SHARETaxpayers spent nearly $66 million fashioning McCormick Place into an emergency coronavirus hospital with 2,750 beds this past spring amid fears that COVID-19 patients would overwhelm hospitals in the Chicago area.Those fears turned out to be unfounded. Just 38 patients were transferred to the sprawling convention center — meaning taxpayers’ cost for the makeshift hospital turned out to be more than $1.7 million per patient, on average.But top aides to Mayor Lori Lightfoot say her decision to initiate the project with the federal government and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition...…SHARETaxpayers spent nearly $66 million fashioning McCormick Place into an emergency coronavirus hospital with 2,750 beds this past spring amid fears that COVID-19 patients would overwhelm hospitals in the Chicago area.Those fears turned out to be unfounded. Just 38 patients were transferred to the sprawling convention center — meaning taxpayers’ cost for the makeshift hospital turned out to be more than $1.7 million per patient, on average.But top aides to Mayor Lori Lightfoot say her decision to initiate the project with the federal government and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition...WW…

SHAREEarly last year, when federal investigations into public corruption dominated the headlines, a longtime ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan gave a little advice to a ComEd vice president, according to an explosive court document filed Friday.Lobbyist Mike McClain allegedly told the utility executive that, “I would say to you don’t put anything in writing.”“All it can do is hurt ya,” he added.The two then discussed a “favor” for Madigan that federal prosecutors now say was part of a brazen, years-long Chicago-style bribery scheme that sent $1.3 million to Madigan’s associates for...…SHAREEarly last year, when federal investigations into public corruption dominated the headlines, a longtime ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan gave a little advice to a ComEd vice president, according to an explosive court document filed Friday.Lobbyist Mike McClain allegedly told the utility executive that, “I would say to you don’t put anything in writing.”“All it can do is hurt ya,” he added.The two then discussed a “favor” for Madigan that federal prosecutors now say was part of a brazen, years-long Chicago-style bribery scheme that sent $1.3 million to Madigan’s associates for...WW…

SHARESHAREA Cook County agency now under two separate reviews over insider dealings gave its $225,750-a-year executive director a $45,000 performance bonus last year — and plans to give him another for the same amount this year.Since Robert Rose Jr. was hired in 2015 to run the Cook County Land Bank Authority, he has been paid more than $1.1 million — including $107,500 in bonuses, records show.Rose was given those bonuses under the terms of employment contracts signed by Bridget Gainer, the elected Cook County Board member who, with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, founded the...…SHARESHAREA Cook County agency now under two separate reviews over insider dealings gave its $225,750-a-year executive director a $45,000 performance bonus last year — and plans to give him another for the same amount this year.Since Robert Rose Jr. was hired in 2015 to run the Cook County Land Bank Authority, he has been paid more than $1.1 million — including $107,500 in bonuses, records show.Rose was given those bonuses under the terms of employment contracts signed by Bridget Gainer, the elected Cook County Board member who, with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, founded the...WW…

SHAREOver the past three decades, a family-owned construction company got 32 contracts from the city of Chicago to repair sewers and install water mains — work that cost taxpayers more than $295 million.Now, in a federal lawsuit against the company that was initiated by a whistleblower, City Hall accuses Joel Kennedy Constructing Corp. of lying and cheating to get six contracts since 2013, including falsely claiming to be a Chicago company when it’s actually headquartered in Waukegan.According to the lawsuit, the company also submitted phony paperwork showing 50% of the work was done by...…SHAREOver the past three decades, a family-owned construction company got 32 contracts from the city of Chicago to repair sewers and install water mains — work that cost taxpayers more than $295 million.Now, in a federal lawsuit against the company that was initiated by a whistleblower, City Hall accuses Joel Kennedy Constructing Corp. of lying and cheating to get six contracts since 2013, including falsely claiming to be a Chicago company when it’s actually headquartered in Waukegan.According to the lawsuit, the company also submitted phony paperwork showing 50% of the work was done by...WW…

SHARESHAREThe owners of a mall called Chinatown Square had, over eight years, failed to pay more than $1 million in property taxes and interest for the mall’s sweeping plaza and brick-paved corridors along Archer Avenue in the heart of booming Chinatown.They say they had no idea that they owed any taxes until 2017. That’s when an obscure Cook County government agency filed a claim at the county treasurer’s scavenger tax sale to eventually acquire the mall’s 62,000 square feet of common areas, which are separate from its stores and restaurants.The Cook County Land Bank Authority’s original...…SHARESHAREThe owners of a mall called Chinatown Square had, over eight years, failed to pay more than $1 million in property taxes and interest for the mall’s sweeping plaza and brick-paved corridors along Archer Avenue in the heart of booming Chinatown.They say they had no idea that they owed any taxes until 2017. That’s when an obscure Cook County government agency filed a claim at the county treasurer’s scavenger tax sale to eventually acquire the mall’s 62,000 square feet of common areas, which are separate from its stores and restaurants.The Cook County Land Bank Authority’s original...WW…

