Ex-Chicago alderman pleads guilty to bribery and tax charges

Ending an unusual dry spell, perhaps an unprecedented one for Chicago's City Council--arguably America's most corrupt legislative body, former 20th Ward Alderman Arenda Troutman pleaded guilty today to bribery and tax charges. No former or current council members had been convicted of a crime since 1999. But she's still the 19th Chicago alderman found to be found on the wrong side of the law since 1980.

As is usually the case with criminal aldermen in Chicago, the misdeeds involved bribes in exchange for zoning favors. The city has tough zoning regulations--and they're put in place for a purpose--so developers have to ask the alderman who represents the ward they want to build in for a variance. Campaign contributions, and of course bribes, make the granting of variances more likely.

Technorati tags: politics Election Democrats Illinois Politics corruption zoning Chicago real estate crime