Thanksgiving Burglary at 49th Ward Democratic Offices

Crime is down in Rogers Park, Chicago? Well, well, it's UP at the 49th Ward Democrat Party offices, at W. Greenleaf and N. Ravenswood. (Click our file photos to enlarge) ROGERS PARK (STNG) -- Police Thursday are investigating the break-in and theft of a computer from a political campaign office on the Far North Side. The ward's committeeman doubts the break-in was political in nature, though. About 7:20 a.m. police got a call that a door was open at the office on the 1700 block of West Greenleaf, police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez said. The 49th Ward Democratic Party campaign office is at 1774 W. Greenleaf Ave., according to 49th Ward Democratic Committeeman David Fagus. Full Story at WBBM AM... WBBM also reported that "The office is used mainly by Ald. Joe Moore, Fagus said, and the group Organizing for America, a national Democratic group, also uses the space." Funny that WBBM doesn't know that the office space is also used by Congressthing Jan Schakowsky and Crook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (13th District). It is darkly amusing that Blagojevich fan David Fagus doubts that the burglary was political in nature. Now, really, who would break in to that office for political reasons? Hmmm? I wonder how long it will be before Moore blames the bloggers for this. (I've got an airtight alibi.) Leave a Comment Conservative T-Shirts Follow CNB on Twitter RSS Feed

Tony Peraica Says Stroger "Unelectable"

Another hard-hitting segment of our exclusive interview with Tony Peraica, Cook County Board Commissioner. He doesn't mince his words as he talks about Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's chances of winning re-election, the hypocrisy of fellow Cook County commissioners and the local Democrat Party, and much more. I interviewed Peraica on May 29, 2009 at his law office on Chicago's South Side. Leave a Comment... See Our Online Store Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

Claypool Won't Run Against Stroger

Forrest Claypool, a Cook County Commissioner, won't challenge incumbent fool Todd Stroger. Good. One less fool in the running. Now hear what Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica has to say about Stroger, Claypool, Suffredin and others in Cook County's "government" in our exclusive video interview.... See Comments... Visit Our Online Store Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Hey! ChiNewsBench is on Twitter

Peraica Takes off the Gloves (Video, Part 2)

Part 2 of my six-part series, "A Conversation With Tony Peraica." On May 29, I interviewed Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica in his law office on Chicago's south side. The result was 63 minutes' worth of incredible video. In Part 1, he shared family stories, memories of his youth, and more. This installment, Part 2, is very different from the first. Here, Peraica takes the gloves off when speaking about fellow Cook County commissioners and other politicians and calls the Democrat nomination of Todd Stroger "fixed." He describes fellow commissioners Forrest Claypool and Larry Suffredin as hypocrites. Oh, there's more, and you can see the full video below. (See all six videos in the series.) Comments and Guestbook Visit Our Online Store Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Hey! ChiNewsBench is on Twitter

