A recent extravagant event in a small Chicago suburb has reignited concerns about fiscal responsibility and government oversight. Tiffany Henyard, the mayor of Dolton, Illinois, is facing intense criticism after throwing an $85,000 party that reportedly drew minimal attendance.
Dolton Mayor’s Spending Habits Under Scrutiny
Henyard, who has dubbed herself the “supermayor,” organized the “Taste of Thornton Township” event last month. The party featured R&B singer Keke Wyatt and rapper J. Holiday, but according to local media reports, the turnout was disappointingly low. Valeria Stubbs, a former trustee of Dolton, was there at the occasion and wasn’t holding back:
“That was a flop,” she told WGN-TV. Records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal the extent of the spending:
- Keke Wyatt: $30,000 for a 30-minute performance
- J. Holiday: $20,000 for a 30-minute set
- Inflatable bounce houses: $6,600
- Additional costs: comedians, sound system, staff, and equipment
The total bill for taxpayers came to at least $85,769.
Resident Reactions
Lansing resident Jennifer Roberts expressed frustration to WGN-TV: “I was flabbergasted. I was pissed off. That’s my money. That’s the people’s money.”
Beau Brindley, attorney for Tiffany Henyard, commented on the situation, stating, “Mayor Henyard is under attack. She is under attack by a corrupt board of trustees that believe that they can subvert the will of the people and take over the mayor’s office and the mayor’s duties without ever winning that election.”
Board of Trustees Takes Action
In response to the financial concerns, Dolton’s Board of Trustees has taken several steps:
- Requested a federal investigation into Henyard’s alleged misuse of funds
- Recruited Lori Lightfoot, a former mayor of Chicago, to head a special inquiry
- appointed a mayor pro tempore to take Henyard’s place if she declines to carry out her responsibilities
- Instituted layoffs and began crafting their budget to address the deficit.
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Thornton Township Trustees Join the Fray
In a tense board meeting on September 12, 2024, the trustees of Thornton Township defeated Henyard by a margin. This was the direct result of her criticism of the $81,000 party that was paid for with public money. Supervisor Henyard was outvoted by the trustees on the budget ordinance for upcoming community programs and events, just days after she voiced her criticism. Following the vote, a resounding majority voted against Henyard’s recommendations, according to the meeting’s official minutes. Specifically, the final score was 5-2, with only Henyard and Trustee Jordan Evans voting in favor of her proposals.
At the meeting, senior Trustee Chris Gonzalez stated “…we can’t continue to spend money without that in place and even beyond that I mean we just had a couple events here in the past whatever month or so um that just explored amount of money we spent unnecessarily so basically what we’re saying especially, okay the program is fine you want you know Serve sandwich or something that’s fine but we don’t need to be giving out all kinds of other things such you know gift cards …”
Henyard’s Defense
Henyard has defended her acts and ordinance despite the criticism, saying “right now you guys are operating with hatred in your hearts you operating out of feelings you’re not operating with things that’s going on and I don’t think that’s fair to us I think that you guys should tell the people why you voted all these things down when you told us and I quote Carmen you told us hey put a budget…. I repeat none of y’all said anything then we get here and we got a grandstand on saying no for things that residents really do love”. At the trustee township meeting, Henyard questioned the trustees’ motives: “I don’t understand why it’s a problem now that Tiffany Henyard is supervisor when it wasn’t a problem when Frank Zuccarelli was supervisor. It’s the exact same things.” Additionally, she fired a verbal shot on one of the trustees, stating “Kman was my assistant she was assistant to Tiffy H um thank you I don’t need any”.
The atmosphere was still tense after the meeting. The Trustee’s decisions sparked a response from the public and media, and Supervisor Henyard’s suggestions were not implemented.
Multiple Lawsuits Filed
Henyard’s administration is now facing several legal challenges:
- A lawsuit from a former Dolton village employee alleging sexual misconduct by a village official during a trip led by Henyard
- Two cases were brought by former employees Larry Lawrence and Dwayne Thrash, who claim they were fired in retaliation for not participating in a scheme to help Henyard politically
The township board has unanimously agreed to hire lawyers from the Chicago firm Leinenweber, Daffada, and Sansonetti to represent the township in these cases.
A pattern of controversial spending
The incident at “Taste of Thornton Township” is not unique. Henyard has faced ongoing criticism for her use of taxpayer funds on first-class travel, concerts, and other expenses deemed excessive by many residents and local officials. This expenditure has had a noteworthy impact. According to a preliminary report by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was hired to investigate Dolton’s finances:
- 2022: The general fund balance was $5.61 million.
- May 2024: The general fund balance had plummeted to a deficit of $3.65 million.
The Road Ahead
As federal investigations loom and legal battles unfold, the future of Dolton’s governance remains uncertain. The stark contrast between Henyard’s spending habits and the financial realities facing the suburb has created a tense political atmosphere.
For now, residents and local officials continue to push for greater accountability and fiscal responsibility. Whether these efforts will lead to meaningful change in Dolton’s leadership and financial management remains to be seen.
As this story develops, it serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and responsible stewardship of public funds in local government. The ongoing situation in Dolton highlights the need for robust checks and balances to ensure that elected officials act in the best interests of their constituents.
