Democracy at work in Chicago: Send gifts (cash) to Mayor Daley

There are many reasons why the Democrats have a lock on Chicago. Here's one. From the Chicago "free registration required" Tribune:

A memorandum sent out last month on city stationery asks department heads and senior staffers to give a "$35 voluntary donation (no checks please)" toward a gift for the mayor and his wife, Maggie.

The offering will be presented at the Daleys' annual holiday party for staffers to be held Friday at Kendall College.

In past years, employees have given the Daleys gifts such as a saltwater aquarium and a piece of artwork from China. This year's gift will be different.

When the Tribune asked what the present would be, mayoral spokeswoman Jodi Kawada revealed Wednesday that a $2,300 charitable donation will be made in the Daleys' names. The money will go to After School Matters, a program overseen by Maggie Daley that offers activities for city teenagers.

True, it's not going to Daley's political fund. But if city department heads can be shaken down in such a fashion, they can be financially abused in other ways.

Technorati tags: Daley Chicago politics corruption