Suffredin Pushes for Pollution of Minnie Creek

Rod Blagojevich is just the tip of the iceberg, Illinois. Take Larry Suffredin, for example, a crony of Blago and part of the notorious Democrat Political Machine. He's the 13th District Cook County Commissioner, and he doesn't like clean drinking water. Suffredin is currently battling the Kankakee County Board in their fight to stop a proposed garbage dump on Minnie Creek. This proposal would literally dump garbage directly into the deep aquifer by blasting out several feet of bedrock to form the base of a 200 feet high mountain of garbage. The IEPA refused to stop this travesty after they were pressured by a Cook County lobbyists, Larry Suffredin hired by Barbara and Volini, all politically connected to Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich. (Source: http://www.k3power.org/) "This proposal," notes POWER, "would literally dump garbage directly into the deep aquifer by blasting out several feet of bedrock to form the base of a 200 feet high mountain of garbage. The IEPA refused to stop this travesty after they were pressured by a Cook County lobbyist, Larry Suffredin, hired by [Fred Bruno] Barbara and Volini, all politically connected to Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich." The Daily Journal details the high cost of fighting the proposed dump: The county already has spent six years and $2.25 million fighting over a landfill backed by Kankakee. It lost the last round in the 3rd District Court of Appeals in Ottawa and the Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal. The board has until late January to decide whether to proceed....If the board continues the fight, a number of scenarios could happen. The Illinois Supreme Court could re-hear the case, deny a rehearing, affirm the appellate court's opinion, reverse the opinion, or rehear the case and send it back to the Illinois Pollution Control Board for review. Full Article... The Daily Journal reported yesterday that a local attorney has offered to help the Kankakee County Board continue the legal battle at no charge. Attorney Edward Vogt said he will do it for nothing, he said, because, he said, "It is essential for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of all residents that this landfill be stopped." According to a report from thechicagosyndicate.com in January, "Larry Suffredin -- a self-styled reformer running for Cook County state's attorney -- lobbied for a landfill controlled by Fred Bruno Barbara, a businessman once charged with extortion and implicated in the mob bombing of a restaurant, the Sun-Times has learned. Suffredin, a Cook County commissioner (D-Evanston), has come under attack by rivals for his work as a lobbyist on behalf of casino and drug-company interests. State records show he also lobbied for Kankakee Regional Landfill LLC - a company tied to Barbara - in 2005, 2006, and 2007." The post from thechicagosyndicate also notes that "During the Family Secrets mob trial last year, Outfit hit man Nicholas Calabrese said Barbara participated in the 1980s bombing of Horwath's Restaurant in Elmwood Park. Barbara is the grandson of Bruno Roti Sr., an organized crime boss, and the nephew of late Ald. Fred Roti, who allegedly represented mob interests on the City Council." OUTRAGE, a citizens group, asks this: "Did former State Rep. Phil Novak sell out the area’s clean water source to boost his salary and pension by participating in Governor Blagojevich’s 'Pay for Play'?" Their post, in part, has some explosive information and accusations: In the summer of 2002, Fred Barbara and Tom Volini submitted their first application for a 236 acre Chicago regional garbage dump to the City of Kankakee through their company Town & Country Utilities. The site they chose is a very flood prone area next to Minnie Creek which drains directly into the river two miles away, up stream from the Aqua Illinois water intake pipe. The [Kankakee] city council held a hearing and gave their OK to the proposal after being promised millions in garbage tipping fees. From there the application went to the Illinois Pollution Control Board. The IPCB had a different opinion; they turned it down on the grounds the proposal failed to prove protection of the health and safety of the community. Barbara and Volini responded by appealing the decision all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court where they lost. While the appeal was going on, they filed a second dump application with the city of Kankakee in the summer of 2003 for the same 236 acre location. This was during the first year of the first term of the newly elected governor, Rod Blagojevich. The city council once again approved the dump proposal. Coincidentally local State Representative Phil Novak resigned his state rep seat and the newly elected governor appointed him to the IPCB as chairman, effective December 1 of that year. According to an April 27, 2008 Chicago Tribune front page story, titled "The governor's $25,000 club", Phil Novak threw a fund raiser for Blagojevich in July, 2002 which raised $19,000. It also stated that on July 9, 2002, he personally donated $25,000 to Blagojevich campaign fund and was appointed to the Illinois Pollution Control Board as chairman on December 1, 2003 at a salary of $102,800. The Tribune article says this was a substantial boost in salary for Mr. Novak and a substantial boost to his state pension, when he retired in 2005. It is very unusual for a new person on the IPCB to be appointed chairman. OUTRAGE further asks, "Will the Kankakee County board appeal the Phil Novak Pollution Control Board decision in favor of the dump to the Illinois Supreme Court? They will be voting at the January 13 [2009], 9:00 AM board meeting to either quit or to continue the fight by appealing." Blagojevich looks like a Boy Scout compared to Suffredin and friends. Thank God that Larry Suffredin was never elected governor - or state's attorney. RELATED LINKS BELOW: Landfill opposed but at what cost? Lawyer offers free services to continue landfill battle POWER Petitions The Illinois Supreme Court To Have The Fred Barbara/Tom Volini Garbage Dump Approval Overturned Mayor Green Backed Dump Partners, Barbara & Volini, Hired Cook County Lobbyist, Larry Suffredin To Pressure IEPA To OK Their Dump. Illinois Attorney General Sues Mayor Green's Backed Dump Partner, Tom Volini Over Illegal Dumping. The Capitol Fax Blog » Suffredin attacks, is savaged Suffredin lobbyied for Fred Barbara landfill sued for IEPA violations The Rogers Park Inconsistent - Chicago, Illinois: No Bed of Roses ...

