There's an interesting article in the Trib about Blago defending a pardon for Chandra Gill. Gill is currently an administrator for the Loop Lab School, which had rented space in the Pilgrim Baptist Church before it was destroyed by fire. Gill was convicted in 2002 of assaulting off-duty Urbana officer Al Johnston. She petitioned in 2006 for a pardon, and Blago granted it in 2007.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration presented a confusing picture Wednesday of what his office knew about a woman who received a criminal pardon from the governor in 2007, even as her school received a $1 million state grant to reopen after being burned out of the Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Blagojevich ducked out of a news conference Wednesday morning without answering questions about why he granted the pardon to Chandra N. Gill, who at the time was working with state officials to obtain the grant for the Loop Lab School. The school had rented space at the church until it was gutted in a 2006 fire.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mistaken_grant_webmar06,1,994978.story
Here are some related stories:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-moneymistake-pard,0,570522.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-pilgrim-baptistmar05,0,6636685.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-pilgrim-baptist.04mar04,0,7744993.story
Update: There's a related article in the News-Gazette at http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/03/13/exofficer_upset_by_pardon . Another officer involved wasn't too pleased when she heard about the pardon, and she also questioned the $1 million being given to the Loop Lab School.
Good job Rod! Maybe after you have spent some time in a Federal pen You too may be the recipient of a pardon, but I hope it's after you have lost all of your dignity being put on trial and being found guilty of corruption, a couple of years in jail along with some forced sodomy will wipe that smirk off your pretty face! Where are the Feds when we need them???
It does not surprise me one bit that an Officer is injured, that has cost the taxpayers of Urbana, hundreds of thousand dollars in pension costs, along wtih surgery, and this idiot Govenor, who apparently listens the Rev Jackson, who didnt think this was that big of a deal, a pardon.
Another in his long list of stupid things that Rod has done.
They should have pepper sprayed Her then cuffed Her, Oh! I forgot cops can't do that any more, they might offend someone!
Great story about "The Boy Wonder" http://chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2008/Mr-Un-Popularity/ They call his Father-in-law Dick Mell "Frankenstein" in Springfield! He created the monster!! What a joke this punk is!
Small town cop, educated activist with Operation Push/Jesse Jackson on her side, more votes in Chicago than all of Central Illinois, constant local drumbeat hating Blago, Blago never carrying Champaign County, insulted when he was here, is it any wonder? What do you expect from him, that he loves us here? Naw, he lives by the mantra, "What goes around comes around." It's not fair" is only cried by those who think they aren't being treated fairly, a/k/a losers.
This Gov will never ever allow a dime to be spent on Lincoln Hall, and it's not too hard to figure out why. And he will be elected so long as he can run. If Michael Madigan can't take him down, and the Feds don't, he's Gov as long as he wants to be, because he carries Chicago by a wide margin. Don't like it? Too bad, he is a masterful politician nowing how to divide and conquer like no one in recent memory.
I don't like him, but I think I understand him, and understand that Central Illinois is truly meaningless on the political landscape. No surprise, with Frerichs taking marching orders from Emil Jones, Jakobbsen taking marching orders from Madigan, and Rose being non-existent, except when it comes to the Chief of course.
Gill sure sounds like a piece of work.
http://www.state.il.us/ihrc/Decisions/2006_Q3/PDF/hill_latoya_11707.pdf
This article says that there have been nine civil cases against the school:
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/loop.lab.school.2.670470.html
What's interesting to me is that in NY the Governor comes under scandel on Monday and has resigned within 48 hours. In Illinois this Governor is under federal investigation for years and NO ONE in either his party or the Republican party makes a major move to get him out of office.
In Illinois this Governor is under federal investigation for years and NO ONE in either his party or the Republican party makes a major move to get him out of office.
The Key word is investigation, Illinois has no recall provision, When Blogovich is finally indicted then something might be done to expedite His exit from Illinois, Maybe some of our Lawyers on here could enlighten us as to the procedure. The part about the so-called Reverend Jesse Jackson is true He brings in the vote, but is never really ask to sit at the table with the "Big Boys" They treat Jackson as a prostitute, they only use Him when they need Him, Then the rest of the time the IRS and other Government agencies just look the other way! ,as I have said on here repeatedly, get the book "Shakedown" and read the true story of Jesse and His family.
What WON'T Rod do?
On March 13th, 2008 at 05:26 PM, AnF said:
What WON'T Rod do?
Govern the state in a honorable fashion for one......
Chandra made a mistake, she was found guilty of scratching a police officer ( from the NG article) which is considered agravated battery in Illinois. Since then she got a PHd and from what I can tell from the different articles, trib and otherwise, spent here time since then helping disadvantaged kids. Now I don't know what qualifies for a pardon but I think a life commited to good deeds after making a very serious mistake, scratching a police officer (I don't mean to sound sarcastic no one has the right to put theire hands on a police officer under any circumstances), is a step toward a pardon. On the circuit court's website part of Chandra Gill's sentence was to write a letter of apology to the officer, which i assume she did. Lessor people have recieved pardons.( I'm not sure who but I'm sure nbot all of them have PHD's and help inner city youth) She may have very well deserved a pardon. Many people guilty of previous crimes recieve pardons for various reasons. I think this one isn't the worse pardon, too bad it had to be done by a corupt govenor. Not everything he does has to be corrupt I guess.
Everyone keeps saying WHEN Rod's indicted. WHEN he's indicted. Perhaps you should say IF he's indicted. They've been investigating him for years and yet there's no charges. And no hint any are forthcoming. If you have evidence (not innuendo and political claptrap) perhaps its time you can forward. Or shut up.
