Free Republic

According to its Wikipedia page, the neighborhood of Albany Park, one of 77 in Chicago, is "one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States". A stroll down Lawrence Avenue, between Kedzie and Pulaski, reveals the melting pot that we'd like all of the United States to be.

Ald. Richard Mell got a City Council committee to approve a change to a Chicago law on his behalf Wednesday, but argued it would benefit thousands of other city residents who, like him, simply failed to renew their gun licenses. "It was probably good I didn’t [renew], because there are an awful lot of other citizens" who had the same problem, Mell (33rd) said after the Police and Fire Committee approved an amendment to the gun registration ordinance. The change would allow those whose registration lapsed to renew at a slightly higher fee. Re-registration of the guns would have to...

The family feud between Governor Blagojevich and his father-in-law, Alderman Dick Mell, could end up in court. The governor and his chief fundraiser are fighting back against allegations by Mell that state appointments were handed out in exchange for contributions to the governor's campaign. The governor is trying to keep a dark cloud of scandal and corruption from drenching his carefully-crafted reform image by putting the squeeze on his father-in-law even though it is likely to exacerbate a family feud that is already a 10 on the nasty scale. In the latest development, Blagojevich's chief fundraiser threatening to sue Mell...

January 13, 2005 — The Blagojevich family feud is still alive and today the governor is on the attack. He says allegations of impropriety -- made by his father-in-law -- Chicago Alderman Dick Mell -- are reckless and untrue. Several investigations are now underway as a result of the family feud that erupted last week when the governor closed a landfill run by relatives, including Mell. It escalated when Mell accused the governor's chief fundraiser of selling appointments for campaign cash. That sparked several investigations, which the governor says will give him a clean bill of health. He also says...

CHICAGO - Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked his inspector general Wednesday to investigate accusations by his father-in-law that the governor's administration traded appointments in exchange for campaign contributions. The father-in-law, influential Chicago Alderman Richard Mell, last week claimed an adviser to the governor had arranged for people to be appointed to state boards and commissions in exchange for $50,000 in contributions to the governor's campaign fund. In an interview with The Associated Press, the Democratic governor angrily denied Mell's accusations of misconduct and manipulation and called them "reckless and defamatory." He said his inspector general should look into the issue so...

Choking back tears, Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) today declared a public end to the messy feud with his son-in-law, Gov. Blagojevich, in hopes of repairing a first family torn apart. Mell insisted he had every right to take a stand against what he viewed as the governor's attempt to smear him and close a Will County landfill operated by Frank Schmidt, a distant relative of Mell and first lady Patti Blagojevich who was being advised by the alderman. But that doesn't mean the aldermen doesn't regret some of the bitter charges he made against the governor and the effect the...

January 7, 2005 — Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich shut down a landfill in Joliet run by a distant relative. The move ignited a family feud between the governor and his father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Dick Mell. The governor would not discuss the dispute, but Alderman Mell had plenty to say, calling the governor's decision a "political power play." Alderman Dick Mell is not only the governor's father-in-law, he is the architect of Rod Blagojevich's political career. The powerful democratic ward boss's money, manpower and muscle carried Blagojevich from City Hall to the state legislature to Congress and finally to the governor's...

As same-sex marriages continue to be performed in the other parts of the country, Chicago activists plan to push the issue here. Alderman Dick Mell's daughter, Deborah Mell, was arrested on Thursday during a midday protest. She is also Governor Rod Blagojevich's sister-in-law. Mell, a lesbian, wants equal rights for same-sex couples. "I just feel like I want to do what I can, you know, and since I have this powerful family, we can talk about it and bring it out more," said Deborah Mell. "Because I feel that that is a way to publicize this whole situation." Mayor Richard...

March 4, 2004 — Hundreds of gay rights activists crowded the Cook County Building and blocked a street in the Loop to show their support for same-sex marriages. The county clerk denied marriage certificates to several gay couples but did thank them for their efforts to bring about change in the system. The gay rights activists-organized by Equal Marriage Now-- protested outside the building, where several couples asked for marriage certificates. Many couple said they wanted to get married in the city where they live. Others just wanted the right to get married. "We have to stand up and fight...

Let's put Republican Jim Ryan back on top! Here is the question: Who do you think won the gubernatorial debate? Rod Blagojevich 51.9% (802 responses) Attorney General Jim Ryan 48.1% (742 responses) 1544 total responses