January 31, 2007
CANDIDTATES RIP 45TH WARD AS "SODOM AND GOMORRAH"
Has Chicago's Northwest Side 45th Ward become the latter-day equivalent of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Biblical cities destroyed by the sinfulness of their inhabitants? That's what the Feb. 27 opponents of Ald. Pat Levar contend, citing a "Sin Strip" along Milwaukee Ave., between Montrose and Agatite. There are taverns, alleged pornographic videos, and the now-shuttered VIP massage parlor, where prostitution allegedly flourished. Attempts to evict VIP took two years. Said Paul Tsakiris, owner of the property, who initiated the eviction: "(Levar) is allowing whorehouses to dominate the area." Ex-Levar aide Terry Boyke picketed VIP, and the place is now closed. Boyke, Bob Bank, and Anna Klosek are Levar's opponents in the ward, which encompasses Jefferson Park, Portage Park, Gladstone Park, Forest Glen, and part of Mayfair. Levar won with 65% in 2003, and is chairman of the Aviation Committee. Levar is under fire for a decrepit business district, out-of-control residential re-zoning, lax constituent service, and diminished credibility, spurred by the rumor that he will quit during his next term, and have the mayor appoint his son. The death of longtime Democratic Committeeman Tom Lyons will motivate captains to "win one for Tom." Levar will win, but not by much. Full Article...
January 24, 2007
ALDERMAN STONE, MATLAK LOOM AS 2007 CASUALTIES
It takes a real effort for a Chicago alderman to lose. The incumbent must be massively inept and incompetent, or indicted. Or there's massive fatigue. Or massive demographic change. In the past 7 city elections, from 1979 to 2003, encompassing 350 races in the 50 wards, the alderman has triumphed in 268 of 302 contests, for an 88.7% victory percentage; the other 48 races were for open seats. That means 4 or 5 incumbents lose each cycle. This year, Aldermen Ted Matlak (32nd) and Berny Stone (50th) are atop the Most-Likely-To-Lose list. Matlak, from the Wicker Park-Bucktown area, is criticized for his failure to return phone calls, poor services, spot zoning in exchange for contributions, and Hired Truck connections. White city workers, under the direction of the convicted Tomczak and Katalinic, flooded the ward in 1999 and 2003 to elect him. They're gone. Matlak will likely lose to Scott Waguespack. Stone, age 79, is an icon in the changing West Rogers Park ward. The Jewish vote is diminishing, and the Third World vote is soaring. Stone will be forced into a runoff, and could lose. Full Article...
January 17, 2007
"POLITICS AIN'T BEANBAG" IN 39TH AND 47TH WARDS
Chicago legend Paddy Bauler once said that "politics ain't beanbag." In the Northwest Side 39th Ward, run by the Laurino Clan since 1964, politics is mortal combat, and opponents are squashed, bludgeoned and disemboweled. Chris Belz, a computer geek in the county Circuit Court Clerk's office, is challenging Alderman Marge Laurino, and that's viewed as a hostile takeover attempt of the family business. Randy Barnette, Marge's husband and Democratic committeeman, ripped Belz for his 1999 arrest, and for the fact that 14 of 24 Belz petition circulators allegedly had "criminal records." Belz said the circulators were clients of his father, a criminal defense attorney. Laurino will win easily. In the 47th Ward, Marty Cooney, an undertaker by profession, will get himself embalmed in his bid to oust 32-year Alderman Gene Schulter. Cooney rips Schulter for ward "over development." Schulter notes that he has down zoned the entire ward, which means no knockdowns. Schulter will win. Full Article...
January 10, 2007
"WHITENING OF CHICAGO" AFFECTS BLACK ALDERMEN
The "whitening" of Chicago continues apace, and we're not talking about snowfall. Mayor Rich Daley's focus on neighborhood redevelopment does not just expand the city's tax base; it also expands the city's white voter base. At present, Chicago has 22 white aldermen, from 19 white-majority wards; 8 Hispanic aldermen, from 11 Hispanic-majority wards; and 20 black aldermen, from 20 black-majority wards. Due to development, and upscale condominium construction, the white vote is expanding rapidly in the 2nd, 3rd, 24th and 27th wards, on the near South and West sides, which now have black aldermen. The Hispanic population is expanding rapidly in the 9th, 15th and 37th wards, which have black aldermen. "Corruption" is not an issue in 2007, as many black Chicagoans have public sector jobs, and support the status quo. At least 16 black incumbents face challenges on Feb. 27, and a white may win in the 2nd Ward. Key races are in the 7th (Beavers v. Jackson), 8th, 9th, 16th, 18th and 37th wards. Arenda Troutman's indictment puts the 20th Ward in play. Expect 3 or 4 black aldermen to lose. Full Article...
January 3, 2007
HDO STILL A FACTOR IN ALDERMANIC RACES
For the much-maligned, much-indicted Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO), it ain't over until it's over. The HDO, Mayor Rich Daley's political machine in Chicago's Hispanic wards, is alive and well. Ex-chieftains Victor Reyes and Al Sanchez may eventually be indicted for conspiring to hire and/or promote Hispanics who worked precincts for Daley's candidates. And if they go down, then Daley is next. How can the mayor claim he knew nothing about their scheme? Chicago has 11 Hispanic majority wards. Three have white aldermen (Pope, Burke, Mell). Of the remaining, four have Mexican-American aldermen, four Puerto Rican. The HDO is focusing on saving incumbents in the 12th (Cardenas) and 30th (Reboyras) wards, and on ousting Ricardo Munoz in the 22nd Ward. There will also be tough races in the 25th, 26th and 35th wards. Daley's appointment of Miguel del Valle as city clerk was a masterstroke. Del Valle was once an HDO critic; now the HDO is backing him. But his rivals are nervous, because del Valle is now in a position to be mayor some day. Full Article...
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