Freewheeling -- Looking Down The Road!

For our faithful PRU readers who take an interest in local political doings, the PRU Crew is wondering if anyone has given any thought to what should happen in the event a certain 6th Ward Alderman locates his conscience and resigns his position.

The PRU Crew hasn't researched the issue and so we remain unaware of how or if it may be possible to remove an Alderman from office in the event of an ethics violation. We also remain uncertain about the outcome of any current ethics investigation. Though, it sure is odd that no disclosure evidence has been quickly produced in support of the claim by 6th Ward Alderman Tom Carey that, approximately 4 years ago, he specifically disclosed the $5million economic relationship between his employer, Patrick Engineering, and the City of Chicago's O'Hare Modernization Program.

However, we have seen evidence that not only should Mr. Carey have been aware of the specific OMP economic relationship, but also that Mr. Carey was Patrick Engineering's registered attendee at a City of Chicago's Department of Procurement Service's pre-bid conference -- we are unclear about when the conference took place or for what pre-bid procurement purpose Mr. Carey participated.


Click on image for larger view

In any case, Mr. Carey was more than well aware of at least Patrick Engineering's general economic relationship interest with the City of Chicago.

The PRU Crew will admit to being profoundly stunned to find out in the end that Ald. Carey may have so blatantly lied to the public, on video tape, at a City Council meeting. If so, the only remaining question for us will be whether the man is a complete fool or an unmitigated idiot.

For our part, we see issues that go well beyond the narrow concerns some 6th Ward residents and the rest of the community may have regarding O'Hare expansion. The job of Alderman demands a more expansive view of public policy considerations and a deeper understanding of democratic processes than we've recently witnessed from our current crop of Alderdopes and the Mayor.

Beyond the issue of O'Hare, fast approaching is the time when the City Council will again take up budget planning for the next fiscal year. God help us all! The Mayor and City Council just recently completed finalizing some details from the last round of the fiscal budget fun!

The City Council can ill afford another unprepared, know-nothing representative voting on public policy. And keep in mind who will have the authority to appoint a replacement, with the advice and consent of the City Council, should an aldermanic vacancy occur.

We're also wondering if anyone in the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Wards will be picking up an election packet from the City Clerk's office for the upcoming aldermanic elections in the Spring. Election packets, only one each, have been taken for the upcoming races in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 7th Wards.

Things to think about, if you're looking down the road.

The Political Folly of Ethics Demands?

For our faithful PRU readers, who sat through the entire video we posted for last Monday night's City Council meeting, beginning at the 2:00:10 mark you undoubtedly heard 6th Ward Alderman Thomas Carey make the following statement under new business --

"Mr. Mayor, I'm not certain of the protocol on this regard but as all of you may know I have not made a determination as to what decision I'll make regarding running for Alderman again.

However, it appears the political folly has begun and I want to restate what I've stated previously, approximately four years ago.

I happen to work with and for Patrick Engineering and I am disclosing the fact that Patrick Engineering does work for the CDA, the OMP, and that there are contracts in place and there have been in place, and so again I want to make sure that that is out and disclosed in public."

Political folly? Demands for timely disclosure of economic interests is political folly?

We don't think so.

Alderman Carey, you are beholden to the voters in your ward as well as the larger community to make sure they are aware of any economic interests you may hold directly or indirectly in any given matter of legislation on which you intend to act. We do not recall you ever disclosing the particulars of the economic relationship between your employer, Patrick Engineering, and the O'Hare Modernization Program. If you did so, "approximately four years ago," we missed it. But can you explain why you did not offer the time, place, and date of that "approximately" four year old disclosure when you addressed the matter at Monday night's City Council meeting? At best, you are treating the ethical questions and demands of your constituents far too casually.

The contracts you referenced in your statement about your employer, Patrick Engineering, aren't merely a small matter of, say, something like a fee for acting as an insurance agent.

The contract Patrick Engineering holds with the OMP is worth $5million.



