Back in the Fall of 1999, a renowned Evanston Community Activist named Harry Schubart came in to my Sporting Goods Store and pleaded with me to go to City Hall and hear about a development being proposed in Downtown Evanston. I had never been to an Evanston City Council meeting before as I had never felt I had a reason to, but Harry was deeply concerned. Harry and I had become friends over the years with him being a classic Liberal and I being an original TEA Party member. We could agree to disagree wihtout being disagreeable and we both agreed the proposed development was bad for Evanston.
Within the first 20 minutes of the presentation for the development proposal, I knew there was something very fishy. The projections for the proposal didn’t match economic reality of Evanston and everyone pitching the project (including the Alderman and the Public Sector Unions) all had skin in the game . The other major red flag was the city of Evanston repeatedly violating the Open Meetings Act and never being held accountable by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The fix was in.
The Church Street Plaza Development was one of the most corrupt endeavors involving Cook County and the State of Illinois that became the proving grounds for what the Democratic Party could get away with. All the grooming with the Teachers Union being exposed today started in Leftist communities like Evanston decades ago. I watched it unfold right before my very eyes.
Years later, we would learn that the only intent of the development was to increase the tax base in order to increase the size of the Public Sector Unions. When the project failed economicaly, over 500 city employees were furloughed.
Click on link to view salaries -
https://chicagolampoon.blogspot.com/2010/12/evanstons-megabucks-unionized-teachers.html
It should be noted that the Illlinois Teachers Union spent tens of millions of dollars in court fighting the salaray disclosures from Open The Books . Com
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Back in the fall of 2007, members of the Evanston Regular Republican Party came in to my Sporting Goods Store and asked if I would be willing to run in an open seat for Illinois State Representative in the 9th District. I first said no but then decided that I would run so I could expose all the corruption that was going on in Evanston at the time. The President of the Evanston GOP - Linda Thompson LaFianza - was actually a neighbor I grew up with and I knew she wasn’t a Republican. She came from a Leftist family and she worked for the Evanston School District which at the time was in the process of inserting CRT in to the curriculum. I was very curious as to how she became the Evanston GOP President.
In December of 2007, I gave a speech at the Orrington Hotel in downtwon Evanston at a GOP Christmas event. My speech was about all the corruption going on in Evanston and how Progressive Liberals were infiltrating the Illinois Government and Public Schools. I went on citing examples of corruption including the fraud that exists in the Assessor’s Office and predicted the financial collapse that was looming in 2008. Everything I predicted came to fruition and still does to this day.
The next morning, I received an email from LaFianza stating that I was no longer going to be the candidate for Illinois State Representative because “I wasn’t ready to run for office”. LaFianza refused to meet with me to discuss my campaign or return any phone calls. When election time came, she completely disappeared. She was running for some political position and the Evanston League of Women’s Voters called me trying to find her for a debate and they couldn’t contact her. She was never heard from again.
By agreeing to run for Illinois State Representative and calling out all the corruption, I was vilified by the Left. I would become estranged from family and friends, be called derogatory names because of my Conservative beliefs, and would have my business shut down by the City of Evanston out of retaliation for my exposing all the corruption. I would flee to Michigan in 2012 promising myself that I would never get involved in politics again and not because of the corruption of Democrats (which is expected), but because of the GOP’s unwillingness to do anything about it. Its De Je Vu all over again here in Michigan.
If not for many in the GOP, Donald Trump would still be President and America would be doing just fine. ****************************************************************************************************
What America is now experiencing with President Biden and the Leftist agenda all started back in Evanston decades ago. The Democratic Party of Evanston (DPOE) took control of the Evanston City Council and the Public Schools and began the implementation of their Leftist indoctrination. The DPOE replaced the Evanston Chamber of Commerce with a Government controlled Economic Development Committee, they massively expanded the size of the Government (SEIU Union), organized the Teachers Union to implement CRT and other social justice nonsense, and they retaliated against anyone who opposed their agenda. I know of the retaliation first hand and I have also witnessed election fraud up close and personal.
In December of 2007, I gave a speech at the Orrington Hotel in downtwon Evanston at a GOP Christmas event. My speech was about all the corruption going on in Evanston and how Progressive Liberals were infiltrating the Illinois Government and Public Schools. I went on citing examples of corruption including the fraud that exists in the Assessor’s Office and predicted the financial collapse that was looming in 2008. Everything I predicted came to fruition and still does to this day.
The next morning, I received an email from LaFianza stating that I was no longer going to be the candidate for Illinois State Representative because “I wasn’t ready to run for office”. LaFianza refused to meet with me to discuss my campaign or return any phone calls. When election time came, she completely disappeared. She was running for some political position and the Evanston League of Women’s Voters called me trying to find her for a debate and they couldn’t contact her. She was never heard from again.
