Citybarbs is fixing to say goodbye to the Wogen Watch blog and wouldn’t you know it, here’s another to take its place on the blogroll. Check out the Boone County Watchdog run by Bill Pysson, who also has an interesting story to tell as a former District 100 School Board candidate. Pysson is prolific, mixing…
Category: Goo-goo Files
Transparency Checklist
It is hardly a piece of cake to be a member of the Sunlight Foundation‘s organization for state and local bloggers known as the Citizens for Open Government (COG) group. I kid you not. The number of e-mail messages can get crazy some days. Most of the group are “transparency professionals,” such as newspaper reporters…
FOIA Victory in DeKalb
The Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (PAC) ruled yesterday that the City of DeKalb must release the names of the persons who applied for appointment to finish out the term of its Third Ward alderman, who resigned last December. DeKalb’s attorney had argued a privacy exemption under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Under…
Clean Up in Aisle/Ward Three
DeKalb Citizens for Transparency AKA The Mop & Bucket Brigade PRESS RELEASE What: “Clean-up DeKalb City Hall” Rally and March* When: Monday, November 23, 2009, 5:15-6 p.m. Where: Begins at Lincoln Highway and First Street; ends at City Hall Why: “Attention, attention…we need a clean-up in aisle. . .I mean, Ward Three.” In the wake…
Northern Star Comedy
The first two sections of this seem very close to the City of DeKalb. Enjoy! Time to Get Ethical
Fox Guards Henhouse in Chicago
Friday balm for weary goo-goos (emphasis added): The city watchdog agency charged with rooting out City Hall corruption sued Mayor Richard Daley’s administration on Wednesday, accusing it of thwarting an investigation into possible wrongdoing by current and former employees. The inspector general’s office wants Daley’s top lawyer, Mara Georges, to hand over documents relating to…
Free FOIA Seminar in DeKalb
NIU will host the first of about a dozen November seminars covering key changes to Illinois transparency laws on Monday, November 9, in the Holmes Student Center. The informational seminars, offered by the Illinois Attorney General’s office, are free and intended for both public officials and other residents who are interested in changes to the…
Conflict of Interest
This is a major conflict of interest: Crain’s Chicago link We pay for the City Manager’s subscription. Perhaps the Mayor can borrow a copy?
Lunch with the Good Guys
No, I did not have lunch with the White Sox or Hawk Harrelson.
Chronicle Crossed Off of You-Know-What List
For today, anyway. [wink] DeKalb City Council members are considering revising financial policy after it was disclosed that 3rd Ward Alderman Victor Wogen’s company was awarded six contracts totaling $52,000 in 2008. Currently there are no restrictions or requirements for disclosure on city officials winning contracts for public projects. The city is considering creating a…