Pera endorsed + full list of NDFA campaign events

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Sep 7, 2007 8:56 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Northside DFA

Last night Northside DFA voted to endorse Mark Pera for Congress for the 3rd Congressional District.  This means its time for us to to saddle up, 'cuz Mark is running against "Bush Dog" Democrat Dan Lipinski, and this will NOT be an easy race.  But after hearing from the irrepressible Julie Sweet (remember her from Fair Illinois?), who is Mark's new Deputy Campaign manager, and after learning that the unstoppable Patrick Botterman is running the campaign, this is a fight I am MORE than willing to take on. 

Want to know more about Mark?  Well, he will be live-blogging at Fire Dog Lake this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  If you can't "tune in", check it out later and read Mark's comments and add your own.

This brings our list of endorsed candidates up to exactly two:  Mark Pera and Daniel Biss.  Daniel gave another fabulous presentation last night.  I need to start tape record Daniel every time he speaks because his words are always so inspiring.  :-)  

It's go time.  The full list of events for September is below.  Sign up today for as many as you can.  Now is when our candidates need us!

UPCOMING EVENTS
(** Indicates activities that count towards voting membership. For detail see bylaws downloadable from www.dfalink.com/ndfa.)

**Saturday, September 8  - Daniel Biss petition canvas
- event starts at 10:00 a.m. at 3255 Central St. in Evanston.
- carpool will meet 9:15 8:30 a.m. at the Pier 1 parking lot, 5306 N. Broadway
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=22974

Sunday OR Monday, September 9 or 10 – Mailing Night for Global Warming Forum
- details TBA

Tuesday, September 11 -  NDFA Fundraising Committee Meeting
- 6:30 p.m. at Coffee Chicago, 5256 N. Broadway Ave
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=23562

Wednesday, September 12 – Flyering at the El for Global Warming Forum
- 5:30 p.m. meet at Damen Brown Line CTA stop
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=23563

** Saturday, September 15 – Mark Pera campaign event
- event starts at 10:00 a.m. at 7061 South Willow Springs Road, Countryside, IL 60525
- carpool will meet 8:30 a.m. at the Pier 1 parking lot, 5306 N. Broadway
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=23560

**Sunday, September 16 – Canvass for Dan Seals
- 1:00 p.m. meet at the Pier 1 parking lot at 5306 N. Broadway and carpool to the canvass location
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=23564

Sunday, September 16 – reminder phone calling for Global Warming Forum
 - email Sandra at sjv60640@gmail.com for more details

Monday, September 17 – Global Warming Forum
- forum moderator Debra Shore, speakers Shannon Fisk and Jack Darin
- 7:00 p.m. at Sulzer Library, 4455 N. Lincoln
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=22918

Tuesday, September 25 – NDFA Bowling Night
- suggested donation $40 includes bowling, shoes, cash bar; proceeds go to NDFA
- 6:00 p.m. at Lucky Strike Lanes, 322 East Illinois Street
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=23435

Saturday-Sunday September 29-30 – DFA Training Academy in Springfield
- Springfield Illinois, cost for both days is $70 ($30 for student or low-income)
- We will carpool from Chicago Friday night, and be back Sunday night.
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=19608

Thursday, October 4 – Northside DFA Monthly Meeting
- Guest Speaker Dan Seals, plus Steering Committee nominations (vote will be in November
- at Wing Hoe Chinese Restaurant, 5356 N Sheridan Road
- 6:00 dinner (optional), 7:00 meeting
- RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=21516

Peace,
Sandra Verthein
Northside DFA
http://www.dfalink.com/NDFA

P.S. Check out this article below.  Four of the six alderman who were willing to stand up on this issue were endorsed by NDFA in the last election: Joe Moore, Rick Munoz, Sandi Jackson, and Toni Preckwinkle.  THAT is how you make a difference -- by electing candidates who will stand up on the issues. [Now we just need 20 more of them ... :-) ]

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City leaders greenlight compliance office
Aldermen vote 43-6 for hiring monitor despite objections

By Gary Washburn | Tribune staff reporter
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-councilsep06,1,3424440.story

September 6, 2007 The City Council approved Mayor Richard Daley's plan to create an Office of Compliance on Wednesday over the objections of critics who contend the move represents an end run around city Inspector General David Hoffman.

