From the Aldelphi Theatre to Loyola University, from Juneway to Ridge, Alderman Moore is changing the landscape, creating more congestion.
From Stealth Condos to Cookie Cutter townhomes, Alderman Moore is building his own war chest of cash from developers.
Not only does our Alderman Moore dupe his constituants with lawyer talk, he uses a zoning board of neighbors to claim community involvement.
Here are some of Alderman Moore's local ward "community" Zoning And Land Use Advisory Committee (ZALUAC). These people are just as guility as our Alderman. These citizens need to be held responsible too.
Kevin O'Neil
Chairman, Zoning And Land Use Advisory Committee
Secretary, Board of Directors, DevCorp North
Chairman, Publicity and Public Relations Committee, DevCorp North
Past President, DevCorp North
Dorothy Gregory
President, Board of Directors, DevCorp North
Moore contributor
Rich Aronson
Board of Directors, DevCorp North
Secretary, Rogers Park Builders Group
Real Estate Broker, Camelot Realty of America, Inc.
Moore contributor
Joanna Barnhart
Howard SSA manager, DevCorp North
Board of Directors, Rogers Park Builders Group
David F a g u s
49th Ward Democratic Committeeman
Board of Directors, DevCorp North
Moore contributor
Charese L. Jordan
Past President, DevCorp North
Member, DevCorp North
Past Treasurer, Democratic Party of the 49th Ward
Past Chief of Staff, Alderman Joe Moore
Citizens for Joe Moore paid campaign consultant
Michael Land
Staff Assistant, Alderman Joe Moore
Member, DevCorp North
Advisor, Rogers Park Builders Group
Resident of the 50th ward
Michael Glasser
Member, DevCorp North
President, Rogers Park Builders Group
President, Magellen Properties
Owner, Birchwood Manor Apartments, 1227-37 West Jarvis
Michael James
Owner, Heartland Cafe
Board of Directors, DevCorp North
Jay Johnson
Owner, Howard Theater, Uptown Theater, Wayne Senior Center, Morse Senior Center, and others.
Howard-Paulina TIF beneficiary
Moore contributor
The problem is, the rubber stamp zoning board members are a bunch of puppets in the Aldermans pocket. These stooges like Kevin O'Neil always play dumb ( and for Kevin that isn't hard ) when questions are asked.
Now we have Preservation Chicago asking the same questions and it's getting harder for the Alderman and the zoning members to play dumb.
This was In the Chicago Sun-Times, Letters to the Editor, December 8, 2005.
Thank you for finally illuminating a problem that community activists, residents, and preservationists have known about for decades, that zoning is for sale in the city of Chicago ["Alderman has ties to 36th Ward building boom," Nov. 28].
Ostensibly enacted to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, the City of Chicago has made a mockery of that ideal by turning the Zoning Ordinance into nothing more than a full employment plan for real estate developers and zoning attorneys, not to mention the most effective fund-raising tool for politicians.
While the abuses of the Hired Truck Scandal can be easily corrected by firing dozing workers and recouping the cost of a little wayward asphalt that has gone missing in the middle of the night, the messes made by bad development will linger throughout our neighborhoods for generations.
For far too long, our neighborhoods have been prostituted for the profit and gain of a few, to the detriment of many. Unfortunately, many of our city's aldermen and the Zoning Board of Appeals have been all too willing to help facilitate that process by acting as the . . . Well, perhaps we need not complete that metaphor.
They say that when the cat's away, the mice will play. Unfortunately, the cat is dead and the mice have taken complete control of the house.
The fact that the professional recommendations of the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Zoning are often brushed aside is a matter of routine for those of us who have to bear witness to this corrupted process. Community residents are at the mercy of a system that is so completely slanted in favor of developers that it borders on criminal.
Zoning meetings are always during business hours and last for hours, making attendance by the general public difficult. The public notification process is a joke, and is seldom properly enforced anyway. Ironically, the onus is now on the community to figure out when these zoning hearings occur since the notification process was quietly amended last November, eliminating the requirement that developers notify property owners within 250 feet when a zoning hearing is scheduled to take place. Furthermore, the signs required to be posted on the property announcing a zoning change often disappear, or are never posted to begin with.
If a community resident somehow does manage to make it down to City Hall for a hearing, agenda items are regularly taken out of order, or taken off the agenda all together. A favored trick of the aldermen is to defer potentially contentious zoning issues without notifying community stakeholders beforehand, many of whom have arranged to take time off from work in order to testify. Of course, the zoning attorney and developer are always warned well in advance that their case has been deferred, so as to not waste their precious time. Those hearings are then quietly rescheduled.
Unfortunately, these techniques are a time-honored tradition in Chicago and ensure minimum public participation from the very people who will be affected most by these dubious overdevelopment proposals.
The Sun-Times has discovered the tip of the iceberg regarding the issue of exploitative zoning in Chicago. We encourage your paper to continue to delve deeper into this story, much like you did with the Hired Truck Scandal.
