Northwest Indiana Comical Politics

NWI and American Principles of Fairness

It is amazing to me how frequently people, especially the leadership, forgets basic American principles of political fairness.  Usually these people's logic concerning normal behavior and values goes out the window when they are trying to defend their own special position and gains (usually financial).

This occurred in recent characterization of two completely unrelated events.  The principle of denying basic fairness and the rejection of the principle of equal treatment exemplified by our Constitution and Bill of Rights was present in both.  The only other similarity is that both events involved women.

County Commissioner Fran DuPey and the 2% cap.

Last week The Times newspaper ran an editorial that asked that Commissioner DuPey recuse herself from voting on the 2% cap on property tax (actually the rejection of the 2% cap on rental property and businesses that the legislature had already passed).  The following is the actual editorial from the newspaper: Times' Dupey Editorial 

What is interesting is that Commissioner DuPey does not have any official say in what happens with this law.  But the newspaper editorial argues that since she is a landlord she cannot possibly have an objective position about the topic, only a self interested one.  As the editorial says since she is a landlord and the 2% cap may favor her personally she cannot be objective about it and should recuse herself from any consideration and discussion of the topic.  The editorial does not inform the reader what size landlord she might be.  Is she a landlord of the size of Donald Trump?  Or does she just have a couple of units?  To them, it must not matter just as long as she is a landlord.  To the best of my knowledge, Commissioner DuPey owns a four-unit building. 

The principle then that the paper is supporting is that if a law or policy has any effect on your personal situation than you must recuse yourself as a public official.  Otherwise one might think that this is a personal vendetta of the newspaper solely against Commissioner Dupey.  Why would a newspaper like The Times only pick on DuPey?  In the past the usual answer has been the McDermott clan, with Bill Wellman support, being in overwhelming control through Bill Nangle of The Times.

If one were to take The Times' principle and generalized to other public officials, then none would be able to act on most items.  All public servants would have to recuse themselves, therefore the editorial is nonsense.  Every income tax, at the federal, state or local level effects the people who vote on it.  How could any mayor be involved with the budget of his or her city since that is going to directly effect their property tax bill? 

No, the Times' editorial was either an outright hack job by the McDermott clan on Commissioner Dupey or it was a idiotic editorial written by the most moronic and uneducated editor at the newspaper.  That level of ignorant editorializing is embarrassing to the paper itself and to the people of NWI generally.

Kolintzas and East Chicago:

Frank Kolintzas' wife and daughter are suing the City of East Chicago and its School District for wrongful termination.  They are arguing that they were let go from their job based on their political affiliation and loyalty.  Most of you are well aware that I have been as critical as anyone concerning East Chicago politicians and especially Frank Kolintzas.  Neither can I say that I know the factual details of the case and can take a position.  Nonetheless, I am a firm believer in the American Constitution and its principles.

Unlike stories in the recent local media, and discussions by many citizens, spouses and children should not and are not to be found guilty for the sins (or crimes) of their relatives, in this case, a husband and a father.  This is central to the American criminal and political system: one is not guilty by relationship.

The issue of whether Mrs. Kolintzas and her daughter were fired illegally for political reasons must be decided on the merits. i.e. facts, of the case not on who their husband and father was.

That is the American way and has been since we declared independence.  It was one of the main reasons we declared independence from England, to end that kind of guilt by association.

Dan Repay the Gutless Wonder of the Hammond Council

It is a sad state of affairs when a politician has no back bone and no faith in any particular belief.  That is the particular definition of Councilman Dan Repay of Hammond.  He has not guts to achieve anything but his personal interests and he has no independent ideas that would benefit Hammond that he is willing to act on.

As a consequence he seems to have cut a devil's bargain with the Mayor, Tom McDermott, Jr. where he supposedly has the Mayor's support to run for a county wide office in exchange for not running against the mayor in this forthcoming election.  The unique fact is that if Dan Repay were to run; he would have a good possibility of wining.  Most Hammond Democrats want someone to replace the child-like baby Tom.  The current Mayor has successfully lost the support of the the police and the fireman.  If Dan Repay believes the mayor will keep his word, he ought to talk to other politicians who have fallen for this line, specifically Sheriff Dominguez.  In that race Mayor McDermott, Jr. committed to both Dominguez and Buncich and when he got caught with his pants down, he let Dave Hamm, as the City's Democratic Chair, take the fall -- nice friend.

When it comes to economic development the Mayor has supported everything that helps his family but has no serious consequences for the city in terms of economic development.  A good example is the case of Cabellas that is under a serious ethical cloud.

The brilliant mayor has twice come out in full support of change in the current K-12 educational system.  The first time was in defense of "hoodies".  This was when the Mayor and City Council came to the School Board meeting to protest the banning of sweat shirts with hoods in school that students would wear to cover their identity.  The second major step that the illustrious mayor was involved with and reported on his radio show four weeks ago was the disaster threat to the educational development of Hammond students when their athletic conference was changed.  That is the extent of this mayor's knowledge and involvement with education.

The sad thing about Dan Repay is that for many years I knew his father and worked with his father when he was on the Hammond City Council.  Dan Repay does not have the independence of his father.

Indy's Big Joke on NWI: Mac Jr. for Governor

In a recent Indianapolis Star story, Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. was listed as a potential Democratic Party contender to run for Governor of the State of Indiana.  For those of you who are unaware, if he should win the Democratic primary, he would face incumbent Republican Governor Mitch Daniels.

It is true that the Indianapolis Star listed McDermott as one of many possible candidates, a slew of all the Democratic mayors in the State of Indiana.  Frankly, no matter what your political leanings are, the only one who even made any sense, politically and experientially, was Bart Peterson of Indianapolis.

What Indianapolis does not understand is that the "comical" citizens, who make up a good percentage of Lake County, do not understand jokes or "tongue in cheek" and actually took this two sentence reference seriously.  There was even a full newspaper story about the possibility of McDermott running for governor.

There was so much speculation by the 4 year olds that McDermott, Jr. had to come out with an official denial that he is considering running for governor. 

This comedy cannot be made up. Lake County's one-half term mayor of a little city had to actually come out and deny that he is running for governor to squelch rumors that he is not running again for Mayor of Hammond.  This would be a real threat.

The threat is that someone actually runs against him.  The Cantrell East Chicago strategy has always been to make sure that no one runs against you.  As long as it is done above board, it is all legal.  The consequences though is East Chicago -- end of story.  McDermott may very well not have anyone run against him in the Democratic Primary.  For example it is generally known that he has cut a deal with one of his possible major challengers, Dan Repay, not to run against him. In exchange McDermott in his second term will support Repay for a county wide job, probably Steven Stiglich's old job.  This sounds just like East Chicago with Mayor Pabey and his challenger, excuse me, former challenger John Aguilera.  Mayor Pabey signed a $100,000 consulting contract with Aguilera and the next day he announces he will not be a candidate for Mayor of East Chicago.  Both Pabey and Repay should be careful in these deals -- as the Sheriff found in the last race, McDermott cannot be trusted.  He and Aguilera will play both sides.

They should also be careful because these kind of deals are illegal.  It is not legal to pay someone not to run -- but as with many of these things, the problem is with proving someone was paid to not run.  At best, if this is not technically illegal, it serves the citizens of Lake County and NWI very poorly. 

As you Indianapolis people can see your jokes here are taken seriously by the "4-year olds."  They do not see a problem with someone running for governor of a six and a half million citizen state when they have only achieved half a term of an 80,000 citizen city.

This same mayor is head of a city with one of the lowest K-12 test scores in Indiana with no improvement in sight.  It is a city with one of the oldest average populations in addition to a growing brain drain that he seems to be incapable of reducing.

The mayor's only so called achievement, the Cabellas enterprise, is not only an environmental disaster, it is admittedly only due to his father.  Now his father is another story and another anchor.  His father is reportedly a Republican, consequently it has been difficult to recognize any specific Democratic ideals in the son who also was a Republican until he ran for mayor in a predominantly Democratic city.  The father also has a history of skirting the law or at best dealing on its very margins, generally referred to as the "sleazy" area of business, although fully supported by the son, the Mayor.

Not only is McDermott, Jr. a political neophyte, a true preemie, he is dogged by questions of unethical and under-handed dealings throughout his administration.  None of which bodes well for a Democrat running in a predominantly Republican state.  A state where every state wide position in the last election was won by a Republican, for right or wrong, in spite of the national trends.

Obviously there are always exceptions.  Evan Bayh was a Democratic governor for two terms; but, no one would associate the word "sleazy" with his father, the former Senator Birch Bayh.  Then there is Frank O'Bannon who also was elected twice.  But he had experience managing much of the State's bureaucracy while Lt. Governor under Bayh.  McDermott, Jr. has absolutely no record of managing anything, except for his personal affairs. 

What is he going to run on?  I look good?  Vote for me I am pretty?  It should also be noted that in spite of his good looks not a single Democratic politician in NWI will speak well of McDermott, Jr.  The terms usually used are egotistical, narcissistic, self-possessed, selfish, crazy, etc.  Even the State Democratic Party will put his pretty face up as part of its organization but will not give him a vote.

Everybody else in the State of Indiana knows that McDermott, Jr. in a state wide office is comical.  But, please Indianapolis, the tribal members here are not up to speed on the usual requirements for office, as can be well seen by who generally gets elected.  So please quit pocking sticks through the bars and riling up the natives here.  It can only make the situation worse because they really believe the joke.

State Sen. Luke Kenley many in NWI Support Your Stand

State Senator Luke Kenley, Chairman of the Senate Tax Committe, should know that there are many citizens of NWI who support his stand on holding the line on the 2 percent property tax cap.  The citizens of NWI support not changing the law the will extend this cap to rental property and then to industrial property.

The only county in Indiana that this has real consequances for is Lake County.  For example, Lake County is expected to loose $233 million if this were to fully take effect; the next closest county is Marion, which is twice the population size and provides twice the service, will only loose $58 million.  The county next to Lake, Porter, is only projected to loose about $400,000.  There is nothing unique about Lake County to explain this disparity except for incompetence and corruption on the part of most public officials.

The corruption is obvious from the work of the U. S. Attorney Van Bokklen.  Given the number of indictments, it would indicate that corruption is the norm in Lake County not the exception.  Since the Democratic Party is in charge of Lake County, it is the Lake County Democratic Party that is the responsible corrupt enterprise.  One needs to remember that not being indicted does not mean that you are not corrupt.

Incompetence is indicated by the condition where no taxing unit in Lake County has reduced or held its budget growth to zero during the past five years.  This was also during a time of increased income to municipalities and the county government from gambling revenues.  Performance on the part of elected officials has been truly incompetent. 

The reality is that they do no know what to do except raise more taxes.  This has been the continuous mantra of all, with the sole exception of County Commissioner Fran DuPey.  Commissioner DuPey and State Representative Dobis have both said they will not support any change to the property tax cap until there is significant movement on reducing the cost of government in Lake County.

All the government entities in Lake County have increased their budget and have continued with absolutely no changes whatsoever.  Everything has only been lip service; no real action.  Since the main reason is corruption and not knowing what to do, the only way to bring about change is the forced "conversion" of the property tax cap.

So Senator Kenley remember that you have support here in NWI for holding these no-nothing and corrupt NWI comical politicians' feet to the fire.

Hammond City Government Corruption and Incompetence Unsurpassed

The following is quoted from today's (12/19/06) NWI Times Newspaper in a story about the 2% cap on rental properties.  The 2% cap on rental properties is to follow the 2% residential cap and a precursor to the 2% cap that is going to be placed as a limit on businesses.

The quote truly exemplifies the pitiful state of affairs that exist in the overall governing bodies of Hammond, led by the truly incompetent and likely corrupt Mayor and his minions.  Not to be left out, it also shows the complete bankruptcy, functionally and morally, of the Hammond School District.

"You're talking Naperville, Illinois, taxes," said Jaquez, who lives in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. "I mean, I don't know what these people are getting for these high property taxes. I feel bad for the people that live in Hammond. They have, quite honestly, nothing to show for it. There are no great amnesties, there are no great restaurants, no huge shopping centers like you would see in these other towns that are paying high property taxes."

This quote not only reflects the feeling of an individual citizen it also recognizes the reality that incompetence and corruption is rife in Hammond Government and School Corporation.  It cannot be said any better by all the studies by consultants and lawyers who claim to "study" the problem.

It should also be noted that the property tax bill does NOT include the tens of millions of dollars coming in from gambling boat revenues and the State supported tax money coming in for the School District.  On top of all of that, there are Federal funds that come into Hammond as well (e.g., housing, bilingual education, Head Start) -- that are also in addition to the property taxes.

Hammond is not the only municipality in which this is occurring but it is the most sophisticated incompetent and criminal activity.  The same applies to the cities of Gary and East Chicago.  These three cities do uniquely incorporate a criminal/incompetency enterprise of unprecedented proportions.

There is only two ways to end this theft from the citizens.  The first is to hold fast to the complete 2% cap on property tax limits across the board.  This will end the free availability of the fuel (taxes) the have fanned this activity.  Second, vote the bums out.  There is not a single person in Hammond that has any claim of competency to keep their position, actually quite the opposite.  They have showen such incompetence that only a fool or a fellow leech could see any value in keeping these slugs and their appointees in office.

Rep. Chester Dobis is to be Commended

The Indiana Legislature passed several good laws on property tax limits. By the year 2010, they have limited everyone's property tax to 2 percent of assessed value.

Its first implementation was for homeowners -- limiting the tax liability of Hoosiers actually living in their home property by utilizing the homestead exemption. Although this has probably helped some wealthy people, it continues to be a real safety net for the middle class and lower middle class, which is of particular importance in Lake County. Although the 2 percent safety net is not meant as a solution to all the sudden increases in property taxes for Hoosiers, it is a cap preventing many Hoosiers from loosing their homes and property.

The property tax that rental-building owners have to pay is passed on to the renters who must ultimately bear the burden of the increased property tax. Consequently, the Legislature placed a 2 percent tax cap on rental property to go into effect in 2008. After 2008, the rents in Indiana will not have to go up exorbitantly and, in many cases, may even go down or at least remain steady. All of this is good for the rental market, both the people renting and rental-property owners -- a true win-win situation.

For decades, Indiana has been unable to develop new business, while losing old businesses. In Northwest Indiana itself, there has only been a net 300 new business growth over the past decade. It would make no sense, then, for Indiana to put all the weight of local government growth on the back of business, while claiming to help it. Therefore, starting in 2010, the Legislature has included business property under the 2 percent cap. This not only is a matter of equity and fairness, but also smart economic development. Over the past 15 years, Tom McDermott Sr., as president of the Northwest Indiana Forum, argued vehemently for limiting property tax on businesses as a way of promoting economic growth for Lake County.

With the sole exception of Lake County, everyone in the state accepts these limitations, believes they are fair and will promote economic activity, and are living within their limits.

This legislative program seems to have minimal consequences for other counties. Out of 92 counties in Indiana, only Lake County is screaming that the "sky will fall" if it is forced to live within these limits.

However, Lake County politicians have created their own bed and now they need to lie in it. Despite almost a decade of economic warnings and legal indictments, politics as usual continues to rule in Lake County.

In East Chicago, 81-year-old City Councilman Gus Kouros gets a two-year extension, to 2011, on his yearly $72,000 contract "managing" the school district's food programs.  Mayor George Pabey decided to give information technology guru John Aguilera an $85,000 contract and he no longer is considering a bid for mayor. It is so blatant that the very next day after receiving the contract, Aguilera holds a news conference announcing that he is not running for mayor.

Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. continues to exponentially increase the city's budget annually, while spending millions on legal settlements and lawyer fees.

In fact, since the property tax issue came to the forefront four years ago, not a single Lake County taxing entity has lowered or even maintained its spending levels.

Regrettably, the only way to put a stop to this is by ending the free-flowing spigot of taxpayer money. Corruption and incompetence is neither an explanation nor an excuse for changing the statewide law. If everyone else can live with it, so must Lake County.

State Representative Chester Dobis is the sole politician in NWI to take up the challenge and to show courage by standing up against the waste and abuse he has watched for years. He has informed Lake County politicians that he is not going to support any change downstate until he sees substantial improvements in how local government operates. To show how clearly he is thinking, he is not going to fall for promises again, since they never materialize.

Representative Dobis is a representative who is truly speaking truth to power. His stand is the true hope for the citizens of NWI for a responsive government in Lake County. All citizens in Indiana should commend him and support him in his stand.

Some Ethics Laws for NWI's Four Year Olds

Many of the four-year old acting comedians of NWI seem to have no idea of what constitutes illegal financial conflict of interest. They even do not seem to believe that such a thing exists.  For their sake and as previously promised I have referenced some laws that would possibly clarify things for them.

Everyone should keep in mind that I do not really expect any of these people to stop and think and possibly change their minds. It is part and parcel of NWI tribal political mentality best represented by Mayors such as McDermott of Hammond and Pabey of East Chicago. If my tribal head says it is so, then it is as though G-d is speaking and truth and facts do not matter.

The first item is taken from the web-site of the United State Office of Government Ethics, a U.S. Federal Agency. It specifically identifies conflict of interest and what is called a “covered relationship”. Specifically a covered relationship includes “father or brother” and the Cabelas decisions under Federal Law would seem to be a criminal conflict of interest, a felony. 

ITEM 1, taken direct from web-site: Impartiality in Performing Official Duties: Executive branch employees are required to consider whether their impartiality may be questioned whenever their involvement in a particular matter involving specific parties might affect certain personal and business relationships. A pending case, contract, grant, permit, license or loan are some examples of particular matters involving specific parties. A general rulemaking, on the other hand, is not.

If a particular matter involving specific parties would have an effect on the financial interest of a member of the employee's household, or if a person with whom the employee has a “covered relationship” is or represents a party to such a matter, then the employee must consider whether a reasonable person would question his impartiality in the matter. If the employee concludes that there would be an appearance problem, then the employee should not participate in the matter unless authorized by the agency.

An employee has a “covered relationship” with the following persons:

a person with whom the employee has or seeks a business, contractual or other financial relationship

a person who is a member of the employee's household or is a relative with whom the employee has a close personal relationship

a person for whom the employee's spouse, parent or dependent child serves or seeks to serve as an officer, director, trustee, general partner, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor or employee

any person for whom the employee has within the last year served as officer, director, trustee, general partner, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor or employee, or

any organization (other than a political party) in which the employee is an active participant.

An employee may have a concern that circumstances other than those expressly described in the regulation may raise a question regarding the employee's impartiality. In such a situation, the employee should follow certain procedures to determine whether or not participation in the particular matter would be appropriate.

If someone who is entering Government service has received a special severance payment or other benefit in excess of $10,000 which his former employer does not make to other departing employees not entering into Federal service, and if certain other factors are present, then the employee must be disqualified for two years from participating in any particular matter in which the former employer is a party or represents a party. The agency may waive or shorten the disqualification period.

Since the activities of the McDermott enterprise with Cabelas crossed many state lines and I am sure included the mail and other Federally regulated entities, it is a question to what degree has the enterprise or Cabelas committed any Federal crimes. This would be up to U. S. Attoney Von Bokklein to determine.

From the web-site of the Indiana Inspector General the following excerpt is taken. It specifically indicates that no Indiana State Employee can make any decision that provides financial benefit to a member of his family, including father or brother. Therefore under Indiana State statue what the McDermott family did is most likely a felony.

How the State law applies to the McDermott enterprise is up to Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter to determine. But the underlying law is clear and I assume known by any first year law student. That assumption when it comes to NWI's politicians may be a stretch.

ITEM 2 taken from the web-site:

(a) A state officer, an employee, or a special state appointee may not participate in any decision or vote if the state officer, employee, or special state appointee has knowledge that any of the following has a financial interest in the outcome of the matter:

(1) The state officer, employee, or special state appointee.

(2) A member of the immediate family of the state officer, employee, or special state appointee.

(3) A business organization in which the state officer, employee, or special state appointee is serving as an officer, a director, a trustee, a partner, or an employee.

(4) Any person or organization with whom the state officer, employee, or special state appointee is negotiating or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment.

(b) A state officer, an employee, or a special state appointee who identifies a potential conflict of interest shall notify the person's appointing authority and seek an advisory opinion from the commission by filing a written description detailing the nature and circumstances of the particular matter and making full disclosure of any related financial interest in the matter. The commission shall:

(1) with the approval of the appointing authority, assign the particular matter to another person and implement all necessary procedures to screen the state officer, employee, or special state appointee seeking an advisory opinion from involvement in the matter; or

(2) make a written determination

There are certainly questions of fact as to what can be proven legally that has crossed the line into criminality. That is a question in any investigation. It is clear though that under Federal and State laws, what is generally known publicly about the McDermott enterprise's relationship with Cabelas is illegal. At the very best it must be said unequivocally that this is one of the most blatantly unethical activities to have occurred in NWI in the past four years.

There is also a question of Cabelas involvement and liability. They are a publicly traded corporation. If they knowingly committed a felony involving a government official, I do not know what the authority of the Security and Exchange Commission is in these matters. It certainly is of major concern to their stockholders, if they perceive that this is how the management of the corporation is going to carry forth its business.

The Death of NWI Economic Development

Below is a post from a local discussion board.  I do not know any of the participants and obviously they are anonymous.  What is really telling is the angst at realizing the truth about NWI economic conditions and what has brought it about -- corrupt, incompetent, and evil politicians like Pabey in East Chicago, the McDermotts of Hammond, most Gary politicians and let us not forget Lake County Government.  What is further heart wrenching is that they realize that there is no future in NWI with the same people, both elected and appointed, continuing in their positions.

The writers on this discussion board would like to remain in NWI; but the failure of politicians and higher education to perform their elected and appointed duties has and continues to doom the area.  The only solution is their wholesale replacement.  That is what thinking voters realize.

Even the Governor in his new design of the highway bypasses all of the northern part of Lake County, just like the rest of the world is doing.

The thread was entitled: Northwest Indiana Economic Outlook:

Post subject: Lake county economic outlook

---

Has there been any news or dealings with getting some Fortune 500 companies to call NW Indiana home?

