Dennis M. Fleming, an attorney, chairman of the Chicago License Appeal Commission, administrative law judge and hearing officer spent the last two days making a mockery of Justice in Chicago. I spent the last two days at the City of Chicago Department of Human Resources watching one city worker after another walking out of an appeal hearing. Simply put, Bruce Randazzo is attempting to clear his name from a disciplinary action the Department of Water Management made against him. Bruce Randazzo is a politically active Democrat on the Northwest side of Chicago. Bruce Randazzo has stood up to corruption and reported several incidents that should have been actively investigated by the Chicago Office of the Inspector General. In all fairness to the OIG, I am not privy to the status of any investigation since I am active city employee. (Disclaimer)
So why am I concerned? The City of Chicago uses Hearing Officers as a political carrot to judicial wan bees. I am seeing the use of Hearing Officers in too many situations in Chicago. If you receive a parking ticket in Chicago, a Building Code Violation, you could get an appointed flunky lawyer not familiar with the laws that apply to your situation. I have firsthand seen too much unprofessionalism at the Building Violations Court. Maybe if the OIG steps downstairs once in a while, we can straighten that out. I really believe Chicago taxpayers should demand and want a real judge free from any political process deciding what is legal and right.
So… back to the story, Bruce Randazzo was in the Hearing Board on January 11 and 12, making his side of the case. I made the appropriate phone calls because the hearing officer was not allowing much evidence into the record. I overheard city worker after city worker laughing about the hearing judge attempting to shut down any avenue that was not favorable to the city. When ordinary working folks smell a fix, it’s a fix. When city workers smell a fix, it is defiantly a fix. My impression is Fleming got a phone call from an attorney representing one of the witnesses for the city. Two critical witnesses famous for their political work walked in and then right out of the hearing. I cannot fathom how the hearing officer can make a determination without hearing evidence.
If you are a City of Chicago employee and want to clear your name, you might be wasting money hiring an attorney. I waited in City Hall room 1100 all day on January 11, 2012 waiting to testify. No one from Plumber’s Local 130 ever showed up. I was told a Local 130 representative could not show up because it was the city’s fault that they did not notify the union. I drove back to the yard at 4900 Sunnyside and then my tires were slashed. I was expecting a representative to show from the Union today but no one showed up. I got a call when I was in the hearing testifying. When I was testifying, I got the impression the hearing officer never understood the rules that allow more openness in admitting evidence than the circuit court. I was also happy to hear Chicago Clout was mentioned during the proceedings. I admit Rahm Emanuel is a much better Mayor than Daley ever was. Emanuel is ten times the Mayor, but he needs to clean out the old Daley holdouts. I would like to make a spin on the legal system. The Chicago legal system is like making sausages, but as a plumber the legal sausages sometimes look like sh*t.
I will have more details soon. Enjoy.
Rahm Emanuel spins the Elston and Foster Avenue auto disaster
Let’s watch what happens as Rahm Emanuel spins the auto falling into a massive hole at Elston Avenue and Foster. Saturday morning I arrived to work and found a Chicago Police officer loading his SUV with Barricades for the North District Department of Water Management facility near Montrose and Cicero. I was surprised the private security guard allowed this policeman to take barricades without permission. The Leak Desk was trying to everything they could to keep the car falling into a hole from me, a typical un-educated response form that employee. I suppose the Leak Desk wanted to keep it a secret a car fell into a massive ditch. A newly made foreman with political connections fresh off from a night of overtime quietly snuck into the yard to again swipe in to get a nice 16 extra hours of overtime. Members of his family also showed up to work on the same crew to gobble up the overtime. This foreman was promoted while he was on a workman’s compensation claim, a real fraud if there ever was one. So far the Shakman folks are still doing nothing about this; just continue billing with no results.
A car fell into the ditch and my informant said the driver car had no insurance, a possible fact the newspaper and TV crews forgot to mention. The night investigator crews were kept on overtime despite a new crew was on the payroll for straight time. This crew was not relieved.
The management from the Jardine Plant did a pretty good job handling this situation and kept the overtime under control. I think the city workers for the most part did a very nice job. Some employees from other districts also showed up to assist because many of the guys in the North District are not able to handle these emergencies, politics has a way of doubling the cost. I think the Sewer guys did an outstanding job and should get credit. Daley’s phony contractors took over the project after all the real work was done and were pictured in the ditch breaking every safety rule known to man. If you think City Workers are screwing the taxpayers, look at the picture in the Chicago Tribune. The amount of non-union, non-resident labor on that project was amazing. Make sure you get an accounting of Rabine and the rest of the private contractors screwing the pooch on the tail end of this project. This bill will blow you away. Rahm Emanuel used the project to sell the gambling and casino and light a fire under Quinn’s azz. Rahm, this happened because an investigator crew went out on a low pressure call and did not check the mains and the services. The investigation was another drive by; costing taxpayers tons of money, almost cost a life. Some crews make as many stops as they can to look good, some do not. Rahm needs to look into the history of this intersection and forget the gambling in Chicago. Photo by Patrick McDonough.
