Uncover Aurora

03/25/2025

ICYMI: a new story was published last week that provides the clearest view yet of just how insidious corruption is in the current administration.

There are many more stories that I could have included, and certainly even more that exist, but here are 35 that show that pay-to-play is the name of the game in Aurora.

You may read it and decide that you don’t care. I believe the community deserves to know, regardless.

Given Aurora’s skyrocketing debt, which has tripled in the last 8 years, and the immense risk to our city’s long term fiscal health, residents should understand the full picture of just how business is conducted in City Hall, and who is benefiting from it.

https://open.substack.com/pub/uncoveraurora/p/35-stories-that-support-calling-mayor-cef?r=1vjuwn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

02/17/2025

"From the project's initial proposal to its groundbreaking ceremony, whenever the Rezko family needed assistance from city staff to advance their profitable venture, they strategically donated to Mayor Irvin. In total, Mayor Irvin has received $20,000 in donations related to this development, underscoring a troubling pattern of favoritism and corruption within city hall."

This latest scenario is a clear example of pay-to-play linked to the controversial Rezko family and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, further highlighting a troubling pattern of favoritism and corruption.

01/25/2024

Full story:

https://open.substack.com/pub/uncoveraurora/p/community-heroes-come-together-to?r=1vjuwn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true

11/14/2023

Feb 2023: “As recent reports show the company had $2.5 billion for buying competitors, $539 million to enrich shareholders, and $65 million to make its CEO one of the most overpaid executives in America, the question for many residents continues to be:

“Was this the best deal Aurora could get?”

After a 1590% increase in pay over 2020, Penn Entertainment CEO is named the 3rd most overpaid CEO in the US and earns a CEO to worker pay ratio of 1942:1

11/12/2023

"City officials were left scrambling for additional seating to accommodate members of the public, and elected officials, who showed up to give the Joint Review Board one message: VOTE NO ON THE $120 MILLION CASINO TIF."

07/12/2023

Reports covering Q2 (April-June) campaign donations are due at the end of the week. While we wait for the next update to be published, a look back at what we learned from Q1's report.

To view the full story: https://open.substack.com/pub/uncoveraurora/p/a-deep-dive-into-mayor-irvins-q1?r=1vjuwn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

07/06/2023

"So while the rest of Aurora can breathe a little easier this week, may we remember that the struggle for the health and safety of the Greenfield community, and surrounding areas, continues."

Since production began in 2021, neighbors have reported consistent problems with light, noise, and air pollution. Now, the Illinois EPA is taking a closer look at Hello Fresh’s operations in Aurora.

05/11/2023

"Close to a dozen Working Families Aurora volunteers joined John on stage as he was sworn in and delivered his speech. For many of them, seeing Mr. Laesch joining the city council doesn’t just represent a shake up of the status quo, but an official voice for the community at city council meetings and evidence that change can happen."

Laesch’s win marks the first victory for Working Families Aurora, a community focused political organization that made its debut during this year’s elections.

05/01/2023

A Deep Dive Into Mayor Irvin's Q1 2023 Campaign Donations

To learn more- view the full breakdown on our Substack:

https://uncoveraurora.substack.com/p/a-deep-dive-into-mayor-irvins-q1

04/02/2023

As Uncover Aurora continues to share about the pay to play schemes and unethical behavior flourishing in Aurora right now - it's important to remember that current council members were given the opportunity to pass campaign donation reforms to try and reign in the corruption. They declined to do so.

03/30/2023

Two sides of the Fox River, two concerning developers.

A new investigative report about two major Downtown Aurora developments, and the pay to play schemes connected to them.

Find us on Substack @ https://uncoveraurora.substack.com/
Find us on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/uncoveraurora

Looking for episode one? You can find it here : https://youtu.be/V3zqRCMPfxs