Chicago is investigating “Violence in the Workplace”. (Insert joke here) I left a message today for Michael Shakman to explain just how it really works, read below. Patrick McDonough
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On September 29, 2007, Bruce Randazzo walked his daughter down the isle. We are happy for Susan and Paul as they enjoyed their wedding at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, in Chicago. Good luck. Photo by Proud Father Bruce Randazzo. Someone tell Bruce to leave the photos to me. Patrick McDonough.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE 1. City hiring cases flood court Auditor: More time needed to check clout-abuse claims Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2007 Section: Metro Edition: Chicagoland Page: 3 Zone: C Source: By Laurie Cohen and Todd Lighty, Tribune staff reporters
After being swamped with last-minute claims from people who say they lacked the political clout to get jobs in Mayor Richard Daley’s administration, a court-appointed official said Monday that she probably will need more time to determine how much — if anything — each is owed.
Friday was the deadline for filing claims under an agreement between the city and lawyer Michael Shakman to end Shakman’s long-running court battle against political hiring at City Hall. The agreement required the city to set up a $12 million fund to pay as much as $100,000 each to employees and job-seekers who were denied jobs, promotions, transfers and overtime work because they did not have political connections.Noelle Brennan, the court-appointed official who has monitored city hiring for the last two years, said 1,451 people filed claims alleging that they were harmed by the city’s actions between the beginning of 2000 and the end of last May. Brennan did not know the total value of the claims filed but said requested awards are probably more than $12 million.
More than 600 of the claims came into Brennan’s office on Thursday and Friday — some as late as the final deadline of midnight Friday. As a result, Brennan, who was scheduled to decide on award payments by the end of December, said she would likely ask a federal judge for an extension.
“I think this will be an enormous undertaking,” Brennan said. “The universe of information that we have to investigate to substantiate these claims is very, very large and we want to be able to verify all claims that are submitted accurately and fairly so that everybody gets the award they are entitled to.”
Under the decades-old Shakman civil decree, the city pledged to keep most hiring decisions free from politics. However, Brennan and federal authorities investigating a criminal job-rigging scheme at City Hall have found that administration officials routinely violated the court order.
The people who filed claims with Brennan contend they suffered because of City Hall’s policy of political favoritism.
Archie High, a laborer in the city’s Water Management Department, filed a claim in September for $100,000, alleging that he was passed over twice for promotions because he lacked clout.
“They asked me who my clout was. I said I’ve got experience. I don’t need clout,” said High, who has been with the city for 33 years. “They said, ‘Yes you do.’
“I shouldn’t have to go out there and knock on doors for some politician to get a job.”
Despite the influx of last-minute claims, Shakman said he thinks far fewer people filed with Brennan than were actually harmed by political hiring. Shakman believes many people didn’t file because they weren’t aware they had been victims of a rigged hiring process. In addition, some current city workers were afraid they would face retaliation by their bosses if they filed claims, he said.
Shakman said his agreement with the city prohibits such retaliation, but “people are not sure how much reliance they can place on a court order.”
(Response) Thank you very much to Chicago Tribune for publishing this atricle. Again, I am sure a proper investigation will never be undertaken. Every Chicago employee should be asked about their personal experience. A complete record should be made and never will. Mayor Daley will get off the hook again. Chicago will never understand Demoracy with the Daley “family” in power Patrick McDonough
I sure hope you op-ed out. If you do the math, you will get about 8-9,000.00 apiece as settlement. This is lousy for anyone that accepted the Shakman settlement. Years of phony promotions, cheated out of overtime, lower pensions. Read Fran Spielman’s take, click below. This is a sad chapter for Chicago City Workers. Patrick McDonough.
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Today I attended a lovely and classy wedding of the new Mr. Frank and Rachel Avila. The wedding was absolutely stunning and was a Latin mass. This has to be one of the most classy affairs I have ever been invited to. I hope Rachel realizes she is going to be married to a famous lawyer. Rachel looked like Lady Di, like a princess. Frank Avila never looked better. Also in attendance was a very proud Commissioner and Sherry Avila, beaming parents. This was a very well attended affair. Good Luck and God Bless. Patrick McDonough
If you do not wish to participate in the 12 million dollars settlement, make sure you opt out. Today September 28, 2007, you must go to Noel Brennan’s office and sign the form. They will be open late. You call also go to Chicago City Hall and get the form on the first floor. You can call Kelly Fox at Shakman Monitor, the number is, 312-422-0001. Why the picture of the wailing wall in Jerusalem? That is because after this “deal” is completed, you will hear wailing from Chicago all the way to Jerusalem. Did your union help you at all? Patrick McDonough.
Daley has ruled over hiring for over 20 years. Way to many people have been cheated out of an opportunity to get a job and promotion. The Chicago residency program for Chicago employees are an additional tool Daley uses to keep enough city workers to perform his political desires. Thanks again to Fran Spielman for this article. Patrick McDonough
Chicago Bears led by Mayor Richard M. Daley lose 34-10. Things are looking bad for Mayor Daley. It is Mayor Daley’s fault. We need a new Mayor to take credit when credit is due. Dallas Cowboy’s mayor is better than Richard M. Daley anytime.
Chicago has a world famous park at the lakefront. Mr. Montgomery Ward helped make this park what it is today. Mayor Daley and his Administration want to put a Children’s Museum on this protected land. We admire Alderman Reilly for standing up to Daley. Daley is a bully and a puppet for the wealthy, (those who coughed up the loot for Millenium Park) See our “Chicago Millennium Park Mausoleum” story. Daley on the other hand uses taxpayer money to pay for his family named smeared all over our parks and buildings. Daley can steal all he wants but he and his family will never be accepted by Chicago’s elite. The Chicago elite want nothing to do with the mafia or their front-men. Oprah (sewer job in parking lot, remember that call Daley?) and the likes of the Pritzkers want nothing to do with Daley unless they are using him for their end game. The bottom line is, the Chicago black leadership are not zeroing in on getting this Children’s Museum in the west side of Chicago. Northern Island was mentioned, why not get some action on the south side? The children in the poorer sections need jobs and more opportunity Mayor Daley. Let some black enterprises make some real money like your family makes, not just crumbs for lousy dead end jobs. I sick of seeing black companies getting table scraps from Daley’s white contractor pals that make billions. Photo by Patrick McDonough.
Marry a Daley become a instant millionaire. Remember when Mayor Daley set up Mariam Santos, click here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060104/ai_n15973785 to get control of the Chicago Fireman’s Pension? Victor Crown saw right through the lies years ago. Bob Vanecko should make sure he coughs up the “Daley Cut”, for this lucrative “can’t loose” contract. In the ghetto, Bob and his pals can shortchange the quality because they know the west side of Chicago is easy pickings for Daley’s operations. Low grade work, “Blame the Minority Contractors” ect., shady insurance deals, and clever financing. I hope all the Chicago Building Inspector’s know to look the other way also. Read this article by Tim Novak, http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/570056,CST-NWS-vanecko23.article to learn more about Bob Vanecko. Chicago area’s poor blacks never seem to figure out there is a gold mine in the ghetto, all you need is the right connections and keys to the public trough. As a Chicago City Worker, I know if Daley and his family steal every penny in our pensions, I know the Taxpayers will need to replace the money. Remember one thing that is a fact, the posting of the pension board is a corrupt as the postings for promotions in the past. Some old crap, same old lies, same old corruption, same old lies, and same old Mayor. Mayor Daley is a disgrace. Patrick McDonough.