Arsonist seeks Pension; it's the 'Chicago Way'

John Kass of The Chicago Tribune reports:

In what squeaky-clean city would a fire department lieutenant known as "Matches," convicted of multiple arsons—including one sparked at an elementary school—feel that he's still entitled to his taxpayer-funded pension of $50,000 per year?

Oh, don't pretend you don't know the city.

It's Chicago, which must be the epicenter of political reform now that Mayor Richard Daley's guys are running the White House and the U.S. Census, and are about to wet the beaks of federal road and bridge contractors.

It's also the same city where you'll need 28 quarters in your pocket just to park for two hours at a metered space, thanks to Daley's new parking deal. But perhaps the only Chicagoan with pockets thick enough for that many quarters is none other than the famous John "Quarters" Boyle himself.

Years ago, Quarters was convicted of stealing millions of dollars in quarters from the state toll roads. After his punishment, he received a cushy city job. Daley told me politics had nothing to do with it, but all the while Quarters was getting out the vote with The Coalition for Better Government, a pro-Daley patronage army of payroll hacks, tough guys and felons.

Sadly, Quarters is now back in federal prison, this time for taking more than $200,000 in bribes in the mayor's Hired Truck scandal. But Quarters is keeping his mouth shut. And as he sits tight, his brother wants a pension.

Oops! I'm such a chumbolone that I forgot an important detail: The convicted bribe-taker John "Quarters" Boyle and the fire lieutenant/arsonist Jeffrey "Matches" Boyle are brothers. That's the Chicago Way.

In 2006, Matches Boyle was sentenced to six years behind bars after pleading guilty to setting multiple fires on the Northwest Side and in neighboring Park Ridge. Matches pleaded guilty to eight fires, but admitted to setting more than 20 others.

Only in Chicago.You'll want to read the whole article.