By agreeing to run for Illinois State Representative and calling out all the corruption, I was vilified by the Left. I would become estranged from family and friends, be called derogatory names because of my Conservative beliefs, and would have my business shut down by the City of Evanston out of retaliation for my exposing all the corruption. I would flee to Michigan in 2012 promising myself that I would never get involved in politics again and not because of the corruption of Democrats (which is expected), but because of the GOP’s unwillingness to do anything about it. Its De Je Vu all over again here in Michigan.
If not for many in the GOP, Donald Trump would still be President and America would be doing just fine. ****************************************************************************************************
What America is now experiencing with President Biden and the Leftist agenda all started back in Evanston decades ago. The Democratic Party of Evanston (DPOE) took control of the Evanston City Council and the Public Schools and began the implementation of their Leftist indoctrination. The DPOE replaced the Evanston Chamber of Commerce with a Government controlled Economic Development Committee, they massively expanded the size of the Government (SEIU Union), organized the Teachers Union to implement CRT and other social justice nonsense, and they retaliated against anyone who opposed their agenda. I know of the retaliation first hand and I have also witnessed election fraud up close and personal.
What I witnessed was a (hostile) takeover by the Government of Evanston who over time took unconstitutional control over businesses (licenses, inspections, rfp’s), properties (land grabs, condemnation, TIFFS/ Kelo v. New London), they took over the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and all done while IL Attorney General Lisa Madigan turned a blind eye to corruption in Illinois.
The only violation the City of Evanston was found guilty of was repeatedly violating the Open Meetings Act of Illinois which carries no penalties. It is in these closed door meetings that all the corruption takes place and no one in the media asks questions.
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Back in the spring of 2004, I had a very disturbing conversation with a top Democratic Party Campaign Manager who I grew up with. This strategest Ms. Katherine (Katie) Tucker Trippi was then a top campaign manager for Presidential candidate Howard Dean. Trippi and her ex-husband also worked for Gary Hart, Harold Washington, and many other Democrats over the years (Joe Trippi is a Fox News Political contributor). Katie Trippi recently ran (unsuccessfully) for Alderman in Evanston Illinois which now makes her a public figure (for those who have problem with me calling her out).
This was post 9/11 and the DNC needed to erode the popularity of President Bush in order to take back the Whitehouse. Most Democrats believe (and still do) that Bush stole the White House from Al Gore and anything to bring down ’W’ was fair game where the end justifies the means. With many former Clinton staffers now in the media (such as George Stephanopoulos and Dee Dee Myers), the DNC was in a position to spread lies, propaganda, and bullshit about Bush and other conservatives . A perfect example was former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lying on the floor of the Senate about Mitt Romney not paying taxes for ten years. When asked years later why he knowingly lied about Romney not paying taxes, Reid’s response was “well it worked, didn’t it?”
Yes it worked Harry, Obama was reelected and is the reason Trump won in 2016 (and 2020 when the legal votes are counted) and thank God Romney didn't win.
During our conversation, Trippi openly admitted that the DNC (under the leadership of Howard Dean) was creating a platform of hatred towards those who disagreed with their Leftist agenda. She said it "polled well for Democrats". What the DNC didn’t anticipate was Social Media escalating the divide to where families and friends have been broken apart forever. I actually told Trippi that the DNC was starting the Civil War 2.0 and she just laughed at me. Also during our conversation, I asked Trippi why the DNC was purposely harming the Black community with what would later be called CRT. What I saw was a community being exploited for votes and denied an adequate education with the Leftist indoctrination. Trippi’s response was that I “of all people” should know that the Black community cannot exist without the aid of the Government. I was so mortified by what she said that I made her say it twice and I do have a witness who heard it. That’s when I knew the DNC would forever exploit the Black Community and so far, its only gotten worse. The reason Trippi said that “I of all people should know” was because I attended an all-Black elementary school during desegregation.
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Sharon Eckersall attempted to expose just how much fraud there was as it relates to the Assessor’s office. This invovled property sales, assessments, appeals, taxes, and so on. Former disgraced Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan made millions for his law firm as it relates to property tax appeals. Sharon Eckersall actually gave me evidence with how the City of Evanston made plans to take away private property (Peter Jans Golf Course) without anyone realizing it which I had predicted would happen.
Sharon Eckersall obtained this aerial photo of the Peter Jans Golf Course that contains fraudulent information. Though it’s hard to read, in the bottom left corner reads –
This map is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind.
