A "stacked" public hearing

Shortly after I was defeated for 50th Ward Alderman in 1983, Dominick’s Foods (a local grocery chain) applied for a zoning permit to expand its store across the street of my home.

A public hearing was held in a local senior citizen building, and 50th Ward Democratic precinct captains corralled residents and brought them down to the room where the hearing was held to ensure there would be a favorable crowd in support of the store’s proposal.

When I entered the room, precinct captains acted as if I had barged into their event. They looked at each other, wondering how they should handle my presence.

Well, they had nothing to worry about. I favored the proposal, even though I thought it was “greased” to give the store what it wanted.

But I was OK with what Dominick’s wanted. I was there as a neighbor, not as a political combatant.