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As we work on the thread about the Joe Angelastri, Jim Gardiner, SSA scam, here is a thread about the basics: what is an SSA, what is a Service Provider, what’s the relationship with Six Corners Association, and what is the Six Corners Chamber of Commerce?
We’ll loop back later to the shenanigans and stories of changed passwords, unusual finances, unauthorized cameras, and Joe Angelastri's fall from grace, leading to his alliance with Gardiner for redemption.
A Special Service Area is a local business district which voted to impose a special tax levy on themselves in order to fund projects like maintenance, beautification, and marketing area businesses. Here’s the description from the City.
The Mayor appoints Commissioners for each SSA who oversee & recommend the budget for their SSA. The Commissioners are generally business owners or engaged residents who live in or near the district. These are unpaid positions, meant to be apolitical & good stewards of taxpayer $.
The SSA Commission contracts with one or more local non-profits to deliver the budgeted services. That non-profit often engages with for-profit businesses to do the work. It all works something like this:
The Six Corners Association (6CA) has been the Sole Service Provider for this SSA since its inception. The folks running the org are serious, experienced people. They are the only organization in Chicago accredited by Main Street America.
6CA works has worked very hard for over a decade to ensure the sidewalks are clear, litter is picked up, nice banners fly to identify the area, businesses are marketed, they work with community groups to woo new business to the area, and put on social activities.
If you’ve joined anything fun at Six Corners, odds are 6CA was behind it.
If you go to their website, they provide resources to new/prospective business owners, programs to improve the area & to assist businesses, and provide easy access to Covid-19 related programs and resources. They are legit. https://sixcorners.com/
The Six Corners Chamber of Commerce OTOH is a couple year old “organization” in the sense it’s legally registered with the state.
Beyond that, it appears to be made up of three individuals: Joe Angelastri, Joe Oliveri, and Mike Dimeo.
Beyond that, it appears to be made up of three individuals: Joe Angelastri, Joe Oliveri, and Mike Dimeo.
If you don’t know the players, the Joe’s are Gardiner Super Fans. Angelastri owns City Newstand. A few years ago, he used to be Chair of the Six Corners Association AND an SSA Commissioner, but he abused the offices & was exiled back to City News (this all becomes relevant later)
Oliveri owned Rico Dance Studio. Dimeo owns the Singer Sewing store (or maybe his dad does).
This Six Corners Chamber of Commerce “organization” has not actually done anything. If you go to their website, it hasn’t been updated in a year. There are no programs or resources for businesses.
In fact, their website and their Facebook page are nearly indistinguishable from pages run by Alderman Gardiner. There are FAR more posts promoting Gardiner than any promoting area businesses. You have to go back to March 18 to find a business post not City News.
Remember the bogus survey that no one got asking about People’s Gas which was then promoted by Gardiner, despite there being a legitimate survey conducted by a coalition of neighborhood associations? Yeah, Angelastri did that.
Check out this post where the snake eats its tail. One of the only businesses promoted on the Chamber page, run by Joe Angelastri, is Joe Angelastri’s City Newstand, where Gardiner dropped of a bunch of masks so Joe could promote it and try to bring people into his business. 
Angelastri has been telling anyone who would listen for over a year that “next summer” (now this summer) “things will change” and implying he’ll have some power over the area.
Folks paying attention have seen the Angelastri/Gardiner alliance & moves from the beginning as an obvious ploy to take over the SSA to award the service contract to Angelastri so he regains access to ~$300k in funds to spend on “conference travel” & dole out to his buddies.
Those are the players & some of what’s up. We’ll be back later w/ emails to detail the history & demonstrate why Joe is so problematic. He failed previously, abused his positions, & now Gardiner & the City are putting him right back in the same spot – we expect the same results.
Forgot the link to Joe's sham org website …https://sixcornerschamberofcommerce.wildapricot.org/
And Joe's sham org Facebook page (aka Gardiner Fan Club) https://www.facebook.com/sixcornerschamberofcommerce
