Fred Roti

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Fred B. Roti (December 18, 1920-September 20, 1999) was a powerful and long serving Alderman of Chicago's First Ward.

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[edit] Background

One of Chicago's most corrupt aldermen, Roti came from a long legacy of crime. Roti, one of 11 children, was born in an apartment over a store in Chinatown, the Near South Side neighborhood where he spent his entire life.[1] Fred Roti was the son of Bruno Roti, the first capo of what became the 26th/Chinatown crew[2] of the Chicago Outfit. Bruno Roti owned a grocery store on the 2100 block of S.Wentworth less than 6 blocks away from Al Capone's headquarters at 2135 S.Michigan. Fred's father, Bruno, was known as "Bruno the Bomber" for his work as a small-time gangster under Al Capone. The diminutive Fred Roti was nicknamed "Peanuts" because of his size and called "Freddie" by his friends.[1]

Fred Roti was also the brother in law of Frank "Skids" Caruso, the capo who took over from Bruno Roti.

Fred Roti's start with the City was inauspicious. He shoveled asphalt before entering World War II as a machine-gunner on a boat in Europe. On his return to Chicago, Roti became active in the Democratic Party, serving as a precinct captain[3] and held a succession of mundane city and county jobs.[4]

[edit] Illinois State Senator (1950-1956)

Roti served as an Illinois state senator (1951-1957).[5] At the time of his slating by the 1st Ward Democrats, Roti was described as "a state revenue department investigator and precinct captain." Roti faced nominal Republican opposition.[3] Roti was elected state senator from the 1st District on November 7, 1950.[6]

In the state legislature Roti was a member of a bipartisan bloc of west side lawmakers linked with hoodlums known as "the west side bloc." He was a consistent opponent of anti-crime bills.

When his seat was lost to redistricting, he retired from the state legislature, returned to precinct work, and took a patronage job as a drain inspector with the City Department of Water and Sewers.[7]

[edit] The "Literary" Club: "Booth One" at Counselor's Row

Roti's 1st Ward in Chicago is unique in that it includes most of the area commonly considered down town Chicago, the "Loop," and City Hall. Roti was thus unique in having his "ward" office, and the offices of his political operation, directly across the street from his City offices in City Hall:

[edit] Indictment

In 1990, after serving 23 years as Alderman (including Chairman of the Buildings Committee[5]), Roti was indicted for racketeering and extortion.

[edit] US Dept. of Justice: Roti a made man

On August 11, 1999 in a civil racketeering complaint against the Chicago Laborers District Council, the Justice Department described the influential Alderman as: "Fred Roti was convicted of RICO conspiracy, bribery and extortion regarding the fixing of criminal cases in the Circuit Court of Cook County, including murder cases involving organized crime members or associates and was sentenced to 48 months' imprisonment. Roti was released from prison in 1997. As First Ward alderman, Roti was a key political patronage boss and, along with his co‑defendant Pat Marcy, a fixer for the Chicago Outfit. Roti has directly participated in interfering with the rights of the members of LIUNA in the selection of their officers and officials in that he has improperly influenced the selection of officers of the CLDC and has been responsible for the pervasive hiring of mobster Angelo "the Hook" LaPietra's crew members and associates at the Chicago streets and sanitation department. Roti is a made member of the Chicago Outfit."

Before his death Roti never denied being a "made member" of the Chicago Outfit.

[edit] Legacy

Roti's legacy of corruption lives on through the hundreds of people he got on the city of Chicago's payroll. Two other Roti accomplishments deserve mention. First, Alderman Roti lead the fight for Chicago's handgun ban in Chicago's City Council (in violation of Article 1, Section 22 of the Illinois State Constitution), making innocent citizens vulnerable to Chicago Outfit members intimidation tactics, and second,Roti was instrumental in getting the Chicago Outfit's main plant, William Hanhardt, in the position of Chief of Detectives.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Washburn, Gary. "Fred Roti, 1920-1999: Alderman made laws, broke them", Chicago Tribune, 1999-09-21, p. 1.
  2. ^ Herguth, Robert C.. "Club: 'We do a lot of good things'", Chicago Sun-Times, 2006-05-22.
  3. ^ a b Howard, Robert. "Assembly rule is at stake at polls Tuesday", Chicago Daily Tribune, 1950-11-05, p. 19.
  4. ^ Davis, Robert. "Roti isn't laughing anymore", Chicago Tribune, 1993-01-17, p. 1.
  5. ^ a b Fremon, David (1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Indiana University Press, 26. ISBN 0253313449. 
  6. ^ Tagge, George. "Democrats put Annunzio at the helm", Chicago Daily Tribune, 1951-03-06, p. 19.
  7. ^ Smith, Sandy. "11 in Roti Clan Get City Jobs", Chicago Daily Tribune, 1959-12-29, p. 1.

[edit] External links

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