Oak Brook village president approves liquor license for Gibsons, then accepts $10,000 campaign donation from restaurant—but it’s not the only conflict-of-interest question being raised.
Follow-Up
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Cook County ethics chairman resigns
BGA, WGN-TV and Chicago magazine investigation raised questions about John Pikarski own ethics on Cook County Board of Ethics.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
RESIGNATION
Jan. 18, 2011 — A BGA/WGN-TV/Chicago magazine investigation finds Cook County Board of Ethics Chairman John Pikarski made significant political contributions and maintained close ties to the Cook County assessor, an elected official the ethics board is charged with monitoring.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
FIELD FOUNDATION AWARDS $20K
Jan. 19, 2011 — The Field Foundation Awards the BGA a $20,000 grant for BGA Citizen Watchdogs of Education, a training program that aims to educate and engage citizens on education, school funding and Chicago Public Schools.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Ethical Questions Arise About Cook County Ethics Board
A joint investigation by WGN-TV, Chicago magazine and the Better Government Association raises ethical questions about the head of the Cook County Ethics Board.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
AUDIT
Jan. 12, 2011 — A BGA/CBS 2 investigation uncovers serious budget and operational irregularities in Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office. A total of three stories on the treasurer’s office air over the next month on CBS 2, identifying more than $343,181 in “questionable salaries.”
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Clout Trumps Consequences: New Job for Insider Despite DUI, Cover-Up
Thomas O’Connor is back at work in city government, despite being fired from his post at the city’s Department of Fleet Management after crashing a City car while drunk and attempting to cover it up.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Is Treasurer Maria Pappas Wasting Your Tax Dollars?
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ puzzling payroll includes a software-application implementing “project leader” who makes $94,000 a year — and also drives her car.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Oak Brook Village Pres., Wife Collect $142K from 4 Pensions
Oak Brook Village President John Craig has been critical of village pensions, while he his wife together collect four public pensions — and a fifth when he retires.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Renovated L Platforms Require Costly Repairs as Wood Planks Deteriorate After 2 Years
The Chicago Transit Authority has spent about $300,000 replacing decking that had chipped, cracked or developed holes at eight Brown Line stations.