The biggest political event of Friday was the Grand Opening of Steve Reick’s Campaign Headquarters for State Representative. It is right around the corner from the office of the man he seeks to replace–Democrat Jack Franks. I attended for the … Continue reading
Category Archives: Phil Pagano
Keven Craver has an interesting article in the Northwest Herald about the fight Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks had with former McHenry County Republican Party Chairman, State Senator and Metra Board member Jack Schaffer. You see, Schaffer owns Liberty Outdoor … Continue reading
With the increase in gasoline and diesel prices, Metra already had a good excuse to raise commuter fares. But, with the 88% Toll Tax Hike, there is now even less possibility of losing railroad passengers to their cars. The Daily … Continue reading
Yesterday, McHenry County Blog laid out the time line for State Rep. Jack Franks’ interest in reforming Metra. Democrat Franks introduced no legislation until after the fall election. In the final weeks before the fall election, Metra Board member Jack … Continue reading
Almost to the day, one year after Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano committed suicide by stepping in front of the last morning train from McHenry, Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks decided to send a letter to McHenry County Board … Continue reading
Metra has adamantly refused to release information to McHenry County Blog regarding efforts to reimburse the taxpayers for the money that former Executive Director Phil Pagano took without authorization. I’ve been trying to obtain such documents since September, 2010, and … Continue reading
Phil Pagano is gone as Executive Director of Metra and, under his replacement Alex Clifford, the agency has decided to drop the Ridgefield train station option. “We are allowing the option on the land to lapse,” said Metra Board member … Continue reading
Jim Roden, owner of the Framery in Ridgefield has sent the following letter to Metra Chairwoman Carole Dovis. A copy was sent to the railroad commuter agency’s Inspector General Hillard Heintze. Metra Board Chairman, Carole R. Doris 547 W. Jackson … Continue reading
Another person has followed Metra Executive Phil Pagano’s example of how to end his life. This time it was in Evanston. This article says he didn’t succeed. … Continue reading
Read the following paragraph from Blackman Kallick, which took a look at Metra’s operations under Executive Director Phil Pagano: The key words are “the firm’s ‘monthly invoices lacked sufficient detail to substantiate that contracted services were being performed.’” Think for … Continue reading
“But that wasn’t enough for him,” said prosecutor Deborah Mayer. “He wanted more. So he took more.” No, that’s not about disgraced Metra Exec Phil Pagano. Those are the words of a Federal prosecutor in the Washington, D.C., area after … Continue reading
When it became public information that former Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano’s wife Barbara had filed bankruptcy, a reasonable question seemed to be “Has the Metra Board made any filings in the Barbara Pagano bankruptcy case?” In reply to my … Continue reading
In Thursday’s Chicago Tribune editorial entitled, “State of Corruption,” there is a section on Metra that might be of interest: “Lawmakers will need to be reminded that malfeasance at the Metra commuter rail system didn’t die with Phil Pagano. The … Continue reading
Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano, a Crystal Lake resident who was appointed to his post by a Republican Board of Directors, was not only a crook, but a cad. A liar, too, because he told Metra investigating attorney James Sotos … Continue reading
With all the “sturm und drum” that Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks has been putting up about Metra, does anyone find it a bit interesting that the late Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano’s wife Barbara’s bankruptcy attorney is with … Continue reading
That’s what the Chicago Tribune found out. When he was interviewed by James Sotos on behalf of the Metra Board, Crystal Lake’s Phil Pagano said that his need for money did not involve anything illegal or immoral. Stay turned tomorrow … Continue reading
McHenry County just keeps making Chicago news. Today on the front page of the Chicago Tribune is an article about former Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano’s wife’s having filed for bankruptcy. Back in September. In Rockford. Pagano apparently left his … Continue reading
You may remember that I’ve been trying to get information about the suicide notes that Phil Pagano’s suicide notes. I requested that McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren send me a copy of Pagano’s signature on one of the notes that … Continue reading
Take a look at the headline in the Chicago Tribune about Sheriff Keith Nygren’s belated release of Al Jourdan’s 911 call about Phil Pagano’s possible suicide. Then, take a look at the emphasis in the Northwest Herald’s headline. Which do … Continue reading
There used to be a mimeographed publication called “The Chicago Journalism Review.” It was published by a man in Skokie and I subscribed. Its purpose was to critique local media. Today, let’s look at the headlines for Sheriff Keith Nygren’s … Continue reading