Daley insisted the new office "demonstrates the commitment to better manage government."

"I know there have been many questions raised about whether this office will compete with the inspector general," Daley said after the vote. "I said before it is the primary responsibility of the inspector general to investigate allegations of misconduct. ... At its core, this department is about assuring that the city is complying with the many local, state and federal requirements."

At the heart of the debate is Daley's intention to have the office, rather than Hoffman, monitor adherence to a federal court settlement with longtime patronage critic Michael Shakman that prohibits political considerations in city hiring and promotions.

Ald. Joe Moore (49th) said the new office "undermines whatever public confidence is left in the ability of this city government to police itself in respect to hiring."

"Perhaps in the near term we'll be good as long as the heat is on, but who's to say in two to three to four to five years from now when the public spotlight has been shined away from hiring that we won't [revert] to old habits?" Moore asked.

A federal investigation two years ago uncovered widespread Shakman violations and a fraudulent scheme, which reached as high as the mayor's office, designed to reward political work with jobs and career advancements.

"I don't believe the federal judge is going to approve this," said Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd), who joined Moore and four other aldermen to oppose creating the compliance office in a 43-6 vote. "I don't know how many more entities we need to create to overlook and review what is happening, whether it is political hiring, whether it is corruption, whether it is bad employees."

Aldermen Toni Preckwinkle (4th), Leslie Hairston (5th), Sandi Jackson (7th), and Ricardo Munoz (22nd) also voted against the measure.

Federal District Judge Wayne Andersen, who is overseeing the long-running Shakman case, will resolve the dispute over which city department will handle compliance.

Hoffman, who is viewed by his supporters as independent and aggressive, declined comment Wednesday. But a day earlier, he said he continues to believe the new office "has the potential to undermine the effectiveness of the inspector general's office."

Meanwhile, Shakman asked that the city pay him and other attorneys involved in the case $5.2 million in legal fees and interest on outstanding bills. Lawyers in the case have not been paid for their work since 1997.

In a wide-ranging meeting, Daley also introduced an ordinance calling for increased parking rates at O'Hare International and Midway Airports that would generate about $24 million in additional revenue a year. It would be the first general increase since 2000, with all proceeds helping to defray airport operations, officials said.

At O'Hare's main garage, for example, the daily rate would increase to $30 from $26 and to $50 from $30 at the International Terminal. At Midway's garage, the daily rate would rise to $28 from $25.

"These new rates are intended to encourage travelers to use the economy lots at both O'Hare and Midway Airports and help keep the close-in main terminal garages open and available," Daley said.

On another front, the mayor nominated Gery Chico, a former mayoral chief of staff and Chicago Board of Education president, to a seat on the Chicago Park District Board. Chico is Daley's choice to succeed Maria Saldana as the board's president, according to City Hall sources.

Also on Wednesday, Aldermen Edward Burke (14th) and Eugene Schulter (47th) called for a council hearing to consider whether a regional task force should be formed to share information on dangerous toys and coordinate efforts to remove them from stores.

The proposal follows a series of discoveries of dangerous Chinese-made toys, including some with lead-based paints, which have found their way onto American shelves.

"Because the federal government has promised no tangible help in regard to enforcement, this responsibility falls to local governments," Schulter said.

A measure that would require mortgage lenders to register properties with the city within three days of filing foreclosure notices was introduced by Ald. Thomas Allen (38th) in an attempt to ensure that the homes are maintained at no expense to taxpayers.

In some cases now, difficulty in identifying and contacting the lender means "the city has to spend money cutting grass, the ward superintendent has to provide maintenance," Allen said. "We're not able to identify the responsible party, we have nobody to ticket."

In other action, the council:

*passed a measure that would allow licensed outdoor cafes to admit dog owners accompanied by their pets.

*approved Daley's nominees to head the city's Buildings, Environment, Planning and Transportation Departments and the mayor's appointment of Ilana Rosenzweig as chief administrator of the revamped police Office of Professional Standards.

*passed a resolution calling on the French government to allow the extradition of Hans Peterson, who has confessed to the October 2006 murder of Dr. David Cornbleet in his Michigan Avenue office.

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gwashburn@tribune.com

Tags:
Location: Chicago, IL 60640