Press Release

Landmark investigations, new good-government tools, and most importantly: results.

A seven-month investigation by the Better Government Association (BGA) and the Center on Wrongful Convictions (CWC) reveals the wrongful convictions of 85 men and women for violent crimes in Illinois has cost taxpayers more than $214 million, and imprisoned innocent people for more than 900 years.

BGA CEO & President Andy Shaw writes this editorial in the Chicago Tribune.

Investigation of payment demand from ‘Source Code’ production supervisor in hands of private firm

“Citizen watchdogs: You know who you are. You care deeply about the basic principles of transparent government and public service. You attend government meetings, perhaps taking a seat on a regular basis….”

The BGA is off and running in 2011 with a very successful January.

“With Todd Stroger gone, where to look for the latest eyebrow-raising fiscal gamesmanship in Cook County? Look no further than Maria Pappas, the county treasurer who was once mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate.”

“I think the BGA is in the right place at the right time now,” said H. Roderic Heard, who was recently elected chairman of the board of the Better Government Association.

Currently, there are 50 aldermen on city council—one for each ward. But according to one of “Eight Forty-Eight’s” guests Monday, it could be smaller.

“An appointed Cook County ethics official resigned his post one day after a news report revealed his political ties to Assessor Joseph Berrios, who is under an ethics spotlight for hiring his son and sister days after taking his current post, officials confirmed today.”