6 Replies to “Chicago ABC 7 News expose more Hiring Corruption at Department of Water Management”

  1. Mr.McDougna, Holy cow !!
    How do i get a job like henderson. His precindt is in the 30th Ward, the precindt is near Central west a few blocks, Major, Parkside are the main block’s diversey north a few blocks, so whatever that number thats Dennis Henderson’s precindt. because my mom lives there. He never asked the homeowners if he could place yard signs there. And if you say No he puts the yard sign anyway, if you argue with him he threatens you ! saying he is going to send the inspectors to the home owners house. So my mom is scared, what should we do Mr. McDougna? My mom doesn’t want her windows broken, as he said. This guy is bad news. Please help the neighborhood Mr. McDougna. (Response) You are a pain in the asprin.

  2. Hey Chuck check outthe clout list for you guest expert Michael
    Mcgann. You will see this 4th generation plumbing inspector on the list as well. When are you going to do a reporton him?

  3. Pat, lets be honest here, most everybody that works for the city got there because of someone that they know or knew, I know I did, Dennis admitted that he got his job through clout, and his promotion also, but unlike the other “drain inspectors” that got promoted at that time Dennis was qualified, he was not a truck driver or something else, he knows how the sewers are connected and what is right and what is wrong with jobs,he spent alot of time putting in sewer pipe,he has inspected many jobs that I have done and on PDP jobs there was never any questions whether it was city responsibility or homeowners responsibility, I am not a friend of Dennis’ but I do respect him as a house drain inspector, and I am sure that he tried his best on this homeowners problem, I am sure he went to the sewer in front and made sure there was flow, (procedure) and told the home owner that he needed a contractor, it is VERY RARE that a sewer is in the back of a house in Chicago, I have located many sewer problems and when the locator is not registering in front I go to the side of the house to locate it because sometimes it will skip across the cross for the gutter lines and run up the gangway, ond I have found sewers that go out back because of this, and if the sewer contractor that the homeowner hired was any good he would have located the sewer going out the back of the house and set up a PDP to show the city that is where the sewer went instead of digging it up and charging this guy, the homeowner was takin by the contractor when all he should have been charged was for the PDP and any other time that the contractor spent on this job, but not for an excavation that the city should have paid for, what is this contractors name???

  4. One quarter of Chicagoans unwired
    August 4, 2009

    BY SANDRA GUY Business Reporter
    One-quarter of Chicagoans are unwired: They don’t use the Internet at all, anywhere, a new study revealed Monday.

    Neighborhoods with the lowest Internet use, whether at home, at work or at a library, were Fuller Park on the South Side at 28 percent, and South Lawndale at 44 percent, according to the report, “Digital Excellence in Chicago: A City-Wide View,” written by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and at the University of Iowa.

    The most-wired communities were Lincoln Park with 98 percent use, and 96 percent in the Loop, Near North and Lake View neighborhoods, the report said.

    African-Americans were 6 percent less likely to use the Internet than whites, while Latinos were 18 percent less likely, after age, income and education were taken into account.

    “Income and affordability are the big barriers to access because they limit Internet access at people’s homes,” said Karen Mossberger, co-author and UIC associate professor of public administration.

  5. Pat, you need a open post section, morons do not know how to stay on topic here and go in a way different direction than the title of each blog
    (Response) You should see what is deleted. get me back at facebook. Thanks Pat.

