- Some side streets are plowed early and other neighborhoods have to wait a little longer. In this Intelligence Report: Why all Chicago side streets are not created equal.
A veteran employee at Chicago Streets and Sanitation says his department has a "priority list" of who gets plowed first. It is said to be unwritten but understood, and it features the names and home addresses of well-connected Chicago political figures and sometimes their families, including numerous current members of the City Council.
Chicago aldermen live on 50 of the blocks. Right after a snowstorm, they could be the 50 cleanest blocks in the city.
On the street where 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke lives, for the dean of the City Council and chairman of the finance committee, Streets and San had the road scraped clean by first thing Thursday morning. But not those on each side.
In the 2nd Ward, Alderman Bob Fioretti's street was plowed Thursday morning as well -- as was the home street of Alderman Leslie Hairston in the 5th Ward.
The kicker?
When the I-Team got to the 7th Ward, home of Alderman Sandi Jackson, to take some pictures of her plowed street, a Streets and Sanitation truck rolled up. And who was riding shotgun? Alderman Sandi Jackson, who said she was riding around all morning trying to help her constituents get clear streets.
Jackson said she wouldn't be surprised if Streets and San had a VIP list especially of wards that get favored treatment. Jackson is calling for an investigation by the city inspector general.