Quincy IL News
Wednesday, February 22, 2012   |   Updated Sun, Jul 31, 2011
 
RSS FeedJRG Blog
QuincyNews.org Photo
The problem with patronage politics

Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 by J. Robert Gough       Email This Story E-mail This Story

Your E-mail Address:
Your Friend's E-mail Address:
You may enter up to five addresses seperated by commas (,).
Message:
300 Character Maximum.

The Quincy City Council is getting a first-hand look at patronage in action and why it isn't good government.

Corporation Counsel Andrew Staff, who is also the son-in-law of Quincy Mayor John Spring, has pulled a couple of stunts recently that would probably get him in a little bit of hot water if he worked in the real world and not the protected environment of Quincy City Hall.

Last night's exchange with Alderman Kyle Moore (R-3rd Ward) was the latest example. According to Jamie Busen's Council story from Monday night: "Some aldermen questioned Staff and Bevelheimer about the City's move to suspend the program. Alderman Kyle Moore (R-3rd Ward) said it was disappointing the Council hadn't been notified before the decision had been made. Staff said it was "disappointing the Council didn't vote to fund the repairs."

I think somebody ought to clue Staff in on who controls his budget. I think there are 10 votes that could say "I'm disappointed with your performance. We're cutting the city's $284,306 legal budget by 50 percent. Be happy it's not more."

By the way, that's just the overall line item budget number for the three part-time city attorneys. The city budget has pockets of other legal funding stashed away, including some that goes to Staff's father, Hubert, for providing various services to the City. Might be FOIA time...again...to see how big that check is.

This is on the heels of the e-mail QuincyNews.org and WTAD News uncovered while investigating the backroom dealings associated with the barely-on-life-support-is-saying-it-kindly Hydro project where Staff seem to take umbrage when Alderman Mike Rein (R-5th Ward) inquired on March 2 about the City and the C-Corp’s license application process.

The response from City Corporation Counsel Andrew Staff read: “Gary (Sparks), Apparently Alderman Rein wants to finally get in the ball game. Perhaps you can bring him up to speed, so he can play in the last quarter.”

The too-cute-by-half move of halting the "Fix or Flatten" program after the Council's action is only compounded by Staff's "kiss my donkey" attitude toward the Republican aldermen (He is a Democrat, hence the donkey reference).

As long as Staff has the cover of his wife's father, he will continue to show disdain for the aldermen, at least the ones who are not Democrats like the rest of his family.

 

Del.icou.us Digg Facebook Newsvine My Web

fingers
Posts: 2
Comment
Keep quiet
Reply #3 on : Wed July 27, 2011, 07:08:33
During the council meeting Staff asked the Mayor "May I speak?" -- to which the mayor should've said "no". Staff then went into his little petulant tirade. But that's hard to tell your son-in-law that he should keep his mouth shut.

As I said...Staff is not a member of the council.
If he's not answering a question put to him or noting a legal point he has absolutely no authority to speak during those meetings and interject his personal opinion.

And I also think there was a complete misunderstanding of the court order about this property. I can't believe we would go to court, and then have the court ORDER us to do something. I believe the court more likely gave us AUTHORIZATION. So all the banter about the city "violating" a court order is totally misleading and likely wrong.
How about an FOIA on the court order?
GoSalukis
Posts: 1
Comment
Re:
Reply #2 on : Tue July 26, 2011, 16:26:56
Did the six-million dollar man (Spring), Chuckie B. and the prized Son-in-law ever get into the hydro game? Looked like a blowout if we're using sports analogies.
fingers
Posts: 2
Comment
Council Members
Reply #1 on : Tue July 26, 2011, 11:37:17
Andrew Staff is not a member of the city council and should be reprimanded when speaking out of place. And he should keep his personal opinions to himself and stick with the bad advice he usually gives (and I can quote numerous examples).

I'll have to watch the exchange on this tonight and see if Kyle Moore shouldn't have just said "Excuse me Mr Staff, but were you asked a question? If not, keep your personal opinions to yourself."
You must have a QuincyNews.org account to post comments.

Click Here to create your account.

User name:*
Full name:*
Email address:*
Password:*
Confirm password:*
State:
Zip:
 * - Indicates required fields

Already have an account? Click Here to Login.

User:
Password:
Forget Password?