Report details state of patronage in Chicago

The city took a step backward this past year in its effort to stop political hiring, according to a court appointed monitor.

The Daley administration -- according to the monitor, who was appointed by a federal judge -- is no longer blatantly manipulating the hiring process at City Hall to reward politically-connected, clout-heavy applicants with jobs and promotions. However, Noelle Brennan, who released the annual report on Tuesday, wrote "more subtle types of manipulations of the hiring process have surfaced."

Those include:

The Brennan Report said a total of 685 city employees filed complaints alleging violations of the hiring, promotion and discipline process for political reasons. Also, 15 people have filed compensation claims for some of the $12 million victims' fund on the grounds that they didn't get jobs or promotions because of the politics.

Michael Shakman, who has been fighting City Hall over the patronage issue since the 1960's, is withholding comment until he reads the report.

The mayor's office said they're continuing to cooperate with Brennan and are taking corrective steps whenever specific problems or violations are uncovered.

Daley now has a new Office of Compliance, which has a new director. Some alderman said he should have let the inspector general handle it because his office has more teeth.

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