It was the most talked about Web site in Cook County governmentWednesday, and by day's end, changes were unavoidable.
A day after Commissioner Tony Peraica listed the name, title,salary and home ZIP code of every county employee on his Web site,www.votetony06.com, the home ZIP codes were taken down.
Though Peraica said he hoped the information would shed light on abloated, patronage-filled operation where hiring is based on who youknow and where you live, he instead endured a barrage of complaintsfrom law enforcement officials about their home information beingmade so public.
"I didn't do this to jeopardize anyone's safety," said Peraica, aRepublican candidate for county board president. "There are manyareas to locate this information, but we didn't want to make it anyeasier for those with ill motives."
Post-Lefkow climate
Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans, State's Attorney RichardDevine, Sheriff Michael Sheahan and the Fraternal Order of Policeeach expressed concern to Peraica.
Many referred to Bart Ross -- the Chicago man who admitted tokilling the mother and husband of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow inFebruary -- in calling for Peraica to remove ZIP codes.
A Cook County judge, whose home Ross had staked out just hoursafter those killings, called the public posting of judges' ZIP codes"a horrible idea."
That judge, who asked to be unnamed, said "certain resident judgesmust live in the city or in a particular subcircuit, but anythingthat would further hone that down to a smaller geographic area, itwould seem ill-advised especially in today's atmosphere."
Peraica conceded to safety concerns, but said taxpayers have aright to know the names, titles and salaries of all 24,505 countyemployees.
While some had safety concerns, others said they were surprised tolearn the salaries of co-workers they view as political hacks.
The mixed reaction was driven by huge interest: Peraica said thesite had some 22,000 hits from 5,500 users by Wednesday night.
Contributing: Abdon Pallasch
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