The Chicago Park District has filed a motion attempting to seal a lawsuit involving allegations that Mayor Lori Lightfoot berated a lawyer and used obscene language in a Zoom call over a Christopher Columbus statue — an unusual move that would keep the public in the dark about the case. (Chicago Tribune)
Nothing changes in the junkyard politics of Chicago. The Chicago Park District wants the courts to seal a lawsuit by an attorney against the city over a Zoom meeting where the mayor berated the attorney.
“You make some kind of secret agreement with Italians. … You are out there stroking your d—- over the Columbus statue, I am trying to keep Chicago police officers from being shot and you are trying to get them shot,” Lightfoot said, according to the complaint. “My d— is bigger than yours and the Italians, I have the biggest d— in Chicago.” (Mayor Lori Lightfoot/Chicago Tribune)
The Park District claims making the lawsuit public will adversely affect another case they are fighting on the removal of the Christopher Columbus Statues. The Chicago Park District wants Omerta, silence. No dirty laundry needs to be exposed, proven, or disproven. The only things that change in Chicago are the names. The opacity and lack of accountability are still the rule of law in Chicago.
Both lawsuits are against public entities, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District. They are not the CIA or NSA, where secrets must be preserved. The lawsuits are in the public interest. I guess someone does not want the public to hear or see what really happened during that meeting. The Park District had enough ugly publicity over the sexual harassment and assault allegations they tried to cover up.
They are acting like the old Mafia- “This thing of ours is secret, secret.” (Gotti Movie) Nothing gets out, even from the courts. One could wonder what else was said during that Zoom meeting. The real question is whether the Park District is acting in its own interest or on orders from Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her self-preservation interest.
The Chicago Way is still alive and kicking in Chicago. It works. It works for the elected officials and their appointees. It does not work for the people. The people do not count. We pay taxes to support their perfidy. What other secrets is City Hall or the Chicago Park District hiding from the public?
By the way, where are the courageous and fearless investigative reporters digging into the machinations at City Hall? Are they extinct? When we need them the most, they are nowhere to be found. The few who claim the title are nothing but mere poseurs.
Alderman Paddy Bauler was right all those decades ago. “Chicago ain’t ready for reform.” It wasn’t then, and it isn’t now. It never will be.
When it comes to public entities, there is another word for secrets. Lies. Secrets are lies. Every time an elected official, appointee, bureaucrat, or spokes weasel flaps their soup coolers, they lie.
We are being lied to about public safety or the lack thereof. We are being lied to about city finances. We are being lied to about everything.
All liars are not politicians or bureaucrats. All politicians and bureaucrats are liars. They make liars look trustworthy.