Chicago City Wire

Alderman Maria Hadden (49th) was hit with allegations of multiple ethics code violations for wielding her political influence to license two packaged good liquor stores in areas in her Rogers Park ward under a moratorium.

In return for lifting the moratorium, Hadden’s campaign received numerous political donations from the owners of the stores, identified in the complaint as Gaurav Patel and immediate family members. The complaint was filed on Jan. 31 with the Chicago Board of Ethics by local lawyer Steven Weinberg.

“This complaint alleges that the Hadden Persons have willfully and knowingly violated and continue to violate multiple provisions of the Ethics Code by promoting and participating in, on a continuous and uninterrupted basis, from on or about April 2021 to the present, a corrupt scheme with Mr. Gaurav Patel and/or his immediate family members and/or entities under the control of Mr. Patel, including, without limitation, Galiyo, Inc., an Illinois corporation doing business as Morse Liquors (collectively, the “Patel Persons”),” the complaint said.

Moreover, the complaint says that after Hadden used her office’s influence to lift the “zoning impediments” for the two liquor stores, one located on 1420 West Morse, the other on 2033 West Howard Street, it reimposed the restrictions to block out further competition to the two new stores.

Patel told Chicago City Wire that he was unwilling to answer any questions about favoritism he allegedly received from Hadden’s office.

Torrence Gardner, who at the time worked in Hadden’s office as a director of community and economic development, said he doesn’t remember much about the arrangements to seal the deal for the liquor stores, but he insisted that it went through the “normal zoning process.”

"There was nothing really controversial about it, so nothing is really standing out,” he told Chicago City Wire.

The complaint further says that Hadden’s office did not disclose they were negotiating with the Patel family or “their involvement with the 2021 Morse Zoning Liquor Moratorium Lifting Ordinance or the (political) compensation they had received.”

"Upon information and belief, the Hadden Persons did not make those disclosures because that would have been detrimental to their efforts towards obtaining a favorable outcome for the proposal in a ‘community survey’ undertaken, not to accurately gauge public opinion, but only to provide an aura of legitimacy to the actions in furtherance of their scheme,” the complaint said. “Within 24 hours of the meeting, on September 3, 2021, Hadden’s re-election campaign committee accepted an additional a $2,500 donation from the Patel Related Party.”

Among other violations, the complaint cites conflicts of interest, appearance of impropriety, offering, receiving and soliciting of gifts or favors, improper influence, and solicitation or acceptance of political contributions and membership in political fundraising committees.

The owner of nearby Glenwood tavern, Colm Treacy, told Chicago City Wire that the neighborhood “has decayed.”

"Alderwoman Hadden only pays attention to personal friends that are in business,” he said. “Rogers Park Business Alliance is advocating for businesses in Rogers Park."

The first-term Hadden faces business owner Belia Rodriguez and Bill Morton, president of the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce in her re-election bid.

Hadden’s office did not return a call for comment.