Opinion in Chicago’s 46th Ward has long been divided about the ward’s long-term alderman, Helen Shiller. She’s a bit of a saint to some, and a bit of snot to others.
If you want some genuine entertainment in your alderperson, check out Ann Rainey of Evanston’s Eighth Ward. You can get to know her pretty well from the Great 8th [sic] Message Board, where she seems to spend the majority of her day.
I first heard of Ann from an article on the Evanston Roundtable, where was was quoted as threatening to sue the crap out of the Evanston police if they enforced the state law against residential picketing. The object of Rainey’s picketing was a landlord who, in Rainey’s view, wasn’t conforming to the law.
Intrigued by the notion that you can get people to conform to the law by violating it yourself, I Googled my way to Rainey’s Web site, and from there to the message board. Wow. The lady’s a one-woman crime wave and all-purpose loony.
Got a problem with a landlord? Here’s Ann’s advice: “You can always tie up the business line all day long. Could be effective.” Or it could get you arrested for telephone harassment.
Family got a problem kid? Here’s Ann in sins-of-the-fathers-brothers-sisters-uncles-etc. mode: “One of the worse [sic] families in the 8th ward is the Perez family – of Fernando Perez (17 years old) fame. He has wreaked havoc throughout town. He is usually involved in very violent activities. They own and live at 150 Callan.” Read the rest of her rant for yourself — you might prefer Shiller to save you from a Rainey day.