look forward to a new Chicago Clout T.V. show just a couple of weeks away. I decided to have Michael Volpe on the show because people need to understand corruption from a fresh perspective. Our viewers at Can-TV want a viewpoint from someone that does not work for the City of Chicago. Fair enough. We are going to re-explore the Hired Truck Scandal and the Hiring Scandals that have plagued Mayor Daley and his Administration. We are also going to look into the Chicago unions, make a determination of their actual value to the Chicago employees. We are again making an invitation to Journeymans' Plumbers Local 130 to appear on the show and tackle the tough questions. Any unions representing Chicago employees are welcome. Dennis Gannon let his slip show with the pension mess, a possible conflict of interest? Special thanks to my 726 Teamster pal for the "Mayor Daley" tee-shirt. Patrick McDonough.
Chicago Clout Presents "Ask Your Plumbing Inspector 2"
What did Anthony "Tony" Laurino know about Mayor Daley's Hired Truck Scandal
Many people never will know all the people involved in the Hired Truck Scandal. Not every participant was interviewed by the Feds. Alexander Vroustouris, the Inspector General seemed to look over many of the facts and participants. Will the public ever know the extent of the criminal activity? When the Feds took over the investigation every indication led us to believe Anthony “Tony” Laurino, John Rottman, Michael Tierney, and John D’Amico never disclosed everything they knew. We have a TV show with witnesses putting Hired Truck Business run out of Alderman Margaret Laurino’s political office. Some of the Hired Truck participants died after the Scandal broke by the Chicago Sun-Times. It gives one pause as Christopher Kelly shows up a stiff before his additional court dates arrive. Anthony Laurino retired from the City of Chicago (now called Department of Water Management) after a buyout was formulated by the State of Illinois. In all fairness, not just Tony, a bunch of guys located closely to Hired Trucks. Anthony works for Koenig & Strey in Glenview, he reported to me the massive pension is offset by additional 600 dollars a retiree must pay towards the health insurance deductible. I remember when I was fired for alleged residency violations by the City of Chicago, Tony mailed me his Real Estate card; he is such a wise guy. When it comes to legal firepower, that man has Clout. Good Luck Tony, Photo by Patrick McDonough.
Chicago City workers Starve, Daley's Contractor Goons working Overtime Today.
Many Chicago City workers are laid off and Mayor Daley made sure his goons from Skokie, Illinois were working on a Saturday morning. This crew was fixing some asphalt for Mayor Daley on Northwest Highway in Norwood Park (Chicago). Mayor Daley continues to privatize at a stunning rate thinking he will have more control over the work, patronage, and scams on the street. Mayor Daley Olympic dream will be dashed as he trying to put on a front for the world; the infrastructure crumbles everywhere in Chicago. I am an employee for the City of Chicago, licensed and certified, it would be a massive mistake to take on the Olympics. This is a typical handyman approach to repairs; you have a group of workers that are difficult to understand due to their heavy accent. If Daley wants to impress the world as to his insanity, go and watch a minor project on Milwaukee Avenue in Jefferson Park. This project has struggled on for years; gross mismanagement and incompetence are par for the course. Daley has the greatest problem of any Mayor attempting to get an Olympic bid, while on the surface the minority bidders, and women owned businesses seem like the right thing to do, the corruption and incompetence make even minor road and infrastructure repairs drag on and on. I watched these three men working for this company that popped up out of nowhere, somehow having access to millions of dollars of contracts and credit. These men seem nice enough, but should be supervised, have union credentials on, have a City of Chicago official present, or at least one of Mayor Daley consulting engineers present to verify the work. Also, the City of Chicago should verify these workers are making full scale and overtime on Saturdays. If this is the way Mayor Daley and his band of Goons want to run Chicago, at least protect the taxpayers, we need safeguards. I hope this winter when the first bunch of snowplows start destroying this work with a single pass, you remember you knew about it at Chicago Clout. Patching streets is a waste of money. I also want to tell all the businesses on Milwaukee Avenue, think twice when the politicians come around for money next election. I sick of the projects started and not finished in Chicago. Photo by Patrick McDonough
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White Photo on Chicago Clout
The City of Chicago was alive with people that understand clout today. This is a very active time for Illinois’s top politicians; decisions need to be made filling posts that can decide the future of the party. The Secretary of State was in the thick of all this and still made time to meet with Judge Anthony Burrell. Preparations were made for additional footage in the upcoming TV shows, “Have Gavel Will Travel”, hosted by Judge Burrell. I witnessed a very inspirational speech by Secretary White that was spellbinding and mesmerizing. I was taken aback because the speech was from the heart and not scripted. Please keep in touch with Chicago Clout and I hope Secretary Jesse White will be able to guest in Judge Burrell’s show. I have become hardened and with many of Illinois’ politicians, but Jesse White is the finest and most respectable in Illinois, and from me that is a compliment. Photo Friday September 11, 2009 by Patrick McDonough
It is nice to see Alderman Robert "Bob" Fioretti with Clout Meister Emery Joe Yost
One of the Alderman I like is Robert “Bob” Fioretti of the Chicago’s 2nd Ward. Robert is a big good looking man and a well known Chicago Attorney. There is much diversity in Chicago’s second ward so you must keep on top of your political game at all times. Today I saw Alderman Fioretti at the Cook County Slating for Democratic candidates. ABC 7 did a great job of covering the event; Charles Thomas is on top of his reporting. I was going to ask Alderman Fioretti to join Emery Joe Yost and join one of Chicago’s most famous political music groups, The Clout Meisters. I got the impression he is much too busy. I am happy to see Chicago Alderman out and about downtown. I am interested in the judicial races this year. Photo by Patrick McDonough.
