By: Mark Glennon*
There’s a simple continuum pervasive in Chicago showing how business interacts with city government:
At the left edge are outright shakedowns of business owners. That happens. At the right is the worst of crony capitalism — those who are happy to play the system and buy off who they need.
But most dealings with city hall are in the middle. Routine conduct isn’t criminal and usually isn’t even unethical from a business person’s standpoint. Most folks don’t like sending campaign contributions to Emanuel or their alderman, but they do because they’re afraid.
Chicago’s business people see it almost every day. Most are sick of it. Almost none, however, talk about it publicly or act to stop it.
Because we research what we do here, we know about silence in the business world, especially municipal finance. We talk to many of those folks — people on the inside who tell us privately what they can’t say publicly. Pay-to-play, the minority contracting racket, what campaign contributions are worth…all that stuff.
And we have no doubt it’s the same story beyond the business world, extending to pretty much everything that touches Chicago government.
Emanuel cultivated all that with a carrot and a stick. Pay up and play along and you’ll be OK. Cross him and, well, the consequences may be unclear but they don’t have to be specified. Everybody knows to be cautious.
Silence results, and silence stands in the way of reform.
But maybe, just maybe, a window is opening as Rahm leaves office. Maybe those who know, and who are important enough to make a difference, can start to talk, and start refusing to play along.
Mayoral candidate so far are mostly Progressives. Challenged as they are on math and economics, they’re not vindictive Machine types. They want reform on ethics.
This is an opportunity to make lasting changes in Chicago. The establishment business community’s traditional excuses for not acting are suspended.
*Mark Glennon is founder and executive editor of Wirepoints.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
Ted joined Dan and Amy to talk about the free speech controversy brewing in Wilmette due to the city’s refusal to fly a religious freedom flag, the city’s left-wing excesses and the growing culture war, the latest money spent on the illegal immigrant crisis, and more.
Weekly crime statistics from the Chicago Police Department: Report through 4/14/2024.
The Machine will run a candidate, but it won’t tip it’s hand until necessary. Follow the money if you can.
I really wish people of Chicago (and anywhere else in the USA) were open to the competent, well paid technocrats of Singapore. But, alas, it is not to be.
I like your spirit on this, Mark. As a business owner in Chicago, I first learned of Rahm’s departure with a sense of unease. I don’t like Chicago as it is at all, but at least I know what I’m dealing with. And to be fair, Rahm has been relatively business friendly compared to the progressives…those same progressives shouting about increased economic mandates for everyone but the actual entrepreneurs risking all of their capital and livelihoods (no one here ever thinks about our security and safety). With that said, I think it’s the system here that makes the people what… Read more »