#2 On November 12, 2019, after an extensive heated debate, the Blue Island City Council voted 10-to-3 in favor of investigating Mayor Domingo Vargas about the questionable purchase of two Chevy Tahoes last year. Vargas allegedly reimbursed the city; however, more questions remain.
Do you think the matter should be pursued despite the cost of the investigation? Why or why not?
Yes! If you rob a bank and get caught and you say, Oh, I am going to reimburse the bank, does the FBI say, that’s fine, case closed, have a good day? This case with the mayor reeks of bad politics. Why does he not stand up like a man and tell his story to the people? Maybe then we would not need an investigation.
Blue Island, like the federal government itself, and other government bodies in America have lost sight of what “Government of the People” stands for. Everything they do is for government itself. It is to protect themselves or bring down their foes. As I watched this circus that they call the city council meeting, I saw nothing that said we are here to do the business of the people.
Thank you. I was asked to cover this meeting for an upcoming article. At the previous city council meeting, former alderman, Nancy Thompson, raised holy hell because of previous lawsuits and subsequent settlements. She felt that the individuals responsible should be held accountable, not the taxpayers. However, it doesn’t really work that way, does it? The council voted but I wonder how other Blue Island taxpayers feel?
No, it’s not okay but that’s how it is. The individuals responsible are still liable. Everyone should be getting sued but these things have a way of vanishing into thin air over time.
It’s a waste of money that we can’t get right. The city also paid $950,000 to Robbie Silva’s mother back in 2015. Government on any level seems to be filled with incompetency and/or dishonesty. It doesn’t matter which. We the people get to pay the bill. This was most certainly a coverup, a botched investigation and con job perpetuated upon the victim’s family (and they should be paid). The con job also falls on the people of Blue Island. Like every lawsuit settlement by a governing body, they do not accept any responsibility. Yet here is over 2 million dollars, have a nice day. They’re a bunch of crooks who still get their pension and we pay.
Interestingly, the Sergeant (Ismael Haro) who reinvestigated the case also sued the department for corruption within, and claimed he was retaliated against for doing so. He got $1.3 million. Soooo, that’s more than the mom got for the loss of her son. It’s awful and ridiculous that they couldn’t be on the side of justice and do things right from the beginning.