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Government Corruption

Despised mayor of Illinois town throws $85k party despite plunging her budget into debt

2024-09-11

[DM] A despised Illinois mayor threw an $85,000 party for her town, despite plunging her budget into debt and being cut off from the state for out-of-control spending.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, 41, threw the event for the suburban Chicago town, spending $50,000 in taxpayers' money to cover 60 minutes of performances and more than $35,000 on activities, equipment and staff.

'I was flabbergasted. I was pissed off. That's my money. That's the people's money,' resident Jennifer Robertz told WGN 9.

Henyard - who was recently cut off by the Illinois State Comptroller after refusing to hand over finance records - spent $30,000 on R&B artist Keke Wyatt and $20,000 on rapper J. Holiday to each perform for 30 minutes at the The Taste of Thornton Township event.

The self-proclaimed 'super mayor' was seen enjoying the performances with a bright smile on her face, though images from the event show it was sparsely attended.

Henyard spent an additional nearly $36,000 on a sound system, staff, equipment, comedians, and bounce houses - which cost $6,600 alone, according to WGN 9.

Former Dolton trustee Valeria Stubbs called the event a 'flop' and said only about 70 people attended.

'She likes to use our tax dollars to promote herself,' Stubbs told WGN 9. 'She does all these events trying to buy the voters.'

Resident Sherry Britton added: 'Tiffany is a narcissist. She's going to do whatever she wants to do. I feel like she knows this is over but she's going to go down kicking and screaming like an MMA fighter. It's not going to stop until they put cuffs on her.'

Most of the event's contracts were signed before the township's trustees put spending controls in place, according to WGN 9.

Henyard was banned from using town credit cards last month after the Illinois village board of trustees brought in measures against her.

The trustees said that they will only allow the Director of Administrative Services to use the town's credit card for 'board-approved purchases.'

The high-rolling mayor, who earns $300,000 for her public duties, has spent thousands more on first-class trips, a professional hair and makeup team, and a security detail.

Henyard is also under a federal investigation for overspending.

Just a year after she took office in April 2022, Dolton had a $5.6million budget surplus.

But last month, a probe by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot uncovered a $3.6million deficit in the town's budget, which emerged under Henyard's tenure.

Henyard is said to have racked up eye-watering costs, including $40,00 spent on Amazon in a single day.

Posted by:Frank G

#1 Pains the black half of my cultural appropriation, but I have to say she's a great example of why we do not see tons of successful governments in Africa.

Posted by: mossomo 2024-09-11 13:23

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