Some FReepers here may recall (though it was during the 1980’s Reagan years and Dan Rostenkowski’s reign as Chairman of Ways and Means in the House, the House post office/banking scandal, etc. for which he eventually wound up in the federal pen for mail fraud). These were a series of events in the military base “re-alignment/closures” period, and involving the Pritzkers (the Pritzkers being huge real estate chi-town moguls and worldwide). Political hot potatoes of base closure and local economies at the forefront.
The mayor of Orlando, FL at the time, a so-called “republican” progressive type, Glenda Hood, enriched herself and the Pritzkers greatly. The land of Micky Mouse et al.
The Naval Training Center Orlando,FL (was Orlando AFB before that as a training site for B-17 pilots WWII) brand newly completed modern (beautiful year round sunny and warm outdoor training base, with tourism leave perks for the recruits)-— became the LOSER in a choice between it, and the Naval Training Center Great Lakes, IL.
Great Lakes was literally falling apart (wooden rat infested barracks, infrastructure from BEFORE WWII, and most of the year drill instruction other had to be conducted indoors in a gymnasium— it being sub zero temperatures or seriously cold). There are many retired Navy online here who can attest to what a dump it was at that time for many years.
BUT... this rat trap WON over a year round, warm, outdoor drilling and naval training facility in sunny Florida, because it was in the criminal Rostenkowski’s district and he influenced the Closure Board and the Navy to shut down NTC Orlando (and greased the skids with fellow chi-town Pritzker money under the table, with the help of fellow RINO establishment types, from the uh.... Bush dynasty). Perhaps this was in “trade” for closing deals during the Reagan years to ostensibly “shrink” government— but then that was Speaker Tipsy O’Neill— and that Congress LIED to Reagan, bless his soul.
Part 2 of the story- the Orlando NTC now was on the Base Closure list and thence into the Govt. Svcs. Admin (GSA) as a “distressed” property for re-sale, and was deeded to the City of Orlando for.... $1.00... in yet another political move to grease the skids for leftist republicans to make a buck. There were no bids made public— the property was purchased at a monumental discount pitched against “development costs” after several head fake conversion ideas (like, let’s make it a college campus, or Campus Crusade for Christ, etc.) by Penny Pritzker through the arrangements and brokering of the Mayor Glenda. It is now an appalling tract and zero lot line “neo traditional” housing development that would rival any chi-town way outside of town development. Like sardines. And the culture of Orlando changed dramatically with the removal of the US Navy.
Glenda Hood subsequently finished her term, and.... magically buys a huge plantation outside of Tallahassee, and becomes a League of Cities and other lobbyist, close to...... ding, ding, ding....JEB! (another “real estate” laundry operator). Wonder how that was possible, financially? Should also mention, concurrent with all this, an NBA team, the (disney) “Magic”, came to be— ca-ching!
This is similar to how McConnell and his wife’s family have lined their pockets. McConnell being a “po-boy from N. Alabama” originally, and Chao’s family a rather large container shipping/ship owning company originally from Taiwan. McConnell is now trying to consolidate his control over Senate R candidates- see Mark Levin.
See how it’s done.... and always with OUR money. Democrats do this— only better. See Barbara Boxer’s hubby and their buying up of US Postal Service properties held by our government since the 1920’s. And don’t forget in San Fran...Pelosi’s greaseballing the Treasure Island Naval Facility (conversion again... to “CONDOS”!! right in the middle of Oakland/San Fran. and that famous “public/private” consortium bull.
And Pritzker(s)-?- Penny was Commerce Secretary under obamaumao, and was oh so excited to be laying family groundwork at the “opening up” of Cuba- for..... development. All to be completed if only hitlery had won. Meyer Lansky lives and his operation was picked up and moved from Cuba to Chicago “family”. To say nothing of the coming, “developments” in Cuba— as Raul (the head torturer and doper) “retires”. But that’s a separate discussion- or is it as obamaumao took us into the turd world.
“...Chao’s family a rather large container shipping/ship owning company originally from Taiwan.”
Yeah, wonder if that family and their shipping business have mainland roots?
flr