Stone Betrays Business, Again

In an earlier post, I wrote about Ald. Stone's corrupt practice of delaying the opening of a proposed business while the businessman paid rent on the property so that campaign signs for the alderman could be displayed during the election. The rational for this seemed to be because Stone didn't want to push through an unnecessary, but controversial, zoning change at the height of the campaign.

Now we get word that Stone will oppose the zoning change and will recommend that the businessman withdraw the zoning request. Five months after the businessman "cut a deal" with the alderman. Five months of rent paid for empty space.

We sometimes wonder why the 50th Ward gets passed over by new businesses like grocery stores, retail chains, coffee shops and small boutiques. But Stone's using of a small businessman this way, misleading him, enducing a "favor" from him, taking control of his property, and then abandoning him after Stone no longer needs him, can only contribute to this. It surely can't help.

You can't trust Stone. Period.

Not only does Stone have a history of misleading people, such as his recommendation that the business required a zoning change in the first place, but he has a history of not keeping his promises.

Another businessman has now learned this lesson about our alderman. And he is poorer for it.

Granted, the alderman could still decide to grant a special exemption that will allow the proposed Tattoo Parlor to open. You just never know. Because you can't trust Berny Stone. You just can't.