Cronyism for Goons

If there's anything that illustrates more clearly the wrongs of the patronage system, it's the criminal behavior of Todd Stroger's goons at Cook County Hospital. Beating up pregnant women, old men, and now caught on camera cuffing reporters. Sun Times:

In operating independently of the Sheriff's Department, the security force at the hospital gets away with hiring the equivalent of bouncers -- many of them patronage workers with no law enforcement experience. The sooner the plug can be pulled on what looks like cronyism for goons, the better. Other institutions in the city and county have outsourced their security; Stroger Hospital should come to terms with this pattern of misconduct and do the same.

I suppose these guys are more of Todd's close, personal friends. Now that they've been caught beating up reporters maybe something will be done. We would have preferred more power of the press on behalf of the people before the election though.

And what do Stroger's powerful Dem supporters have to say about this cronyism for goons?

........Riiiight.

P.S. Related story on a Rezko firm remodeling our Goon, uh good Governor's house. Sun Times:

Chicago Construction was tapped for the Blagojevich project after Rezko sought favors from the governor. In January 2003, Rezko submitted a list of 19 names he wanted Blagojevich to appoint to state boards and commissions. Ten of those either got appointments, won lucrative state business or had relatives placed on the government payroll.

Besides helping people on Rezko's wish list, Blagojevich named two former Rezko employees to high-ranking state agency directorships starting in late January 2003.

In October, federal prosecutors accused Rezko of defrauding Illinois taxpayers and said he helped shake down a company seeking state pension business for political contributions to the governor. Rezko is fighting the charges, and Blagojevich has said he knew nothing of Rezko's alleged wrongdoing.

The governor's use of a political fund-raiser to make his home more comfortable contradicts the governor's campaign pledge to change business as usual, the BGA's Stewart said.

"I'm quite confident if this fact pattern had occurred with George Ryan or Jim Ryan, candidate Blagojevich would have talked about it in 2002 and pointed to it as a bad thing," Stewart said, referring to Blagojevich's predecessor and GOP opponent five years ago.

It's a BAD THING. Read the rest of the story for Rezko's roll call of real estate deals with other pols and pals.

And because Chicago's clout affects us all, and we all love the beautiful City on the lake Mayor Daley has worked to rebuild, please mayor, lead the way as well in cleaning up corruption in Chicago. Trib editorial and qualified endorsement for reelection here.

Previous posts: Cut Cook County Fat, The Four Felons, It Never Ends, In No Way Related