Results & Reforms

The Chicago Board of Education’s inspector general is investigating the school system’s largest milk-delivery company, McMahon Food Corp., which recently lost its certification as a woman-owned business. A Chicago Sun-Times/Better Government Association investigation last month found that the school system is paying more for milk than many suburban districts that are a

Prompted by revelations from the BGA and FOX Chicago, residents of Stone Park and surrounding communities banded together to oppose the construction of a strip club next to a convent, question whether village officials violated the law in approving the project and keep a closer eye on local elected leaders.

As the BGA and Chicago Sun-Times inquired about government contracts held by the clout-heavy McMahon family, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel moved to permanently ban their electrical contracting company from getting more city work because of allegations they fraudulently set up the company as woman-owned to get a leg up on city contracts. Click here to read more.

Following a Feb. 3 BGA investigation, the Chicago Public Schools vowed on Tuesday, Feb, 14, to end the practice of paying tens of millions of dollars to administrative employees for excessive and unused sick days.

A day after the BGA revealed that the former chancellor of City Colleges stood to collect $500,000 for unused sick days accrued over a number of years, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ordered on Friday, Jan. 27, a temporary halt to sick-day compensation at all city-related agencies while officials determine the legality of ending the practice permanently.

Following inquiries by the BGA and NBC5 about parking perks afforded to public-sector employees, which led to this investigation, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ordered on Tuesday, Feb. 7, that agencies under his control explore further cuts in transportation expenses.

DEC. 12, 2011 — Following revelations by the BGA and FOX Chicago News that on-the-clock employees of Proviso High School Township District 209 may have been helping their boss, school board President Emanuel “Chris” Welch, with “opposition research” in his political campaign for state representative, Welch apologizes and the school district reprimands two workers.

JAN. 12, 2012 — Following a BGA investigation into the questionable, under-the-table sale of municipal equipment by the City of Hobart’s now-former fire chief, auditors find he violated state protocols; the city increases oversight of assets.

JAN. 3, 2012 — Just weeks after the BGA sues the Chicago Police Department in Cook County Circuit Court to obtain documents showing where plainclothes officers were deployed, CPD reverses course and releases the data.

DEC. 12, 2011 — Prompted by revelations from the BGA that two high-ranking Melrose Park village officials had side businesses that did work with Melrose Park’s municipal government, the village board adopts an “ethics ordinance” barring such practices.