Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Frank Avila, Jr. on 4th CD, Blago, HDO and Corruption: Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Is the town of Cicero still mobbed up?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.
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Frank Avila, Jr.:…I believe Gov. Blagojevich is thoroughly corrupt...
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This week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs features Frank Avila, Jr., an attorney, political campaign consultant who has counseled Republicans (Jack Ryan) and Democrats (Ald. Manny Flores) and ran, himself, for Cook County Water Reclamation District Commissioner in the March, 2004 Democratic Primary. The airing schedule for the suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” is included, below.
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The show with Frank Avila, Jr. also airs through-out the City of Chicago this coming Monday night [July 2] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas.
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You may also watch the show with Frank Avila, Jr. on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the Avila, Jr. show, additional recent shows posted on our video podcast site include last night's show in the City with Senator Sandoval shows featuring Republican Campaign Consultants and media personalities Dan Proft and Dan Curry, Roberto Maldonado, a Cook County Commissioner who is running in the 4th CD Democratic Primary in 2008, State Reps. Mary Flowers, Julie Hamos, Jim Durkin, Paul Froehlich and John Fritchey, former State GOP chairman Gary MacDougal, Presidential candidates Obama, Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers.
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Frank Avila, Jr. is an attorney, U. S. Army Reserve Captain, political consultant and politician. He helped elect his father, Frank Avila, Sr. [D-Chicago] to Cook County Water Reclamation District Commissioner in 2002 and Avila, Jr. narrowly lost a seat on that same Commission in 2004. Avila, Jr. helped Ald. Flores get on the ballot in 2003 and he helped Bob Fioretti [2nd Ward] and Pat Dowell [3rd Ward] win aldermanic seats in Chicago in 2007. He also consulted with Republican Jack Ryan when Ryan was thinking about running against Senator Durbin or for other offices in 2001-02.

Frank Avila, Jr. debates and discusses with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz the following questions and topics: Did Ald. Flores punish Avila, Jr. in 2004 for helping Flores get on the ballot in 2003? Do Ricky Munoz and Manny Flores qualify as “reformers?” Juan Andrade? Juan Ochoa? Is Ochoa Blago’s guy? What is reform?

Is HDO corrupt? Is Victor Reyes the head of HDO? Did Daley start HDO? Should the current Mayor of Chicago be called Boss Daley? Should there be guilt by membership in an organization? Is there guilt by joint membership in the HDO?

Should Blagojevich be indicted? In which fundraising schemes, if any, was he involved? Is Blagojevich corrupt? What, if anything, did Sen. Munoz and Angelo Torres have in common? Who sponsored Angelo Torres to be in charge of Hired Truck?

Is Cicero still mobbed up? Who is involved in that? How much is Cicero being billed for legal fees by one firm? Could it be Legit?

Are Hispanics generally socially conservative on Gays, Guns, God and abortion? Would Hispanics rate jobs and education as the most important issues to them. Do they favor School vouchers-school choice?

Who is running in 4th CD Dem Primary in February, 2008? Who will win? Is Ald. Flores the Barack Obama of the Hispanic community. What is the sixteen year legacy of Cong. Gutierrez? ********************************************************
A partial transcript of this week's suburban show is included directly below.
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Blagojevich and HDO: Thoroughly corrupt?

Frank Avila, Jr.:…I believe Gov. Blagojevich is thoroughly corrupt, so Juan Ochoa

Jeff Berkowitz: [Blagojevich] Thoroughly corrupt?

Frank Avila, Jr.:Thoroughly corrupt.

Jeff Berkowitz: Go ahead, Juan Ochoa is what?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Since Juan Ochoa is associated with Rod Blagojevich, although I like Juan Ochoa, personally, it is hard for him to separate himself from that corruption of Rod Blagojevich. Rod Blagojevich is a sociopath. He is a pathological liar. He’s thoroughly corrupt.

Jeff Berkowitz: Sociopath? These are pretty strong words.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well, look at what he did to his own father-in-law-- Richard Mell. Look at how he has interacted with Speaker Madigan, the Republicans or anything else… Blagojevich and the truth are separated. But, similarly, like with HDO [Hispanic Democratic Organization], HDO is a thoroughly corrupt organization. It is an association that is connected to Heroin dealers, drug dealers, not because I say it, but because you have people who have pled guilty in federal court like George Prado, who have pled guilty on drug charges. Same thing with Angelo Torres- he has pled guilty—

Jeff Berkowitz: Hired Truck or Hired Tow.

Angelo Torres and Senator Munoz: Members of Two Six Gang?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Hired Truck. He was a member of the Two Six gang, which also Senator Munoz, Tony Munoz was a member of the two Six gang, a street gang in the City of Chicago…Tony Munoz and Angelo Torres…they were both members of the Two Six street gang. And, he was in charge of the Hired Truck program.

Jeff Berkowitz: Angelo Torres was?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Angelo Torres.

Jeff Berkowitz: Nobody seems to know who put him there [head of Hired Truck].

