CHICAGO BRIEFING February 2005

News this month

Voting far from home

On January 30th, in an election watched around the world, Iraqis cast their ballots in the country's first free election in five decades. Expatriate Iraqis in 14 countries also voted; Chicago was one of five American metropolitan areas where they could do so (the others were Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville and Washington, DC). Two sites in the Chicago suburbs—Rosemont and Skokie—were set in mid-January, first to register and then to accept ballots from Iraqi expatriates, including those with dual citizenship. Together the sites registered about 6,400 voters.

The mood at the polling sites on election day was predictably jubilant, with voters dancing and playing music. One local voter arrived with his son and daughter dressed as King Sargon and Queen Shameran, figures from Assyrian history (Assyrians comprise an ancient Iraqi-Christian community, and many Iraqi-Chicagoans are Christian, either Assyrian or Chaldean). The overseas ballots from all participating countries were counted and sent electronically to Iraq by February 5th. Iraq's election commission will announce the results later in February, though early returns showed strong support for an alliance of Shia parties with strong ties to Iran.

Daley bread

Federal investigators looking into Chicago's hired-truck and affirmative-action programmes are moving the probes ever closer to Mayor Richard Daley's inner circle. Gary Shapiro, the Assistant US Attorney in charge of the investigation, said that corruption in the hired-truck programme was endemic: former city officials have been charged with extracting more than $200,000 in bribes, gifts and political donations from firms hoping to keep city contracts. A plumbing company owned by a sister of Victor Reyes, a mayoral aide, was found to have worked on a construction project at O'Hare Airport, a tie that has raised eyebrows. This scandal surfaced less than a week after James Duff, a contractor and major supporter of Mr Daley, pleaded guilty to defrauding the city after falsely claiming the business was female-owned in order to win more contracts. Jesse Jackson, Jr, a Chicago congressman who is usually a staunch supporter of Mr Daley, has blasted the mayor.

In an unrelated headache for the mayor, federal prosecutors accused four Chicago policemen of planning to steal guns and drugs from drug dealers. The plans began to unravel last year when the four officers tried to rob a group of drug dealers who happened to be under surveillance by undercover Chicago policemen. An internal-affairs investigation brought in the FBI, which searched police offices in several precincts across the city in late January.

Ka-ching!

Former governors are not spared the ire of federal prosecutors: in early January, they unsealed a 114-page document which charges that the state government was essentially for sale when George Ryan, who preceded Mr Blagojevich, was secretary of state. Prosecutors allege that the state demanded cash from companies that wanted to do business, and that Mr Ryan actively participated in the racketeering. Mr Ryan's haul was said to include cigars, art, stock tips, Caribbean vacations, a visit to Disney World, gambling money at Lake Tahoe and help for his brother's struggling business. The trial has been postponed until September.

Family feud

Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois, has been bickering with his father-in-law and former mentor, Dick Mell, over rubbish. The spat began when Mr Blagojevich shut down a landfill, owned by a distant relative of Mr Mell's, in the southern Illinois city of Joliet. Mr Mell, who helped shape his son-in-law's career, lashed out, accusing the governor of destroying his family and “throw[ing] anyone under the bus” for political gain. He accused the governor's chief fundraiser, Chris Kelly, of peddling plum appointments to state boards and commissions in exchange for campaign contributions. Mr Mell retracted the accusation when Mr Kelly threatened to sue him. But prosecutors, including Lisa Madigan, the state Attorney General, are now looking into Mr Blagojevich's appointments.

Another Ryan

For much of 2004, Jack Ryan (no relation to George) was the Republican front-runner in the race for the US Senate seat now occupied by Barack Obama. His candidacy was derailed, however, by a series of lurid details leaked from his divorce proceedings. He withdrew from the race, leaving Mr Obama to trounce the occasionally sane Alan Keyes, a politician and talk-show host. Perhaps wanting to join what he couldn't beat, Mr Ryan has announced he is starting a newspaper in Homer Glen, Illinois's newest town. The 16-page newspaper will be called, perhaps predictably, the Homerian.

Catch if you can

February 2005

“I Am My Own Wife”

January 28th-February 13th 2005

This play scooped up the 2004 Tony Awards for best play and best actor, the Pulitzer Prize for drama, Drama Desk awards for outstanding play and outstanding solo performance and Obies for performance, direction and set design. In short, it comes to Chicago highly recommended. It tells the story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite who survived both the Nazis and the East German dictatorship, and died at the ripe old age of 74 in 2002. Jefferson Mays impressively inhabits a number of different characters, and the period sets are beautiful.

The Goodman Theatre, 170 North Dearborn. Tel: +1 (312) 443-3800. Performances on Tues-Thurs at 7.30pm, Fri at 8pm, Sat at 2pm and 8pm, Sun at 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets: $20-$60. For tickets and more information visit the play's website.