He zones. She sells. And it's legal.

[rayofreason]

Source: Chicago Tribune

It's hard to miss Barbara O'Connor's face on a drive through North Side neighborhoods, where her real estate signs beckon buyers to "find your way home."

In the last decade she has built a thriving business selling houses and condos, many of which couldn't have been built without zoning changes the developers sought from the 40th Ward alderman—her husband, Patrick O'Connor.

Barbara O'Connor has sold more than $22 million worth of houses and condos in the O'Connors' home ward after the projects first got a thumbs up from her husband. And she has sold homes worth millions of dollars in other parts of the city for developers who at one time or another have come to her husband for help.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-zoning-bd01jun01,0,2828428.story

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How it is done in Chicago.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. glad the Trib got on this. doubt it will stop.

[walnutpie]

2. Political corruption, in Chicago...

...I am shocked and dismayed

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. LOL!

welcome, by the by.

[sandnsea]

4. lol, that happens here all the time

People get on our city council because they need some business change, get what they need, and then off they go to make millions. The taxi company, builders, land owners, hotel owners, all kinds of people. This happens in every town in America, not just Chicago.

[truedelphi]

7. Yes it does. My opponent in Sausalito, who won

The City Council office I was seeking (Could his status as billionaire have helped??) IMMEDIATELY got his lots legally split up into the correct designations so that he could build.

And it was done without any shame or embarassment.

He lost interest in the meetings after the approval, but he did still go.

And boy did he glower at the crowd one night when we Sausalitians swamped the City Council to protest the Homeland Security intrusions at the library. However, in the end it mattered only what We The People (and not what He the Billionaire) thought abt the issue.

[Blue_Tires]

8. +1

i've seen it in almost every place i've lived in...my city (va. beach) has to damn near be the originator of it....everyone is a developer or linked to a developer, or has business interest in development

[Dr.Phool]

5. I heard Mark Ayers even lived there.

And Al Capone too.

Mr. Obama! Do you renounce Al Capone?

[Seeking Serenity]

6. If he keeps getting elected, whaddya gonna do?

Blame the voters.