Thornton Township residents are rallying to demand transparency and accountability from local officials amid allegations of misused taxpayer funds. During a recent "Take Back Our Township Rally" in Calumet City, concerned citizens from the 17 municipalities that make up the township expressed their grievances, calling on their local mayors and state representatives to step in and take action against Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard.
The outcry comes in the wake of reports by NBC Chicago that Henyard, who also serves as the Mayor of Dolton, has been embroiled in controversies over questionable spending. The township, which boasts a population of approximately 158,000, has been subjected to lawsuits and federal probes, with residents like retired police officer Mary Avant determined to "stop" the alleged mismanagement. "We want people to know what is going on so we can try to stop it," Avant told NBC Chicago.
Among the rally attendees were individuals like Harvey's Ryan Sinwelski, who urged the need for greater fiscal transparency. "We are hoping to get positive momentum and connect with other people,” Sinwelski said in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago. Even Thornton Township Trustee Christopher Gonzalez admits to sharing the same concerns as his constituents regarding the opacity of the township's expenditures.
Henyard's spending habits have not only drawn the ire of the community but also the attention of federal investigators, according to WGN Investigates, which discovered that thousands in taxpayer dollars have been spent on trips for Henyard and her allies. Dolton resident Demetrice Hardy voiced her frustration, stating, "I see a lot of mismanagement of our tax dollars." Organizers of the rally believe that without a united front, the current state of affairs is unlikely to change, emphasizing the need for residents to be heard. "We’ve got voices we need to be heard," Avant echoed during the rally, as reported by WGN TV.
Efforts by the press to reach Henyard for comment were met with silence, with no responses provided to the questions raised by residents and the media. As this story continues to unfold, the calls for accountability grow louder from a community intent on reclaiming the stewardship of their taxpayer dollars.
