Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Aldermen talk about strengthening City Hall's watchdog

Clout St:
Several aldermen will announce a new effort Tuesday to expand the power of City Hall’s inspector general, calling for the removal of a long-standing prohibition against internal investigations of aldermen.

The measure also seeks to guarantee a much bigger budget for the inspector general and set up an independent panel to pick three finalists the mayor would be required to choose from for the job.

Ald. Joe Moore (49th) said he and several colleagues will hold a news conference Tuesday to push for the changes because of recent scandals in state and local government.

“If there was a time for an ordinance like this, now is the time," Moore said. “People are upset. We need to assure them that we are not above the law."

The inspector general’s office was created in 1990, shortly after Richard Daley became mayor. But Daley allies on the City Council weakened the new office’s power by demanding that it not be allowed to probe alleged corruption by aldermen.
I will refer you to this earlier post made on the subject of how the city's inspector general came to be back in 1989.

1 comment:

  1. Can someone within Ald. Lyle's office/inner circle let her know that her constituents are pleading with her to vote YES to this ordinance. If she opposes this ordinance, can I please get some support from my fellow 6th ward constituents in getting a "grass roots" movement started for the change we believe in!

    -JEMN

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