Candidate for Cook County Commissioner for the 11th District

Feb 26, 2010 Chicago Tribune 'Ex-Bridgeport Village couple building a case against City Hall'

If you've ever doubted that the muscled-up Chicago Way crushes regular folks who play by the rules, let me tell you about Jose and Sandra Ruiz.

They bought what they thought was their dream retirement home in the Bridgeport Village development, in Mayor Richard Daley's11th Ward, for $900,000.

And now, according to a federal lawsuit they've filed against the Daley administration and some of the mayor's political clique, they lost their home and their life savings due to corruption and clout.

"Look what's happened to us," Jose told me. "We're ruined financially. Our credit is gone. Our house was foreclosed. And on top of that, we're concerned about what is going to happen in the future."

Jose, 64, was a little boy when he came here from a rough Mexican border town. He worked in a factory with his father, and later met Sandra at a birthday party.

Married right out of high school, the couple soon realized they needed college degrees to live the life they wanted.

So they juggled responsibilities, raising their two sons while taking part-time and full-time jobs and going to classes. They worked hard and eventually graduated from college.

Jose became a software engineer. Sandra joined the Internal Revenue Service.

They kept saving, and sent one boy to college. After decades of thrift, they heard about a wonderful housing development, backed by the mayor himself.

That's where Jose and Sandra learned how things really work around here.

Bridgeport Village was personally supported by Daley and backed by his political brain Tim Degnan and the mayor's second-favorite developer, Thomas DiPiazza, who was promised $1.5 million as project consultant, according to federal court documents. Daley's brother, Cook County Commissioner John Daley, was also in support.

In 2003, Jose and Sandra Ruiz bought one of the early model homes. It was nice, but it wasn't large enough, what with their elderly and ailing parents about to move in. They decided to upgrade.

Why not? They'd saved well. And the political clout seemed to make the real estate stable. They signed a contract in 2004, and closed the deal on March 10, 2006. Two days earlier, their suit alleges, they received a letter from a masonry contractor warning of structural deficiencies. But they said they were told it was just a disgruntled subcontractor.

In 2007, the Tribune published an exhaustive investigation about clout and costly construction problems at Bridgeport Village. The newspaper found the development was teeming with building code violations and dozens of work-stoppage orders. One almost-completed home collapsed when hit by 50-mph winds.

Some homeowners were told the developers would install massive steel arches between the homes — so the walls wouldn't cave in.

Then developer Thomas Snitzer filed a federal civil lawsuit against the Daley clique. He claimed he'd been strong-armed by Degnan and DiPiazza for kickbacks and discount prices for dozens of homes for City Hall insiders.

Snitzer alleged that when he balked at continuing their political arrangement, Degnan and DiPiazza used their Daley administration clout to shut the project down.

U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan dismissed the suit in 2008. Just a guess here, but I figure the mayor and his guys were relieved to hear it.

Unfortunately for the Ruiz family, they had already closed. Even before construction was complete, the Ruiz suit claims, the walls of the $900,000 home would shake in the wind. The wall joists were 36 inches apart, rather than the 16 inches specified by the blueprints, according to the lawsuit.

Jose and Sandra also allege in their suit that the house shifted, causing leaks that ruined the floors. And they say that when the floors were removed, they found that 18 floor trusses were missing. Jose hired his own engineers.

"They told me the house was unsafe," he said. "I didn't want to move my family into it, after my own engineers told me it was unsafe."

He refused to take occupancy, and the bank foreclosed on the property. According to Cook County records, their three-story, four-bedroom, 3.5-bath dream home was resold last year for $360,000, a fraction of the original price.

Ruiz' lawyer is Tony Peraica, a Cook County commissioner who isn't afraid to challenge City Hall.

"We're going to subpoena whomever necessary to prove our case, and that includes Mr. Degnan and Mr. DiPiazza, and it may even include the mayor and the mayor's brother," Peraica said.

I'd love to see that tape, wouldn't you?

Citing pending litigation, the Daley administration declined comment. Degnan's lawyer, Charles Sklarsky, said his client was only being accused of hailing from the 11th Ward. "Is that an offense? I don't know. Maybe to some people it is," Sklarsky said.

DiPiazza's attorney, Michael Kralovec, said the suit had no merit and that his client had been included "gratuitously."

Currently, the Bridgeport Village project is in Federal Bankruptcy Court. A hearing is scheduled for next week to determine whether the Ruiz suit should be put aside until the bankruptcy is resolved.

City Hall wants Jose and Sandra to go away. So I asked them if going up against the lord of Chicago and his clique made them nervous.

