Friday, March 14, 2008

Corruption-fighter Andy Martin will file lawsuit to block the sale of Wrigley Field to Illinois taxpayers

Andy Martin attacks Tribune Company boss Sam Zell for bilking Illinois taxpayers. Martin says former Governor Jim Thompson should not bail out Sam Zell’s takeover of the Chicago Tribune. “Sam Zell knew what he was buying,” martin says. “He should not try to finance his corporate takeover by dumping his liabilities on Illinois taxpayers.


NEWS FROM:
ANDY MARTIN
“He works for
the People of Illinois”
Suite 4406
30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
(312) 440-4124


ATTENTION: ASSIGNMENT/DAYBOOK EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEWS CONFERENCE

CORRUPTION-FIGHTER ANDY MARTIN WILL FILE SUIT TO BLOCK SAM ZELLS’S SALE OF WRIGLEY FIELD TO ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS

MARTIN SAYS ILLINOIS SHOULD NOT PROVIDE “WELFARE FOR BILLIONAIRES”

MARTIN SAYS ILLINOIS SPORTS FACILITIES AUTHORITY IS A BOONDOGGLE THAT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

(CHICAGO)(March 15, 2008) Corruption-fighter Andy Martin will hold a Chicago news conference Saturday, March 15th at 1:00 P.M. to announce that he is preparing to file suit to block the Illinois Sports Facilities Act (“ISFA”) from acquiring Wrigley Field.

“Sam Zell is apparently a multi-billionaire and I wish him well,” Martin states. “But I do not believe the People of Illinois need to provide ‘welfare for billionaires.’ Mr. Zell went into the Tribune Company purchase with his eyes wide open and after extensive due diligence. For him to immediately turn around and seek to dump Wrigley Field on taxpayers at an inflated price in the middle of a recession gives greedy billionaires a bad name. We already have the highest taxes in America. People are leaving the state; Illinois is dying a slow death due to corruption, malfeasance and political chaos.

“I have carefully researched the litigation history of the ISFA. The Illinois Supreme Court has only considered the legality of the ISFA in one case. We believe the actions of Jim Thompson, in trying to help bankroll Sam Zell’s acquisition of the Tribune, is going far beyond either any constitutional authority or authority under the governing statute.

“Jim Thompson has got to stop being an enabler for billionaires. He was an outstanding Governor whose post-gubernatorial career has been distinguished by the fact that he helped lead the Sun-Times into decline because of his inappropriate behavior. Who can forget Thompson’s testimony at the criminal trial of Conrad Black that Thompson didn’t bother to read the documents presented to him as a director?

“If Governor Thompson eventually abandons his attempt to unload Wrigley Field on the taxpayers for the financial aggrandizement of Sam Zell, my lawsuit will be withdrawn. In the meantime, we will go to court to block any arrangements or preparation for the acquisition of Wrigley Field. Taxpayers do not need to bail out Zell from his leveraged buyout of the Tribune Company.

“The ISFA is a ridiculous billionaires’ boondoggle that should be abolished,” Martin will state. “Furthermore, Thompson should not be spending one penny to review, prepare for or analyze a purchase of Wrigley Field. Zell owns the property. Let Zell bail himself out. He has the billions to do it. Why is Zell trying to steal from the taxpayers? This scam must be stopped.”

Martin has previously litigated RTA financial issues all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court.

NEWS CONFERENCE DETAILS:

WHO: Corruption-fighter Andy Martin will sue to
block taxpayer purchase of Wrigley Field

WHERE: Sidewalk news conference, Southeast Corner
of Huron & Wabash Streets (St. James Cathedral)
(weather permitting, or 30 E. Huron Street)

WHEN: Saturday, March 15th, 2008; 1:00 P.M.

WHAT: Andy Martin will file suit to block Jim Thompson
giveaway of taxpayer resources to billionaire
Sam Zell in the sale-of-Wrigley-Field scam

MEDIA
CONTACT: (312) 440-4124

BLOGS: http://JustSayNotoSamZell.blogspot.com

E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com

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© Copyright by Andy Martin 2008. Martin holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. Andy is a former candidate for United States Senator.