Chicago’s mayor spent millions in city taxpayer funds to aid expansion of the same West Loop bank prosecutors now say made $16 million in questionable loans to a former Trump campaign chairman now on trial for alleged tax and bank fraud.
Sandy Bergo
A Chicago native, Sandy Bergo began her professional career as a reporter for the Chicago Reporter, worked as a writer and producer for WBBM Radio, and for 20 years, was a producer with Pam Zekman’s investigative team at WBBM-TV.
She has shared in local and national awards for her work. Her stories have exposed bad doctors, campaign finance irregularities and government waste of taxpayers’ money.
In 2001, Sandy moved with her husband, Chuck Neubauer, to Washington D.C., where she worked as a freelance reporter, television producer and a staff writer for the Center for Public Integrity.
For 10 years until 2019, she was the executive director of The Fund for Investigative Journalism.
During that time, she collaborated with her husband on investigative stories for the Better Government Association.
Sandy and Chuck have one son and two grandsons.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Berrios Firm’s Lobbying Client Gets Big Tax Break From His Assessor’s Office
BGA investigation reveals how tobacco giant Altria saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes courtesy of the Cook County Assessor’s office run by Joseph Berrios, who co-owns a lobbying business hired by the firm to represent its interests.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Pritzker’s Storied Charity Costs Him Little But Taxpayers A Lot
The wealthy governor candidate campaigns on his philanthropy, but records show most of his donated proceeds have first been filtered through offshore tax havens and a tax-exempt foundation.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Bobby Rush’s Englewood Church A Million-Dollar Problem
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush has been ordered to pay $1.1 million on a delinquent bank loan made to his now-shuttered church, the latest setback for the longtime congressman-turned-pastor who once promised his house of worship would help rebuild Englewood.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Chris Kennedy Slams Same Property Tax System He Used To Get Big Break
Chris Kennedy, a top Democratic contender for governor, relied on a politically connected tax lawyer to dramatically reduce property tax bills on land he was prepping for development. It appears to mirror the sort of activity Kennedy has been condemning on the campaign trail.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Legislators Collect Paycheck From Washington, Pension From Illinois
Three members of Congress – Peter Roskam, Mike Bost and Jan Schakowsky – collect pensions from their time in Springfield; Cheri Bustos’ husband earns a public salary greater than $100,000 while cashing a $67,000 pension. It’s perfectly legal, but is it good government?
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
How Illinois Lawmakers Have Gamed Their Pensions
Even Barack Obama could benefit from lucrative retirement perks state legislators have carved out for themselves.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Rahm Emails Show Casino Chief Sought Help After Family Contributed To Mayor
Emails obtained in BGA suit show gambling expansion talk between mayor’s administration and Neil Bluhm. Family donated $770,000 to Pat Quinn, Bruce Rauner and Rahm Emanuel. Meanwhile, a consultant for Rivers Casino concluded gambling expansion would pose “existential threats” to its business.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Kirk, Duckworth Raise Big Money From Special Interests
Tammy Duckworth takes large contributions from law firm that brings asbestos lawsuits, while Mark Kirk gets a boost from a billionaire hedge fund manager.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Former Congressman Nixes Federal Lobbying After BGA Investigation
Bill Lipinski was paid by Metra, Chicago Transit Authority and other transportation clients.