Chicago Department of Water Management 50 year employee Tony Fico Retires
Last week Anthony Fico celebrated 50 years of service to the City of Chicago Department of Water Management. He retired. I was hoping Rahm Emanuel or the Commissioner would have celebrated the milestone. I was hoping to hear of a party, a nice goodbye. Tony also worked side by side with my father for many years, they became true friends. Fifty years of busting his ass on the Hydrant truck as his twilight neared. Tony got the short end of the stick when it came to promotions; he is a walking Shakman violation. I have never in my life seen any man work as hard as this guy. Tony Fico, on behalf of the working guys at the City of Chicago, thank you for all you have done. Tony is the best ever, period. Thank you. Photo by Patrick McDonough
Chicago Department of Water Management Foreman ordered to use shoring again
The first of several complaints many years ago never made it through the heads of Mayor Daley’s employees. Many Chicago Department of Water Management employees received their promotions thanks to politics. This tradition continues despite than many complaints from non-clouted workers. Several of the foremen were reminded to place the shoring in the ditches to save lives. Chicago Whistleblower Patrick McDonough was made aware some crews on the Southside were caught again with-out the shoring. The Illinois Department of Labor is in charge of enforcement at the Department. I do not know why the Water Department does not enforce this common sense safety rule. I suggest privatizing all pipe work and firing the every foreman and their superiors in the Department. Rahm Emanuel might start to enforce the rules and save lives. Chicago Clout will start to videotape again until safety rules are back in place. Remember, if your boss asks you to work in a ditch with no shoring, call the commissioner. Save your job.
The Paul Hansen Local130 OIG Promotion Video, Ya, It is all Rigged
Charles Rangel gets lynched, White Mayor Richard Daley walks
Mayor Daley was very lucky a year ago not to get his tail end in hot water misusing his position to advance causes using the taxpayer’s money. Fran Spielman caught Mayor Daley promoting the United Negro College Fund using Chicago City Workers. The problem is simple; City workers are paid to complete work with-in their job description. If you know these workers, they should produce a work product that that is directly related to their department. Taxpayers do not all agree Mayor Daley should steal employees to produce money for his pet causes so he can sit around and get a pat on the back. I am concerned because the Chicago Office of the Inspector General has again allowed this type of fraud to continue. I hope all of these employees are fired for fraud. I hope all the employees placing these posters around on city sites are fired. Just a couple of months ago, several employees were collecting cash with no receipts for this same cause. Ironically, Charles Rangel of the U.S. Congress was using his position to collect funds to promote causes for black folks in his backyard and he is in trouble. I guess you need to be white like Mayor Daley and nothing will happen. I hope Obama helps a brother out. Photo by Patrick McDonough
Benchmark Construction wins the Contract but does not do the work, Daley2011
Friday was a day off for most Department of Water Management Employees. The 48Th Ward was packed with major repairs from Mayor Daley contractors today. Chicago Contractors were working Saturday at time and one half!!! One of the contractors that sparked an interest with me is Smith Maintenance. Smith, as far as I remember, was involved with Daley in the Chicago Harbors. As far as I can make it, Daley gave a multi-million dollar deal to Benchmark Construction to dummy up the sewers and basins in Chicago. Jay Levine, the chief correspondent for CBS 2 Chicago, was real close when he was on to Kenny Construction and the Sewer lining deal. Again Jay found another sub-contractor doing the work. This contract is a phony patch and a real nice deal for another one of Daley buddies. The variation on the theme is Benchmark Construction, which sub-contracted Smith maintenance. Smith is completing the work for Daley contractor of choice. The almost 30 million dollar sewer contract also has Minority Business and Woman’s owned Business’s cut of about 28%. So the question is who is doing the work? Why continue to have work for minority contractors when people are out of work? In this picture you will also see, American Surveying Consultants. Mayor Daley likes Hispanic owned businesses to handle the engineering. Unemployed Chicagoans are too stupid I guess. I will make one thing very simple to those who do not understand Chicago politics. Daley has a special systems for contracts, bids, racket protection, and phony minority cut-ins, right until payday. If you get a ticket for pollution, shortchanging the terms of the contracts, the house drain inspectors will look the other way, the Chicago Department of Environmental Inspectors like Mark Pantaleo will not write tickets, Chicago Department of Water Management staff will not enforce the contracts, the Office of the Inspector General will do nothing, and Scott D. Sachnoff, Senior Counsel of municipal Prosecutions Division under Mara Georges, will allow staff to cut deals prior to the actual court date and times. This is how money is made in Chicago folks, when Daley’s friends get the bid, they do not enforce the rules. I think the FBI needs a little phone call, got a dime? Photo by Patrick McDonough
Saul Charak vs. City of Chicago vs. Anti-Semitism vs. human rights
June 8, 2010 Saul Charak has a long legal battle to return back to work that rested today. Saul was terminated from the City of Chicago for an alleged residency violation. Saul is a person that endured anti-Semitism for his entire tenure while employed by the City. Many City employees will never have a chance to clear their name or receive proper representation and return back to work. I overheard a conversation today in the Chicago Department of Human Resources that confirmed my suspicions; some people have greater access than others. Some former employees will wait longer and some former employees will suffer longer before the return to work. (If ever)
As you spend more time in court, you notice patterns and the way people act when they testify. You can observe nervous, scared, and confident witnesses. As someone that became involved in Saul misfortunes as of late, I decided to observe today's hearing. I was concerned because Saul is one of the most generous persons and helped many Chicago city employees when faced with troubled financial times. During Saul's employment with Chicago, he was ridiculed, teased, both physically and verbally tortured because he is Jewish. Saul also suffered because of his health concerns and his advanced age. As far as I can tell, I think the hearing officer was fair and impartial. I could also tell everyone was looking forward to wrapping up the hearing and just move on. Today, I noticed several things that were of great concern to me. Witnesses under subpoena did not show up to court, not just once but several times. The city has not been cooperative in producing witnesses in the past and now make defense lawyers jump through hoops to obtain city employees to testify. I find this an insult to the American justice system. Every witness should appear if a fired employee wants to get their job back. I also think all of these cases should be appealed to a real official judge, a sitting judge voted into office by the people. This setup is no different than the 400 west Superior hearing center that is ripe for a visit by the F.B.I.
