While we're on the subject of Allison Davis
read this....
06/12/2009 10:41 AM
My wonderful CJ editor Micah
Maidenberg has given me a lot to think about the last few days. He’s resurrected a lot of my old
thoughts about a little slice of corruption in the South Loop by resurrecting a
couple of my old columns. For your
reading pleasure on the CJ homepage, there is a column I did about the
groundbreaking in 2004 of the Columbian at Roosevelt and Michigan--built on a
piece of land that was taken in all its glory by eminent domain and sold to
Daley pal Allison Davis soon after.
And there is also one I did about the flood a few years ago at the renovated Roosevelt Hotel at Roosevelt and Wabash--which was a renovation by Allison Davis and his partners--that utilized a lot of taxpayer-funded financing. The flood, which had insurance adjustors fighting like cats and dogs, decimated that corner for much longer than it should have. To read both columns and Micah’s take on why he decided to resurrect them now, go here.
But there’s more: Two things were cut out by my editor at the time from the Columbian column, which, since blogging allows such indulgence, I will uncover and resurrect as well.
First, I wrote about Davis’ extremely rumpled appearance at the groundbreaking--his hair was mussed and his suit looked like it hadn’t seen a cleaner for a long time, if ever, all wrinkled and dirty looking as it was. I’m no fashion plate--but then I’m not a politically connected multimillionaire high-falutin’ Chicago builder either.
And second, I mused on Davis’ African American heritage, and how he uses such heritage to qualify for ever more taxpayer funding for his projects than even his well-rooted political connectedness allows. I was (and still am) dubious about whether Davis, a child of extreme privilege (his father was a brilliant and renowned scholar), great financial security and complex heritage was really the type of businessman these handouts were intended for. My opinion is no way, not ever, nix.
This and this explains Davis’ roots--and portrays his family’s rich cultural background and high stature. In other words, he’s no Barack Obama.
And this piece explains Davis’ political connections, how they started and where they stand, at least as of a couple of years ago. Pay particularly close attention to the picture of Davis, which I think is revealing.
If U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald closes in and indicts Davis and he ends up in the clink, you can thank me for giving you some helpful and very interesting background on this guy.
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By Mike from Knezovich
Posted: 06/23/2009 3:28 PM
Thanks Bonnie and Micah for connecting dots. One thing--Obama and Davis might not have had a lot in common in terms of background, but Obama was well acquainted with Davis. Obama worked at Davis' old law firm, and seemed to have helped Davis (and his partner Antoin Rezko) along the way. http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/425305,CST-NWS-obama13.article
By kathleen moyer from south loop
Posted: 06/16/2009 1:11 PM
Thanks Bonnie, we sure want to make sure that people like Allison Davis doesn't work in the south loop or in any part of Illinois. We need to get rid of the people who do sloppy jobs just for the money. Chicago area has enough good hardworking construction contractors that we don't need "slop".
By Paul from Wrigleyville 1
Posted: 06/12/2009 1:24 PM
Nice stuff. Allison's father, also Allison, was a kind of a hero of the school integration battles of the 70s.