Posted on 02/09/2005 5:47:25 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
CHICAGO (CBS 2) Mayor Daley took new steps Wednesday to try to end the epidemic of embarrassing scandals inside City Hall. He is proposing increased prison time and other penalties for those who try to corrupt city programs.
The mayor offered a few more details on changes he wants in the way if City Hall hires private trucks. It’s a program federal prosecutors say was hijacked by crooks. But sill some aldermen disagree with Daley’s proposal.
When he pounds the gavel hard enough, Rich Daley almost always gets what he wants from the City Council. But the possibility that the scandal scarred mayor might turn the temporary hiring of trucks over to a private management company had some aldermen objecting Wednesday.
“In this case, I don't think it'll work. Because you're going to go from public employee corruption to private employee corruption,” said Ald. Ricky Munoz from the 22nd ward.
“When people work for the city, you can discipline them, fire them, whatever. When people work for a private company, sometimes it's difficult to hold the company accountable,” said Ald. Toni Preckwinkle from the 4th ward.
“To simply say that the private sector can do it better, more efficiently, more honestly than the public sector, ignores the fact that there are literally hundreds of examples of private corruption," said Ald. Joseph Moore from the 49th ward.
While Daley has not yet submitted a written proposal for his hired truck changes, he did discuss it briefly.
“We'll listen to all their ideas, but they'll be reporting weekly to them, yes, when we're thinking this out, yeah,” said Daley.
“I'm sure the Mayor will be the first one to agree that uh in any endeavor you will find when human beings are involved they will be tempted and do something wrong. Put in place best kind of controls you can adopt,” said Ald. Edward Burke from the 14th ward.
The mayor's tentative proposals to privatize management of the Hired Truck Program drew particularly strong objections from the City Council's caucus of African-American aldermen. Many of them oppose privatization on principle and said they fear that small truck owners in their wards will find it harder to get city work, if private managers are put in charge.
He going to resign or is he abolishing the Chicago press?
He's gonna fire himself?
The Mayor is shocked, shocked.
Daley Strives To End City Hall Scandals
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