In a recent quarterly report, Chicago’s Inspector General Deborah Witzburg detailed alarming instances of misconduct within city government, including a Department of Streets and Sanitation truck driver who brought a firearm into a city building and left it in a bathroom.
Also highlighted was a construction laborer holding an expired firearm owners identification card and no concealed carry license, who was found with an ‘illegal firearm’ in their personal vehicle.
The report further mentions a Chicago police lieutenant accused of having an ‘unlawful interest’ in a company awarded a construction contract at O’Hare Airport.
Witzburg’s ongoing investigation seeks to clean up city governance and combat issues of waste, abuse, and fraud.
Names of the accused offenders are withheld; however, the report summarizes various cases that emphasize Witzburg’s difficult task to address what she describes as a “deficit of legitimacy” in Chicago.
“Over many decades, City government in Chicago has earned its reputation as broken and corrupt, and has given Chicagoans no reason to afford the benefit of any doubt to decisions made in dark corners of City Hall,” Witzburg stated in her report.
Witzburg’s commitment to accountability is evident as she noted that her office identified and facilitated the return of more than $50,000 in improper campaign contributions made to city officials, emphasizing the need to remove any semblance of “For Sale” signs from the doors of City Hall.
In collaboration with the Department of Human Resources, Witzburg is also making strides towards ensuring all city jobs, including the highest-ranking positions, have clear job descriptions that specify minimum qualifications.
This measure aims to guarantee that taxpayer dollars are allocated to individuals who are qualified and equipped to excel in roles of public trust.
In one notable case, the truck driver who left a gun in a city bathroom retired during the investigation.
Meanwhile, the construction laborer found with an illegal firearm in their personal vehicle faced a recommendation for discharge but ultimately received only a written reprimand.
Further highlights from the report include allegations against a “Women’s Business Enterprise” involved in the O’Hare expansion project, which is accused of failing to provide a commercially useful function under the direction of a first-tier subcontractor.
Witzburg has recommended debarment for the companies tied to this allegation, yet the Department of Procurement Services instead chose to educate them on city set-aside rules and discounted their claimed WBE credit.
Additionally, a supervisor from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is accused of verbally abusing and harassing employees at a business with multiple city licenses after being denied entry due to intoxication.
Witzburg has recommended their discharge and placement on a Do Not Rehire list, with termination proceedings currently pending.
An elected state official is also accused of “impermissibly lobbying” city officials to achieve desired legislative outcomes for clients.
Witzburg has recommended that the Chicago Board of Ethics find probable cause for a violation of the city’s ethics ordinance, which marks the first step toward potential sanctions.
The report did not disclose the identity of the state official in question; however, the emphasis on accountability is clear.
Witzburg’s report noted ongoing tensions with the Johnson administration regarding access to documents, the enforcement of subpoenas, and a demand for the Law Department to attend interviews that might embarrass officials on the fifth floor of City Hall.
Witzburg has expressed frustration towards the administration’s resistance to a proposed ordinance intended to remove these impediments to internal investigations.
Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry countered that these stalled rules would dismantle necessary guardrails, potentially enabling further abuse within an already compromised system.
“We are…working to protect OIG’s independence and ensure the long-term stability and viability of effective oversight in Chicago,” Witzburg emphasized.
In her concluding remarks, she mentioned proposed changes to the Municipal Code aimed at shielding OIG from interference and securing its autonomy, which are currently pending before the City Council.
Witzburg expressed hope for action on these changes soon.
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2025/04/15/chicago-inspector-general-deborah-witzburg-quarterly-report