The PRU Crew is aware there are those calling for your resignation over what they believe to be your failure to properly disclose the economic relationship and that you have been in violation of the demands of the ethics ordinance -- Article 2, chapter 5 (.pdf). The PRU Crew believes it would be a waste of effort, and would essentially leave the residents of the 6th Ward unrepresented for what remains of your term as Alderman. We also don't feel you possess the appropriate level of chagrin to even consider stepping down from your Council seat.

However, Mr. Carey, we strongly encourage you to consider what it is you owe to your constituency -- even those who disagree with you and find fault in your positions -- in serving as their representative to the City Council, while you're thinking over another run at the job for another four two years. (Note to our friendly correspondent, thanks for the heads up, we completely flubbed it -- Aldermen in even numbered Wards will be elected for only two years, to comply with the referendum approving the staggering of Aldermanic terms.)

Stupid Gets What Stupid Agrees To.

A few weeks ago we reported on an action item before the city council in our post about 800 lb Gorilla in City Council! We discussed the mandates of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised and the role of a meeting chairman. Shortly after that, a PRU reader asked for a follow-up on the issue.

At the City Council meeting on 12/17/07 (minutes-.pdf) an amendment was offered by the Lord of the Manor, Alderman Rich DiPietro (2nd ward), to add the words "upon relinquishing the chair" to the motion by the unfriendly Ghost of the 6th ward, Alderman Thomas Carey, to allow the Mayor to participate in debate and discussion of matters before the city council.

Gee fellas, did you work out that motioning and amending business prior to the meeting?

The change to the procedure governing the Mayor's participation in debate and discussion "upon relinquishing the chair" does mean that some ward may on occasion not have a representative participating in debate and discussion.

So there's the update on the issue of the Mayor's participation in debate and discussion at city council meetings.

The PRU Crew has enjoyed a few laughs over this issue and its outcome.

DiPietro, sometimes you are a real piece of work.

Yes! We have no bananas!

Of Preachers, Practice, and Public Relations

The Pub-dogs had another interesting article up this week: PublicWatchdog.org - The Golden Girl. They cover a little-known get-around gal named Linda Szczepanski, or "Linda Ski" as they call her, and so will we.

Linda Ski is the Vice President of Empower Public Relations, which is owned by Samuel Chapman, Chief Executive Officer for Berman Center Inc., and husband of noted sex therapist, Dr. Laura Berman.

Linda Ski has also been the campaign and public relations manager for Mayor Howard Frimark, as well as providing her services to Frimark's aldermanic acolytes James Allspaghetti (4th Ward), and Thomas Carey the Unfriendly Ghost (6th Ward), and the Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge.

As the PRU Crew's curiosity about Linda Ski was raised, we started surfing the net to see what we could find. And we find irony hiding in plain sight.

It seems Mr. Chapman has banned gossip at Empower Public Relations, and is reported to have fired employees who have engaged in gossiping. Gawker.com has a video clip of brief interviews with several Empower employees: The Message Is The Message: Gossip-Banning PR Firm Is Its Own Best Client.

It seems to us that Linda Ski and her fellow employees at Empower Public Relations may preach about the ills of gossip, and may practice what they preach in-house. But the mandate against gossip doesn't seem to be something Linda Ski demands of her clients, such as Mayor Howard Frimark who many have said may be the biggest gossip monger in all of Park Ridge.

Or so we've heard.

The Spirit of the 6th Ward!

As we told you before, Thomas Carey the Unfriendly Ghost of the 6th ward usually doesn't communicate with the living. So we were a little spooked to hear that he actually participated in the city council meeting Monday night. We feel that Mayor Frimystic must have called this spirit forth to do his earthly bidding.

As you may recall, Mayor Frimystic was very generous in making "offerings" to the Ghost of the 6th ward. Of the $7,025.00 in campaign contributions taken in by Mr. Carey, Mayor Frimystic contributed $3,127.73, or 45% of the total Mr. Carey received. (See document copies below)

And, as we said before, we expect Alderman Carey knows how to show his appreciation for Mayor Frimystic's generous support.