To the circle: Give me a break - she didn't just "scratch" the officers hand - she broke it and this was the end of an outstanding officers police career. She committed a criminal offense, was charged and convicted. Only through a political payback was she able to get the "pardon". Regardless of having a PhD, (if that is true), does not excuse in any way her outrageous actions that night.
Was the EMT who actually caused the injury to become permanent forcing Winn Maurer to retire ever prosecuted? If not why not?
On March 14th, 2008 at 05:51 AM, The Square (not verified) said:
Everyone keeps saying WHEN Rod's indicted. WHEN he's indicted. Perhaps you should say IF he's indicted. They've been investigating him for years and yet there's no charges. And no hint any are forthcoming. If you have evidence (not innuendo and political claptrap) perhaps its time you can forward. Or shut up.
Oh He's going, When the Feds are good and ready, Just like George Ryan, and the of dozen corrupt politicians they have locked up!
Anon 6:14
That officer isn't sure who messed her hand up. It was most likely Gill's friend that did that assalt according to the NG article. ""I don't recall with 100 percent certainty who grabbed my hand," she said.""- NG She is the officer with the injured hand. The jury didn't find Gill guilty of that assault, the found her guilty of scratching the other officer, a far less serious crime than permanatly injuring one of Urbana's finest. "Gill's conviction was for aggravated battery to Johnston, who had his neck scratched and his shirt torn"-NG Indeed still a very serious crime, but one that she apoligized for, I assume she did becasue she was supposed to, and since then she seems to have changed ehr life. Also, from the News she also seems to not have started the incident so I'm sure that was also taken into consideration.
Sorry, but not enough time has passed for Gill to be given a pardon. Generally, someone seeking a pardon has to demonstrate, though their life, over the course of a substantial period of time, that they have been rehabilitated, unless, of course, it's some kind of political payback, in which case, a pardon apparently can't be granted quickly enough. And I see no mention here of the fact that the school apparently took the million dollars and invested in a downtown coop, which doesn't appear to be the intent of the grant, unless you think they're conducting classes in the downtown coop. In order to get the grant, the applicants had to be felony-free, hence the pardon. Otherwise, would we even be talking about a pardon?
Champaign Dweller,
I agree that enough time may not have passed for a Pardon of GIll. I also believe that if our govenor was not corupt there wouldn't be an ourage over the pardon. I do think that Gill has demonstrated that she is in the right direction however, again maybe not enough for a pardon. I don't remember Gill being a political player so I don't think the pardon was given because of any type of payback. I also think the program Gill was in charge of is a worthy cause for state funds. Gill may very well be the most qualified person to run the school, totally an assumption, and again I think she has demonstrated taking steps, even leaps toward rehabilitation. She don't seem to be a criminal, she just made a stupid mistake, which I assume she apoligized for. As for what happened to the money that should be heavily scrutinized as should anything that recieves taxpayer money. The pardon however, I think wasa given for the right reason, albeit probably to soon. Champaign Dweller, I would like to know how long and how many good deeds do you think a person has to do before they can get a pardon on a misdemeaner, and then the same question for a felony? I just want to know your thoughts I'm not trying to come off combatent. Only when I tlalk about our corrupt govenor do I want to sound combatent.
Gill was an instigator in a large violent outburst in a very public place. How does she justify standing on the floor at game and refusing to get off of it? How does she justify being told to leave and fighting after having to be made to leave. She offered not apologies until it was required by the court, after appeals for the conviction failed. Then she went to work in a job that is politiacally important to an important constituancy for Blago, where he gave them money for one purpose, it was used for another, then they wanted him to give them more. And, in order to make it possible to keep giveing them the money he had to clear her felony conviction to facilitate the continued payout for future votes.
wow, getting rowdy at a basketball game, that is the most horrific crime ev er. thank god everybody else in the entire world has always stayed calm
Actually, Ms. Gill wasn't convicted, if I'm reading the court transcript correctly, until 2005 - and it only took her about 4 months to get the pardon. Her last attorney, only identified as a "Mr. Ballentyne" is not a local attorney - and I believe he may actually be a politically-connected attorney, friends with Emil Jones.
She assaulted a police officer attempt to break up a brawl. That's hardly "getting rowdy at a basketball game." And she was 28 years old at the time of the incident - not a kid.
Here's a link to a letter about Gill's pardon from someone else who's been waiting longer:
http://click.blogtownhall.com/default.aspx?mode=post&g=136da23d-40f6-488a-8d74-528c431d7a3b
Give me a break! She assaulted a police officer and was convicted. Why does she deserve a pardon and $1 million just because her former school was located in a church that received a grant? The school already had a sexual harassment judgment whic shouls have eliminated any chance for a governmental grant. It has also been demonstrated the they failed to pay and currently owe many of their employees backpay. Personally, I can think of many other people that could have used that money to help inner city, disadvantaged youth. First of all, the money should have gone to its intended recipient, PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH. If it wasn't going to them , I can think of numerous recipients, especially individuals without convictions for battery against police officers, pardons and unsavory business ethics. By the way, where does it show the money went to disadvantaged youth? Is the school open and operating? From my understanding, it went to a downtown condo across the street from the Sears Tower. The condo also has affiliations with Rezko business associates. So governor, I must ask ......why did you risk one million of our tax dollars on her? Aren't there more deserving individuals in the state that have proven track records that should have received this money?