Besides 'too much crime' and Joe Moore's total neglect of the ward issues like 'too much crime', the waste and mismanagement at DevCorp North ranks third on my list of "things that need to be fixed in Rogers Park'.
One reason - Our Special Service Area tax #24 they administer. It's a neighborhood laughingstock. It's also a huge disgrace to the tax payers who are getting swindled into paying for it.
Being awarded over a quarter of a million dollars a year on a street tax, for the last four years - this now totals about a million dollars DevCorp North has collected in it's coffers.
From all accounts, they're paying the janitors that work for them slaves wages to go around with a broom and dust pan. Other than that, the program amounts up to a bunch of feel good banners, a few studies, and a mural or two and a street fair.
DevCorp North for the most part pockets the rest of the money on super inflated administration fees and way too high administrative salary's.
Then they go out and buy all sorts of useless stuff like tractors, snow plows, gas guzzling pick-up trucks, fancy talking/motorized sidewalk sweepers and super duper power washers that get used once or twice and then stored in a well connected campaign contributors garage the other 11 and a 1/2 months of the year for a hefty fee.
Besides Kim Bares and Joe Moore, or anyone connected to those two, can anyone honestly say Special Service Area #24 is worth having around?
11 comments:
Speaking of tax dollars with all of the "cash shortages" example:CTA, Schools,etc,etc.
What happened to the (I believe) several BILLON DOLLARS from the sale of the Skyway go? Also did you know that Chicagoland casinos ranks 3rd in gameing revenue (only Las Vegas & Atlantic city rank higher) we take in approx 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS annually!
So just from these two sources, I ask "Where are thses dollars being spent?"
Why is there a sortage of funds for the CTA? Shortage of funds for schools? Just asking! Any guesses where the dollars are going?
Who is your community representative on the SSA and who are the players who distribute the money?
The City of Chicago Planning Department rules the roost when it comes to SSA's.
It's not local in nature at all.
They have this formula chart with all the line-items and how much can be spent on what program. Each one has it's own little administration fee for the provider attached, as to not look like the public is being soaked.
Bares then forces the agenda on clueless commissioners, who are handpicked by DevCorp North because of their cluelessness in nature.
Bares again is the one who really dictates how the money is spent and the commissioners nod in agreement. Most call it a rubber stamp.
A couple of aggressive commissioners do get their little pet projects approved now and then, like Al Goldberg got support for his Glenwood Art fair.
With over 600 residents effected in one way or another in having to pay into SSA #24, I would say DevCorp North could present 50 people to say the SSA has benefited the community. Hardly a majority.
But then, when this issue is brought up, they always argue back with the same bullshit, They will say they do everything with-in the letter of the law. This will be the common - stock answer.
Well, duh, they're the one's who drew up the law to make it difficult to challenge the process.
casinos? in chicago?
Been There...Chicagoland...means the subrubs , like Elgin, Aurora, Joliet towns that have casinos. That what Chicagland means.
The towns where the state collects over 1.5 BILLON DOLLARS from the casino.
For starters - our wonderful governor spends over five thousand a day to go to and from Springfield-
Inkjar..thats my point! Our elected officials piss away the money, our asshole governer doesn't want to live in Springfield so he spends as you said 5,000 so he can go back & forth!
That is how it seems to be the goverment will spend millions of dollars to see how they can balance the budget do goverment will keep working!
Goverment has a deep well to pull money from! They have no problem pissing it away!!
Again think about the fact that just from the casinos the money brought in is over 1.5 BILLON a year!!!
Thats buys alot of airplane rides for our governer!
Ryan, please stay on topic. If you want to talk about Springfield issues, head to Capitol Fax Blog.
Graig...My point is the city,& state has alot of dollars they collect. I was just bringing up the Skyway sale and the revenue brought in from the casino, should keep taxs down (No need for SSA) as well as funding many other programs.
Thats what I was trying to tie in to this story.
yeah, Craig!
the government pisses away LOTS of money!
why NOT piss away a quarter mil a year on DevCorp North?
there's LOTS of bigger wastes of money than DevCorp North!
why don't you cover THEM on your blog?
not to change the subject or anything...
RYNE-
STICK IT TO THEM-MAKE UM CHOKE ON THEIR ROTTEN GOOSE LIVER-
DE VRY CORP IS NOTHING BUT A POLITICIAL DRAIN-
MAKES ME WONDER IF THAT IS WHY SOME ARTIST OR GROUP DIDN'T GET THE MORSE COMISSION AS THEY ARE TOO WISE TO THE GOOSE LIVER-
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