People Close to Aurora Mayor Receive Lucrative Grants

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>>> NOW TO OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.

SWEETHEART DEALS AND PAY TO PLAY IN ILLINOIS'S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE GOT TAXPAYER-FUNDED GRANTS.

THE OWNERS OF THESE COMPANIES ARE IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OFFICIALS.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT RICHARD IRVIN RAN FOR GOVERNOR ON THE TICKET.

THERE IS A CONTINUED PATTERN OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

>> Reporter: THE FURNITURE STORE SITS IN ILLINOIS'S SECOND MOST POPULOUS CITY, AURORA.

CLARK HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES AS THE MAYOR'S GIRLFRIEND.

LAST YEAR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND AURORA BEACON NEWS SAID THAT IRVIN SHOWED UP WHEN SHE WAS ARRESTED AT A CANNABIS DISPENSARY AND SAID THE MATTER WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.

LAST WEEK THE FURNITURE BUSINESS WAS TAKEN CARE OF TO THE TUNE OF $10,000 IN TAXPAYER GRANTS.

IT LAST WEEK CITY COUNCIL MEETING, IRVIN REFUSED A REQUEST TO INTERVIEW FROM WTTW NEWS , BUT HE MADE A POINTED STATEMENT.

>> THE COUNCIL IS INVOLVED WITH THE COMMITTEE ON MANY LEVELS.

WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS.

ALTHOUGH WE MAY HAVE PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL CONNECTIONS, WE DO NOT VOTE ON THE PROCESS.

>> THEN IRVIN AND SEVERAL ALDERMEN RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING AND LEFT THE ROOM.

THE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL $8100 TO AURORA BUSINESS CENTER ON TOP OF A $75,000 GRANT THAT THE COMPANY GOT LAST YEAR.

THE BUSINESS CENTER IS STEPS AWAY FROM AURORA CITY HALL AND IS CO-OWNED BY THE HUSBAND OF THE CITY'S $116,000 PER YOUR DIRECTOR OF CYBER TECHNOLOGY.

TWO OF THE OTHER MEN WHO CO-OWNED THE FIRM WERE THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION.

THE TWO MEN ALSO HAD A CONSULTING COMPANY.

WHEN WTTW NEWS CALLED TO ASK IF EITHER WAS AVAILABLE, THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE SO THAT NEITHER WAS THERE AND DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MEN AND HUNG UP.

REACHED BY PHONE, THE HUSBAND OF THE TOP EMPLOYEE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON HIS BUSINESS PARTNERS OR WHETHER HIS WIFE'S JOB CREATES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> THERE IS AN INSIDERS CLUB.

IF YOU ARE ON THE INSIDE THEN YOU ARE PART OF TEAM IRVIN, AND YOU ARE GOING TO GET MORE LUCRATIVE DEALS.

>> Reporter: JOHN LASH IS A REFORM ADVOCATE.

HE SAID WHILE HE WAS OUT CAMPAIGNING, THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS RISING PROPERTY TAXES.

>> PEOPLE WHO DONATE ARE GETTING SWEETHEART DEALS.

THE REST OF AURORA IS PAYING FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: THESE INCLUDE CITY CONTRACTS, TAX INCENTIVES, LOANS AND FAVORABLE LEGISLATION GOING TO PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES THAT DONATE TO MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN AND HIS ALLIES.

IT IS A PATTERN THAT WTTW NEWS REPORTED ON LAST YEAR DURING HIS RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

LASH SAYS THAT HE PLANS TO PUSH FOR ETHIC REFORMS.

>> ANYBODY THAT WANTS INTO PUBLIC POCKETS, WE SHOULD NOT LET THOSE PEOPLE DONATE TO OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

>> Reporter: BETWEEN JUNE AND APRIL OF LAST YEAR, A WTTW INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT MORE THAN $63,000 CAME FROM THOSE WITH TIES TO BUSINESS.

LASH AND OTHER CRITICS SAY THAT IT CAN ERODE PUBLIC TRUST.

OTHER STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES HAVE STRICTER GUARDRAILS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NEARLY TWO DOZEN STATES PROHIBIT CORPORATIONS FROM GIVING DIRECTLY THE POLITICIANS, INCLUDING WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN AND IOWA.

>> IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS GIVEN GENEROUS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> Reporter: BROWN HAS BEEN DIGGING INTO CITY COUNCIL DEALS .

SHE SAYS THAT GIVING $10,000 IS UNUSUALLY BOLD BUT STILL PART OF A PATTERN.

SHE HOPES THAT SHINING LIGHT ON THIS WILL CUT DOWN ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE COME OUT IN NUMBERS AND START TO PARTICIPATE AND GET ENGAGED WITH POLICY AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM IN BLUMBERG.

>> WTTW WAS UNABLE TO REACH