"Yes," Sandra said. "But I also think of it this way: If someone doesn't do something and fight back, they'll continue to do what they're doing. They'll do it to other people. It has to be someone, and I guess it's going to be us."

jskass@tribune.com

Be sure to take a REPUBLICAN ballot. VOTE

House Democrat switches parties   Politico.com reports on the newest Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives: Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith announced Tuesday that he's switching parties - saying he can no longer align himself "with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy and drives us further and further into debt."   ...Griffith, who captured his seat in a close 2008 open seat contest, will become the first Republican to hold the historically Democratic, Huntsville-based district. A radiation oncologist who founded a cancer treatment center, Griffith cited the Democratic health care bill as a major reason for his switch. READ MORE House Republican Whip Eric Cantor says this is important news: Rep. Eric Cantor (R., Va.), the House minority whip, tells NRO that Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith's switch to the Republican party is a "huge statement" that will "increase Republicans' likelihood of taking back the majority" in Congress next year. "This really could be the beginning of a trend," he says. "You have to handicap this in our favor." Griffith, a freshman from Alabama's 5th congressional district, has often quarreled with Democratic House leadership during his first year in Congress. Cantor says that the political disconnect between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and moderate Democrats is "striking." "Anytime that a member of the 258-seat majority decides to switch to a party in deep-minority status is a major example of trouble on the other side of the aisle," says Cantor. "For someone to say that he can't live under Democratic rule in the House really raises some eyebrows. Park this news with the recent retirements of Blue Dog Democrats and you really see an increase in momentum for Republicans. Moderates don't see a place for themselves in this Democratic party." READ MORE

Nov 10, 2009
The government politicians have declared war on Americans. They want to control our health . They are diminishing us from humans with dignity to subjects of their state. The politicians have declared war on Americans; they refuse to go out into our world and get real jobs. Politicians long ago declared war on us; now they are dramatically ramping up their warfare in this health CONTROL battle with puppets such as Dan Lipinski who stole our seat illegally just a  few years. His father rigged the election. We didn’t all forget, did we? Career politicians are attacking us in day-light and in late Saturday afternoon votes in our capital. The U. S, congress led by a deranged lady from California, is attacking our freedom.

It feels like an extremely horrible nightmare but it’s extremely worse – we actually are brainwashed Americans as we are giving the enemies (the Daleys , Obama, the Kennedys & Axelrod, Pelosi and Emanuel ) the gun to use to kill us.

This nation is deranged. We are upside-down. We are demoralized. We have become un-hinged. We have become neutered, emasculated cowards. From Chicago to D.C., and now across our nation, we allowed the Daley Liberal Democrat Political Party mafia (DLDPPm) to demoralize us. Collectively, we are DEMORALIZED.

The Service Employees Union International (which I tragically and unfortunately paid dues to for 15 years) and the Catholic Church (which I belong to) are both, stunningly supporting the indirect overthrow of the United States of America. I would argue that this is more direct than indirect, but what’s the difference, we are losing our nation to dictator Daley and crypto-Marxist Obama...and their money pimps such as George Soros.

This was in the works for decades. Every November, on the Sunday preceding Thanksgiving, a 2^nd collection is taken by the Catholic Church for an organization that is either 1) nefarious or 2) stupid. The Campaign for Human Development takes the money from us Catholics who are PRO-LIFE, and has given the money to ACORN, who are PRO-ABORTION.  ACORN, BY THEIR POLITICS, hates Christian values, conservative politics and traditional free-market American government. The CHD now promises not to give our money to this democratic party affiliate.

Millions and millions of our Church donations and government tax dollars go to despicable groups such as Planned Parenthood.

The Catholic Church is supporting the current socialistic (I’d argue communistic) health/medicine bill of the D.C. politicians. The Church is  taking Obama’s word that he is not lying this time. Stunning. 

We all know people who belong to the Catholic Church or the SEIU or both. Many if not most, are not American-haters. They are not anti-Catholic. We know they are “good folk”.

They just support democrat party politics, and Obama and Daley whose politics are anti-American and anti-Catholic. They just support politicians and politics that are diametrically opposed to the values and mores they want to see in life. In other words, it is backward. This can’t get much more backwards. This is stunning brainwashing. People refuse to wake up or grow a spine.

Go figure.

Hint: We are cowards. By our silence, we are cowards.

Advice: Tell your liberal clergy to toughen up. Stop paying dues to the unions who hate you, your American family and your values. They just buy politicians with your money, and get their fiefdom of benefits protected in return.

Urgent: On Tuesday, February 2^nd, vote AMERICAN , vote Republican. Stop feeling helpless and demoralized, and vote against Daley. Send them all a message. Take a REPUBLICAN ballot on February 2nd.

- Carl Segvich

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

                                                                                  - President Ronald Reagan

http://www.tomroeser.com/blogview.asp?blogID=25075

Richard M. Daley is a political whore? Do you deny it? Does anyone who can offer a ½- way decent argument, argue that Daley is indeed not a political whore?! If there is, have them call me at 312-404-CARL. I’d like to debate him or her. We ought to debate politics in the open for the betterment of society, no? We all want to clear the air, no? There is an on-going escalating crisis in America, and Daley is a big player, right? Then allow me to make the case how he is in large part contributing to the destruction of our United States of America. Let him or his aide defend Daley Politics.

