Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Arrest of Ald. Troutman just adds to city cynicism

Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Arrest of Ald. Troutman just adds to city cynicism
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
January 9, 2007



They turned up at her house early Monday, but Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th) pretended she wasn't there, even though they spied her peeking out a window. So federal agents had to break another window to get in to arrest her on charges of public corruption. Such is the troubling saga of Troutman, who not only was questioned by the FBI more than two years ago about her relationship with a Chicago thug but also had connections to city's scandal-ridden Hired Truck Program.

The arrest of Troutman follows the unhallowed but long tradition of many of her peers at City Hall: At least 27 aldermen have been carted off to prison since 1972. Corruption is a byword of Chicago government, where disgrace after disgrace has polluted civic politics and the dragnet of crooked officials has reached to a step away from the mayor's office, including his patronage chief, Robert Sorich.<

It now seems laughable that last fall Troutman had the moxie to join Ald. Ed Smith (28th) and Toni Preckwinkle (4th) to condemn Mayor Daley for wrongdoing at City Hall. "These people were getting contracts because they lived in a white city," Troutman asserted at the time. "They were greedy and wanted the minority share. My constituents want a fair shot at jobs and contracts." The mayor, who had appointed her to the job back in 1990, mockingly applauded her; it appears even he had trouble taking her self-righteous statements seriously.

Of course, Troutman is innocent until proven guilty but she has been under legal scrutiny for years and it was not a big surprise to learn she has been indicted on federal charges that include allegations of taking bribes. Federal investigators have always wanted to know about her alleged affair with one of the fugitive leaders of the Black Disciples street gang, Donnell "Scandalous" Jehan, particularly after finding envelopes in Jehan's home addressed to Troutman fom the Chicago Police Department. Troutman has always claimed she has "done nothing wrong."

But those close to her have. Her brother was arrested in a drug-related sting in 2004; her family created and ran Hobtat Trucking Co., a firm that was paid more than $1.1 million from the scandalous Hired Truck Program at City Hall. "There is no way I would be involved in criminal activity," Troutman said during a press conference held to explain her relationship with Jehan. "No way. I understand what dope has done to my community." She said she thought Jehan was a legitimate businessman.

Her arrest only adds to the cynicism Chicago citizens have about politicians and government officials. There is never any surprise or uproar expressed when a politician is arrested: Unfortunately, it is seen as just business as usual.