| Stone Park | |
| Village | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Coordinates | 41°54′16″N 87°52′50″W / 41.90444°N 87.88056°W |
| Area | 0.3 sq mi (1 km²) |
| - land | 0.3 sq mi (1 km²) |
| Population | 5,127 (2000) |
| Density | 15,378.2 / sq mi (5,938 / km²) |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | 60165 |
| Area code | 708 |
|
Location of Stone Park within Illinois
| |
| Wikimedia Commons: Stone Park, Illinois | |
Stone Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,127 at the 2000 census.
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Stone Park is located at 41°54′16″N 87°52′50″W / 41.90444°N 87.88056°W (41.904330, -87.880486)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²), all of it land.
Current Mayor is Benimino Manzzula
Various Village Officials have also been the target of Federal investigations at various times throughout the Village history.
From Pioneer Press
RELATED STORY: NEWS: FBI probes Stone Park water hook-up
June 15, 2010
By DAVID POLLARD
A lawsuit filed against the Village of Stone Park has shed light on a federal investigation into the village and possible indictment of village officials.
Stone Park Village Attorney Dean Krone filed a motion to stay in April on behalf of the mayor and village regarding a lawsuit filed in November. The document states that village officials may soon be federally indicted and self-incrimination is the reason for the motion.
"An FBI investigator has reportedly predicted that village officials will be formally charged with criminal activity," the court document states. "In light of the subpoenas, the investigator's statements, and the identity of subject matter between the instant action and the pending criminal investigation, the Stone Park Defendants' interests in preserving their Fifth Amendment privileges are tangible, regardless of whether indictments have yet been issued."
The initial suit, filed by attorney Robert H. Itzkow on behalf of former village trustee and former mayoral candidate Hector Matas, states that in 2008 and 2009 he observed water being used by members of Neighbors in Action Party for fundraisers and rodeo fundraisers at Casa Italia, 3800 W. Division St.
Casa Italia, a 17-acre site, is located in Stone Park and is a center focused on the preservation and promotion of Italian American Culture.
Matas' lawsuit states that the source of the water was from Stone Park and was being used without Neighbors in Action Party being billed or charged for it. Members of the party, village, Casa Italia and Stone Park Mayor Beniamino Mazzula, who is a member of the party, are being sued for the repayment of the use of village water.
But Krone said he filed the motion to stop proceedings on April 23 because prior to the suit, a federal grand jury had issued subpoenas.
"There were three separate subpoenas and they (federal government) asked for a variety of materials and some of which is related to a water line installed in the summer of 2008 on to the Casa Italia property," he said.
The subpoenas asked for all records related to work performed on water lines in the Village of Stone Park, including, but not limited to water lines installed or replaced at or near Casa Italia or surrounding property from Jan. 1, 2005 to the present. The subpoenas also request all maintenance and usage agreements relating to village-owned equipment being used at Casa Italia along with records of payments made to contractors and subcontractors from January 2005 to the present.
According to court records the information subpoenaed, which was delivered to the village, was part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Randall Samborn, spokesperson for U.S. Attorney's office, Chicago office, had no comment.
After repeated attempts to contact the mayor he was unavailable for comment.
Maria Castrejon, Stone Park village clerk, referred all questions to the mayor.
Krone said the village has complied with the subpoenas and believes there will be a positive outcome. He said no indictments have been issued.
"The village is cooperating with the grand jury," he said. "We think it's likely when the context is understood that nobody will be indicted."
As for the Matas suit, Krone believes he and Matas' attorney may be able to work things out without going to court. "Matas' attorney approached me about settling the case," he said.
Itzkow said he did talk to Krone, but they are not going to settle. In a statement Matas, who filed the suit on behalf of the public trust, said hasn't agreed to anything yet.
"When the people receive adequate assurances that the village will be justly compensated for the illegal use of municipal property and services by Neighbors in Action Political Party, this lawsuit will be dismissed." Posted by Duke
Stone Park Mayor Robert Natale, under indictment on bribery charges, was upset Tuesday by challenger Ben Mazzulla.
Mazzulla, who is in the landscaping business, won 55.8 percent of the vote to Natale's 44.2 percent.
Mayor since 1989, Natale awaits trial in federal court on charges of taking mob payoffs as mayor and bribes when he was a police officer.
Natale, who insists he is innocent, was indicted along with alleged West Side and DuPage County mob boss Anthony Centracchio and two others.
Natale won the endorsement of the Illinois Council of Police & Sheriffs, a union that represents Stone Park officers.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 5,127 people, 1,265 households, and 1,065 families residing in the village. The population density was 15,378.2 people per square mile (5,998.6/km²), making it the most densely populated municipality in Illinois. There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of 3,944.3/sq mi (1,538.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 53.99% White, 1.81% African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 38.85% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 79.13% of the population. The village was the first ever in Illinois to be more than 50% Hispanic.
There were 1,265 households out of which 52.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 11.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.34.
In the village the population was spread out with 33.1% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 14.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 115.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $39,787, and the median income for a family was $40,789. Males had a median income of $25,236 versus $21,716 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,887. About 11.6% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
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