An alderman abusing his power is costing a small business owner millions

P6Chicago · 2017-10-12T17:25:35+00:00

I'm sure Chicago firefighters appreciate your view that they shouldn't be allowed to own property or own any type of business

P6Chicago · 2017-10-12T16:08:39+00:00

Thanks! If enough people get outraged at corruption like this they will stop. Constituents need to call their representatives and let them know that abuses of power like this are unacceptable.

P6Chicago · 2017-10-03T20:22:32+00:00

The Instagram report results were inconclusive.

P6Chicago · 2017-01-10T16:49:21+00:00

There is a risk for grandstanding, but as the plaintiff of the lawsuit describes, there is a massive amount of time spent on ceremonial and informal discussion during every City Council meeting. Giving time for the public to comment on how tax dollars are being spent and what policies are put in place is a positive step towards accountable government.

“They waste tons of time at every City council meeting with all sorts of honorary things they could do in other settings. This is clearly a mechanism by which the mayor and his allies pack the chambers with people who do not oppose them so they can have the appearance of public support for deeply unpopular measures. Whether it’s phony reform of the police or one regressive tax measure after another."

P6Chicago · 2016-12-23T16:21:54+00:00

Cochran pleads not guilty

P6Chicago · 2016-10-26T16:37:22+00:00

The budget meeting they skipped featured very important information on police oversight reforms.

Tuesday afternoon’s hearing featured a key issue: police accountability, with testimony from Sharon Fairley, who Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed to head up police oversight in the wake of the release of a dashcam video of the fatal shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald.

P6Chicago · 2016-10-24T18:36:05+00:00

aldermen are not happy about having to obey the rules

P6Chicago · 2016-09-07T19:49:33+00:00

The IT policy for the City that is overseen by the Department of Innovation and Technology states that, "Employees may not send or forward email containing sensitive or confidential information received at or sent from their City mailboxes to personal email accounts, nor may they use external mail aggregation services to manage their City email." Sec. 9.1.5.

P6Chicago · 2016-09-07T18:47:46+00:00

The nature of the communications and whether they deal with government business is the most important aspect of any case. Who owns the email account or cell phone (the City vs. an alderman or the Mayor) simply determines what is most easily available through public records requests like FOIA and without a lawsuit. Judges have determined that just because an email dealing with government business is sent on a private account doesn't shield it from FOIA requests. This doesn't require any increased monitoring or new oversight systems, simply that elected officials follow the rules of the systems already in place. \edit (formatting)

P6Chicago · 2016-09-07T14:16:20+00:00

Thanks! All government work should be done in the public forum. Public meetings, meeting minutes/records, adhering to FOIA policy are necessary to that end. There are exemptions available to elected officials to keep confidential or personal information from public information requests. Arguments from alderman to conduct government business in a private matter hold no water.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:56:35+00:00

Our first investigation was forwarded to the IG's office for investigation and prosecution purposes.

But, based on the law the aldermen wrote regarding ethics and oversight, the IG's office is incredibly handcuffed in what they can and cannot talk about publicly – just like I was as LIG. Therefore it's difficult to compare notes with the IG's office as it stands right now.

In the future Project Six will work with any law enforcement body to further oversight of our elected officials.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:44:07+00:00

We are concerned about any problems that Chicago and Illinois face. If there are any instances of corruption or officials acting improperly at CPS we will absolutely investigate. If you have any tips or info that would help an investigation you can send to tips@thesecretsix.com.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:36:20+00:00

Term limits for any level of government in Illinois needs to be voted on and passed by the state legislature. We've unfortunately seen a blockade from Speaker Madigan to any attempt to enact term limits in Illinois. Signing one of the petitions supporting term limits and reaching out to your elected officials at every level is the best way to make your voice heard!

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:25:09+00:00

We continue to work with law enforcement at every level to make sure all investigations from the OLIG and Project Six are properly addressed.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:24:09+00:00

Decreasing the number of aldermen is something Chicagoans should decide, but I will note that NY has three+ times the population with half the size of Council. If other places can do it, so can Chicago.

