Mayor Daley asks City Workers For Cash Gifts

The Chicago Tribune reports:

At many companies, it's a Christmas tradition for the boss to give gifts to the workers.

At Chicago's City Hall, the boss--Mayor Richard Daley--also gets a gift.

A memorandum sent out last month on city stationery asks department heads and senior staffers to give a "$35 voluntary donation (no checks please)" toward a gift for the mayor and his wife, Maggie.

The offering will be presented at the Daleys' annual holiday party for staffers to be held Friday at Kendall College.

In past years, employees have given the Daleys gifts such as a saltwater aquarium and a piece of artwork from China. This year's gift will be different.

When the Tribune asked what the present would be, mayoral spokeswoman Jodi Kawada revealed Wednesday that a $2,300 charitable donation will be made in the Daleys' names. The money will go to After School Matters, a program overseen by Maggie Daley that offers activities for city teenagers.

Eat your heart out Enron.