We are the first to attack the absence of leadership, so it is a pleasure to
have an opportunity to credit the presence of this vital attribute. Alderman
Terry Kennedy and Aldermanic President Lewis Reed managed to rally the ranks
last week to quash the abhorrent Cruising bill that Alderman Jeffrey Boyd was
carrying for some South Side colleagues who were hoping to look tough on crime
while raking in some revenue for the City.
It helped that the American Civil Liberties Union argued that ticketing a driver
– and every passenger of a certain age in the vehicle – for a crime that might
be committed (based upon “repetitive” driving behavior) just might be
unconstitutional.
We applaud the leadership shown last week, even if it was only damage control.
Damage control is much better than actual damage.
Speaking of damage control, we again urge Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr. to stop
trying to keep Mayor Francis G. Slay’s pet project of the City’s red-light
camera program out of the public eye and record.
Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe has filed a bill (Board Bill 12) that would
rescind the red-light camera program. The mayor wants this program because the
City badly needs revenue. But more than anything, Slay doesn’t want the program
and the contracting process that established it coming under any more public
scrutiny.
Slay and his handlers are wise to be skittish of the investigation started by
The Riverfront Times that exposed apparent no-bid contracts between the
Mayor’s Office and Joyce Aboussie (Slay’s political godmother), and between
Aboussie and the Arizona-based vendor that is profiting off of the City’s
red-light camera program.
“This is Slay’s midnight basketball,” said one alderman, referring to a
notorious public program that became a toxic campaign issue.
If so, then Bosley is playing midnight basketball right along with Slay.
Troupe says that, with recent public pressure, Bosley has agreed to hear the
bill that would kill Slay’s abusive red-light camera program. But Troupe said
Bosley defiantly told him that the bill would never leave his Streets, Traffic
and Refuse Committee.
We know the residents of Bosley’s 3rd Ward are not fools. We know they know an
unholy alliance when they see one. We urge the people who elected
Freeman Bosley Sr. to call his office (314-622-3287) and ask him why he is
fighting so hard to protect this pet project of Francis G. Slay. Tell him to
allow the board the opportunity to act on Board Bill 12.