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Field Representative’s Report
First responders unite on the Northwest Side
Members of the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department have come together in bringing allegations against a Northwest Side alder- man.
This group of first responders, along with other citizens of the ward, have been the target of this al- derman and his staff because of their disagreements with the alderman over a proposed multi-unit de- velopment in the ward.
The group of first responders has become fed up with the 45th ward alderman and his staff after continued at- tacks on them for voicing their concerns over the impact that this new development will have on the community. These con- cerns include the additional burden that it will create on already overcrowded schools, as well as other issues that will affect their community, not to mention its violation of a zoning ordinance.
The first responders enlisted the help of FOP attorney Tim Grace in compiling all of their issues into six allegations against the alderman and his staff. This package, including 61 pages of documentation, has been sent to the inspector general’s office for investigation.
The allegations include violating the Illinois open meetings acts; filing false complaints; using government data systems to gain information on City employees; harassment; and violations of ethics rules. The alderman’s actions bear an eerie resemblance
to the allegations leveled in the last presidential election. It ap- pears the alderman has been conducting ward business from a private email account, which makes Freedom of Information Act requests more difficult.
The alderman and his staff have filed complaints against of- ficers, first with the anti-defamation league, then through the inspector general’s office. It appears that neither government agency would bow to him using his office in going after our members.
Our members are aware of the alderman and his office pre- viously filing complaints with other government agencies who wanted nothing to do with the complaints. Those agencies obvi- ously saw that the alderman’s complaints lacked merit. So now, the alderman has turned to going after our members, firefight- ers and possibly other City employees through their employ- ment. It is an attempt to silence them with the fear of discipline at their workplace.
What the alderman didn’t realize is the longstanding relation- ship that the police and fire departments have in our City. They have come together, as first responders always do, to let the al- derman know that enough is enough. It’s time that he is held accountable for his egregious acts.
We look forward to the response from the inspector general’s office or other government agencies regarding what has been occurring. d
ROBERT BARTLETT
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2018 13