Comment: Some are shakedown victims but others are crony capitalists happy to play along.

Comment: She wants a graduated property tax. We warned you this kind of thing might be coming. Mendoza said she’s also open to another idea that’s been circulating, to impose an extra real-estate tax on the sale of properties worth more than $1 million. Mendoza’s full Future Plan, including the tax proposal, is linked here.

“The second floor lobby at City Hall was like the supermarket deli counter on a Saturday morning. Take a number and wait your turn to step up and propose ethics reforms.”

The preferred qualifications indicated that the candidate should have a master’s degree in emergency management, public safety administration or training and organizational development, the posting said. Burke Jr. has a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Lewis University in Romeoville, according to records he submitted to the county.