It is really hard for me to believe that the President of the College of DuPage did what Adam Andrzejewski of For the Good of Illinois reported in this press release.
It’s so good, I’ll print the press release:
COLLEGE OF DUPAGE PAY-TO-PLAY
WITH GOVERNOR QUINN— ELECTION VOTES FOR
$20 MILLION CONSTRUCTION GRANT?
Political Pressure Applied to College of DuPage (COD) Trustees to Fast Track unplanned $50 million construction project ahead of Governor Quinn’s commencement address. Repeated emails from COD President Robert Breuder apply pressure to trustees regarding $20 million in state construction grants.
Governor Pat Quinn making his political pitch at the College of DuPage graduation ceremony.
“I needed to identify a project that would help release our state funding. My idea: a Teaching and Learning Center. Several Board members want to weigh in on the need for such a facility.
“I have no problem with that; however, not being able to say how we would use the state’s money (perhaps no real need) could lessen our chances to break the money loose at this time (the political moon is rising).”
“When I introduce Governor Quinn at commencement, I want to help our cause (getting the $20 million released sooner rather than later) by thanking him for his commitment in front of 3,500 people. There are many voters in our District. Please keep November 4 in mind.”
“Bottom line: I need some room to breathe on this matter so I can enhance the likelihood
we get the $20 million, soon.”
Dr. Robert Breuder, President of College of DuPage
excerpts from email to Board of Trustees May 9, 2014
Adam Andrzejewski
(Elmhurst, IL) For The Good of Illinois founder and Chairman Adam Andrzejewski addressed the College of DuPage Board of Trustees meeting with email evidence from the college President that Governor Quinn’s invitation to keynote the commencement was a critical part of an unplanned $50 million construction scheme to give the Governor political support and free up $20 million in state funding for college construction grants.
Andrzejewski questioned the COD Trustees, “Is the Board going to let Dr. Breuder continue as President while he concocts schemes to secure funding he admits he doesn’t need, through projects that are unplanned, in exchange for a vague and unfillable promise to deliver votes for Gov. Quinn.”
###
From: Breuder, Dr. Robert
To: ~Board of Trustees
Subject: Board Item
Date: Friday, May 09, 2014 10:09:49 AM
Attachments: 10.A.2) Construction of a Teaching and Learning Center.pdf
FW_ Quote for Gov. Quinn Press Release (163 KB).msg
I am in a bit of a quandary.
We have been working with the Governor’s Office (seemingly forever) to secure our $20 million. Initially the money was to be used for our Homeland Security initiative. When we accomplished our Homeland agenda without state funding, we changed the focus to building demolition. With that initiative soon to be history we need an alternative. I needed to identify a project that would help release our state funding. My idea: a Teaching and Learning Center.
Several Board members want to weigh in on the need for such a facility. I have no problem with that; however, not being able to say how we would use the state’s money (perhaps no real need) could lessen our chances to break the money loose at this time (the political moon is rising).
Robert Breuder, President of College of DuPage. His closing remarks after Governor Pat Quinn addressed the graduation ceremony follow: “We thank the Governor for all that he has done and we look forward to working with him and I know he will continue to provide the leadership that we look forward to having from a governor.”
A building that focuses on teaching and learning is politically attractive; more so than let’s say a student center, PE facility, etc. At COD, general purpose classroom space is our greatest need. (See attached Board agenda item.) A need that will expand with continued enrollment growth. My having to dance around the issue of how we would use the money attenuates our [t]ask.
When I introduce Governor Quinn at commencement, I want to help our cause (getting the $20 million released sooner rather than later) by thanking him for his commitment in front of 3,500 people.
There are many voters in our District.
Please keep November 4 in mind. [Emphasis added.]
The limited state dollars for capital projects will go somewhere in this heightened political season. Why not College of DuPage?
In the attached press release you can see how I have had to dance around how we would use the money. It was a less effective quote than it could have been.
And lastly, who better to know what physical space needs we have than the people who deliver services every day? There is always the option of telling the Governor we want the money, will bank it until we figure out how to use it, and then build something. And is it not better to match money than to provide 100%?
Bottom line: I need some room to breathe on this matter so I can enhance the likelihood we get the $20 million, soon.
Thanks.
B
P.S. In the last five years, I have led a $550 million transformation of our physical plant. By now I hope all Board members have confidence in my judgment. But, then again, this may be about something else.
= = = = =
Andrzejewski takeaway:
“Rarely do all of us get such a “peek behind the curtain” into the culture of corruption. COD wants $20 million for a building they do not need from a state that doesn’t have the money.”
Yes, you are right.
Keep November 4 on your mind and vote QUINN OUT!!!
Another vote against Quinn here….
Illinois needs someone who isn’t clueless.
I have no interest in Chicago becoming Detroit 2.
If you want to vote quinn out ask quinn to veto the convoluted temporary end of session rush job hb 105 that allows amongst a myriad of other provisions the ability of someone to register to vote and vote with no voter id on election day this november…and then the law sunsets.
What a bizarre corrupt piece of legislation.
Blago went to jail for similar shenanigans.
Crains Chicago Business
June 30, 2014
College of DuPage OK’s $50 Million Construction Project.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140630/NEWS13/140639985?template=mobile
I thank Adam for shedding light on the corruption and Cal for posting the item on his blog.
Just like the McHenry GOP needed revitalization, Springfield needs complete restructuring by NOT voting for any Democrat candidate!!!
The voters need to vote that board out, just like we need to vote MCC out!
It’s all About the money, votes for another corrupt governor who should be in jail!
The 3500 people attending commencement should be outraged & instead vote for Rauner.
Party affiliation has no history of fiscal self discipline: McHenry County spending is an anomaly in the whole nation for its frivolous, profligate spending throughout the recession which has crushed local property values.
Other counties in the nation pulled back spending, kept property tax rates in line, and are enjoying property value recovery while our home values continue to fall, inversely correlated to our rising tax rates.
Voting for a party or a person doesn’t ever seem to change the parabolic upward curve of McHenry County property tax rates.
The system is set up as adversarial: it rewards the spend-money-to-get-matching funds mentality. The system encourages use-it-or-lose-it spending.
Is there any candidate man or woman enough to reject this divisive and ultimately fatal charter?
Anybody willing to say each individual will be better off if we call a moratorium on all public spending which isn’t necessary at a level of fundamental survival?
That which is good for a few individual political insiders is so bad for ordinary citizens that ultimately, ‘Team Illinois’ will fail and with that, even the quality of political insiders’ lives will suffer?