But we found it very curious that a guy like Thomas Carey, of whom we'd heard rumors of great family wealth, would need or want such a large contribution from Mayor Frimystic.

So we started digging.

Turns out, Thomas Carey does come from a very well-known and prosperous family. A very prosperous family. A very well-known family, if you know anything about the horse racing world.

Mr. Thomas Carey is formally known as Thomas F. Carey, III and hales from none other than the family that owns and controls Hawthorn Race Course. At one time in the not too distant past, Mr. Thomas F. Carey, III was in charge of running Hawthorn Race Course, but now Mr. Thomas F. Carey, III is working for an engineering firm, and we are told a Carey family cousin is now in charge of track operations.

Why would Mr. Thomas F. Carey, III leave the family business? We can't say whether or not he actually left or was asked to leave. But, it seems Mr. Carey got into a bit of legal trouble over his fiscal management during his tenure at the track and then Hawthorne Race Course, Inc. got sued by National Jockey Club, Inc.

The parties went to arbitration, and the arbitrator found in favor of the claimants, National Jockey Club. The arbitrator awarded the claimants what they were seeking, which had the effect of putting Hawthorn Race Course and Thomas F. Carey, III on the hook for $1,200,000.00 That's a lot of hay. (See copy of arbitration doc. pg. 1 below)

A final judgement of the arbitrator's award was entered in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County in September, 2005. The Court decreed the motion to confirm the award be granted in all respects to National Jockey Club; the counterclaim by Hawthorn Race Course was denied in all respects; and, the arbitrator's award was confirmed. (See copy of court cover doc. below)

Of course, an appeal was filed, and the Appellate Court of Illinois First Judicial District affirmed the lower Court's decision in August, 2007. (See copy of court cover doc. below)

Which brings us to today - the deadline for Mr. Carey to have his case heard before the Illinois Supreme Court. We believe the case has come to a sad end for Mr. Thomas F. Carey, III.

The financial troubles Mr. Carey has faced may be why he wasn't more monetarily generous than the $1,375.00 he loaned to his own campaign effort. It may also explain why Mayor Frimystic was so generous.

What we don't understand is why a guy with this kind of legal and financial axe hanging over his head would run for public office.

But we think we may know. We hear Mr. Carey, upon assuming the lofty office of 6th ward Alderman in Park Ridge, got busy smiling and dialing his way up the political food chain. Not on behalf of his 6th ward constituents. No. On behalf of his engineering firm.

If we could get agreement from the horse's mouth that going public, with the specifics of the information, would be confirmed, we'd tell you. But the call-recipient hasn't agreed. So we won't. And at this point the smiling and dialing remains only rumor.

Alderman Carey is certainly a guy down on his luck. But as the old saying goes, you make your own luck. And sometimes you get lucky enough to be elected to the office of Park Ridge Alderman with the generous support of the Mayor.

And sometimes you get lucky enough to have an Alderman "owe" you, isn't that right Mayor Frimystic?

If there's one piece of advice we could offer to Alderman Thomas Carey it is this: Mayor Frimystic is not your way into the light. Find your own path. We actually feel you may have it in you.

Smile for the Camera!

As we discussed earlier this week, the city council Finance and Budget committee is considering the feasibility of broadcasting city council and committee meetings.

We had expected the topic to be covered in the local rags this week, but if they did cover it, we can't find it.

Our sources tell us there may be two city staffers who are still walking around upright! They've done some excellent research into the costs, technical requirements, and scope of televising city council and committee meetings. We are shocked, SHOCKED, at this revelation! No we're not. We are aware of these two particular city staffers, and we shall protect their identities by not naming them here because we would hate to see their good work rewarded with more work.