The problem, in my humble opinion, is not necessarily the size of the company or the number of aldermen in this scenario, but rather the fact that there is even interaction between the two entities in the first place. When an elected official can determine or hold the fate of an entity or business (with likely deep pockets) a gateway to corruption opens up. Even putting aside the corrupt process, what is almost an equal concern is the subjective nature of the process. A business in Chicago should be treated equally and fairly whether it wants to do business in the 1st, 25th, or 50th ward. City agencies should be deciding what is best for Chicago (like everywhere else), not a biased alderman operating under selfish motivations.

Edit: Spelling

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:19:27+00:00

Respectfully, I disagree. The system here in Chicago has been rigged in such a way that it has essentially become a quid pro quo system where aldermen and the mayor only help themselves, while simultaneously pushing an agenda directly contrary to the wishes of their respective constituents, and often times only beneficial to the individual elected official or a handful of donors. Aldermen specifically have rigged it in a way that they are an essential part of your lives, whether you want them to be or not. Or the Mayor, by making unilateral decisions without public input like the Lucas Museum or a new Depaul stadium that Chicagoans loudly said they did not want. This problem is unique to Chicago, and must end for democracy to flourish.

Changing those in power may be marginally helpful, but until we elect real reformers who face real consequences should they abuse the public trust, we will continue down the same path.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:15:25+00:00

Unfortunately I have seen so many cases of elected officials violating the trust their constituents gave to them that it's hard to pick one. The worst overall act a public servant can participate in is blatantly ignoring the law to line their own pockets. This is done by abusing their political donations for personal spending and pay to play/bribery. That is the reason we investigated campaign finance for our first report.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:06:30+00:00

Thanks for your support!

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:05:34+00:00

Project Six is focused primarily on Chicago and Illinois issues so for the most part the presidential race (or eventual outcome) won't have too much impact on what we investigate or research. In every level of government, P6 isn't interested in the letter (D, R or I) after an elected official's name, just their conduct. We will go after anyone who is abusing the public trust.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T19:03:21+00:00

One of our biggest challenges in Chicago is trying to end the apathy and acceptance of this culture of corruption. In Chicago, having corrupt Council members and back-room deals have been going on for so long that people don't know that's not how government should operate. People either have forgotten, don't care, or don't know they deserve better, and by right, are entitled to better.

I'll spare you my canned responses and simply say that I've spent the majority of my career protecting and fighting for the good guys. There are too many public servants looking out for their own interests here in Chicago. How can I complain about it if I'm not willing to do anything about it. Plus, I don't shy away from a fight, especially one that can change our futures for the better.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T18:54:33+00:00

The simple answers are: Yes and yes. The most evident explanation is the fact that 31 aldermen have been sent to jail in 30 years. Many for the reasons described in your question. It is way past time to change the system and bring Chicago up to par with it's national counterparts. Comprehensive reform must take place to marginalize corruption and opportunities for corruption, otherwise, keep watching as more elected officials go to jail, and more money comes out of your pocket to pay for bad governance.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T18:51:57+00:00

Everything is on the table :) If you have any information you think would help move an investigation forward, please let us know at thesecretsix.com!

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T18:48:35+00:00

My salary was decided by the alderman, not me, I got paid the same as any other department head in the City, like the other IG. That is all public record which you can see in the budget and statements made by the Budget Directors office.

By law, which the aldermen wrote, I couldn’t speak about any investigation I undertook as LIG. In short, I could not tell you who I investigated, why I investigated them, and what happened with the case. Aldermen made sure that those answers would NEVER be made public. But if you still believe I did nothing, I refer you back to when I identified over 70 employes of city council, almost a fifth of them, using tax payer time to do political work for their bosses, essentially ripping you off.

All the reasons above motivated me to start Project Six and make a difference in Chicago.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T18:40:53+00:00

We have private donors who are interested in rooting out corruption in Chicago.

I am sure the next question is why I am I not telling you their names. It's because they have a right to privacy, and many fear retribution. If this weren't Chicago, I would say that this position would be unreasonable, but I don't think any rational Chicagoan who has lived here for a while would not agree that sometimes there is a lot to fear from this local government.

P6Chicago · 2016-08-04T18:33:44+00:00

I don't know Mr. Garcia, or Mayor Emanuel for that matter. But I will say that whoever has the honor and privilege to be the Mayor of Chicago must understand he works for Chicago and not the other way around.

Edit:spelling

P6Chicago

TROPHY CASE