  6. IS TWO-TIME LOSER SEALS
    “DAMAGED GOODS” IN 2010?

    ANALYSIS & OPINION BY RUSS STEWART
    In Illinois’ upscale North Shore 10th District, Democrat Dan Seals has discovered, to his chagrin, that no good deed goes unpunished. Failure, despite his best intentions and effort, is not forgiven.
    The twice-defeated congressional candidate, who lost to incumbent Republican Mark Kirk in 2006 and 2008, has the mistaken notion that his investment of time and money entitles him to a third shot, now that Kirk is running for the U.S. Senate, and the seat is open.
    But some area Democrats think otherwise. Their advice to Seals, whom they view as damaged goods, is succinct: Step aside. Not again. No third run.
    “He (Seals) should have won in 2008,” said one area Democratic insider. “He had his chance.”
    In 2006, Seals lost to Kirk by 13,651 votes (53.4 percent), spending $1.9 million. In 2008, Seals lost to Kirk by 14,906 votes (52.6 percent), spending over $3.6 million. Seals’ 2008 campaign had two themes: Kirk is a George Bush stooge; and get out of Iraq. Both premises were thoroughly rejected by the district’s voters, as Kirk proved himself impervious to Seals’ demonization.
    In the presidential race, Barack Obama won 61 percent of the 10th District vote. Seals ran far behind Obama.
    The developing 2010 Democratic field, in addition to Seals, of Wilmette, includes State Representative Julie Hamos (D-18), of Evanston, who lives outside the district; Highland Park council member Jim Kirsch; and attorney Elliott Richardson. But the residency issue may not be salient, as Seals still resides two blocks outside the district.
    State Senator Mike Bond (D-31), of Grayslake, announced for the seat in May, but abruptly withdrew on August 2, claiming “an obligation to continue working” to solve Illinois problems. Make no mistake about this: The Julie Juggernaut steamrollered him. His money base suddenly evaporated.
    As always, there are subtexts to every political contest. In the upcoming Democratic primary, geography, gender, religion and ideology will be critical, as will personal political aspirations.
    It’s Seals versus Hamos, and Lake County will be the battleground. Facing several men, Hamos’ gender appeal gives her an edge. Now-U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-9) rode a tide of female and Jewish votes to win the 9th District in 1998. What about the Obama Factor? In 2008, Barack Obama said there is “nobody better suited to be in Congress” than Seals. Both Seals and Hamos are ultra-liberal Obama boosters. In a district with a large Jewish population, Hamos, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, is the most prominent Jewish candidate.
    And Evanston’s Jan/Bob Machine, run by Schakowsky and husband Bob Creamer, of which Hamos is a part, has a major stake. Word in Springfield is that Schakowsky wants to reconfigure her 9th District, presently centered on Evanston and Chicago’s Rogers Park area, to absorb eastern Lake County, and jettison western suburbs like Park Ridge and Des Plaines in the 2011 congressional reapportionment.
    Highland Park, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Buffalo Grove, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest and Lincolnshire, in eastern Lake County, all have large Jewish populations, and are in the 10th District. “There’s 100,000 liberal, wealthy Jews” in that area, said one observer, which Schakowsky “would love to have in her district. Think of the fundraising potential. She wants to be (U.S. House) speaker. That would give her the financial base.”
    It also means that the Jan/Bob Machine prefers a Republican to replace Kirk, so that the Democratic legislature could dismantle the 10th District, as Illinois is losing one congressional seat. If a Democrat won, complications would ensue.
    The 10th District encompasses Lake County east of Routes 83 and 45, plus Vernon Hills, Mundelein and Libertyville west of Interstate 94; it also includes Waukegan and North Chicago, with large black and Hispanic populations. In Cook County, it includes Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northbrook, Northfield and Glenview, and then stretches west to Palatine, Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Barrington and Inverness.
    Here’s the early outlook:
    Democrats: In the 2006 primary, Seals beat Zane Smith by 23,462-9,694 (70.8 percent); turnout was 13,168 in Lake County and 19,988 in Cook County (60.2 percent). In 2008, Seals beat Jay Footlik by 75,877-17,271 (81.5 percent); turnout was 42,473 in Lake County and 50,675 in Cook County (54.4 percent). Footlik, a lobbyist for Israeli causes, tried – and failed — to paint Seals as anti-Israel.
