Alderman Moore's Shadow Government

RPBooster asks: Who are the members of the 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee? Nobody outside of the committee seems to know for sure. People who are probably on the committee are Katie Hogan (owner of the Heartland Cafe,), Michael James, and recently appointed member Jim Ginderske. Kevin O'Neil is the committee's Chairman (he's also on the board of DevCorp North). It is disturbing that this question needs to be asked. It is as though the committee is a black operation, part of a local shadow government. Why would Alderman Moore not post the membership on his web site? Now that Jim Ginderske is on the committee, I call on him to IMMEDIATELY publicize the FULL membership list of the Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee. He has, in effect, promised to do so. He said this on his campaign web site: I will aggressively pursue allegations of corruption that have been ignored by our current representatives in the City Council. I will end permanently the secretive deliberations of the Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee. Such bodies serve as little more than information-restrictors that benefit certain favored parties at the expense of others. A great benefit of transparency is the guidance people receive regarding issues and how Chicago government can be influenced through citizen action. I will help an informed Rogers Park citzenry advocate effectively on issues that impact our lives. Examples of this measure tax policy, lakefront issues, or school funding questions. There is no question about the dedication of Rogers Park residents to advocacy. What is needed is a straightforward line of communication accompanied by an alderman who is willing to lead us in the best direction. (See full page from the Ginderske 2007 campaign web site.) We also call on Alderman Moore to IMMEDIATELY publicize the FULL membership list of the Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee. Moore's own website does not tell us the committee membership. From: "RogersParkBooster" To: rogersparkbench@yahoo.com Subject: New comment on Snarky 49th Ward. RogersParkBooster has left a new comment on your post "Snarky 49th Ward": I was wondering who was actually on Joe Moore's 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee. A little searching on the inter-nets (what will they think of next) yields claims (mostly by Joe Moore) that it is a wonderful committee, and that it demonstrates what a great and democratic thinker Joe is, and that Jay Johnson was a buddy of Joe's who got pulled off the committee it when he became a political liability to Joe (I think some kids died?), and that Jim Ginderski wanted to take Jay Johnson's place as Joe's new best friend, but beyond that, I can't find anything about the ZAULAC - no meeting minutes, no past or current member list, no discussion of what proposed projects have been discussed in the meetings, no idea of what rules are followed, how often Joe has or has not followed their lead, when they do or do not meet - in fact, I can't find anything about what the committee really is or actually does. It seems to be murky government transparancy at best. Not being a computer wizard, as you obviously are), can you help me out Rogers Park Bench? Seems there's a lot of hollering about something nobody knows much about. RPBooster You may also be interested in this cached article from Chi-Town Daily News: