Defense: ‘Computer mistake,’ not pressure from Ed Burke, caused delays in Burger King work
City Hall bureaucracy took center stage in former Ald. Ed Burke’s corruption trial Thursday as one of the finer disputed points in the case came to a head.
City Hall bureaucracy took center stage in former Ald. Ed Burke’s corruption trial Thursday as one of the finer disputed points in the case came to a head.
They grab cellphones and demand pass codes to banking apps like Zelle and Venmo. A Chicago architect who lost more than $2,000 that way says: “Don’t have any banking apps on your phone.”
In the five-month period since July, the city has seen the sharpest spike in robberies in 20 years, driven by crimes committed with a weapon.
Witness is pressed why he didn’t initially tell FBI agents about the former alderperson’s apparent interest in getting private business from Burger King owners.
There were nearly 4,900 robberies between July 1 and Nov. 26, an increase of more than 55% compared to the total for the previous five months.
Judges have tossed 230 convictions tied to former Sgt. Ronald Watts. As the city negotiates a settlement with exonerees, WBEZ estimates the price.
The payouts from the 300 cases have included $140 million that went to lawyers for the city and $537 million paid to plaintiffs.
“We were going to talk about the real estate tax representation, and you were going to have somebody get in touch with me so we can expedite your permits,” Burke was recorded saying during a call with an executive.
Alderpersons were expected to vote Wednesday on whether to let cops contest firings and long suspensions behind closed doors.
Executive said the Klafter & Burke firm “seemed very disorganized.”