City Hiring

The Sun Times report, dated 19 January 2008, that a us district judge "bucked his own monitor...and agreed to let Mayor Daley's administration create a new "office of compliance" to guard against patronage instead of letting the city inspector general handle it" should serve as notice to everyone intersted that business as usual is back. Indeed, if it ever left. Everyone in the know knows that in the "city that works" it matters more--much more--who one's sponsor or patronage is than one's qualifications, dedication, or work history/ethic. It is how a bunch of incompetent and unqualified hacks are able to ascend to the very top eschelons of the city power structures. And the OEMC is no exception.

Blogmaster continues to wait patiently for the final report to be issued by the federal monitor, due sometime this spring, which will deal with claims of political discrimination and hiring practices all over the city, oemc included. The real question is whether the federal monitor--and the inspector general, the unions, and the feds--will have any real impact upon business as usual. In a city that is wholly controlled by Daley and the democratic party--right down to the judges slated on the ballots--is there a chance for real reform?