From the research that has been conducted, we hear the cost may be less than originally estimated; original estimates were in the $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 range, but the staffers proposal is in the $50,000.00 range. And, the scope of coverage may be greater than mere broadcasting of meetings; not only can the city council chamber be wired, but also the mayor's conference room, the public works service center and the fire department.

Broadcasting could include city council and committee meetings, and the city could broadcast emergency messages or something arty, like local concerts.

The recorderings would be archived on the city's website so that the 1o people in Park Ridge suspected of being interested in city doings could access the tapes. The broadcasts could be searchable through a menu option.

There are two aldermorons said to be less than enthusiastic about the idea. Care to guess who they are? Yes, Benedict-Alderman Robert Ryan (5th), and Thomas Carey the Unfriendly Ghost (6th). Their concerns are purported to be about the cost and how few (or how many?) Park Ridge citizens may actually watch.

While the roughly $50,000,000.00 city budget is always a matter for concern, because there isn't anything politicians and bureaucrats like better than spending the taxpayer's money, we feel the estimated $50,000.00 would be worth the expenditure for what appears to be available in the scope of this project.

Come on city council! Give the residents of Park Ridge the gift of learning what it is you do every couple of weeks!

Lesson #1: Pay Attention!

The city council has 4 standing committees. One of those committees is Finance and Budget. The members of the Finance and Budget committee are the 2nd ward's Lord of the Manor, Rich DiPietro - committee chairman, the 5th ward's Benedict-Alderman, Robert Ryan, and the 6th ward's Unfriendly Ghost, Tom Carey. Yeah, we know - not a promising line up.

The Finance and Budget committee is supposed to consider policy questions about revenue, expenses, and appropriations, generally.

It is with great pleasure that we report, so far this line up of aldermopes has not been able to do a lot of damage to city policy as it relates to city finances and the city budget. The reason is, they've scheduled 10* meetings since last June and they have canceled 5 of them - more than half of all their scheduled meetings; this means, cumulatively, the Finance and Budget committee has met less than once per month since having been convened. They didn't meet at all in August, only once in September, and tonight's first October meeting has also been canceled.

Still, we wonder who is minding the city's finance and budget store. Since it is the Finance and Budget committee that is supposed to keep track of account reporting and dialogue with staff, we wonder who's been doing that. Providing oversight to the city finances and budget is one of the most important functions of a city council. We aren't impressed with the lack of public discussion taking place regarding contingency fund expenditures, the debts owed to the general operating fund, and the city's overall $48.5 million dollars of debt.

We sure do hope the Lord of the Manor is paying attention, because his won't be the only ass that could get bitten by something that creeps up from behind.

*correction* Our thanks to a keen eyed reader who let us know that we missed counting one of the Fin./Bud. meetings. On Oct. 1st, the Fin./Bud. committee met for 15 minutes prior to the city council meeting that evening. They met to formally give committee approval to two action items on the city council agenda that evening: 1) a contract extension and 2) payments to Vistara Construction.

Who You Gonna Call?

Allegedly, the residents of Park Ridge's 6th ward are being represented by Alderman Thomas Carey. We haven't seen much evidence of that, but we have no reason to doubt the Cook County Clerk's vote totals. We do believe Alderman Thomas Carey does exist.

However, residents of the 6th ward had ample reason to question Alderman Carey's existence when they tried to get his phone number from directory assistance so they could ask him for help and guidance after the August Act of God. Those residents found that Alderman Carey's phone number was unlisted. And it remains unlisted.

The city's web site does list a phone number for Alderman Carey, but residents without electrical power couldn't access the city's web site to get it, and residents without computer internet access still can't.

Alderman Carey, if you did not intend to make yourself available to your constituents by the usual means, what motivated you to seek public office, besides Mayor Frimark's enthu$ia$tic $upport?

Over $3,000.00 of enthu$ia$tic $upport. That's ten times the amount the mayor gave to the Park Ridge-Niles Citizens for Strong Schools committee, and almost half of your campaign's total reported expenditures.

We expect you have shown the mayor your appreciation for his generous support.