In the world of finance, it's called "Return On Investment" (ROI).
In the world of politics, it's called "Pay to Play".
In Park Ridge, we're all about "investments"; remember the Peotone "investment"? In Park Ridge, there isn't any "Pay to Play" going on...is there?
Regular PRU readers are familiar with how much we think of Aldermoron Jim Allspaghetti (4th Ward). Allspaghetti became a member of the city council back in 2005, when he was appointed to fill the 4th ward aldermanic seat vacated by Howard Frimark upon his election to Mayor. During Allspaghetti's lengthy interviews with a hand-picked mayoral panel of 4th ward residents, and during Allspaghetti's interview before the council, neither he nor Mayor Howard disclosed a prior campaign contribution Allspaghetti made to Frimark. As has been noted, it's probably mere coincidence that the most qualified applicant for appointment to the council by Mayor Howard just happened to be a contributor before and after that appointment was made:
Below - Screen captures with cut and paste information;
click on pictures for a clear and larger view.*
Allegretti's law office address is the same as another Frimark contributor:
Park Ridgeans likely remember DiFranco recently being quoted in the press and offering his vigorous defense of one of his clients, Bruce Adreani of Norwood Builders repute, another Frimark contributor:
For those of you who don't recognize Laden Acre Farm LP as a Norwood entity, chances are you aren't supposed to. The entity writing the check is all that has to be reported on a politician's D2 filing with the State Board of Elections. Though we do find it interesting that one of the least recognizable Adreani holdings gave Frimark more than double the contributions than those under his more recognizable names. We also find it interesting that Mayor Howard did not disclose the extent of Adreani's contributions to him, nor correct the mistaken remarks made about the amount of contributions he received from Adreani's holdings on the numerous occasions the issue has come up.
We also do not recall Mayor Howard ever disclosing to the council any contributions he received from the original zoning attorney for Norwood's Executive Office Plaza, that ubiquitous Park Ridge variance czar, Mr. Jack Owens:
For the the next big deal on the council table, Jack Owens' talents aren't required. But the owner of Napleton Cadillac made sure that Mayor Howard knows he has his support. If the city council agrees to give Napleton Cadillac the cumulative $2.4million the deal calls for, Mr. Napleton should probably be recognized as some sort of Community Star, as his may be the most impressive ROI that we've seen:
Looks to us like another zoning code variance (.pdf) will soon be arriving at the council for approval. It also looks to us like Sam Markos, the owner of Crystal Palace Banquets and several other generous Frimark-supporting entities, could have invested a lot less if variances for a CVS pharmacy are all the return he's looking to get:
As many of you know, current Park Ridge Chief of Police, Jeff Caudill, is under fire from several directions. The PRU Crew has heard a lot of talk about who could possibly be named as the new Chief of police if Mayor Howard has his way and manages to oust Caudill. The "open secret" in DesPlaines is that Deputy Police Chief Angela Burton is getting some serious consideration. We aren't surprised to hear that, but as you know we're cynical. And, after all, Burton is the wife of former liquor commission member and Frimark supporter, Michael Rozovics:
We're sure she's really nice and may even make a great Chief of police. It's probably just one of those happy coincidences that Burton's being considered for the job and her husband was a contributor to Mayor Howard's election campaign.
In Park Ridge, we're all about "investments" and ROI. There isn't any "pay to play" going on in Park Ridge. Nah. Just a lot of "happy coincidences".
*To aid in viewing, our Tech took screen captures of the Illinois State Board of Election website, then cut and pasted the relevant information together. We encourage anyone interested in doing so, to check the information for themselves at - Illinois Campaign Disclosure
January 21, 2008
"ROI"
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12 comments:
What the campaingn finance disclosures don't show is whether anyone sends insurance business Howard's way in the expectation of favorable treatment.
Could that possibly happen?
That is a LOT of information with my morning coffee. It just makes me even more disgusted with Mayor Howie, AND it makes me want to boycott Napleton Park Ridge even more...
Thank you, thank you, thank you for printing all this. I wondered about some of these things for awhile now but never knew where to find the information to prove it. As a fourth ward resident I regret that I voted for Frimark twice and then for Alegretti because Frimark endorsed him. Shame on them, and shame on me. I won't do that again.
Every deal going down you look at, and there is somebody with their wallet open and Howie with his hand out. What a surprise.
Thank you for all of your hard work here.
We can see that it is pay to play.
Now - take that same investigative
common sense approach and apply it to the dems - meaning " Hillary " band of thugs.
Yes - I ask you this :
1. People fled the country rather than stick around and tesify against Bill and Hillary.
2. The Chinese connection also needs and beggs who was behind the money trail.
3. What about the guy that the FBI arrested - another huge campaign
contributor of Bill & Hillary's
war chest.
4. At the close out of Bill & Hillary's last fiasco - many drug dealers and other felons were all allowed to go FREE.
What about the number of dead people that surround them ?
Many of the state troopers included ?
So friends I applaud your digging
up the dirt but when you dig - lets be fair and honest when the evidence falls through you screening process and lands
in our own front yard.
Colin Powell recently stated this - lets look at all the candidates and not because of their color but also what they can bring to the table.
Thank you.
We give you our word -- if Billary ever runs for an elected office in Park Ridge, we will be unmerciful in our digging.
Every so often I get to a point where I think well at least Howard can’t get any worse. Then he does.
Anonymous 2:53
Do you realize what you are inferring? Do you really believe that the City of Park Ridge has reached the level of “pay for play” that the United States Government has? I’m sure Howard and his boys would if could, but there just isn’t enough pork available to reach those levels.
Oh and by the way your analogy, although true on many levels, applies to Federal level Republicans just as well. Or perhaps you’ve never heard of Haliburton?
hey anonymous at 2:53...WHERE in this posting does it talk about Hillary Clinton? Or did you just think it was another place for you to bitch about her?
Let me guess...you are white, male, over 50. Yes?
Yo, Anonymous 2:53. Nutjob. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that nobody that reads this site regularly wants to read about what you or anybody else thinks about the Clintons. Or Obama. Or McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Edwards, etc.
Either get with the program or get lost. YOu're wasting our time.
We are so lucky to be living in PR IL and have a mayor, cook county president, and governor all in politics to represent us, the little guys, and not to feather their own nest.
I have to say it...what a douche. It's disgusting the amount of trust senior citizens of park ridge put in HF and he clearly feels untouchable and does so with no remorse.
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