In sworn testimony, it was very obvious the denials and lack of concern or responsibility given to Saul when he was attacked physically and verbally. The City of Chicago defense was to object when Saul provided proof. It really bothers me when bosses leave a worker to their own devices when physically attacked. I also do not like when responsible parties trained in the law wash their hands of supervisors ducking their responsibilities. The investigations are not transparent and leave the taxpayer's on the hook if challenged.
Chicago did not challenge a boss telling a Jewish subordinate, "blow out the fire in the ovens". This was according to sworn testimony by a witness, stunning. Another employee also testified to the best of his ability but was stopped continually causing him some confusion. After this man testified, I interviewed him in the hallway. He said, "They referred to him (Saul) as, "The Jew". He also said he was intimated and a little confused. He was upset because, "he was not able to talk about everything and the way you (he felt) feel". He also said, "They should have had a Spanish interpreter, but he did understand what they said". Under oath the following was general statements, "Saul was treated differently because his nationality, they were coming after him since 2008 and he was treated different. I wish Chicago's top journalists take the time to see what goes on at these hearings. Mayor Daley should investigate the way Jewish workers are treated by his Administration. Shame.
On another note, the bid for Chief Plumbing Inspector is going under much closer scrutiny, please call your clout (Madigan) and the 19th ward goons and tell them play stupid if the FEDS call. Several complaints were made regarding the bid process. In a video made last week, I told you who was going to get the job. How did I know? How do you ask? Same way Sneed finds out everything. Night!
Thomas Powers, new Commissioner of Chicago Department of Water Management
It was Sunday morning and I heard it again, “I like working for Jesse, you know you will get your time.” I got my assignments for the day and I was kept away from that job site. My radar starts pinging when a certain chain of events occur. That is the advantage of experience. I called the foreman Jesse Canet and let him know I would head out to that job and watch what was going on. He told me it would not be necessary and I was not wanted. Many times after work, I watch the progress of overtime jobs to gain insight into loafing and general waste. I was told that morning the job would not go over 8 hours. Sure enough it did. The foreman screamed out of the Sunnyside yard and took his car to the jobsite at around 3:00 p.m. Since he always worked out of the City Truck, this peaked my curiosity. I called the big boss and was told not to interfere with the job at 2242 North Spaulding. I explained I was concerned about the overtime and possible waste of taxpayers’ money. When I go to these jobs, I do so as a journalist and videographer. I enjoy my website and the knowledge it imparts. The first information I got was from the night investigator crew and it sounded funny like some overtime was made for Jesse’s crew. I also talked to a high ranking official that told me the crew waited much of the day for a Vactor. A Vator is a large sewer truck that is basically a jet rod and massive vacuum. When I went to the site, I saw in my opinion, a three or four hour job. But on Sunday, and double-time an opportunity like this could make for some powerful paychecks. I was also surprised because Jesse Canet was not on the overtime list. The overtime list has foreman and plumbers that have no interest in working overtime. That way the boss can put his friends and pets on these lucrative jobs. As soon as I arrived, the work began at a furious rate I have never seen before. I think it was because I was videotaping. Two of the workers were covering their faces. It was brought to my attention the crew was mad because a “rat” was watching. In the past a job like this would have gone for 16 hours. That would mean a paycheck of at least $1440.00 on top of a $4,000.00 bi-weekly take home check. At around 4:00 the work was going fast and furious, the crew was done at 4:30 p.m. I think I heard Jesse Canet say swipe out at 5:30 p.m. One hour travel time at double time. Earlier in the day the big boss told me Jesse is the only guy they can get to work the overtime. His caulker always seems to get the overtime with him. The call from the leak desk was water in the basement; I think we all got soaked again. Amazing how I found out the basement is a full basement and unoccupied, hardly an emergency. I was told this is a clout job. Clout is really expensive in Chicago. If the basement was occupied, someone needs to pay taxes. Welcome Commissioner Powers, the game stays the same. Photo by Patrick McDonough.