This is not the last of Chicago Plumbing Inspectors taking bribes.
BRIBERY:
Developer gets 2 years
A developer was sentenced to two years in prison Wednesday after he admitted passing a bribe to a Chicago city plumbing inspector. Beny Garneata, 44, of Lincolnwood, reportedly was hoping for probation or home confinement. Federal prosecutors said Garneata paid off a plumbing inspector $7,000. Thanks to Chicago Sun-Times for this follow-up story. Patrick McDonough
Town Hall Meeting for Chicago Caulkers, Plumbers, and Local 130 members
Pucker up and get ready to kiss the Plumber’s crack. According to a memo issued by the City of Chicago Department of Water Management personnel, Tom McManus will be present to discuss questions about the contract and other concerns at the Chicago Local 130 Plumbers Hall. The Plumbers Hall is located at 1340 West Washington Chicago Illinois. The meeting is September 10, 2009. Everyone is invited. In typical Local 130 manner, the invitation was not on City or Union letterhead. When you attend tomorrow, make sure you ask what the hell this union has done for your working rights. Ask why the dues are so high. Ask about his family favors while Local 130 members starve. Ask why he still needs a job when mandatory retirement means he should be out of a job and some other slob get the B.A. position. Ask what he does all day and how much money, in total he makes all year. Ask who Local 130 picks up all the legal fees for, while you and your family eat dirt. Then turn around and show these people your version of this picture. And ask for a reduction in union dues, wait for your answer. Ask why Local 130 did not let you vote on the changes in the contract with the City of Chicago. Photo touched up by Patrick McDonough.
2016 Oympic bid quote of the year. Dick Pound for Mayor of Chicago.
"It would be a big positive if he were there and arguable a bigger negative if he weren't there and all other heads of state did show up," said Dick Pound, IOC member. That is one heck of a quote friends. I do not put profanity on Chicago Clout, but this is silly, really, really, silly. Patrick McDonough.
City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation needs Safety Review
The City of Chicago has a crime ridden Streets and Sanitation Department so bad, Mayor Daley shuffles the high ranking members like a deck of cards. One of the employees today crossed a ward boundary in the afternoon to give me some grief. Streets and Sanitation wards are run by Ward Superintendents usually under the control of the local Alderman. I think this dude is with Alderman Allen and the 38TH Ward goons. Today, he crossed Addison Avenue at about 1:00 PM and started venting about safety issues, safety vests, I think he is very upset with his job and he is upset with the world. As a whistleblower against Alderman Allen and the City of Chicago in general, I get lots of tough guys that want to lull me into a fight and torment me on the job. In the past, guys that made my life miserable were rewarded with overtime, favors, and respect when they verbally assaulted me. Many other acts of random violence occurred on a regular basis. The Street Sweeper is a job that is considered a plum assignment to get you out of the garbage truck. The garbage truck is always hot for the driver, the engine is right under you; it stinks bad, and is a dangerous job. The rumor around the Teamsters was, ring a few doorbells, kiss a little rump, and walla, you are on the Street Sweeper. I tried to find the name of this dude, but Alderman Allen’s staff was not sure, Gregory Von Moser, and his replacement was scared as a cat to talk. This Street and Sanitation Street Sweeper needs to wear a helmet on duty, wear safety glasses, wear his safety vest, wear gloves, wear his seatbelt, and keep the clear plastic deflector for branches up at all times. He might also need to keep in his own ward and stop harassing whistleblowers. If you know what this goon was doing in the 30TH ward today, give me an e-mail, Mayor Daley wants you concentrating. Photo by Patrick McDonough.