Chicago Scumbags Rally for Obama

CHICAGO - Corrupt officials and at least one convicted felon rallied for Barack Obama yesterday at the Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway Street in the far north Edgewater neighborhood. (See video below.)

The event was more of a pep rally for Congresslady Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), whose banner was more than four times the size of the Obama banner hanging behind the little stage. Schakowsky was the main speaker. During her speech, she instructed the crowd in the fine art of responding to questions about Barack Obama's recently convicted friend and former financier, Tony Rezko.

Schakowsky said nothing to the crowd, however, about responding to questions about another convicted criminal who is still close to Obama: Her own husband, Robert "Mr. Kite" Creamer (photo, left).

Approximately 200-250 people showed up for the rally, many of whom were local politicos. Alderman Joe Moore, 49th Ward, showed off his recent cosmetic nose surgery as he sat with Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, a stooge of Cook County President Todd Stroger, and other elected officials.

David Fagus, Chief Operating Officer of Cermak Health Services was there too (photo, left). Fagus and Cermak are currently under federal investigation for alleged human rights violations. Cermak Health Services is the daily provider of healthcare to detainees at the Cook County Department of Corrections and the Department of Community Supervision and Intervention. Fagus is also the 49th Ward Democrat Committeeman, a role he has allegedly used to help Alderman Joe Moore steal past elections. Unelected officials were there too, including Sheli Lulkin, the outgoing Executive Director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce. Two chairs were welded together and reinforced with steel beams to accomodate her.

Many people left the event while Schakowsky was still speaking. The echo in the large auditorium, which can hold two NBA-sized basketball courts, made it difficult for the audience to understand what was being said. Bored, people left early to enjoy the nice weather outside.

Lyin' Larry Suffredin

Ray Hanania writes an excellent critique of Larry Suffredin, titled "Sufferin' Suffredin's hypocrisy on the County Board." Here is an excerpt from the column, in today's SWNewsherald.com: When Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin was running for Cook County State's Attorney, he told me that he opposed the tax increase package being rammed through by President Todd Stroger. But once he lost the Democratic primary to Anita Alvarez, he changed his tune and became one of the most vocal proponents of supporting Stroger's repressive 1 percent increase in the county wide sales tax. FULL COLUMN...

Cook County Crazy

A wicked open letter to the Beachwood Reporter lashes out at the Cook County government. Wow, this is hard hitting, razor sharp stuff. A must read! Can you imagine how much more damage the County Board would be capable of inflicting on innocent Cook County citizens once it is unencumbered by its gigantic, failing health system and the pathetic, fading county forest preserve district? This would be like killing off Superman so Lex Luthor can focus on devising a fool-proof plan for world domination. FULL POST at Beachwood Reporter...

Larry Suffredin: Living in Denial

A fine bit of analysis by Craig at Broken Heart:

* Big and Small Business are Fleeing the City At 6 foot 4 inches tall, Larry is a tax bully who beats up on the middle class and poor people.For Larry Suffredin, it's not about keeping his word, it's all about sound bites. Like this one in defending his "Yea" vote for the budget.

But, if you want to look in the past, let's just look at the last 8 years, shall we? I see my fellow business owners moving, laying off, cutting back and going out of business. The new businesses I see opening up, 80% fail to stay open more than 2 years. FULL POST at Broken Heart...

RELATED: Toni takes good swipe at Suffredin with her "Light A Match - Flatulence Abounds post!

