Jackass of the Year 2017

Proco Joe Moreno, Chicago Alderman
courtesy of The Chicago Tribune

As everyone knows, this tongue-in-cheek mock award to Democrats behaving badly is a blog tradition. I have to admit that the competition this year was particularly competitive, with DNC Chair Tom Perez imposing a de facto litmus test for Democratic candidates to be pro-abort and US Sen. Al Franken (MN) resigning in humiliation over a sex scandal. (This list is not exhaustive.)

But Moreno's out-and-out corruption and extortion of a landlord (Strauss) who decided to evict Double Door, a music venue/saloon, after multiple lease violations, made this a principled choice.. Double Door's management, contributors to Moreno's campaign, pleaded for Moreno's assistance in preventing an eviction. [Note that much described in this excerpt was recorded on video.]

While Strauss fought in court to vacate Double Door’s lease, Moreno introduced an ordinance to change the building’s zoning. Called “down zoning,” it would restrict the type of commercial and residential renters Strauss can sign.

“You can’t sign new leases for your tenants,” Moreno says. “It’s going to be an empty building with no income for you or your family. End of conversation.”

 “I’m going to have inspectors here on a daily basis, you watch,” Moreno says.

 “I’m not threatening you,” Moreno says. He predicts the building owner would come back to him, on his knees.”