Clout on the River

The abuse of eminent domain on Chicago's Calumet River. The leftie Chicago Reader on the Machine's latest attempted land grab.

P.S. (Emphasis mine.)

Over the last ten years, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Pacella and his businesses have donated thousands of dollars to powerful local politicians, including Mayor Daley (at least $1,000), his county commissioner brother John and the 11th Ward organization he runs ($4,550), county board president Todd Stroger and his Eighth Ward organization ($700), state treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias ($6,000), alderman John Pope, whose Tenth Ward includes the marinas ($1,000), and alderman Ed Burke, chairman of the City Council's finance committee, which signs off on ordinances creating new TIFs or authorizing the use of TIF money for private development ($4,600).