Chicago Patronage Federal Monitor Makes Payouts

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

He's the son of the City Council's elder statesman. But he had no clout.



That was one of the rulings of a federal monitor who decided who got what from a $12 million fund created to compensate victims of City Hall's rigged hiring system.

Some complained Thursday about receiving meager damage awards. One city worker called $1,500 an "insult."

But others were downright giddy, including the son of 80-year-old Ald. Bernard Stone (50th).

Jay Stone was awarded $75,000 because federal hiring monitor Noelle Brennan believed his claims that he was a sure loser in his 2003 aldermanic election against Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd) because Matlak had the support of the political army commanded by now-convicted former First Deputy Water Commissioner Donald Tomczak.

"I'm in shock. I'm in awe," Jay Stone said. "The message is we should hold fair and competitive elections in Chicago. I never stood a chance because I was up against a seasoned political army that was being paid for by the taxpayers of Chicago."

Brennan said she has exhausted the fund by awarding damages to 1,424 cloutless people bypassed for jobs, promotions and overtime in favor of those with political muscle.

Obama's hometown.