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 It is in the nature of things for politicians to make promises. They make promises because they want us to believe that they are committed to making our lives better, or making society more just. The beauty of the democratic form of government is that every so often we get to hold politicians, and entire political parties to account on these promises. Have they delivered on their promises or did these turn out to be only so much lip service to voters, designed to misdirect and deceive? In this election season the African American community must hold the incumbent powers that be accountable for their actions. As likeable as Chicago politicians may be, what have they accomplished, and what legacy do they leave behind? The black vote has been instrumental in their continued political power and will likely exercise considerable influence again this election cycle. That is a responsibility as much as it is bragging right.
One of the easiest measures of a government's priorities is how they spend their money. Cook County's roughly $3 Billion budget reveals a startling statistic when it comes to African Americans. Of the millions of dollars worth of contracts handed out by the County, only 4% were awarded to minority owned businesses. This means that those businesses created by black men and women, employing large numbers of African Americans, located in predominantly black neighborhoods get nothing from the county. And unfortunately things arent much better in the City of Chicago. Mayor Daley's black friendly government awarded 8% of city contracts to minority owned businesses. While African American businesses are the central actors in the struggle to improve black communities, the Democratic machine, which devours the black vote, does not support them. The Democratic machine must be held accountable for its performance.
The number of African Americans hired by the city and county, specifically those elevated into key policy making positions, is another clear signal of the current regimes commitment to black empowerment. The numbers reveal, however, that there are fewer African Americans in Mayor Daleys cabinet now than there ever have been during his entire administration. The mayor apparently takes the black vote so entirely for granted that he feels safe banishing blacks from power. The Democratic machine must be held accountable for its performance.
The Cook County Juvenile Detention Center is a running embarrassment for Cook County voters. Weve seen one story after another detailing the appalling conditions within the facility. A US District Judge recently reprimanded the head of the Detention Center, Jerry Robinson, for failing to improve conditions despite being ordered to do so by the district court. At the center, youth are beaten, the infrastructure is crumbling, much of the staff is unqualified and detainees are not educated. The Juvenile Detention Center is a prime example of the dangers of patronage. Strogers friends and political cronies continue to be rewarded with jobs while the quality of the facility deteriorates. The black community expects that the Detention Center will be a place where troubled youths can be redirected out of the streets and back to school. It is failing in this mission. The Democratic machine must be held accountable for its performance.
 The county's budget wars touched again on Stroger County Hospital. This health care facility serves large portions of the African American community. And yet it is a case study of government waste and dereliction of duty. As mentioned in previous articles, the Hospital is notorious for long lines, bed shortages, and dangerously overcrowded Emergency Rooms. And yet, it is being investigated for using grant money to pay personal expenses. Stroger Hospital also employs nearly twice the administrative staff of comparably sized Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Once again, the African American community is being robbed of quality services by the Stroger patronage system. His political allies win while the black community suffers. The Democratic machine must be held accountable for its performance.
Speaking of patronage, President Stroger and his friends on the board are fighting a ferocious battle to protect the status quo in Cook County. Though fiscally responsible board members are calling for budget reform and a reduction of redundant county jobs, Stroger and his allies are threatening to cut services to the community rather than overhead, if the budget is shrunk. This is despicable. How can Stroger pretend to represent the African American community when his primary interest is protecting his small band of political allies at the expense of the people? The truth is that the county budget could be slashed without cutting services if the board were willing to trim the bloated overhead created by patronage jobs. The patronage system ultimately results in fewer services and higher taxes. Higher taxes drive businesses out of the community and reduce the availability of jobs and the potential for upward mobility. The Democratic machine must be held accountable for its performance.
The Chicago Republican Party urges the black community to hold our elected officials to account for their actions. We do not have to suffer under a corrupt patronage system that uses city and county funds to employ political lackeys rather than provide needed services.
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