More Chicago water department emails show attempted gun deals and making light of city violence
Source: Chicago Tribune
In a city scarred by a deep and troubling history with guns, a supervisor in the scandal-plagued water department used his city email account to negotiate firearms deals and make light of deadly Fourth of July violence in black neighborhoods by offering "Chicago Safari" tours, a new watchdog report revealed Monday.
Ousted district water superintendent Paul Hansen, who is white, emailed with individuals over personal purchases or sales of at least four firearms and five cars, according to the report from Inspector General Joseph Ferguson. Hansen's emails about gun deals started the investigation over his use of a government email account for personal business, which is against city rules. And it quickly spread to other Hansen emails and to other water department bosses, according to City Hall sources.
In his quarterly report, Ferguson revealed a fresh string of anti-black emails sent to multiple high-ranking water department workers that touted a fake "Chicago Safari" package during a July 4th weekend where tourists are guaranteed a chance to observe "at least one kill and five crime scenes" and also see "lots of animals in their natural habitat."
Hansen's racially charged emails included messages to fellow workers purported to be in "Ebonics," sometimes called American black English, and a picture describing a swimming pool for a small African American child who sits in a bucket filled with water while holding a slice of watermelon, the report found.
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-water-department-report-met-0718-20170717-story.html
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On June 8, 2011, Paul Hansen finally got to address to City of Chicago Department of Water Management employees in the North District. Paul Hansen got a chilly response despite the very hot weather. Some employees in this picture were wearing shorts knowing the day would be close to 100 degrees. Paul Hansen told the workers he wanted them not to wear short pants again. Paul does not wear shorts anymore because he works in a very cold and chilly air-conditioned office. At $107,000.00 dollars, smackers, greenbacks, I would wear long pants also. Paul was in the newspapers for an alleged DUI he got when hunting in Geneva. Most Chicago City workers get fired when this happens to them. Somehow the Office of the Inspector General allowed his promotion to go through despite other employees claiming the promotion was rigged. Paul job requires a driver's license and when suspended allegations of mileage reimbursement funny business continued to be made. Paul Hansen revealed new work rules that included parking in the residential area around former Alderman Pat Laver crib. The 45Th Ward's new Alderman best take a look at this policy. Also, workers were reminded to go into the yard to swipe in and out. No more shortchanging the taxpayers anymore. The Office of the Inspector General got wind of edit sheets used on overtime jobs recently. The North District yard was just cited for violations with the Illinois Department of Labor. Several workers agreed to petition the neighbors to call Rahm Emanuel to stop this practice. So far the Office of the Inspector General has done nothing to stop the flash mob workers at the District, racing out to taxpayer's homes, underbidding and hustling side business. This scam has gone on with leak desk workers giving inside leak complaints to certain investigators, kicking back cash to the bosses. It is time to keep the corruption, bribes, scams, payoffs in full swing, just wear long pants when you do it. It looks more legit. Patrick McDonough
http://www.chicagoclout.com/weblog/archives/2011/06/former_alderman_hansens_son_pa.html
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SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2010
THE CHICAGO WAY: ALDERMAN'S SON RETURNS TO CITY JOB AFTER DUI BUST
Paul Hansen, the son of former North Side Ald. Bernie Hansen (44th), will be allowed to return to his $97,760-a-year city job on Monday after having been arrested for DUI, stripped him of his driver's license, and put on unpaid leave.
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According to the police report, he was driving west on Route 20 in Galena when he was pulled over for speeding. The officer reported smelling alcohol on Hansen's breath and that he had glassy eyes, slurred speech and a "slight stagger" or "sway." Hansen twice refused a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest. At that point, he asked if "something could be worked out" stating that he knew Terry Kurt, the state's attorney for Jo Daviess County, the police report states.
At the sheriff's office, he refused a Breathalyzer test. That refusal carries an automatic, 12-month suspension of driving privileges for first-time offenders.
Hansen's unpaid leave began after the Chicago Sun-Times raised questions about his arrest and reports from co-workers that the former alderman's son was having foremen and laborers chauffeur him around and take him to and from work. Inspector General Joe Ferguson is trying to determine how Hansen did his job without a license, sources said.
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2010/06/the-chicago-way-aldermans-son-returns-to-city-job-after-dui-bust.html
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Racist Water Department emails found during probe of alleged gun sales
CHICAGO 07/05/2017, 05:35pm
Fran Spielman
@fspielman | email
Inspector General Joe Ferguson uncovered racist and sexist emails circulating in the Department of Water Management while investigating allegations that the son of a former alderman had used his city email account to sell guns, City Hall sources said Monday.
Paul Hansen, a now-fired, $122,280-a-year district superintendent in the Department of Water Management, is the son of former longtime Ald. Bernard Hansen (44th). The elder Hansen presided over Wrigleyville during the Cubs’ marathon battle for lights at Wrigley Field.
On Monday, Paul Hansen refused to comment about the gun or email investigation before hanging up on a Chicago Sun-Times reporter.
His checkered past with the Department of Water Management includes allegations that his political clout helped him get his job back after a DUI conviction.
Sources said it was during the course of an eight-month-long investigation into allegations that Hansen was using city emails to sell guns that Ferguson stumbled upon the hate-filled emails that triggered Friday’s housecleaning in the department at the center of the Hired Truck and city hiring scandals.
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http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/racist-water-department-emails-found-during-probe-of-alleged-gun-sales/