    The 2008 primary turnout was spiked by the presidential race. In 2010, it will revert to 2006-like numbers, which means about 34,000, not 93,000. A low turnout means that identifying, motivating and delivering one’s base is paramount. The magic number is 17,000.
    Bond, in an upset, was elected state senator by 1,112 votes in 2006. The Republicans had a nasty primary, in which Suzanne Simpson beat 88-year old Adeline Geo-Karis, a 28-year incumbent. Geo-Karis refused to endorse Simpson, and covertly aided Bond. The Lake County party establishment, led by State Senator Terry Link, was behind Bond, but will likely shift to Seals.
    Hamos, a longtime Springfield staffer who was elected to Schakowsky’s state House seat in 1998, is married to state Appellate Court Judge Alan Greiman, a former state representative from Skokie and longtime confidant of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. Hamos’ Greiman-Madigan connection will surely augment her fundraising.
    An outspoken advocate of public transportation funding, Hamos has a reputation as a thoughtful – albeit very liberal – legislator. She was aiming to run for state attorney general in 2010 before switching to the congressional race. She is crafting a liberal/female/Jewish coalition – call it Julie’s Jewish female Juggernaut.
    The usual Evanston suspects – State Senator Jeff Schoenberg and County Commissioner Larry Suffredin – are backing Hamos, as is State Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-57), of Northbrook, and Northfield Township committeeman Mike Kreloff. Schakowsky will endorse her. Hamos already has key backing in Lake County, having been endorsed by State Senator Susan Garrett, of Lake Forest; State Representative Karen May, of Highland Park; county commissioner Anne Bassi, and Buffalo Grove Mayor Elliot Hartstein. To win, Hamos needs 55 percent of the Cook County vote (11,000) and 45 percent of the Lake County vote (6,000).
    In 2008, the bi-racial Seals had 2,500 enthusiastic volunteers in the district. After two losses, that enthusiasm has diminished, but not dissipated. Seals’ 2010 plea is simple: I did the hard labor. Kirk is gone. I deserve another shot. To win, Seals needs to run even with Hamos in Cook County, and win a solid majority in Lake County.
    The early outlook: Over half the primary voters are female, and 40 percent are Jewish. Seals is on the defensive. He must argue that he can win. He must be endorsed by Link and Bond. And he must slam Hamos as an out-of-district opportunist with an “Evanstonian liberal agenda.” That’s a lot of expensive negativity. Make Hamos the slight favorite.
    Republicans: In the 2008 election, Seals won Lake County 1,592 votes, but Kirk won Cook County by 16,498 votes. Kirk’s reputation as a fiscal conservative and social moderate fit the district. Can Republicans find a Kirk clone in 2010? Here’s the early field:
    Dick Green, of Kenilworth, a wealthy businessman backed by the New Trier Republicans. “He’s a total stiff,” said one Republican. “He’s got no charisma.”
    Bill Cadigan, of Winnetka, an attorney and former staffer to John Porter (R), the district’s popular former congressman (1979-2001). Cadigan has key support from Wheeling Township, in the west end.
    Bill Strong, of Lake Forest, a Morgan Stanley investment banker who, as John McCain’s 2008 Illinois finance chairman, raised $5 million. “He could buy the seat if he wants it,” said another Republican.
    Hamilton Chang, of Wilmette, a wealthy Taiwan-born investment banker.
    Mark Curran, the Lake County Sheriff, elected as a Democrat in 2006. He switched parties in 2008. Curran is a staunch social conservative and law-and-order advocate. He initially ran as a Democrat to beat the scandal-stained Republican sheriff.
    Beth Coulson, of Glenview, a state representative since 1996, and well-known RINO – Republican in name only. ”She’s a Hillary Clinton Republican,” sneered one area party member. But she wins tough elections, is a Kirk-like social moderate, and is the only woman now in the Republican contest.
    Brendan Appel, who got 29.1 percent in a 2008 state senate race against Schoenberg.
    Party insiders’ “dream candidate” would be Lake County Clerk Willard Helander, of Libertyville, a woman who has won countywide three times, was top vote-getter in 2006, has no public record to defend, and who would easily carry Lake County in the election. But she resists running.
    The early line: Strong, Curran, Cadigan, Coulson and Helander all possess assets that would make them competitive, and possibly electable. But the primary is still murky.
    E-mail Russ@russstewart.com or visit his website at http://www.russstewart.com.

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