The map provided by the city of Evanston falsely claims that building 1030 belongs to the city of Evanston when in fact the building belongs to the American Legion and the land below the Legion belongs to the Peter Jans Golf Course which is independent from the city of Evanston. The map also falsely claims that the building and property directly north of 1030 belongs to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District when in fact it belongs to the Peter Jans Golf Course
The letter from Attorney Danial Kelley was written just after I moved to Michigan in 2012. What Mr. Kelley is referring to in his letter was how I had accused the city of Evanston of attempting to seize property belonging to the Legion and the Golf Course. A few weeks later, Mr. Kelley called me to apologize as he found out that the city of Evanston was in fact trying to steal the property and he begged me to come testify in the lawsuit he had filed. I reluctantly agreed to testify. When I walked in to the court room, the city of Evanston Attorney saw me and immediately settled the lawsuit without me taking the stand. He knew I could connect the dots. The head of Evanston Parks and Recreation Mr. Doug Gaynor took immediate retirement as it was Gaynor who was behind the efforts to steal the private property for the City of Evanston. Based on information and belief, Sharon was allegedly murdered because of what she was exposing as it relates to the Assessors office. What solidifies my belief is that I rented from Sharon and knew that if she was found dead in her bed, then someone had to have put her there. Sharon had not slept in her bed since the day of her son’s funeral and her black dress was still lying across the bed all the time I was living there. Sharon’s son died of a heroin overdose and she never got over it. What mother would? It should also be noted that I was never questioned about her death and to this day I still don't know the actual cause as it has never been reported.
The letter from Attorney Danial Kelley was written just after I moved to Michigan in 2012. What Mr. Kelley is referring to in his letter was how I had accused the city of Evanston of attempting to seize property belonging to the Legion and the Golf Course. A few weeks later, Mr. Kelley called me to apologize as he found out that the city of Evanston was in fact trying to steal the property and he begged me to come testify in the lawsuit he had filed. I reluctantly agreed to testify. When I walked in to the court room, the city of Evanston Attorney saw me and immediately settled the lawsuit without me taking the stand. He knew I could connect the dots. The head of Evanston Parks and Recreation Mr. Doug Gaynor took immediate retirement as it was Gaynor who was behind the efforts to steal the private property for the City of Evanston. Based on information and belief, Sharon was allegedly murdered because of what she was exposing as it relates to the Assessors office. What solidifies my belief is that I rented from Sharon and knew that if she was found dead in her bed, then someone had to have put her there. Sharon had not slept in her bed since the day of her son’s funeral and her black dress was still lying across the bed all the time I was living there. Sharon’s son died of a heroin overdose and she never got over it. What mother would? It should also be noted that I was never questioned about her death and to this day I still don't know the actual cause as it has never been reported.
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At the time I met Sharon Eckersall, I also met Mr. David Jenkins who explained to me why Evanston was undertaking such a highly controversial development. Mr. Jenkins explained that the sole purpose for the development (as proposed) was to massively expand the size of the Evanston Government. In turn, this would expand the size of the SEIU who support the Democratic Party of Evanston. When the development failed to reach it projections (that were greatly flawed in the first place), the city had to lay off over 500 employees.
Watch video -
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Extortion -
Document G - The Keg
Download document G and watch video -
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Document H - One of the most disturbing aspects of the development was how the City of Evanston was able to use the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision to seize private property for their taxpayer subsidized development.
The following video explains one of the worst Supreme Court rulings in American history that allowed the development to move forward -
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Document J - Stolen Elections
Watch Video -
The Development was subsidized by the taxpayers for 20 years and once it had to stand on its own, it failed –
Century 12 Evanston Movie Theatre Closes Its Doors
The Century 12 Evanston movie theatre, which has been closed for almost a year, will not reopen under its current ownership, city officials told the Evanston RoundTable Monday.
Paul Zalmezak, the city’s economic development manager, said to the RoundTable a loophole in the lease agreement between Century 12/Cinemark theatres and the Stockbridge Capital Group, which owns the Church Street Plaza development, allowed Cinemark to terminate its lease.
Cinemark and its ownership had been fighting a legal battle over the lease exit clause since about the start of the pandemic, officials said.
Zalmezak said the city is collaborating with Downtown Evanston to find a new movie operator to take over the space, but it could be 18 months before the selection process ends.
“We need to really make sure we get visitors and attract more office workers and grow our downtown … Also there’s a quality of life issue,” Zalmezak told the RoundTable. “We want to offer within a few miles of most residents the ability to see movies.”
Some Northwestern students say they saw the theatre as a bridge between the University and Evanston, and were especially fond of frequenting the theatre on discounted Tuesdays.
“I had been looking forward to, for almost a year, the day when I could go back to specifically that theatre,” Communication sophomore Nicholas Kinney said. “To find out that it’s never going to come was really saddening. It immediately made me think of all the times I had been there.”
