Was Donation A Violation of Burr Ridge Law?

Burr Ridge IL

10 February, 2021

4:18 PM

Description

BURR RIDGE, IL — As Burr Ridge candidates collect donations, they may want to become aware of a village ordinance that bars liquor license holders from contributing to village candidates and elected officials. Earlier this week, a political committee supporting Mayor Gary Grasso's political allies formed. It backs incumbents Guy Franzese and Anita Mital and newcomer Russell Smith. Its treasurer is former Mayor Mickey Straub, who resigned in November 2018, a half year short of his term. In December 2017, Straub accepted a $500 contribution from Crowne Plaza, which serves liquor in the village. The village's 2013 ordinance bans any person, applicant, liquor manager or entity listed on a liquor license application from making a donation. In Crowne Plaza's case, the name of a hotel management company, Maryland-based Chesapeake Hospitality, appeared on the application. Crowne Plaza appears nowhere, so that may make the contribution technically legal. Still, the information on the application indicates the license was for a hotel and restaurant that serves liquor, beer and wine every day at 300 S. Frontage Road, where Crowne Plaza is. The Crowne Plaza representative listed on the application couldn't be reached for immediate comment. In an interview, Straub told Patch that he wasn't aware of the provision of the village code, which was enacted shortly before he became mayor in 2013. Even though the mayor serves as liquor commissioner, he said, the village's staff handles most of the work associated with applications. At the same time, he said ignorance of the law is no excuse. Straub also said only a tiny fraction of a hotel's income comes from alcohol sales, calling the issue of the donation "minor." Under the ordinance, any violations of the ordinance should be reported to the liquor commissioner and the Village Board. No action is allowed to be taken against the liquor license holder until a hearing is held. Over the last couple of years, Trustee Zach Mottl has questioned Mayor Grasso's connection to Filippo "Gigi" Rovito, owner of liquor license holder Capri Ristorante in Burr Ridge. Rovito, who named a plate in honor of the mayor, gave $5,000 to Grasso's unsuccessful attorney general campaign in November 2017, more than a year before Grasso became mayor for a second time. For some reason, Grasso returned the money on Dec. 28, 2017. This was six days after the CBS affiliate in Champaign ran a story headlined, "Shady campaign cash flows to GOP candidate," which involved, in part, Rovito's donation to Grasso. Recently, Grasso declined to say why he returned the money. Last month, Grasso stepped down as liquor commissioner, appointing Trustee Tony Schiappa in his place.