Indicted Chicago developer made big profit on city deal
Three years ago, City Hall approved giving $5.3 million in taxpayer funding to a labor organization so it could buy land from a client of Ald. Edward M. Burke's law firm. Burke (14th) was among 49 aldermen who approved the deal that allowed the Chicago Construction and General Laborers' Council to buy the 24-acre site from since-indicted Chicago developer Calvin Boender.
Three years ago, City Hall approved giving $5.3 million in taxpayer funding to a labor organization so it could buy land from a client of Ald. Edward M. Burke's law firm. Burke (14th) was among 49 aldermen who approved the deal that allowed the Chicago Construction and General Laborers' Council to buy the 24-acre site from since-indicted Chicago developer Calvin Boender.
City code problems found at Daley nephew's warehouse
The Watchdogs: Candy Basselen has run a steel fabricating company on the Southwest Side for many years. Last summer, she moved it a few blocks south, and City Hall told her she had to get a new business license. But they wouldn't give her one. The reason?
The Watchdogs: Candy Basselen has run a steel fabricating company on the Southwest Side for many years. Last summer, she moved it a few blocks south, and City Hall told her she had to get a new business license. But they wouldn't give her one. The reason?
Contractors fined for women, minority hiring failures
Castle Construction Co. -- a clout-heavy firm charged with cheating minority subcontractors on city projects -- has also had problems meeting hiring goals set by Mayor Daley's Public Building Commission.
City spends $22 million on rent, often to well-connected landlords
The city of Chicago spends more than $22 million a year leasing property, usually from clout-heavy landlords and often at higher rents than other tenants pay, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation has found. One of those landlords has been in the public spotlight of late -- Mayor Daley's nephew Robert Vanecko. His real estate investment firm used city pension money to buy a Southwest Side warehouse that the city leases to park dump trucks, the Sun-Times has reported.
The city of Chicago spends more than $22 million a year leasing property, usually from clout-heavy landlords and often at higher rents than other tenants pay, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation has found. One of those landlords has been in the public spotlight of late -- Mayor Daley's nephew Robert Vanecko. His real estate investment firm used city pension money to buy a Southwest Side warehouse that the city leases to park dump trucks, the Sun-Times has reported.
CTA boss taking close look at who gets 'company' cars
The Watchdogs: There's a certain irony in a mass-transit agency providing cars to its employees. It's likely most company car assignments are justified, says Richard Rodriguez, president of the CTA. But the CTA might be giving cars to too many people, Rodriguez says. The CTA provides "company cars" with take-home privileges to 68 employees, agency records show.
The Watchdogs: There's a certain irony in a mass-transit agency providing cars to its employees. It's likely most company car assignments are justified, says Richard Rodriguez, president of the CTA. But the CTA might be giving cars to too many people, Rodriguez says. The CTA provides "company cars" with take-home privileges to 68 employees, agency records show.
