To: Brandon Johnson, Mayor, Chicago; Mary Richardson-Lowry, Corporate Counsel, Chicago; Jill Jaworski, Chief Financial Officer, Chicago; and the Alderpeople representing Wards 1-50, Chicago.
City of Chicago: Stop Wasting Our Tax Dollars
City of Chicago elected officials have failed Chicago tax payers.
Misuse of public funds: the City of Chicago spends $40M annually on private law firms, solely for the purpose of defending public servants. The City of Chicago could save an estimated 80% by using their existing internal law department. Instead, city officials excessively opted for the unnecessary expense of private law firms, despite no requirement to do so.
Unnecessary spend defending disgraced public servants: this egregious amount includes $35.7M spent on private law firms defending disgraced Detective Reynaldo Guevara. This is in addition to $60.5M already spent on settlements related to Guevara's actions, with an additional 34 lawsuits pending.
Disregard for accountability: Guevara has collected $1.4M in pension payments, since retiring to Texas, as Guevara has never faced criminal charges, despite an uncontested record of misconduct.
Lack of transparency: the City of Chicago fails to publicize the names of private law firms used, the amount spent on each law firm, and/or potential list of conflicting interests.
We, the tax payers of Chicago, demand City of Chicago elected officials immediately:
(1) Fulfill fiduciary responsibility to tax payers: prioritize use of internal law department over use of private law firms.
(2) Ensure transparency regarding use of tax funds:
(a) Historical: publish list of private law firms contracted by the City of Chicago over the last 5 years, to include, at a minimum:
I. Identifying information: name and location of private law firm;
II. Spend: amount spent by the City of Chicago, by law firm;
III. Beneficiaries: names of all employees (City of Chicago and private law firms) benefiting, in any capacity, from City of Chicago procurement of said private law firm; and
IV. Potential conflicts of interest: detailed list of all employees (both City of Chicago and private law firms) with potential conflicts of interest arising from procurement of private law firms.
(b) Future: publish annual report, detailing City of Chicago use of private law firms, to include, at a minimum, sub-points I (Identifying information), II (Spend), III (Beneficiaries), and IV (Potential conflicts of interest) above.
(3) Hold public servants accountable: at a minimum:
(a) Investigation: a thorough and immediate investigation of Guevara's misconduct;
(b) Accountability: swift and just criminal charges for any public servant's misconduct, including Guevara; and
(c) Transparency: prompt and consistent public communication regarding investigation and decision regarding criminal charges against Guevara.
Misuse of public funds: the City of Chicago spends $40M annually on private law firms, solely for the purpose of defending public servants. The City of Chicago could save an estimated 80% by using their existing internal law department. Instead, city officials excessively opted for the unnecessary expense of private law firms, despite no requirement to do so.
Unnecessary spend defending disgraced public servants: this egregious amount includes $35.7M spent on private law firms defending disgraced Detective Reynaldo Guevara. This is in addition to $60.5M already spent on settlements related to Guevara's actions, with an additional 34 lawsuits pending.
Disregard for accountability: Guevara has collected $1.4M in pension payments, since retiring to Texas, as Guevara has never faced criminal charges, despite an uncontested record of misconduct.
Lack of transparency: the City of Chicago fails to publicize the names of private law firms used, the amount spent on each law firm, and/or potential list of conflicting interests.
We, the tax payers of Chicago, demand City of Chicago elected officials immediately:
(1) Fulfill fiduciary responsibility to tax payers: prioritize use of internal law department over use of private law firms.
(2) Ensure transparency regarding use of tax funds:
(a) Historical: publish list of private law firms contracted by the City of Chicago over the last 5 years, to include, at a minimum:
I. Identifying information: name and location of private law firm;
II. Spend: amount spent by the City of Chicago, by law firm;
III. Beneficiaries: names of all employees (City of Chicago and private law firms) benefiting, in any capacity, from City of Chicago procurement of said private law firm; and
IV. Potential conflicts of interest: detailed list of all employees (both City of Chicago and private law firms) with potential conflicts of interest arising from procurement of private law firms.
(b) Future: publish annual report, detailing City of Chicago use of private law firms, to include, at a minimum, sub-points I (Identifying information), II (Spend), III (Beneficiaries), and IV (Potential conflicts of interest) above.
(3) Hold public servants accountable: at a minimum:
(a) Investigation: a thorough and immediate investigation of Guevara's misconduct;
(b) Accountability: swift and just criminal charges for any public servant's misconduct, including Guevara; and
(c) Transparency: prompt and consistent public communication regarding investigation and decision regarding criminal charges against Guevara.
Why is this important?
Misuse of public funds: City of Chicago officials have failed the tax payers of Chicago. Instead of using tax funds to benefit tax payers, City of Chicago officials misappropriated the funds, opting to allocate them for the sole benefit of private law firms, a decision which was neither required nor necessary.
Failure to hold public servants accountable: the City of Chicago's decision to not pursue criminal charges against disgraced Detective Reynaldo Guevara is unfathomable, indefensible, and a complete failure to the people of Chicago.
Citizens of Chicago deserve better: Chicago of Chicago officials have a long history of failing their constituents. The people of Chicago deserve public officials who prioritize their fiduciary responsibilities and act in the best interest of the people they represent.
Failure to hold public servants accountable: the City of Chicago's decision to not pursue criminal charges against disgraced Detective Reynaldo Guevara is unfathomable, indefensible, and a complete failure to the people of Chicago.
Citizens of Chicago deserve better: Chicago of Chicago officials have a long history of failing their constituents. The people of Chicago deserve public officials who prioritize their fiduciary responsibilities and act in the best interest of the people they represent.
How it will be delivered
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