MAYAN CALENDAR NEWS: FOLLOW THE MONEY PART 4 - From the Crain's Chicago
Business Newsroom Gutierrez denies wrongdoing in developer’s deal (DENY, DENY,
DENY!!!!)
OK MAYAN READERS,
MY COMMENTARY FOLLOWS THE CCB ARTICLE.
Carlos
Gutierrez denies wrongdoing in developer’s deal
>From the Crain's Chicago Business Newsroom
October 29 15:44:00, 2008
By Greg Hinz
-----
(Crain’s) — A Chicago congressman is disputing a Chicago Tribune story
suggesting he is under federal investigation for his role in winning approval of
a West Side project for a developer who had lent him money.
In a statement released by his office, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Chicago,
said his role in the Galewood Yards project along Central Avenue just south of
Grand Avenue was “minimal” and was “fully disclosed and transparent.”
Mr. Gutierrez in the statement denied that federal investigators are looking
into the matter. But he does not deny that he received a two-month loan from
developer Calvin Boender or that he wrote a letter to Mayor Richard M. Daley
endorsing Mr. Boender’s commercial-residential project.
The eight-term congressman, who is running for re-election Tuesday against
Republican Daniel Cunningham and Green Party candidate Omar Lopez, declined to
answer questions.
At issue is Mr. Gutierrez’s April 2004 purchase of a lot at 1007 W. Fulton
St. from Mr. Boender. Sources close to the matter say Mr. Gutierrez paid
$100,000 down and agreed to a temporary loan of $200,000 from the developer
until permanent financing could be secured.
Mr. Gutierrez paid 7% interest on the loan, higher than the market rate, he
told the Tribune. Two months later he repaid the loan with other funds borrowed
from a bank at 3%.
Sources close to the congressman said a mortgage disclosing the transaction was
filed with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office and was available as a
public record. But the purchase occurred not under Mr. Gutierrez’s name but
under that of a private firm he operates and has included in his congressional
disclosure forms, Avocado LLC.
Less than three months later, Mr. Gutierrez wrote Mr. Daley praising Mr.
Boender’s character and proposed project.
Mr. Boender is not the “bad guy” some city officials believed him to be,
but in fact had been involved in a Loop development that Mr. Daley liked, the
congressman wrote the mayor. “I would ask for any support you can give him at
this time” on the Galewood Yards project, the letter states.
The previously undisclosed letter is Mr. Gutierrez’s only known public action
involving the project, which falls just outside his congressional district.
The Chicago FBI office said that, consistent with standard policy, it can
neither confirm nor deny that it is probing Mr. Gutierrez or the Galewood
project, which includes condominium units, a proposed movie theater and other
retail use.
Mr. Boender did not return a phone call seeking comment.
CARLOS WRITES:
Ever see the Hollywood film, "A Guide For The Married Man"? It is a hilarious
film of vignettes dealing with situations that occur in the average marriage.
In the film, one character is gicing advice to the newly married man about what
to do if ever caught cheating on his wife. His counsel...."DENY, DENY,
DENY"!!!! He then goes on to relate how he was able to convince his wife, who
catches him in bed with another woman, that it never happened. "Who is that
woman?" she roars, "What woman. There'sno woman." he rebuts. Mean while the
woman gets out of bed, puts on her clothes, tidies the bed, and exits, while
the man and his wife argue about whether there actually is a woman in the
room. Finally the woman walks out, and the husband keeps to his posture of
DENYING THE OBVIOUS, and once the woman has left he sits on the edge of the bed
and declares...."SEE, I TOLD YOU THERE WASN'T ANY WOMAN IN HERE."
His advice to the newly married man, DENY, DENY, DENY!!!
Of course Gutierrez is innocent until proven guilty of any wrongdoing. But as
we have seen time and time again in Chicago, that when the federal government
"leaks" to the press that an investigation is afoot, you can be sure
that..."WHERE THERE IS SMOKE, THERE IS FIRE".
What this ( and the Chicago Tribune) article does prove (BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT) is the very cozy relationship that Gutierrez enjoys with local, powerful
developers!!!
Hey, who is gonna lend you or I, 200k without blinking an eye (even at 7%
interest) without expecting something in return? In a major way!!!!
And of course, now you can see how the neighborhoods in the 4th congressional
district have been GENTRIFIED so rapidly in the last 16 years. Areas such as
Wicker Park, Westown, Bucktown, were once dominated by latino and black
populations, have now become totally GENTRIFIED!!!
Humboldt Park and Pilsen are now going through a similar transformation.
COINCIDENCE???...OR CONSPIRACY.
Gutierrez DENIES any direct involvement in zoning changes on behalf of
developers. Of course, HIS HAND PICKED ALDERMANIC ALLIES DO THAT FOR HIM. Billy
Ocasio in the 26th, Manny Flores in the 1st ward, would be the "go to" guys in
such circumstances, and they are both Gutierrez HAND PICKED-LOYALISTS!!!!
So, if you ask me, it looks like the "House of Cards" is starting to collapse
around Luis Gutierrez. His proclivity for lots of cash are starting to attract
attention. What is needed is a furhter exploration on AVOCADO LLC...TO SEE WHAT
KIND OF BUSINESS DEALINGS ARE CONNECTED TO THIS GUTIERREZ FRONT.
"Follow the Money", Gente...."Follow the Money".
This was the advice that the informant "Deep Throat" gave to the reporters
Woodward and Bernstein when they were investigating the Watergate Break-in back
in 1972 .
Their investigation, the corruption that was uncovered, led to the indictment
and conviction of the President Nixon's key White House staff members, and to
Nixon's ultimate resignation in disgrace as President of the USA.
Gutierrez can DENY all he wants, but if history is any indicator, then
Gutierrez is in for a long hot winter of discontent.
Carlos Perez
Founder/Editor
Mayan Calendar News
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Internet group address: http://groups.google.com/group/ChicagoMayDay
To send e-mail: [email protected]
To unsuscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
