Saturday coffee.

The late First Ward Alderman Fred “Peanuts” Roti.

I came to Chicago in 1973.

In those days you could go anywhere in the world and if you said you were from Chicago people would open their eyes wide, form their hand into a pretend pistol and say, “Bang, bang! Al Capone!”

Richard Daley, the elder, had been Da Mayor for two decades. The city’s reputation for Mob violence and corruption was still well-earned.

When I arrived in the city the First Ward alderman was a guy named Fred Roti.

Fred Roti was the son of Bruno Roti, Sr., the first capo of the 26th Street crew of the Chicago Outfit.  Bruno “the Bomber” Roti was known for his work alongside Al Capone. Fred Roti was also the brother-in-law of Frank “Skids” Caruso, the capo who took over from Roti, Sr.

These guys all had nicknames like “no nose” and “big tuna.”  Fred’s nickname was “Peanuts.” Fred “Peanuts” Roti.

Alderman Peanut’s First Ward consisted of Chicago’s downtown. The Loop. He served as alderman for 23 years. His service ended when he was indicted for racketeering, bribery and extortion in 1990.

Alderman “Peanuts” was named by FBI informants as a made man for La Cosa Nostra.

That was when his First Ward offices were right across the street from City Hall. You wouldn’t want Mob guys to have to walk too far to hand out their bribes.

Interestingly, “Peanuts” led the fight for Chicago’s handgun ban.

I guess the Mob was kind of selfish about who could own guns.

He was also instrumental in getting the Chicago Mob’s main plant, William Hanhardt, in the position of Chief of Detectives.

Fred “Peanuts” Roti died in 1999.

Thirty years ago a panel of federal judges issued the Shakman decree which was supposed to outlaw patronage hiring in Chicago.

In 2002 Mayor Richard Daley, the younger, declared patronage was dead in Chicago.

If you’re foolish enough to believe it – believe something else.

Chicago’s Democratic Machine has always been flexible. In exchange for Alderman who are made men for La Cosa Nostra, we now have Juan Rangel, Michael d’Escoto and UNO.

Instead of old-fashioned patronage, we have what is called pinstripe patronage – contracts given to friends and relatives of connected bankers, lawyers and construction firms.

The vehicle of choice  for The New Patronage – which should piss off every parent in the city – are schools.

Specifically charter schools.

That is the real story behind the UNO scandal and its connections to Rahm Emanuel, Michael Madigan and other Democratic Party political leaders.

Rahm’s aldermanic made man, Patrick O’Connor, dismisses all this as nothing more than nose picking.

Like when Daley said patronage was dead.

But Fred “Peanuts” Roti must be slapping his forehead wherever he is and thinking, “Charter schools! Why didn’t I think of that?”