Jonathan Fine, president;
Michael Moran, vice president,
Preservation Chicago
12 comments:
Oh Stepho
Seems you miss the old hood.......
Just because other do it, it's okay then? I think we're all familiar with the faulty nature of that logic.
Yes, sometimes people get nasty and I usually ignore it, but when I feel personally insulted- I feel I must stand up. It only happens occasionally here. If this blog goes to the way of the lowest common denominator, then I don't want any part of it. There's way too much trash on the Internet already. Why not just disagree with civility or have an intelligent debate and not hit below the belt?
As to this story-This is great that this issue is getting press. I was already planning to join Preservation Chicago -they are a great group. Thanks for posting Craig as I don't read the sun-times and might have missed it.
Thank You! Mr. Fine and Mr. Moran for writing on this important issue.
Preservation Chicago
So if these people control DevCorp, then why can't those who are so offended see how they can serve in some capacity at DevCorp. Can they do better? It is so much easier to criticize, condemn and complain, then to actually come up with a "viable" alternate strategy that really makes economic sense.
I mean can we motivate the unmotivated; can we find someone other than an undocumented foreigner, who will do good work because they want to or have to? Can we get a supervisor who actually has an attitude that can motivate and will be hands on so that these people actually work.
Yes, DevCorp may at times seem like a hollow cheerleader for Rogers Park, but throwing darts is easy. What is more challenging is coming up with a basis to take some responsibility and see if they can do better and actually achieving.
I find that some who claim to have all of these wonderful plans, sometimes present less than realistic plans that cater to a distinct minority encompassed by an outspoken part of the group. This includes DevCorp.
If people can objectively accept that they have pet projects and compromise on some aspects, then preservation might work to the extent realistically possible. Preservation won't work without commitment, money and support. If the pundets want to get their plans to work, then they need to caucus with someone who will invest, not merely act as a pretender. If those who have the interest in Rogers Park caucus in DevCorp, then bring some of them to your meetings and work with it.
Otherwise, the chatter becomes non-feasible from the thoughts of one. At that point, I feel like I am listening to muppet observations from the balcony.
> ... these people control DevCorp ...
I think you may have partially misunderstood Craig's post. It is not so much a list of who controls DevCorp North as it is a list of the members of the committee Moore points to when he wants to claim a community zoning process. DevCorp North staffs the committee, mostly. What Moore calls his "community" zoning committee (ZALUAC) is basically DevCorp North's Standing Committee to Promote Real Estate Development (DCNSCPRED).
The list may seem cozy already, but it is important to recognize that the list differs significantly from the regular attendees at committee meetings. Moore does not post the committee membership or the dates and times of meetings or agendas or minutes for his "community" zoning committee, and he claims the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to his zoning committee, but if you stop by the ward office and ask to inspect recent minutes, you will see an even smaller group of the usual suspects meeting to give the appearance of open process.
> ... DevCorp may at times seem like a hollow cheerleader ...
If DevCorp North were merely ineffective, that would be one thing, but they are genuinely harmful to our neighborhood.
> ... Can we get a supervisor ...
DevCorp North's problems are much deeper than can be solved by hiring or replacing the SSA manager(s).
> ... why can't those who are so offended see how they can serve in some capacity at DevCorp.
Your suggestion, reform from within, is untenable for most of us. DevCorp North charges membership. Especially around the holidays and the end of the tax year, it is important to remember to give responsibly. While we as individuals can do little to prevent DevCorp North from obtaining funds from the City through political connections, or from funding organizations through fraud, writing a check to or investing time in DevCorp North has some serious implications. Getting involved in DevCorp North requires having to look the other way on too many important issues in our neighborhood.
Joining DevCorp North is not joining a community organization, it is joining a shopping mall. DevCorp North stands for off-the-books partnerships, back-room deals, hidden assets, and fraudulent public disclosures.
DevCorp North is active in property tax policy. DevCorp North serves as a tax-payer financed lobbyist and grass-roots lobbyist for property tax breaks for large corporations like S&C Electric and Combined-Development Howard LLC. Supporting DevCorp North means supporting tax breaks for corporations. Supporting DevCorp North means supporting property tax increases on small businesses, homeowners, and residents, as DevCorp North did on Howard, Morse, Glenwood, and Clark to support themselves.
DevCorp North courts national chains while doing little to support locally-owned small businesses.
DevCorp North believes the needs of local businesses override the needs of workers. DevCorp North pro-actively undermines our federal and state minimum wage laws. DevCorp North undermines unions by duplicating and privatizing city services. DevCorp North contributes to the economic disparity in our society by working to make an inner circle of developers very wealthy while promoting lower wages.
DevCorp North is an extension of the ward political organization. Supporting DevCorp North means supporting the Alderman and the Committeeman.
Through their actions DevCorp North is clearly on the wrong side of too many issues: living wages, unions, equitable taxation, accountability, and open process.