I haven't had the need or a reason to seek employement in my NW Indiana home town area, however I will be soon. I currenlty work in Chicago.

After seeing how my peers are fairing in the job market at home, I have little or no hope to find employment here. There weren't any IT jobs in NW Indiana in 1994 and still aren't any in 2006. What gives? Has there been any work on getting our area up to speed with the rest of corporate world? Are we destined to always be a consumable goods economy?
Many Chicago suburbs in Illinois have corporate HQ's in thier backyards.
Have we done anything to instill this type of thought in our area?

The future isn't looking for us. We need to step out of the small town mentality and step up to reality. What needs to be done? How can we do this?

expresso66
Senior Member

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:10 pm    Post subject:
Just stay in your little job in Chicago.........and all will be well with you. Don't worry! _________________ NEVER back off!

ekrz44
New Member

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:15 pm    Post subject:
I don't understand the intent of your reply post. Is it meant to belittle me, or are you intentionaly not trying to reply with a rational adult answer? Just don't reply if you don't have anything to add. Thanks!

nwi
Member


Joined: 13 Nov 2006
Posts: 40

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:08 pm    Post subject:
Blame the political corruption in the region. For far too long, politicians were able to do what they wanted (patronage, nepotism, rent-seeking & outright theft) and just bill heavy industry, while keeping taxes low for voters. As foreign competition changed the economics of US heavy industry, local politics did not change. The promise of high paying industrial jobs and low taxes kept many in line, but inevitably a "brain drain" occurred. Many who remained are dependent upon the status quo and make a living off of patronage jobs, nepotism and rent-seeking. That is why, even with the recent shift of taxes away from heavy industry, North Lake County politics have not changed. Many South Lake County towns are doing the right things, but their relatively low populations and proximity to North Lake County inhibit their potential for quality job growth. The suburbs with corporate hqs are run efficiently, with good schools, relatively low costs of government, and NO tolerance for corruption. They also occupy large contiguous areas with high populations. There is very little commitment to quality higher eduction in NWI and, as a result, a limited pool of potential workers for modern corporations. Therefore, no large company would even consider a corporate hq in the region.

ekrz44
New Member

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:29 pm    Post subject: Thank you NWI...
for that insight. It's a shame it seems almost impossible to bring a positive change to the area. We have Purdue creating a new Campus in NWI and we have IUN in Gary. They produce quality people with degress and knowledge that could help the area, however most end up seeking employment in other areas because of the lack of quality occupations here.  We are stuck in a rut, and it's ashame. The people required for this change are here. You make a good point about old school politics. Maybe one day we'll see a good old fashion political enima in the region, maybe like the one we're seeing in Chicago.

expresso66
Senior Member

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:42 pm    Post subject:
Well, my adult answer had a little sweet on it. But my point is this, if you have a good, paying job in CHI town, go with it! As for LC, it's the stinking politicos who mess up this county. Imagine, some of the world's biggest industries are here, yet we have such high property taxes.........it's a child's joke! _________________ NEVER back off!

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:40 am    Post subject: Point was..
I won't be employed soon for reasons beyond my control. Would love to get a job in my home town, however I don't see that happening. I started looking for positions in my field without any succes. Even similar employement positions to my field pay very little when they are available. Seems the only good paying jobs with any security in the area are politician positions. I agree, we have big boys in town in billion dollar markets and tons of chain stores and restaraunts yet our cost of living is rivaling Illinios.

expresso66
Senior Member

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:04 am    Post subject:
Try getting a job in Chicago, however, your'll have to take the SS train. All through history, people have had to move to better thier life, maybe it's time you get that gig in Chi town! _________________ NEVER back off!

davi5New Member

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:53 pm    Post subject: lake county economic outlook.
As a lifelong of nwi. It seems like the more things the more they the same. I know people who have tried to find work here in nwi. Some of them have trouble paying their utilites and face shut offs and some have even found their homes sold recently in tax lien sales. My job which pays 6.00 an hour here, pays up to 15.00 an hour in chicago. Cost of living is higher in chicago. But it is still worth the trip. Be thankful for the chicago gig. By the way I have started actively applied for jobs in chicago and illinois area, because of the starvation wages paid here. More Advice, for all of you moving here from illnois The bus system is not the CTA, not by a long shot. Read the article about the racial divide in the region under the story day 4, transporation You will learn a lot about public transportation in nwi.

