29 crooks and counting

Chicago City council corruption goes on and on

Isaac “Ike” Carothers kept the streak alive this week, becoming the 29th Chicago alderman convicted of a crime since 1972. Carothers earned the “ex-” in front of his name by trading $40,000 worth of home improvements for a zoning change in his West Side ward.

Carothers’ house got a new paint job — inside and out — along with new doors and windows and central air. Developer Calvin Boender, whose trial is set for March, got the green light to build a controversial residential and commercial development opposed by city planners. Taxpayers got shafted. Again.

This sort of thing happens with such regularity in Chicago that the only real question seems to be, who’s next?

Chicago City council corruption goes on and on – chicagotribune.com