Last year, Kinney visited Cinemark nearly every week — between 20 and 30 times total.
He said he remembers his penultimate visit to Cinemark well. He went to the theatre to see the re-release of the 1933 King Kong, and as he was getting his ticket torn, an employee Kinney knew stopped him.
“He was just so happy to see that I was seeing that movie,” Kinney said. “He told me about his experience seeing that movie in the 50s when it was playing on TV after school and he would watch it with his parents on the tiny TV that he had. It was such a sweet moment.”
After processing the news, Kinney immediately searched for nearby movie theatres he might frequent one day in Cinemark’s stead. But with the nearest theatre miles (and an Uber ride) away, he said he expects the price of seeing a movie in theatres will nearly quadruple for NU students.
“Movies were such a big part of my experience last year,” Kinney said. “Everyone else in college now doesn’t have a local theatre they can see stuff in … that is just so sad.”
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
Email: maiaspoto2023@u.northwestern.edu
Twitter: @maia_spoto.
Paul Zalmezak, the city’s economic development manager, said to the RoundTable a loophole in the lease agreement between Century 12/Cinemark theatres and the Stockbridge Capital Group, which owns the Church Street Plaza development, allowed Cinemark to terminate its lease.
Cinemark and its ownership had been fighting a legal battle over the lease exit clause since about the start of the pandemic, officials said.
Zalmezak said the city is collaborating with Downtown Evanston to find a new movie operator to take over the space, but it could be 18 months before the selection process ends.
“We need to really make sure we get visitors and attract more office workers and grow our downtown … Also there’s a quality of life issue,” Zalmezak told the RoundTable. “We want to offer within a few miles of most residents the ability to see movies.”
Some Northwestern students say they saw the theatre as a bridge between the University and Evanston, and were especially fond of frequenting the theatre on discounted Tuesdays.
“I had been looking forward to, for almost a year, the day when I could go back to specifically that theatre,” Communication sophomore Nicholas Kinney said. “To find out that it’s never going to come was really saddening. It immediately made me think of all the times I had been there.”
Last year, Kinney visited Cinemark nearly every week — between 20 and 30 times total.
He said he remembers his penultimate visit to Cinemark well. He went to the theatre to see the re-release of the 1933 King Kong, and as he was getting his ticket torn, an employee Kinney knew stopped him.
“He was just so happy to see that I was seeing that movie,” Kinney said. “He told me about his experience seeing that movie in the 50s when it was playing on TV after school and he would watch it with his parents on the tiny TV that he had. It was such a sweet moment.”
After processing the news, Kinney immediately searched for nearby movie theatres he might frequent one day in Cinemark’s stead. But with the nearest theatre miles (and an Uber ride) away, he said he expects the price of seeing a movie in theatres will nearly quadruple for NU students.
“Movies were such a big part of my experience last year,” Kinney said. “Everyone else in college now doesn’t have a local theatre they can see stuff in … that is just so sad.”
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
Email: maiaspoto2023@u.northwestern.edu
Twitter: @maia_spoto.
The final straw was how the developer was able to sell the development for more than $70 million dollars on a project that was paid for by the taxpayers. The city of Evanston falsely claimed that the development had to be taxpater subsidized when there was a developer (Kinney Construction) who was willing to do the project without a dime of taxpayer money.
Alderman Newman was connected to the Hill developer and that is why they were chosen. Just follow the money
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Retaliation - By speaking out about the corruption in Evanston, the city retaliated against me and my business by creating an ordnance that required every business to be licensed. The retaliation came as the city of Evanston refused to issue me a business license which ultimately put Ofischl Sports out of business. Without a business license, I could not get insurance which is required by the NCAA as I did a significant amount of business with Northwestern University and the Florida Gators (where my sister is the head volleyball coach).
The blatant reliation bankrupted me and sent me in to severe depression that triggered my PTSD.
The video describes the corruption and the retaliation.
Out of desperation, I wrote a letter to the Illinois Attorney General about the alleged corruption and retaliation and their response was for me to get a lawyer. I had a lawyer and he eventually got disbarred for mal-practice.
I filed a complaint with Illinois Attorney Grievance Commission against Moenning, but they never responded as Moenning sat on the IAGC Commission.
I eventually fled to Michigan in 2012 after having my world fall apart in Illinois. I moved to Michigan with no car and only $200 and within 90 days of taking a minimum wage job, I would be promoted to Store Director Shopko Stores in Dowagiac. I would then be recruited by Meijer Stores to become a Store Director but would eventually be forced out for being a whistle blower to serious allegations of racism, labor fraud, collusion, and retaliation at the South Haven Meijer.
And the journey continues....