Official Zoning Lobbyist of Joe Moore (R) In The News

Those keeping score at home may recall the law firm of James J. "Jar Jar" Banks as the zoning lobbyists who worked with Joe Moore on such Moore legislative initiatives as:

• their joint assault on the Lakefront Protection Ordinance for campaign contributor Connie Abels' legacy project at 7015 N Sheridan in February, 2006
• the $2M TIF subsidy for the campaign contributor owners of 6610-28 N Sheridan in late 2007, approved by the CDC weeks after Moore's re-election
• the zoning change for the southwest corner of Howard & Damen
• and many others (please post in the comments)
  

Banks is the MOST SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY in the history of Chicago! He has never lost a issue before his unc's Zoning committee!

When Banks and his law firm are not busy rewriting our zoning laws to order for their developer clients, they generously exercise their right to political expression, showing a strong preference for propping up incumbents, including Moore, Stone, and Shiller.

Zoning lobbyist, TIF consultant, attorney, campaign financier, and now banker: Banks is the subject of a fascinating salvo of investigative reports in today's Sun-Times, required reading for anyone trying to understand zoning and development in Chicago:

The bank of Banks

INSIDER LOANS

Bank of alderman's nephew lends millions to his wife, other relatives and his legal clients

October 14, 2008

BY TIM NOVAK Chicago Sun-Times Staff Reporter

For years, James J. Banks, a nephew of Chicago's powerful Ald. William Banks (36th), has been the attorney of choice for developers who need the city's OK to knock down homes and small businesses and replace them with three- and four-story condo buildings.

Now, he's their money man of choice, too, financing projects through his 2-year-old bank.

Banks is chairman of the board of Belmont Bank & Trust Company, which he founded in his uncle's Northwest Side ward.

It is, truly, the bank of Banks...

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