McDermott Family Gravy Train Continues

I have to apologize to most of the citizens of Indiana who understand ethics and conflict of interest and even to some citizens of NWI.  This entry might seem like it states the obvious; but, up here in NWI part of the comedy of politics arises when one finds themselves talking to four year olds in trying to explain modern ideas of government.  So bear with me as we walk the four year olds through this maze.  I understand that this would not happen in Indianapolis or South Bend; but this is NWI Comical Politics at its best.

So far none of the questions raised about the financial collusion between the current Mayor McDermott and his father the former Mayor McDermott or other individuals have been answered by the responsible public official, the Mayor.  Worse, there is a true belief on the part of the Mayor and his minions that it is offensive and even impolite to even bring up the issue.

What that public official, the Mayor, and his lackeys have responded with is tirades and questions and threats that have absolutely nothing to do with the issues in an attempt to distract and confuse.

The first question that the Mayor and his underlings claimed was asked is: Show what "public money" did Tom McDermott, Sr., the father, receive from the deal with the City of Hammond and the State of Indiana that induced the mega-store Cabelas to come to Hammond locating at the former Woodmar Country Club?  Now the fact is that no one that I know ever claimed that the father received "public funds" in this deal.  So the Mayor is going around, including to one of his students who in turn wrote a letter to the editor, claiming that NO money changed hands in the deal (of course meaning "public money").  This by itself makes one suspect collusion in the original deal.

The issue always was how much did the father get of private money from Cabelas and why.  It is an agreed fact that the father received money -- even the current Mayor, the son, has agreed when he was forced to admit it on his radio show that McDermott, Sr. got money as part of the deal.  It has been reported that the father received $300/hr for "consulting", that hourly fee plus a finder's fee, a flat percentage sum, or a combination of all of the above.  This is not guess work on my part.  It has been reported by the newspapers as to these figures and admitted to by the current Mayor. 

So the father did receive money as part of this deal.  How much?  No one knows for sure?  The best guess by reporters who have worked on this story is that the sum is around $1 million.  This becomes important because if one is to believe that this was not a "pay-to-play" scheme, which is illegal, then the father would have had to provide some unique service commensurate with the amount paid and that should be easily confirmed by Cabelas.  Since they have refused to publicly, then the "pay-to-play" scheme seems a strong possibility.

A lesson for the four year olds:  "Pay-to-play" is when a business has to pay some amount of money or some other renumeration, to an outsider, to do business with a government entity or within the government entity's jurisdiction.  It may be easier for some of you who seemed to have forgotten your law school lesson, this is also bribery or blackmail, depending on the fine details.

There is at this juncture no known abilities the McDermott, Sr. has that would command $300/hr, never mind $1 million.  Cabelas is just as much in this scheme as the McDermotts.  They made the payment and are therefore part of the collusion.  When Sr. came to NWI he was responsible for the delivery of newspapers for The Times Newspaper during which his claim to fame was breaking the newspaper carrier's union.  Then as a good looking and articulate candidate he ran for Mayor of Hammond against an old man who had overstayed his welcome.  The father won.  He had a relatively unremarkable term and a half suddenly leaving for better pay at the NWI Forum.  He left the Mayorship of Hammond with the financial ability to buy two radio stations -- go figure.

At the NWI Forum, except for his first year getting gambling promoted in NWI, there is nothing anyone can point to, actually the opposite, that he accomplished in over ten years at the Forum.  He eventually had to leave for abusing his office in a conflict of interest over openly supporting his son for mayor of Hammond while serving in a non-partisan role.  So where is the million dollar expertise?

Joe Allegretti the local political lawyer was hired by Cabelas as their lawyer.  Allegretti was the campaign manager for Tom McDermott's Sr. run for Mayor of Hammond; then Tom McDermott, Sr. was Allegretti's campaign manager for Judge.  Now these were all Republicans and Allegretti was the McDermott's Sr.'s and the Duane Dedelow's administration's lawyer.  But when Dedelow cut him back, Allegretti came up with the idea to run McDermott, Jr. as a Democrat.  I always wondered why McDermott, Jr. and McDermott, Sr., both Republicans for life, were in such a hurry that they would not let Dedelow complete one more term.  Allegretti comes to mind.

The second question that is raised is: what specific laws were broken?  The argument on the part of the Mayor, a lawyer, and his groupies, is that if I can't cite the specific law then I am making things up.  This either indicates that the Mayor is a bad lawyer; or that confusion is good for hiding illegality.  What law had been broken, if any, depends on the facts of the case.  Since those facts are not forthcoming, and I do not have the power to investigate like the US Attorney or the State's Attorney, I obviously don't know the finer details.  While not being a lawyer myself, I do have the intelligence, as do most people outside of NWI, to understand collusion and financial conflict of interest as being illegal without citing the specific law.  (Although I should point out that on the Internet today it is easy to get the information; I can post what potential laws may have been broken, but does anyone believe that the McGroupie's will stop defending the indefensible even with specific laws presented to them?)

