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The other day I wrote about how 12th Ward alderman George Cardenas hadn't raised a single buck in the first half of 2008, according to his most recent campaign filings, even though he'd brought in tens of thousands in the two reporting periods before this one.
Monday he told me it had nothing to do with the official end of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, which had helped him win his seat--twice.
Cardenas said his fund-raising was down because he's in office to give, not to receive.“I don’t have any relatives on the payroll, and I’ve been here, what, five, six years?”
Five.
“I don’t have anybody on the city payroll, the county payroll, nothing. I didn’t come here to get something. I came to try to do something for the community.”
And it’s not that he couldn’t have raised more money the first half of the year; he just decided not to.
“I think a lot of businesses don’t like to fund political candidates,” he said. “A lot of people ask, ‘So what does he do with that money?’”
Still, it is unusual for an alderman or any elected official to stop fund-raising altogether. “We did raise a little,” Cardenas said. “We had one small event.”
But the records he submitted to the state election board say he didn’t get any contributions. None.
“My accountant will probably have to send in a correction.”
Cardenas said he actually asked people not to donate to his campaign fund.
“Before, I’d pay for jumping jacks at community events, or buy beverages or piñatas,” he said. “So this time I’m asking people to donate straight to the community events or groups. They can buy the beverages for them directly. I think it’s better to do it that way, especially since I’m not running for anything right now.”
As for the HDO . . .
“There's a misconception about that," he said. "Those folks helped me when I first got elected, and they helped other elected officials as well. But the way I see it is that you’re really on your own. Me, I’m a businessman. I could always go back to that. I can fend for myself quite nicely.”
Another of the many gems at:
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
"Growing up I always realized that the police were the "good guys". My dad was the police and I remember being so proud of him as I am today of my husband...
Today though the police are not recognized as the good even by little ones and I am so frustrated by that BUT the minute someone feels in danger their first response is to call the police.
Has today's society truly lost it's COMMON SENSE?
I am outraged at the Mayor (who has needed the help of the police many many times), I am outraged with your Superintendent, I am outraged with the FOP, and also the media. 100% support is needed for our dept and it is time to step up to the plate and raise our voices by any means in doing so....
I will proudly stand behind our police and if the opportunity comes my way, my voice will be heard...
Also Mayor Dick I hope the feds hunt you down (your closet full of skeletons will be opening soon, what goes around comes around so much worse).
God Bless our Police Officers and keep them safe!!!!
7/07/2008 11:49:00 PM"
So many real people in this city and, yet, so little said by our 'journalists', only focussed on the lowest of humanity, our own, low-life, motherfucking politicians.
Self-serving pieces of shit, every last one of them.
Join the community
Chicago Heights, IL 1 min ago
The games people play. When has this rubber stamped city council ever defied Daley when he really wants something? Daley or the Aldermen really want to regulate expediters. The Expediters are an important link between politicans and anyone seeking to make a payoff. How would Politicans, and City Officials get their swag on without their bagman...... excuse me I meant Expediter. Some Building Inspectors retired wealthy ,by using this system. Take the former now deceased Building Inspector Don Gaynor . Gaynor and his son started Burnham consultant,and turn it into the largest permit Expediting company in the Chicago area. He proved carrying plans and blueprints around is like carrying gold.
By Hal Dardick | Chicago Tribune reporter
11:36 PM CDT, July 7, 2008
Aldermen balked Monday at a proposal to license city permit expediters, further delaying a long-discussed idea that took on more urgency in May when federal prosecutors alleged that bribes are routinely paid at City Hall to win approval for construction and building permits.
Developers, contractors and homeowners often hire intermediaries known in City Hall parlance as expediters to apply for and obtain permits from the city. An expediter-turned-informant is at the center of the federal probe.
Buildings Committee Chairman Bernard Stone (50th) suggested that a proposal to suspend expediters who face bribery charges was akin to finding them guilty before a trial.
"Guilty until proven innocent, is that the new rules?" Stone asked Vicki Kraft, assistant corporation counsel, who said the idea was to remove a potential threat to the public.
Under the proposed ordinance, anyone paid to get a license or permit from a city department would be considered an expediter. Exceptions would include attorneys, accountants, architects and engineers.
Expediters who lie, commit fraud, forge signatures or offer bribes would face penalties from fines to license revocation. Expediters charged with bribery and other offenses could have their licenses suspended pending the outcome of their cases, and those who served sentences or were convicted of bribery and other offenses within four years could not obtain a license.
The overall idea is to "elevate the role of expediter from a backroom undertaking to a licensed, regulated profession," said Ald. Edward Burke (14th), who proposed the ordinance, which was later modified by the city Law Department.
Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th) said the ordinance, as drafted, might require that a messenger dispatched to get a routine signature obtain a license, which would cost $300 every two years for an individual and $600 for a company.
The committee delayed a vote until a future meeting.
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
" 'tjmttugrn@hotmail.com said...
do some of you realize just how good you have it? yes, there is a lot of bs, but any job has that...you have better benefits and pay than i do,,,be grateful that you have a good job (as dangerous as it may be)...be safe
7/03/2008 12:45:00 AM'
Yeah, there's just that nagging little detail about it being dangerous.
I kind of wonder if you've ever come to the aid of one of your friends and co-workers who's had his head blown open?
We get paid well because of what we do, day in and day out.
Nobody ever calls us and says they're having a nice day and why don't we come by for coffee.
We take your sister to the hospital after she's been raped and we help her survive it and we find the sob who did it.
We pick up the babies who fall from fourth story windows.
We run down the pitch-black alley while you breathlessly wait to see the results of that 'shots fired' call you placed to 911 at 3 am, then went back to bed like 'normal' people get to do.
We're the ones who spend the first five years of our careers desperately trying to explain to our families why we can't make it to weddings, christenings, vacations, graduations, barbeques and the bedside of sick family members.
We're on midnights, or working for a sadistic boss who won't give time off, or we have to be in court (our days off belong to the Department first, and court is mandatory), or our days off or start-time has been changed again.
And as for that goof who said our job requires no education, get out of the dark ages. COLLEGE degree, friend. COLLEGE degree. (Now, whether that guarantees an 'education' is up for debate.)
Then, please remember, you're required to know, in a heartbeat, whether that glint is a gun, or a shiny silver hairbrush, when the bad guy turns on you in the darkness after you've chased him two blocks wearing twenty pounds of extra gear around your neck and waist.
You go out there and wear ten pounds of bulletproof vest in hundred degree heat daily and still be productive.
I'm worth every penny.
Every time I face a combative AIDS patient.
Every time I breathe the air in an apartment where the guy has TB.
Every time I search someone and get stuck by the used needle in their waistband.
You want to begrudge me my medical coverage?
Go away.
Just go away NOW.
7/06/2008 12:22:00 AM"
But I really think you will need the money for your defense fund. The way I hear it ,Al the Boss is going to spill the beans on you, Reboryas,and Pope. Also, my website will be up soon. I'm having problems with a hacker.
God forbid you should post a comment free from the vomit that you seem to consider is intelligent observations.
And Heaven forbid you should do so on your own time, and not while you're 'working' for the taxpayers.
But that would require intelligence and an honorable character, both of which you lack.
When does your visa expire?
Al Sanchez is going to jail
Clout Monkeys.
Because:
Someone has to eat the politicians' shit and like it.