CHICAGO POLITICS STRIKES AGAIN - Supporters Seek "Retirement Present" for Retiring Alderman!
$200 PER PLATE REQUESTED FOR ALDERMAN BANKS RETIREMENT DINNER - WITH CHECK MADE OUT PERSONALLY TO HIM!
Add this tidbit to your "Only In Chicago" File!
By the end of the month, South Side Chicago Alderman William J.P. Banks, of the 36th Ward in Chicago, is likely to retire. Banks has been the chairman of the very influential Chicago City Council Zoning Committee since the current Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley took office 20 years ago.
Want to pay tribute at his retirement dinner at the end of this month?
His aid, driver, and would-be successor, John Rice, wants you to bring money! A $200 check, that is. Made payable to the retiring alderman, PERSONALLY, as a going-away present!
Banks has yet to announce his retirement officially, but he did give a Farewell Speech at the last Chicago City Council Meeting, and also asked Mayor Daley to select his aid, Mr. Rice, as his successor.
According to a report in today's Chicago Tribune by Dan Mihalopoulos, the invitation, of which he obtained a copy, asks party goers to make sure they pay for the retirement party with a $200 personal check, made payable to William J.P. Banks, with the words "Retirement Party" on the memo line.
Is this legal, you may ask?
Well, the Chicago Ethics Ordinance prohibits a city official from taking gifts from anyone with a personal, economic interest in any business transaction the official has authority over. However, many feel Banks will skirt the law if he officially resigns before his retirement party.
Others, however, feel the move could potentially tarnish Banks' legacy, and would be considered highly improper. David Morrison, Assistant Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, instead suggests Banks hold an official fundraiser for his own political fund, with all the donors documented for the public to see.
In quiet fashion, the staff and employees of other Chicago Public Officials, including Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown, and even those working with Mayor Daley himself, have chipped in cash to provide birthday and Holiday gifts or their bosses. But, to many, the solicitation on behalf of Alderman Banks seems a bit more brazen.
In 2008, the Chicago Tribune did an investigative series on how real estate developers seeking the nod from Banks' Chicago Zoning Committee on their projects routinely filled aldermanic coffers with thousands in campaign contributions.
At every Zoning Committee meeting, Banks abstained from voting on zoning proposals handled by the law firm of his brother and nephew. Despite this, the Banks law firm grew to be the most successful law firm for negotiating zoning variances in Chicago.
In Chicago, as they say, the beat goes on! Or . . . so it appears!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