The next issue brought up by Junior and his henchmen is that Daddy is a private person and no one has a right to ask what he made or about his "private" affairs.  First, he is not a private person.  He continues to comment and be a public person in NWI.  Second, the deal he made money from, Cabelas is with public institutions, the City of Hammond and the State of Indiana.  In addition, Cabelas specifically identified the father's role as being a go between and a "facilitator" for them and City and State Government.  That is acting at best as a lobbyist.  What he got paid must be public information.

Finally there is the Mayor, Jr. crocodile tears because people are picking on his whole family including his four-year old daughter.  That again is just an attempt to obscure the real issue.  No one has picked on "innocent" family members or friends.  But the Mayor never did answer who in his family might be involved with the inter-modal development, river-park apartments, interstate plaza, the rest of Woodmar Country Club, etc.  The list pretty well covers all of Hammond and the suspicion that is raised is that all "development" in Hammond has to go through the "family".

If any of this is not true, then the true details, such as services performed by his father would put everything to rest.  No such luck!!  Does anyone wonder why the rest of the State knows our politics is a joke?

I do not truly expect this response to change the minds or stop those four year old defenders and excusers of the Mayor.  Nor do I expect the Mayor to stop hating the questioners and answer the questions as his official position requires.  But then in NWI buffoons are in charge of public ethics education.

McDermott's Continued Refusal to be Forthright Questions Legality of Transaction

Hammond's Mayor Tom McDermott's December 8 radio show clearly showed that the idea of public ethics is completely devoid in the mentality of McDermott and his supporters.  It is so pitiful that it is a wonder that the citizens of Hammond have not become so embarrassed as to deny that there is any association between McDermott and Hammond.

It is a further embarrassment to the Indiana Democratic Party to show that this elected official and his cohorts are so devoid of ethics and public values that they therefore establish what I have always argued: public unethical and corrupt behavior is endemic to the very structure of Lake County politics.  It cannot be resolved through the feeding of more money to the slime pit.  McDermott is an ethical embarrasement to the Democratic Party and to Lake County -- enough is enough.

First of all let us be very clear about some truths.  It is hard to imagine that what he and his father, and possibly others, did with the "Cabelas" deal is not illegal at the Federal and State level of government.  Certainly at the municipal level it is at least extremely unethical.  The Mayor stated that he is "sickened by questions about his father's actions" but that is the very issue.  The citizens of Hammond and the State of Indiana through the State's support of the Cabellas deal through tax money have a right to know about conflict of interests and anyone who has gained from that conflict of interest, even if that person's name is McDermott.  That name is only holy in the mind of Tom McDermott, Jr.

The Mayor has to explain and defend how people gained through a conflict of interest involving him.  His first defense is that his father was involved with Cabellas before he was Mayor.  That has turned out to be untrue since McDermott, Sr. did not leave the Forum until after Junior became Mayor and that was because McDermott, Sr. refused to abide by the conflict of interest rules of the Forum and misused his position to favor his son in his run for Mayor. 

Not a single expert in ethics in public office would defend this action by the father and son.  As tired as the Mayor may be of answering the questions about his father, the fact is he has never answered it.  The very basic issue is whether or not this was a legitimate transaction, and to answer that questions, McDermott Jr. must answer, what did Senior get paid and what did he provide for that payment?  Without an unequivocal answer to those questions, one must presume that there is fraud perpetuated on the people of Hammond and the citizens of the State of Indiana.

It absolutely does not make any difference, ethically, if the money that McDermott, Sr. got is from a private company or from the City of Hammond.  The fact is the money he received was from a company doing business with a City of which his son is the Mayor.  In addition, there is clear and unequivocal evidence that the current Mayor McDermott placed himself, and his official office, at the disposal of his father and the company that was paying his father.

If someone had paid a member of Governor Daniels family while gaining tax breaks and incentives from the State, then everyone would be sure that this was illegal and a conflict of interest and unethical.  There is no difference in the events in Hammond.

The fact is the longer the elected Mayor of Hammond refuses to disclose what his relationships got paid or are getting paid and what work they performed or will perform for this new found wealth, the more it seems that he really does have something to hide and that quite possibly other choices were available to the citizens of Hammond and Indiana that were less lucrative to the McDermotts but better for NWI and the State as a whole.