Maggie Daley charity got $6.5-mil. city contract 4 days before Mayor Daley left office

Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business reports:

There's nothing like a good ol' Chicago coincidence.

I mean, those marvelous situations in which connected people and groups always seem to have a lucky shamrock in their pocket at just the right time are a distinctive part of what makes Chicago, well, Chicago.

Which leads to a tale of one particularly wonderful coincidence. It involves After School Matters, a charity that provides programs for teenagers; Chicago mayors current and past, and a $6.5-million city grant

As I reported last week, ex-mayoral Chief of Staff Ray Orozco and former Department of Cultural Affairs Acting Commissioner Katherine LaMantia began new jobs on July 25 as the CEO and chief financial officer, respectively, of After School Matters.

The agency — chaired by Maggie Daley, wife of former Mayor Richard M. Daley — for years has been known informally as the unofficial City Hall charity.

Just a reminder, the Daley "charity" also got federal stimulus money because that's what Obama and Chicago Democrats think of stimulus. No word yet on this story from William Daley.