Chicago Most Corrupt City In America: Report
As our former governor prepares to head west to begin his prison sentence, Chicago was given the unfortunate title of "most corrupt" city in America in a new study by the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs.
University of Illinois at Chicago professor Dick Simpson, who worked on the study, told CBS Chicago that corruption among public officials has cost the city $500 million:
It’s essentially a corruption tax on citizens who bear the cost of bad behavior — police brutality, bogus contracts, bribes, theft and ghost payrolling to name a few — and the costs needed to prosecute it.
The report cites federal data showing that, between 1976 and 2010, there were 1,531 convictions for public corruption in "the federal district dominated by Chicago," according to the Associated Press.
Since the 1970s, four of seven Illinois governors have been convicted, along with 31 members of Chicago's city council.
"The two worst crime zones in Illinois are the governor's mansion ... and the city council chambers in Chicago," Simpson, a former Chicago alderman, told the AP. "No other state can match us."
The study does point to problems in other states, however. The Central District of California, where Los Angeles is located, had 1,275 convictions during the 34 years the study analyzed, CBS reports. The Southern District of New York -- home of New York City-- was third with 1,202 convictions.
Simpson said Illinois needs to pass legislation that would allow voters to "adopt ethics reforms by referendum," and hold Chicago aldermen to higher ethical standards.
Before the report was released, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was already trying to drum up support for an amendment to the Illinois constitution that would allow voters to put new ethics laws on the ballot. The so-called"Lincoln Amendment" would apply to any branch of state and local government, and may address issues of legislative conflicts, campaign funding issues and more.
"It's no secret that Illinois has had our fair share of ethical challenges," Sen. Annazette Collins told the AP after sponsoring the amendment.
Read the report here.
- To Serve and Collect: Chicago Politics and Police Corruption from the Lager Beer Riot to the Summerdale Scandal : 1855-1960. New York: Praeger Publishers, ...
Chicago Most Corrupt City In America: Report - Huffington Post
www.huffingtonpost.com/.../chicago-most-corrupt-city_n_1278988.html
Feb 15, 2012 – As our former governor prepares to head west to begin his prison sentence, Chicago was given the unfortunate title of "most corrupt" city in ...
Chicago area called most corrupt in US. Why Rahm Emanuel is ...
www.csmonitor.com/.../Chicago-area-called-most-corrupt-in-US.-Why-R...
Feb 15, 2012 – Chicago and its suburbs have averaged 51 public corruptionconvictions per year since 1976, a new study finds. Critics say Rahm Emanuel ...
Report details police corruption in Chicago | UIC News Center
https://news.uic.edu/new-report-details-police-corruption-in-chicago
Jan 17, 2013 – Police corruption in Chicago survives due to a lack of oversight and indifference from internal and external leadership, according to a new ...
Chicago Called Most Corrupt City In Nation « CBS Chicago
chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/.../chicago-called-most-corrupt-city-in-nation...
Feb 14, 2012 – A former Chicago alderman turned political science professor has found the Chicago is the most corrupt city in the country.
Why is Chicago so corrupt? - Slate Magazine
www.slate.com/articles/news_and.../why_is_chicago_so_corrupt.html
Dec 9, 2008 – On Tuesday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois was taken into federal custody on corruption charges, one of which entails attempting to sell ...
EXCLUSIVE: Chicago legalizes corruption | Washington Times ...
communities.washingtontimes.com/.../exclusive-chicago-legalize...Mar 31, 2013 – The Chicago City Council legalized all forms of corruption in Chicago.
Chicago is number one: For political corruption | Washington Times ...
communities.washingtontimes.com/.../middle.../chicago-number-one/Feb 16, 2012 – "Chicago ain't ready for reform." (Alderman Mathias "Paddy" Bauler 1955)
Resignation amid reports of corruption at Chicago community ...
illinoisreview.typepad.com/.../resignation-amid-reports-of-corruption-at-...
Feb 13, 2013 – The No. 2 executive of the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) - Miguel d'Escoto - quit yesterday, eight days after it was reported that the ...
The Corrupt City
www.umich.edu/~eng217/student_projects/nkazmers/corrupt1.html
"From the moment of its incorporation as a city in 1837, Chicago has been ... In fact, the origination of the gangster in Chicago is no surprise given the corrupt ...