For years and years as I’ve been a malcontent of Daley and Daley’s wink-and-nod style politics, I’ve used strong language against Daley calling him a thug, a political pig, a criminal, a bully, a political pimp, anti-American and anti-Catholic.

SOME THINK ITS LANGUAGE THAT IS TOO STRONG.

At any rate, our society, including our church and our government continues to precipitously decline into ever-deepening moral decline with breakneck rapidity. More and more people are defending him in a quieter way. Less and less people are actually defending the inarticulate opportunist. More and more people are voicing dissatisfaction. Some more people are actually doing what I did, about 15 years ago – they are using strong language to say that Daley is a despicable representation of us. That is, he does not represent us. People are finding their tongues.

I did not need Daley’s latest spit upon the Catholic Church (all Christians and all pro-Lifers) and the 1^st amendment of our United States Constitution. If you didn’t hear, Daley now made it illegal for people to pray outside abortion clinics and hand fliers to mothers about to kill their babies. I worked a few times with these people – sidewalk counselors-- on Milwaukee Avenue and other places. These counselors offer adoption information and other assistance. Now they are accused by Alderman Vi Daley and Mayor Daley and their filthy rich sponsor Planned Parenthood of harassing women. Nothing is further from the truth. It is like much of society today; truth is called a lie, and lies pass as truth!

Now by virtual fiat, Daley says the dangerous prayer warriors must keep 8 feet away. I didn’t need this from Daley. I grew up reading him and watching him in the liberally lying media. He and I both come from Bridgeport. I know this snake as I know the back of my hand. Nothing he can do can really surprise me. I knew about Daley, AND SAID IT LOUDLY 15 YEARS AGO, what others are just admitting to realize.

Some need to see more and more evidence as Daley is shown as a King with no clothes. A few were convinced when he destroyed a great airport by the lake. But now a few more are convinced after watching him scandalized his Catholic Church last week (Oct 9^th) by preventing the prayers while he calls himself a Catholic.

I am happy that people are catching on. Do not get me wrong but I’ve been exposing him for more then a decade. He’s been promoting anti-Catholic politics for 20 years! He’s been endorsing anti-Catholics for our government offices for 20 years! Don’t get me wrong. Don’t hate me for being right a long time ago. I am happy people are finally catching on to his implacable deceitfulness. Together we can set our society back on a straight path.

Recall Thomas Jefferson’s words: “when people fear the government you have tyranny; when the government fears the people you have liberty.”

Don’t forget that Rich Daley and John Daley told us all to vote for Obama. Obama is the most pro-death abortion politician (not just as president) in the U.S.A. He is not only in favor of abortion but also partial birth abortion. There’s more; it’s worse. As an Illinois state senator, he killed a bill (he would not allow a vote) to prevent a mother and doctor from killing a born-alive botched abortion.

This is the Obama the Daleys told us to vote for. And we listened.

Some think I am still too harsh, too “mean” and to full of “hate” in describing what the Daleys are doing to our United States of America.

Let someone stand up to me and defend Daley’s politics and the laws he has foisted upon us. Let him explain just how my language was "hateful" and/or wrong for 15 years. How has your politeness worked?

One much wiser and learned than me, Tom Roeser writes a good column about the hypocrite Daley. Please read:  http://www.tomroeser.com/blogview.asp?blogID=25075

And finally, where is the Roman Catholic Church?! Other than Fr. Frank Pavone, Fr. John Corapi, Cardinal Charles Chaput and few others, I only see “priests” pathetically capitulating to John Daley, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and that ilk. Priests blame bishops while bishops blame priests.    - Carl Segvich

More and more people throughout our once great and prosperous United States of America, are speculating that our nation is facing possible peril. In fact, the American Culture War has been a serious war for the past 50 years. Liberalism is trouncing traditional conservative America.

Please read Committeeman Carl Segvich's interview with
Executive Director of Republicans For Fair Media, Dan Zanoza
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2009/02/chicago-politics-from-the-inside-carl-segvich----in-his-own-words.html

"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing"
- Edmund Burke, political theorist (1729– 1797)

"And what we have today is extremely worse than good men doing nothing. We inexplicably have droves of otherwise good men actually voting with the democrat party and their anti-Christian/anti-American agenda, because they don't realize what they are doing...or they pretend not to know because they are tragically taken in by the money and clout. A true suicidal tragedy: People voting AGAINST their own life beliefs. People voting FOR the enemy who hates the Judeo-Christian American life-style. Evil must continue to not only succeed, but as this inexplicably bizarre political voting continues, evil will flourish wildly!" - Carl Segvich

" Good manners are not an excuse for political cowardice. "
- Archbishop Chaput