Tag: Corruption
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Derrick Smith ‘I intend to fight these charges’
State Rep. Derrick Smith on Monday spoke publicly for the first time about his bribery case, saying he would not “cower” and vowing to fight the charge against him.Holding a prepared statement in front of him and talking in a shaky voice minutes after he pleaded not guilty to a federal court indictment, the West…
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Another Foreclosure Wave Arrives
Half a decade into the deepest U.S. housing crisis since the 1930s, many Americans are hoping the crisis is finally nearing its end. House sales are picking up across most of the country, the plunge in prices is slowing and attempts by lenders to claim back properties from struggling borrowers dropped by more than a…
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CPS Director Accepted Gifts from Top Vendors
Now, [CPS Chief of Food Services Louise Esaian] and two members of her staff are accused in a report by CPS inspector general James Sullivan of accepting perhaps thousands of dollars in gifts from Chartwells and another vendor, Preferred Meals Systems, that have combined food contracts at CPS in excess of $75 million. Esaian told…
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Derrick Smith Using William Beaver’s Defense
Today’s Story: Victor Henderson, the lawyer for accused Illinois State Representative Derrick Smith tells “The Don and Roma Show” on WLS, that the reason federal authorities charged Smith with bribery, was because they wanted him to give up information about possible wrongdoing by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Smith’s long-time political mentor. via WLS…
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Naomi Davis: Issues in the African-American Community
Local community organizer Naomi Davis put together a top-ten list of issues impacting the African-American community in her area of Chicago. Not a bad list: NORFOLK & SOUTHERN/CREATE. Opportunity Of A Lifetime. Multi-billion, multi-decade south side economic impact with America’s richest companies without a single negotiated community benefit/jobs plan. CRIMINALIZATION OF BLACKNESS. Gulag Economy. Jim…
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Korrupt Kane Kounty GOP
Does the Kane County Board Chairmanship come with a license to print campaign cash? Karen McConnaughay must think so. So many county vendors became campaign contributors that the Daily Herald Editorial Board wrote, “We encourage McConnaughay to quit taking money from county vendors…” She’s now running for state senate on a track record of presiding…
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State Rep. Derrick Smith Charged, Arrested
Ha ha ha ha! State Rep. Derrick Smith, a Democrat from Chicago, was arrested today for allegedly pocketing a $7,000 cash bribe to write an official letter of support for a day care center he believed was seeking a state grant. The arrest came after an undercover operation launched by the FBI in December with…
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Mayor’s Friend Brings You the Speed Cameras
When Rahm Emanuel was a first-time candidate for Congress, Greg Goldner was behind him, quietly marshaling the patronage troops that helped get him elected. When Emanuel ran for mayor, Goldner was there again, doling out campaign cash to elect Emanuel-friendly aldermen to City Council. And when the rookie mayor was looking for community support for…
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We’re Number One… in corruption that is.
A former Chicago alderman turned political science professor/corruption fighter has found that Chicago is the most corrupt city in the country. He cites data from the U.S. Department of Justice to prove his case. And, he says, Illinois is third-most corrupt state in the country. University of Illinois at Chicago professor Dick Simpson, who served…