Posted on 01/30/2025 7:33:17 AM PST by Red Badger
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has come under scrutiny for allegedly accepting numerous designer gifts without proper documentation or transparency, according to a recent report by the city’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The OIG’s investigation revealed that from February 2022 to March 2024, the mayor’s office received 380 gifts, including high-end items like Hugo Boss cufflinks, a personalized Montblanc pen, a 2023 U.S. National Soccer Team jersey, various Gucci, Givenchy, and Kate Spade bags, and Carrucci size 14 shoes. However, nearly 70% of these gifts did not have the donor’s identity recorded.
When OIG investigators attempted to inspect the so-called “gift room” where these items were supposedly stored, they were met with resistance. Initially denied access, they were instructed to wait in a lobby, and later told they needed to schedule an appointment to view the room. This obstruction led to further communications with the city’s Department of Law, which ultimately denied the OIG’s access to the gift room.
“When gifts are changing hands — perhaps literally — in a windowless room in City Hall, there is no opportunity for oversight and public scrutiny of the propriety of such gifts, the identities and intentions of the gift-givers, or what it means for gifts like whiskey, jewelry, handbags, and size 14 men’s shoes to be accepted ‘on behalf of the City,’” the report noted.
Mayor Johnson, defending his administration’s actions, claimed he had never seen this “gift room” and described the OIG’s report as a “mischaracterization” of the situation. He emphasized that gifts received are logged and that the process is transparent, asserting that the city follows standard procedures for accepting gifts on behalf of the city.
However, the OIG’s report stressed the importance of transparency, stating that when gifts are exchanged in secrecy, there’s a lack of oversight and public scrutiny, impacting the integrity of how these items are managed. The report criticized the practice of not reporting gifts to the Board of Ethics or the city comptroller, which are required to maintain an inventory of city property.
The issue also touches on gifts received during the tenure of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, indicating that this might be a long-standing practice. The OIG recommended that the mayor’s office should comply with the city’s ethics ordinance by publicly reporting gifts and allowing announced or unannounced inspections of the gift room to restore public trust.
The controversy has sparked discussions among Chicago residents and officials, with some expressing concern over the implications for ethical governance in the city.
Article generated from corporate media reports.
BTTT
Black Bob Menendez perhaps?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Polex watch in there!
Brandon knows what time it is!
Eric Adams got off the hook, and maybe as a result he’ll play ball with Trump.
Maybe the same can happen in Chicago.
How Two Tier Kier of them...
Size 14 shoes in the Mayor’s secret gift room?
I really like my Montblanc “Meisterstück Gold-Coated Classique” Fountain Pen, which I got for my 50th B-Day, 25yrs ago:
https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/fountain-pens_cod1647597318120615.html
Is it a true old-fashioned ‘fountain’ pen?..........
Hey Chicago voters, as Obama said: “Elections have consequences”, but what the Hell keep on electing Democratic Mayors and hope for a better outcome.
Has he blamed Trump and the Republicans yet?
He will.
What are the chances the citizens of Chicago will make a better choice in the next election - or vote for more of same.
What are the chances the citizens of Chicago will make a better choice in the next election - or vote for more of same.
Slim and None, and Slim just left town.
>>>...What are the chances the citizens of Chicago will make a better choice in the next election....<<<
Roughly the same as the chances of winning the Powerball Lottery.........
“A “Polex” watch refers to a watch that has been intentionally misspelled to avoid copyright infringement, often seen as a replica or imitation of a Rolex watch. The misspelling is typically used for watches that closely resemble Rolex models but are not official Rolex products.”
Correct.
Move to the front of the class.
Are they made in Poland?
Petty larceny compared to the real crimes happening in that office.
Yep!.................
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