Where's Alderman Burke Amid Chicago's Financial Crisis?

Crain's Chicago Business has a front page story on Alderman Burke:

As chairman of the City Council's powerful finance committee, Alderman Edward Burke (14th) has distinguished himself in recent years as the fiscal watchdog that doesn't bark.

Supposedly the resident financial expert after four decades on the council, he has acquiesced as Mayor Richard M. Daley has piled up budget deficits and rammed through controversial deals like the parking-meter privatization.

"Burke is in a position, inherently, to lead on this, to be a legislative check and balance on these measures," says Martin Oberman, a former independent alderman. "But he hasn't used the finance committee to do that."

For more on Alderman Burke. For a look at Alderman Burke's introducing a resolution honoring the life of a "made member" of the Chicago Mob.