You’ve heard of the “Chicago Way?” Welcome to the “Waukegan Way.”
The “Chicago Way” escalates the tenor of things as a way to get things done. The Chicago-centric terminology went global in the 1987 film, “The Untouchables.”
That’s when city cop Jim Malone, the great Sean Connery, tells G-man Eliott Ness, played by Kevin Costner, how to deal with gangsters: “They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That’s the Chicago Way!”
The Waukegan Way isn’t as forceful; it’s a lot more subtle. But it is a way to get things done.
Like the way 2nd Ward Ald. Jose Guzman wants to make fines for having too much trash in front of some city residences on garbage days disappear. A few homeowners recently received code-enforcement tickets from city inspectors for having excess garbage on the parkways. Garbage tends to pile up in Waukegan, it seems.
Guzman wants to provide amnesty for those unfortunate enough to get a ticket — there were 13 citations issued recently — with all but two residents complying with the red tags, the city’s building commissioner said in a front-page News-Sun story earlier this month by Steve Sadin.
Those with citations who did not contact the city or take steps to remove the garbage face administrative sessions before a hearing officer who will set their punishment, which may include fines.
One of the homes cited by inspectors was in the 7th Ward. It is a home where Guzman’s daughter lives, a home the alderman says he owns.
Guzman argues it is not the fault of homeowners, but the overlap caused by a change in trash companies. The city dropped longtime contractor Waste Management in favor of Rosemont-based Lakeshore Recycling Systems as of Dec. 1.
The alderman contends the reason the garbage wasn’t picked up in front of the homes, including the one he owns, was because Waste Management employees didn’t do their jobs. He reported he’s received complaints from constituents about Waste Management garbage pickups, and doesn’t think homeowners should be punished.
Yet only two homes remained scofflaws.
More Top Picks Pest Controls
“There have been a couple of people who never reached out and never did anything, and they had a whole bunch of garbage on their front parkway, and I’m talking an exorbitant amount,” Building Commissioner George Sellas said, according to Sadin’s account. Some residents called and asked for more time to have their garbage gathered, and Sellas indicated it was usually granted.
Before the contract with Waste Management expired, Guzman told Sadin he contacted the company about a special pickup to remove a large amount of garbage. They were unable to come to an arrangement.
Usually what happens in such instances is a homeowner coordinates a day for pickup and — voila! — the garbage is gone. You also have to pay for that special service.
So far, Guzman has garnered support for his quest as the City Council voted 7-2 to move the amnesty question to a full debate at the next aldermanic meeting Dec. 18.
Perhaps his colleagues were being collegial in allowing the deliberations next week. Perhaps they don’t grasp Guzman’s attempt to avoid a potential fine for having excess garbage in front of a home he owns. Perhaps Guzman is unaware of the proverb about Caesar’s wife being above reproach.
Although Mayor Ann Taylor noted Waste Management’s garbage service wasn’t stellar over the years, she questioned the alderman’s “personal issue,” and wondered if he would be able to vote on the issue.
One alderman certainly sees what’s afoot. When asked the purpose of the issue, 9th Ward Ald. Thomas Hayes said succinctly, “To have Alderman Guzman get out of his ticket.” Hayes and 5th Ward Ald. Edith Newsome voted not to place the amnesty debate on the next agenda.
If no one is above the law, as we are reminded quite often of late by our elected officials, that should include members of the Waukegan City Council. The optics for a garbage amnesty for the few ticketed homeowners are clouded by an alderman working on behalf of a property he owns.
The City Council should reject the proposal and dash any hopes the “Waukegan Way” is the approach of political life in Lake County’s largest municipality. It needs to be taken out with the trash.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
X @sellenews