonymous said...
tax payer funded and yet we pay out of our ass for parking and almost anything else we choose to do just to enrich those vendors who kicked back to get the spot.
6/28/2015 11:07:00 AM
Look at Standard Parking. They control special event parking in the city. they control parking in and around Sox park, even on public streets which they turn into private streets and permit parking at game time. You have to be special to get a permit to park on public streets.
Anonymous said...
I am all in favor of body cameras and body microphones. . . .
for elected officials and heads of taxpayer funded non-profits.
6/28/2015 08:55:00 AM
Nice thought but it will never happen. The political powers stopped one party eavesdropping to protect themselves. Would Madigan make his secret deals if he thought someone might have a hidden recorder in his pocket? Didn't think so.Now you can record these people with a hidden recorder and call them out on their corruption, nepotism and cronyism, but you will be charged with a felony.
6/28/2015 03:19:00 PM
Blogger CPS Teacher said...
Where does any of the money go in this city? Chicago has collected billions of $$ of tax revenue into the pension funds for the past 20 years, and they're nearly empty. http://windycityteachers.blogspot.com/2015/06/where-did-money-go.html
6/28/2015 09:44:00 PM
The city and your union cut deals for over 10 years to defer the pension payments. You, as a teacher, pay next to nothing into your own pension fund or for your health care. The public school system is nearing bankruptcy and no one knows if it can be saved . If the system collapses, your contract and your pension will be re written. Blame your union as much as the city and the state legislature.
Teachers pay 10% into their pension fund every check.
Look at what your dealing with.
The mayor said that he got his budget together earlier than required so the alderpeople and others can come up with newer forms of "revenues", (garbage fees, city income tax...), to match the increases in the budget. They never even think about spending cuts or living within the projected income!
The city clerk is going to have the costs for her services, (city stickers, dog licenses, etc...), rise automatically with inflation! What a genius! No cuts there! It's just fucking insane!!!!
Theses are elected people that are looking out for our best interest? Not around here!
the city actively drove businesses out of the city for years. the end result was fewer jobs in the city and more in the outlying areas, and buildings that are no longer needed for the people who used to work in or live in those buildings.
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