Charity Connections

In these trying times, why is the city giving away money? Not just money, but increasing amounts of money? Especially to a charity run by Mrs. Shortshanks?

• Most city workers are being forced to take almost five weeks off without pay because of what Mayor Richard M. Daley has called the worst financial crisis in decades. At this time of record deficits, however, the city is giving more than ever to After School Matters, the charity led by Mayor Daley’s wife.
  
  The nonprofit group, founded by Maggie Daley and still led by her, was paid almost $15 million by the city in 2009, far more than the previous year.
  
  Asked Friday about the increase, Mayor Daley defended the group and its after-school youth programs. “It’s a charity for teenagers in Chicago. Are you questioning my wife now?”

Well, yeah. That's exactly what they're doing Shortshanks. You see, voters have an obligation to question their elected representatives what is going on with their tax money, especially when you're telling everyone they have to give up unpaid days off, forgo adequate police protection, miss garbage pick ups, tighten their belts, pay more in fees, etc.

You aren't supposed to be using tax payer moneys to fund charities run by relatives. And we certainly shouldn't be having to skim the pages of the New York Times to find out about it - that should have been covered by the local media, which once again, couldn't find their own asses with four sets of hands, a map and a spotlight.