During my tenure as the Chief Investigator I wrote a column for our quarterly news letter. Here is a look at the past.
THE CHIEF SAYS.....
by Chief
Investigator, Wayne A. Johnson
ORGANIZED CRIME IN
CHICAGO
Crain’s Chicago Business has stepped up to the
plate, and in my opinion hit a triple. Their summer report regarding recent
misappropriations of the North Loop tax-increment financing district known as
(TIF) funds sends a strong message to those handing out no-bid contracts for
the City of Chicago. The message is: “ we are watching”. It seems this story
has raised some concerns in City Hall, and just maybe certain companies,
especially those with Organized Crime ties, will not be awarded such valuable
contracts or do business with the City at all. There are just too many quality
companies out there, to being doing business with the Chicago Outfit.
UNION NEWS
Since July of 1997, the City of Chicago has hosted
hearings by the Office of the GEB Attorney, of the Laborers’ International
Union of North America. The hearings are being conducted by Peter F. Vaira, an
Independent Hearing Officer and have been held at the Chicago Federal Building
and The Midland Hotel in downtown Chicago. These hearings are in response to a
Complaint for Trusteeship filed by the GEB Attorney who is charged with the
oversight of the Union. In laymen’s terms this is an action put forth that can
take control of the union away from those now in power. The reason for this
action is that investigators found
individuals who are serving, or have served as officers, trustees, and
employees are members, associates, or
relatives of “Chicago Outfit” members.
Twenty-Three individuals were characterized in this manner and listed in the
Complaint. This is very unsettling for the vast majority of the union
membership, who are honest, hard working, dues paying members. The Chicago
Crime Commission took great pride in working with attorneys and investigators
to carry out these hearings. A finding should be released by the end of 1997
and we wait with great anticipation and hope that such unscrupulous individuals
are removed from the union.
VIDEO POKER MACHINES
The Gambling Committee of the Chicago Crime
Commission has identified Video Poker as a primary source of concern in our
efforts to fight legalized Gambling in every front. In a fact finding process
the Committee members were presented with an initial report. This report
synopsizes some very startling facts regarding gambling and the beginning
stages of the epidemic. Environmentally it is a shared belief that kids are
encouraged to gamble because it is considered cool by their peers. Along with
that belief we also see that video arcades prepare these young gamblers for an
easy transition to activities such as Video Poker. A recent high school survey
showed that 2/3 of the kids in a northwest suburban high school gamble in some
manner. This information has led to belief by the Chicago Crime Commission that
states: “Gambling is not dangerous because it is illegal, it is illegal because
it is dangerous”.
