The Jon Burge torture scandal is a saga, now nearly 40 years old, of city, county, and federal government failure. BGA senior investigator John Conroy, who was instrumental in exposing the torture, reflects on the law enforcement officials who exceeded their authority, the prosecutors who did nothing about it, the elected officials who turned a deaf ear, and the costs incurred
BGA
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Treasurer Pappas Cuts ‘Party Planners’ In Wake of Investigation
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is making some big changes after the recent BGA/CBS 2 investigation
Posted inNews
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Profile of New BGA Board Chairman, H. Roderic Heard
“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.
Posted inNews
BGA Gov Guru Debates Size of City Council on WBEZ
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.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Cook County ethics chairman resigns
BGA, WGN-TV and Chicago magazine investigation raised questions about John Pikarski own ethics on Cook County Board of Ethics.
Posted inNews, Results & Reforms
RESIGNATION
Jan. 18, 2011 — A BGA/WGN-TV/Chicago magazine investigation finds Cook County Board of Ethics Chairman John Pikarski made significant political contributions and maintained close ties to the Cook County assessor, an elected official the ethics board is charged with monitoring.
Posted inNews
County Ethics Chairman Resigns After BGA/WGN/Chicago Magazine report
“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.”
Posted inNews, Results & Reforms
FIELD FOUNDATION AWARDS $20K
Jan. 19, 2011 — The Field Foundation Awards the BGA a $20,000 grant for BGA Citizen Watchdogs of Education, a training program that aims to educate and engage citizens on education, school funding and Chicago Public Schools.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Ethical Questions Arise About Cook County Ethics Board
A joint investigation by WGN-TV, Chicago magazine and the Better Government Association raises ethical questions about the head of the Cook County Ethics Board.
Posted inNews, Results & Reforms
AUDIT
Jan. 12, 2011 — A BGA/CBS 2 investigation uncovers serious budget and operational irregularities in Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office. A total of three stories on the treasurer’s office air over the next month on CBS 2, identifying more than $343,181 in “questionable salaries.”