Filed under:Named in the indictment are Madigan friend Michael McClain, ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore as well as former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and Jay Doherty, the ex-president of the City Club.Federal prosecutors marched deeper into House Speaker Michael Madigan’s inner circle Wednesday, charging longtime confidant Michael McClain and ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore in a bribery scheme designed to curry favor with the powerful Southwest Side Democrat.Also named in the 50-page indictment are ex-top ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and Jay Doherty, the former president of the City Club, who was...…Filed under:Named in the indictment are Madigan friend Michael McClain, ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore as well as former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and Jay Doherty, the ex-president of the City Club.Federal prosecutors marched deeper into House Speaker Michael Madigan’s inner circle Wednesday, charging longtime confidant Michael McClain and ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore in a bribery scheme designed to curry favor with the powerful Southwest Side Democrat.Also named in the 50-page indictment are ex-top ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and Jay Doherty, the former president of the City Club, who was...WW…

SHAREFor years, nobody wanted the abandoned warehouse in the west suburbs.A big reason: The building — an old perfume factory in Bellwood — had unpaid property taxes topping $1 million that anyone who bought it would have to pay.To try to get the property once again bringing in taxes, the Cook County Land Bank Authority stepped in.The county government agency was established in 2011 to do that very sort of thing and given an unusual power to help make it happen: It can wipe out any unpaid taxes on vacant property so prospective buyers won’t have that added financial burden. All they have to...…SHAREFor years, nobody wanted the abandoned warehouse in the west suburbs.A big reason: The building — an old perfume factory in Bellwood — had unpaid property taxes topping $1 million that anyone who bought it would have to pay.To try to get the property once again bringing in taxes, the Cook County Land Bank Authority stepped in.The county government agency was established in 2011 to do that very sort of thing and given an unusual power to help make it happen: It can wipe out any unpaid taxes on vacant property so prospective buyers won’t have that added financial burden. All they have to...WW…

SHAREWhen Mayor Richard M. Daley held office, one of his most powerful — if least visible — aides was Victor Reyes, Daley’s City Hall patronage chief.Reyes, who since has gone on to become a powerhouse Chicago lobbyist, still likes to stay out of the spotlight. But that’s getting harder as federal authorities continue to pursue their wide-ranging investigation of political corruption in Chicago and the suburbs, a dragnet that so far has resulted in criminal charges against politicians including Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) and former state Sen. Martin Sandoval.Unlike Burke and Sandoval,...…SHAREWhen Mayor Richard M. Daley held office, one of his most powerful — if least visible — aides was Victor Reyes, Daley’s City Hall patronage chief.Reyes, who since has gone on to become a powerhouse Chicago lobbyist, still likes to stay out of the spotlight. But that’s getting harder as federal authorities continue to pursue their wide-ranging investigation of political corruption in Chicago and the suburbs, a dragnet that so far has resulted in criminal charges against politicians including Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) and former state Sen. Martin Sandoval.Unlike Burke and Sandoval,...WW…

SHAREA Chicago doctor is suing his business partner, accusing her of “looting” more than $3.7 million from their business to finance an “extravagant lifestyle” and to lavish Ald. George Cardenas (12th) with luxurious trips, an expensive watch and a monthly stipend for consulting services.Cardenas had been hired to drum up business for Omni Medical Student Training, which places students from Caribbean medical schools in residency programs with Chicago hospitals. The alderman wasn’t very successful in getting hospitals to sign up, though, according to the suit.Omni’s owners — Dr. Vivek Gupta...…SHAREA Chicago doctor is suing his business partner, accusing her of “looting” more than $3.7 million from their business to finance an “extravagant lifestyle” and to lavish Ald. George Cardenas (12th) with luxurious trips, an expensive watch and a monthly stipend for consulting services.Cardenas had been hired to drum up business for Omni Medical Student Training, which places students from Caribbean medical schools in residency programs with Chicago hospitals. The alderman wasn’t very successful in getting hospitals to sign up, though, according to the suit.Omni’s owners — Dr. Vivek Gupta...WW…

Filed under:Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s aides defend her push for little-used coronavirus hospital built by Walsh Construction as important ‘insurance policy’ at a time of ‘immense emergency.’Taxpayers spent nearly $66 million fashioning McCormick Place into an emergency coronavirus hospital with 2,750 beds this past spring amid fears that COVID-19 patients would overwhelm hospitals in the Chicago area.Those fears turned out to be unfounded. Just 38 patients were transferred to the sprawling convention center — meaning taxpayers’ cost for the makeshift hospital turned out to be more than $1.7...…Filed under:Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s aides defend her push for little-used coronavirus hospital built by Walsh Construction as important ‘insurance policy’ at a time of ‘immense emergency.’Taxpayers spent nearly $66 million fashioning McCormick Place into an emergency coronavirus hospital with 2,750 beds this past spring amid fears that COVID-19 patients would overwhelm hospitals in the Chicago area.Those fears turned out to be unfounded. Just 38 patients were transferred to the sprawling convention center — meaning taxpayers’ cost for the makeshift hospital turned out to be more than $1.7...WW…