BREAKING: SCHAKOWSKY BRINGS IN BIG GUNS FOR SUFFREDIN

A HOT TIP FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE, JUST IN - 10:12 PM, FEB 4, 2008 - "He is in town for Suffredin. Brought in on Jan Schakowsky's dime. I'm thinking the finances end up as a good issue due to the Fed funds / local candidate funds block. It may be hard to prove and I don't think it will wash out for a few months. Sharp is back regardless." Oh, this is sweet........

Larry Suffredin: Tobacco Lobbyist

This guy has no conscience. Larry Suffredin wants to clean up corruption, you see, by fooling you into electing him as Cook County State's Attorney. He has lobbied for casinos. He is still registered as a lobbyist for the Chicago Bar Association. God help us if this shifty chameleon gets into a position so important as the Cook County State's Attorney. Writes Josh Kilroy on the Daily Kos: The Cook County State's Attorney Office is not just another political office for politicians to use as a career stepping stone to other offices. It is an office with the power to indict and requires a special level of expertise and judgment. Lobbying for cigarette companies and casinos shows exactly the wrong judgment. Where else but in Cook County would anyone ever consider a tobacco lobbyist a progressive? Suffredin is a part of the Joe Moore-David Fagus-David Orr-Jan Schakowsky culture of corruption. They are a club, and they watch each other's backs. Suffredin, who is suddenly loudly against corruption, has ignored fellow traveler Joe Moore's campaign violations for years and said nothing. Where was Suffredin when Cong. Jan Schakowsky's husband, Robert Creamer, was convicted for check kiting? And where was Suffredin when Creamer was hanging around in Joe Moore's office during the time that Creamer was kiting checks? Hmmm? MORE ABOUT LARRY SUFFREDIN: Clout Street - local political coverage - Chicago Tribune - Mr. Suffredin has made A LOT of cash lobbying for special interest like casinos and tobacco The Rogers Park Inconsistent - Chicago, Illinois: DFA Endorses - Yet, the DFA ignores Suffredin's work for the tobacco lobby, among others clients with questionable public health agendas. Third Generation Chicago Native - Suffredin, who has criticized Devine for being soft on public corruption, said, ... career as a lobbyist of casino, tobacco and pharmaceutical interests. Suffredin takes hits in debate -- chicagotribune.com

Suffredin's Ingenius Campaign

Larry Suffredin, one of the biggest Democrat Party Hacks in Illinois. He's running for Cook County State's Attorney. He has come up with an ingeniusly unoriginal campaign slogan:

"Taking on Guns and Corruption for a change"

WFT? Politicians have been taking on guns and corruption - although not always together - for decades. So really, this is not original. Therefore, it is not a "change." Or are we misreading the sign? Perhaps the sign should say:

"For a change, I'm Taking on Corruption"

But Suffredin's slogan is ingenius in spite of it's unoriginality, and despite it's dishonesty. It is ingenius because it hits two major hot buttons with one phrase. And the Sheeple of Cook County have demonstrated repeatedly that they are stupid enough as a group to swallow it.

But not all of us will swallow it. Fellow blogger Lafew writes that Suffredin may have at least one conflict of interest:

Ironically, Larry Suffredin is still a "registered lobbyist" for the [Chicago Bar Association] according to State of Illinois records. Is there a connection in CBA's silence on whether Larry Suffredin is "Qualified" to serve as Cook County States Attorney, even though he may have never prosecuted a single case? Look at Lucky Larry's self proclaimed political resume. Is this a strength? A significant weakness? Is it a coincidence that the CBA is silenced by what seems like a conflict of interest? Is there a double standard? FULL POSTING...

If Suffredin was sincere about fighting corruption, how has he managed to stay silent for so long while his buddies, 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore and 49th Ward Democrat Committeeman David Fagus have leaned on businesses and bent the polling booth rules for years and years? Suffredin is a liar, a hypocrite and another cog in the Machine. He's slippery. He's dangerous, and God help us if this guy gets into a position of real power. Of course, once he's in power, he will grab your legally owned guns. That'll just make it easier for his anti-liberty pals to complete their agenda of Total Control.