Entries associated with the tag "Chicago Plan Commission":

I'd like to correct an ongoing mistake I've been making.

For the past several months I've criticized Mayor Daley's oversight boards--the Park District, the Plan Commission, the Community Development Commission, etc--for being rubber stamps.

But thanks to an eye-opening investigation by the Sun-Times I realize that's not the complete story.

Apparently, there's one board in Chicago that stands up to the mayor--or at least to one of his departments--every once in awhile. The Chicago Police Board, a nine-member civilian panel appointed by Mayor Daley, occasionally overturns police department recommendations in hearings involving accusations of roguish, incompetent, or questionable police behavior, according to an article by Annie Sweeney and Frank Main in Sunday's Bright One.

To cite just one example from the story, the police department wanted to fire an alcoholic, manic-depressive police officer who had handcuffed a bartender who refused to serve him. Instead the police board suspended the officer for 17 months without pay.

While this seems like an outrageous decision, I appreciate the board's attempts to give each case a fair shake -- I wish the mayor's Human Resources Board [scroll down] exhibited the same sort of independence. But it makes me wonder: you've got one group of oversight boards routinely approving every dumb idea that pops into the mayor's brain, while another board actually overturns the mayor's police department when it looks like it's making some sense.

Upon reflection, I suggest we put the Plan Commission in charge of police hearings and the police board in charge of planning decisions.

I know, it would be dreadfully unfair to police officers who have been wrongly accused. But on the other hand, it might kill the Michael Reese deal before the mayor can waste any more of our money. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of seats available when the Plan Commission meets Thursday to discuss Mayor Daley's plans to borrow $85 million to buy and demolish Michael Reese hospital.

What's that? You didn't know the meeting was even on the calendar [pdf]?

Well, of course not. When it comes to throwing a fundraising bash in Millennium Park intended to feed the fantasy that the games will magically make our lives better, the Olympic planners can't send out enough press releases (I think I got three) inviting the media to show up. (And if you want to see who pitched in some cash, read the report from Crain's.)

But they don't send out any announcements for a meeting that will explain the finer points of their plans to get started on building a 7,500-unit (give or take a couple hundred) Olympic Village--such as how in the world we're supposed to pay for it without bankrupting our schools and parks.

And they hide the meeting on a weekday afternoon.

Too bad. I for one am really looking forward to the city's first public explanation of how they're borrowing $85 million but not really spending the money.

I'll keep you posted--or you can see the fun for yourself at at 1 PM Thursday in the City Council chambers.... 

The Trib reports that among those in attendance at the epic Plan Commission meeting Thursday were Children’s Museum "proponents" bused in by the Woodlawn Organization, which is led by plan commission member Leon Finney Jr.

You and I and every other taxpayer in the state helped finance the organizational efforts and transportation costs needed to get the Woodlawn cheerleaders downtown.

Here’s how: the Woodlawn Organization is a tax-exempt, 501c3 nonprofit organization, and according to its most recent filings with the IRS, the vast majority--more than 80 percent--of its annual revenues come from government grants, most of it federal money handed out by the state and city. That amounted to $4.6 million in taxpayer money in 2006, the most recent year available.

In fairness, the organization did bring in a little more cash through "real estate management and development fees." And it raised $69,000 at a "golf gala"—though about $40,000 of that went toward expenses for the event. 

When it’s not busing people to political showdowns the Woodlawn Organization uses its public money on a range of social programs, including Head Start and Chicago Housing Authority services.

Incidentally, Finney was paid $161,989 to run the group in 2006. His wife, Georgette Greenlee-Finney, earned another $60,000 as a marketing specialist.

Also on the payroll was former CHA chief Vincent Lane, who was forced to resign that job amid allegations of mismanagement. He was later convicted [PDF] of fraud and sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison. In 2006 the Woodlawn Organization paid Lane $66,781 for consulting work.