Senator Munoz sponsored Angelo Torres?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well everybody knows who put him there and I’ve told this Mara Georges. Victor Reyes [See here] was in charge of all jobs and his sponsor was Tony Munoz…HDO probably had a thousand jobs they got through politics. Everybody knows that…

Jeff Berkowitz: : So, the sponsor was Tony Munoz?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Tony Munoz was the Sponsor.

Jeff Berkowitz: Of who?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Of Angelo Torres.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you told that to Mara Georges [Chicago Corporation Counsel]

Frank Avila, Jr.: I’ve told that to Mara Georges.
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Half dozen Liberal Dems running in the 4th CD?

Jeff Berkowitz: We just mentioned a bunch of folks [running or possibly running in the 4th CD]; if you run down that list: Ricky Munoz, Manny Flores, Roberto Maldonado, George Cardenas, Danny Solis, Susana Mendoza—maybe not so much Mendoza, we’ll see, but those folks, pretty much down the line liberal Democrats, wouldn’t you say?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, if you ran, you’re a conservative Democrat, so if you ran, wouldn’t you say in a field of six or seven [in the 4th CD Democratic Primary], Frank Avila, Jr. would have a heck of a chance?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I might, but in the federal law, you can’t lend me about a couple hundred thousand dollars, it’s too expensive.

Jeff Berkowitz: You have to spend your time getting the contributions $2300 at a shot.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes and that’s a very difficult thing to do.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Ricky Munoz can do it. Manny Flores can do it. Why can’t Frank Avila, Jr.?

Frank Avila, Jr.: They’re elected officials. I’m focusing on my law practice. It’s not an easy thing.

Susana Mendoza, a social conservative in the 4th CD race?

Jeff Berkowitz: But, there could be, you don’t know of anybody who would be socially conservative

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well, I think Susana Mendoza is—

Jeff Berkowitz: She would be the person?

Frank Avila, Jr.: She is pro- Death penalty.

Jeff Berkowitz: She was a few years ago. We don’t know [where she is on that now]. She hasn’t spoken about it lately.

Frank Avila, Jr.: That’s true. I haven’t talked to her about that lately, but she has been pro school choice in the past. Manny Flores is also pro-school choice.

School Vouchers: Popular in the 4th CD?

Jeff Berkowitz: On this very show, he talked about school vouchers in a very complimentary way.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Said it was something he would look at and consider.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, so forth. Maybe he was even stronger on that. He [Ald. Flores] may have even said he actually favored school vouchers—we’ll take a look at the tape or transcript.

Frank Avila, Jr.: He spoke favorably. I don’t know to what extent. People change once they run for federal office.

Jeff Berkowitz: All right, so who wins that race? Frank Avila, Jr., make a prediction, 4th CD Democrat Primary, February 5, 2008.
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Senator Sandoval’s alliance with the Cicero Republican Organization?

Frank Avila, Jr.: …Eddie Garza worked for the City of Chicago, worked on Ald. Burke’s committee and he ran against State Senator Sandoval[D-Chicago][For more about Sen. Sandoval and his statements on last week's "Public Affairs," See here and here].; [Garza] lost and I believe—

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Sandoval got a lot of help from Cicero [the Republican Organization] and Berwyn. They were important in that election [‘06’]; is that what you are saying?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Cicero mobbed up?

Jeff Berkowitz: Is the town of Cicero still mobbed up?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: You think so?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Who is a part of that?

Past Connections to mobster Rocco Infelise

Frank Avila, Jr.: I think you have a lot of connections to Melrose Park. You have Larry Dominick admitting that he would meet with, or at least had met with Rocco Infelise who is in jail now [Seems to be deceased], a main member of organized crime. You have a law firm there now, based on my information and belief, that is making more money than Ed Vrdolyak made. There were about eighteen law firms there [contracting with Cicero] before.

Jeff Berkowitz: What is the name of that law firm [making more than Vrdolyak made]?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I have to double check the law firm. I didn’t bring the information.

Jeff Berkowitz: Giglio [pronounced Julio]?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Actually, exactly.

Cicero and law firm revenues?

Jeff Berkowitz: Giglio and Del Galdo, is that the law firm to which you are referring?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Giglio And Del Galdo, yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Joe Giglio and Mike Del Galdo?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you are saying what about that law firm?

Frank Avila, Jr.: They are making more money than Ed Vrdolyak made in the Vrdolyak law group or Ed Vrdolyak, Ltd.

Jeff Berkowitz: How much are they making?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I believe there are legal contracts-- but I would want to check these numbers-- up or about 4 million dollars.

Jeff Berkowitz: Per year?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Per year.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, Vrdolyak was about one and one-half to two million dollars?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well, they had eighteen law firms before that no given year would exceed—

Jeff Berkowitz: Possible that Cicero is doing that much in legit legal fees?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I think it is absurd.

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Frank Avila, Jr., as he is airing this week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on Monday, July 2, 2007, 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs and on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The show was recorded on June 16, 2007.[You may also go here to watch Frank Avila, Jr. [D-Chicago] on PublicAffairsTV.com].
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In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show airs three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below. ********************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest Frank Avila, Jr. airs Tonight :

at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.

and this week on Monday night, Wednesday night and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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