Former Chicago alderperson Ed Burke was today found guilty by a jury on 13 out of 14 charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and bribery. Co-defendant Charles Cui was also found guilty of bribery, while Burke’s longtime aide Peter Andrews was acquitted.
In response to the verdict, Better Government Association President David Greising stated, “The jury’s verdict is a clear warning to elected officials: Illinois residents will not put up with government corruption, and we are willing to stand up and hold public officials accountable. While Burke’s corruption is another sad chapter in Chicago’s history, the jury’s action also is a step forward and an affirmative statement that the bad old days are coming to an end.”
The conviction is the latest in a string of high-profile corruption cases in Chicago. A jury in May found four politically connected people guilty on all counts in a statehouse bribery case revolving around Commonwealth Edison’s efforts to corruptly influence former House Speaker Mike Madigan. And Madigan’s longtime chief of staff Tim Mapes was convicted in August on perjury and obstruction charges for lying to protect his boss. Madigan himself still faces an upcoming trial.
“This is a culture issue, not just a criminal one,” said Greising. “The despicable conduct detailed during Burke’s trial could only happen within a broken, corrupt City Council culture. The jury is now saying loud and clear: Chicago is ready for reform. In fact, we demand it.”
Burke faced charges stemming from multiple abuses of power, including conspiring with then-zoning chair Ald. Danny Solis to steer business to Burke’s law firm by holding up tax breaks for the Old Post Office redevelopment and blocking permit applications for a Burger King in his ward as leverage for forcing applicants to hire his private law firm. He also was accused of threatening to block an admissions hike at the Field Museum until his goddaughter was offered an internship.
Administrative changes to the permitting process under former mayor Lori Lightfoot have somewhat reduced alderpersons’ ability to slow or halt permit applications. But City Council has resisted more dramatic reforms to aldermanic prerogative in the high-stakes, high-profit world of zoning changes, where the local alderperson’s disapproval alone can still kill a proposal regardless of its merits.
The BGA’s policy team has called for an end to aldermanic prerogative in zoning decisions, as part of a more sweeping ethics reform that still is needed in city government. Limits on political contributions from city subcontractors, expanded authority for the inspector general’s office to release their final reports, and a consolidation of the patronage staff positions currently controlled by committee chairs into a legislative support office are all key changes within the council’s power to enact.
“It’s heartening when the criminal justice system can tackle cases of clear-cut corruption,” said Greising. “We need to look beyond just catching the worst actors with federal prosecutions, though. City Council has an opportunity now to tackle serious zoning reform to remove the temptations of so-called ‘aldermanic prerogative,’ reform staffing practices to eliminate political influence on hiring and strengthen the city service departments to operate without aldermanic interference. Chicago is watching, and the jury’s verdict clearly signals people demand action now.”
The Better Government Association is a 99-year-old civic watchdog that seeks better government through investigative journalism, policy reforms and civic engagement efforts that lead to more open, equitable and accountable government. The policy team and investigative unit operate independently of one another, while both seek to advance the cause of better government in Chicago and across Illinois.
