Volini and Frank Brady

15th Ward Alderman Frank Brady, a bachelor, frequently flirted with 48th Ward Alderman Marion Volini. They were both Irish and grew up on the city’s Southwest side. He often joked, “Hey, Marion. We should co-sponsor an ordinance together.”

One day she presented him with one. It was a “Prompt Inspection Ordinance,” requiring the Building Department to investigate reported code violations within a specified time period.

“I don’t know,” he nervously answered. “I have to ask my Committeeman.”

The Commiteeman, Frank Savickas, thought it was a great idea.

Every Alderman, even Indepenents, had access to a special city office to report building code violations and request inspections. In addition, Savickas and Brady had a lot of clout in the administration. Still, they couldn’t get inspectors to check problem buildings, and that made them look powerless.

So, the unlikely pair of Volini and Brady introduced the ordinance and it passed. Community groups now had a lever to force the city to comply with its own regulations.

Excerpted from “An Inside Job: A Frank Recollection of 48th Ward Happenings” at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/992452