Zippy wrote: There’s nothing wrong with the People asking the Judiciary to investigate local government. That’s just plain American.
Might one suggest that it's also naive to announce such on a public blog. A dinner for all readers at Heartland on me that DevCorp principals, friends, and political leaders will beat Hugh to the Loop.
Mostly, though, I suspect that it will be damn difficult to prove illegal activity. And, really, why bother doing anything out and out illegal when simply sucking slowly at the taxpayer's teat is so much more profitable? The only way to stop it is to undo the SSA by not renewing it or otherwise voting it out of existence. Next: demand that our politicians outlaw "nonprofit" (read: tax-free) status for all organizations except those that provide humanitarian services such as disaster relief, food, clothing, housing, etc. whereby the actual needy actually receive goods and services necessary to exist. Yes, I am actually proposing that churches, PETA, NOW, NRA, People for the American Way, Jerry Falwell's group, Family First (or whatever it's called), and all other lobbying organizations (and, really, that's what all these groups spend the vast majority of their $ on) pay taxes just like the rest of us, and just like most companies people work for. I could write a book on how otherwise commercial and political operations get non-profit status and avoid the taxman but compete with for-profit enterprises. Talk about a taxpayer subsidy. Red Cross, Salvation Army, Food banks, etc. would obviously be exempt. The real problem with DevCorp is their public subsidy on multiple counts -- SSA funding and tax-free status. How many times do we all have to pay for organizations like this? DevCorp simply one of many.
>I suggest that Hugh compose a single page cover letter to the AG with a brief (2-5 page) summary of the complaints.
You don't know that I haven't already. Thanks for the suggestion, but if you don't mind, I would like to gently turn this around a bit.
>Might one suggest that it's also naive to announce such on a public blog.
Yes, we can all do this together, but I agree with Pamela that an online, group collaboration is not the best way to get this done.
>We could probably come up with a way for people to sign the complaint in confidence.
Rather than one, big final letter that we all sign, may I suggest a number of smaller, heart-felt letters, to a variety of stakeholders?
>I suspect that it will be damn difficult to prove illegal activity.
I agree, but we don't have to. We are not prosecutors or lawyers (mostly). We are concerned citizens. We do not have to prove anything, we just need to express our concerns as best we can. Yes, PLEASE write to AG Madigan. Write in your own words. You don't have to lay out formal charges or evidence. Tell the AG your concerns. Tell waht you know is true or are worried what is true. If you're not sure what to say, simply say you think something is wrong, and say what you think it is, as best you can.
If you are concerned about an organization appears to be able to raise taxes at will, and then makes the taxes disappear, write that.
If you are concerned that a City-funded agency is an unregistered lobbyist and grass-roots lobbyist for a City agenda including tax breaks for corporations and tax increases on small businesses, homeowners, and residents, write that.
If you are concerned that an tax-payer funded organization flyers for politicians, write that.
If you are concerned that an organization is registered as a public charity but acts like a business league or chamber of commerce, write that.
If you are concerned that a organization is using off-the-books partnerships to hide assets while applying for grants, write that.
Ask for a response. Mention that you are interested in helping and following up with the complaint, and ask how you can track it, ask for a case number or tracking number or whatever.
Thanks, all!
Illinois Attorney General
If someone wants to send a message that you are serious about change in the 49th Ward, then you had better make a statement NOW.
What I am referring to is running in the March Primary against one of Ald. Moore's political allies. I would particularly take note of that sleazy State Senator and State Central Committeewoman, Carol Ronen, who has always been willing to play ball with Moore, Fagus & Co.
Now you 1,000 signatures to run against Ronen for State Senator. Given the fact that you have to file the petitions in Springfield by 5 pm next Monday and the fact that these "progressives" are certain to challenge any packet of petitions that doesn't have at least twice thet, a late bid for State Senator may not be practical, unless you have already begun or you get a lot of help from volunteers in the other parts of her district.
State Central Committeewoman is a different story. You only need 100 signatures to file, and they can be obtained from any Democrat registered to vote in the 9th Congressional District. Even at this late date, it should be possible for an organized effort to get 350-400 signatures and bring them down to Springfield by 5 pm next Monday.
Ronen's pro-Blagojevich and ultra-liberal views will not help her among the voters in the western half of this district (which cuts thru the suburbs from Evanston west to Des Plaines, then south to Rosemont, taking in the 41st Ward, the only ward with a Republican Alderman). Her past support of Moore and Fagus will hurt her in the 49th Ward.
A victory on March 21 over Ronen (or any other Moore ally; the low petition signature requirement just makes Ronen the easiest target among the Moore allies seeking reelection in March) would make it easier to recruit volunteers and raise funds for the campaign against Moore. A victory on March 21 might convince some disgruntled residents to stay and fight, rather than simply moving out of the ward.
If anyone wants further information about the office of State Central Committeewoman or how to file in this race, please call the Illinois Committee for Honest Government IMMEDIATELY at 773/744-8839.
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer,
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
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