Posted on 10/02/2004 10:29:53 PM PDT by Prince Charles
Concrete connection?
EAST CHICAGO: Prosecutors say sidewalks, driveways paved way for votes in 1999 primary.
BY BILL DOLAN Times Staff Writer
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Sunday, October 3, 2004 12:04 AM CDT
EAST CHICAGO -- Federal prosecutors said City Councilman Frank Kollintzas delivered on his campaign promises in 1999 even when it meant breaking the law.
Kollintzas, the 4th District Democrat, allegedly knocked on Hope Cortez's door while campaigning for re-election five years ago and pledged to cover her whole back yard in concrete if she wanted.
City contractors sent to her home allegedly couldn't believe their ears when Cortez told them she wanted exactly what Kollintzas offered, the document states, "but (they) did in fact cover the entire back yard with concrete after telephoning Kollintzas."
The U.S. Attorney's office outlines that and other allegations in a document filed last week that offers a preview of what it is prepared to tell a U.S. District Court jury in South Bend.
Kollintzas; Adrian Santos, D-5th; Joe De La Cruz, D-at large; City Engineer Pedro Porras; City Parks Superintendent Jose Valdez Jr.; and City Controller Edwardo Maldonado are set to go on trial this week on federal fraud charges.
The government alleges they stole $20 million in public money to finance successful re-election campaigns for themselves and Mayor Robert Pastrick's administration. They allegedly used the money to pave new sidewalks, patios and driveways on both public and private property, in violation of state laws.
The so-called Sidewalk Six have pled not guilty, arguing the money was legally used to replace broken sidewalks and curbs and trim trees.
A team of prosecutors headed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Bell is expected to counter that defense with testimony from hand-picked businessmen, who profited from the windfall in city concrete work, and residents like Cortez, who got all the free concrete and tree-trimming they wanted.
They allege in the pretrial document that Renate Cerven of the 4200 block of Hidalgo Lane used one of the sidewalk contractors for work on her property and paid him $2,600 just before the illegal work began.
The government alleges Cerven later learned of the free work being done on other private properties around her. She approached Pastrick, Kollintzas and Maldonado at a political rally that spring and asked for an explanation. The government alleges Kollintzas later ordered the contractor to refund Cerven's money to her. The contractor subsequently was paid by the city.
The government alleges Santos was campaigning about the same time when he noticed Robert Abeyta had a sign in his yard in the 3700 block of Ivy Street for one of Santos' political opponents.
"Santos told Abeyta that if he wanted concrete work done at his house, he needed to remove the sign. Abeyta removed the sign and private concrete was then poured," the document said.
Defense lawyers argued in pretrial motions the government wasn't alleging any of the six defendants obtained a kickback from a contractor in the sidewalk scandal.
However, the U.S. attorney's office alleges De La Cruz did order H and Y, one of several contractors named as unindicted co-conspirators in the case, to excavate concrete from De La Cruz's house. They said De La Cruz complained about the slowness and quality of the work at his house.
The document continues, "As the construction progressed, De La Cruz asked (H and Y) to perform even more work at his house, including refinishing his basement, but that decision was later overruled by Kollintzas." It states Kollintzas later smoothed over this dispute and De La Cruz got his driveway replaced.
Bill Dolan can be reached at bdolan@nwitimes.com or (219) 662-5328.
(Concrete is our friend.)
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