Although he initially denied demanding special parking privileges for a May 11 Cubs-White Sox game at Wrigley Field, now it seems that 45th Ward Alderman John Arena is confused about who accompanied him to that game.
Arena first claimed he didn’t ask officers at the Town Hall District station two blocks from Wrigley Field for permission to park in the lot reserved exclusively for on- or off-duty police officers. Then, he later said he was there with his family, namely, his 75-year-old mother, according to reports published by TV station WGN and Nadig Newspapers.
According to a viewer’s Facebook post on TV station WGN’s public page, Arena is seen in the stands that day with three other men – but no mother in sight. The others with Arena include state Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) and Frank Avino Jr., a committeeman for Norwood Park Township.
John Arena, 45th Ward Chicago Alderman
For his part, Martwick claimed he rode a bus to the game and didn’t remember seeing Arena’s 75-year-old mom at the game, according to a report published on NadigNewspapers.com.
This isn't the first controversy involving Arena and the Chicago Police Department. Earlier this year, he allegedly tried to retaliate against off-duty police officers who oppose his affordable housing project at Jefferson Park by filing an ethics complaint against them.
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