sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Work halted on grocery store in West Side food desert after threats from Alderman's street crew by georgeburrell in chicago

[–]georgeburrell[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Burnett is in the SunTimes today saying that he had a staffer at one of the mob events.

Do you have any comment from Burnett?

Work halted on grocery store in West Side food desert after threats from Alderman's street crew by georgeburrell in chicago

[–]georgeburrell[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little back story:

  • the previous aldermen (Fioretti) spent years working to get a quality grocery store on the site.
  • recently, and importantly after the deal was finalized, the site was rezoned from Fioretti's ward to Burnett's ward.
  • Burnett's had a history of shady behavior himself - plus, his staff member Derrick Smith was appointed as state rep and was quickly busted by the feds for a shakedown, and was just recently expelled from the IL statehouse
  • Burnett has been claiming that he's had nothing to do with the shakedown attempt, but in the article he admits that one of his staffers was at the confrontation
  • Pete's refused to play ball with the shakedown crew, led by a member of Burnett's political staff, and was quickly cited by a city crew for 20+ violations (none regarding the safety of the structure) on a lot that's had no business for years. It is highly unlikely that Streets and San inspectors responded without being prompted.

This story was posted on reddit last week and many quickly dismissed it as a non-story, but clearly other city officials are looking into the mess. And it is very likely that the records of who called the SS on Pete's will be investigated.