Hastings, Rita, Maloney: Political Failures Tarnish Tinley Cleanup

Tinley Park - March 2025: Residents of Tinley Park are raising questions about the recent developments surrounding the demolition of the long-abandoned Tinley Park Mental Health Center and the man at the center of it all, Project Manager Mike Maloney. Maloney, who spends much of his time these days running for Village Mayor, owes his sweetheart $11,250/mo contract to his friend and neighbor, Park Board Commissioner Ashley Rubino and his other fellow Tinley Together candidates. As project costs rise, Maloney has already received more than $168 thousand in just 15 months.

When he’s not running for Mayor, Maloney is responsible for overseeing all contractors in the site and all aspects of workplace safety. One of the Park District’s approved contractors under Maloney’s management has been fined $36,177 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for significant safety violations, including inadequate monitoring of workers’ lead exposure and failure to implement proper safety measures.

The Village of Tinley Park administration has stepped in to voice concerns and raise awareness, standing firm in its advocacy for public safety and accountability.

OSHA Findings and Immediate Risks
OSHA’s findings have highlighted troubling lapses in safety protocols at the site. Workers were exposed to potentially hazardous conditions, raising alarm among residents and officials alike. Lead contamination is a serious public health threat, particularly in demolition projects involving older buildings such as the Tinley Park Mental Health Center. According to reports by Fox 32 Chicago and The Patch, these safety concerns have drawn the attention of state and federal authorities overseeing the redevelopment process.

David Michaels, former Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, has previously stated, “When OSHA issues fines, it often indicates systemic problems in workplace safety that go beyond the specific violations cited.” This underscores the gravity of the situation at the Tinley Park site and raises questions about broader safety practices.

Park District Board Oversight Under Scrutiny
The Tinley Park-Park District, which owns the site and holds sole control over the project, has faced criticism from residents for its handling of the demolition. While the Park District claims that multiple layers of government, including county, state, and federal agencies, are overseeing the project, residents have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency. As reported by Yahoo News and NewsBreak, requests for details about the oversight process have gone unanswered, leaving many feeling abandoned. Questions raised at public meetings for both the Park District and the Remediate280 Committee have also been ignored, further eroding trust in the Park District’s management.

Political Interference and Loss of Local Oversight
State Senator Mike Hastings and Representative Bob Rita have come under fire for their roles in the project. Residents have accused Hastings and Rita of abusing their legislative powers to explicitly remove the Village of Tinley Park’s Home Rule authority. This legislative maneuver has exempted the Park District from all Village ordinances, leaving the project with no local oversight. Critics argue that this unprecedented power play has allowed the Park District to operate without accountability to the community it serves.

Concerns About Tinley Together and Financial Connections
The Park District’s project manager, Mike Maloney, has also drawn scrutiny. Maloney, who is Hastings’ and Rita’s hand-picked candidate for Village Mayor, is at the center of the Tinley Together campaign. Hastings and Rita are the most significant contributors to Maloney’s campaign, raising questions about their influence over the project. Additionally, Park Board Commissioners Marie Ryan, Lisa O’Donovan, Donald Cuba, Bernie O’Boyle, and Ashley Rubino are all members of the Tinley Together team, fully financed by Hastings and Rita. Notably, Bob Rita is also Ashley Rubino’s father, further intertwining family and financial connections with state legislators.

Many residents have expressed concerns about what Hastings and Rita expect in return for their financial investment, the $1 transfer of the property, and their legislative actions to sideline the Village staff and Board. These connections have fueled speculation about whether the community’s best interests are truly being prioritized.

A National Embarrassment and Manufactured Division
The entire episode has become a national embarrassment for the Tinley Park community. Residents point to the role of the Park District’s highly paid public relations firm, Boyce Possely, in exacerbating the situation. The firm, reportedly receiving tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars, has been accused of intentionally sowing division among residents and fabricating an astroturfed “feud” between the Park District and the Village. This manufactured conflict has shifted focus away from the real issues, leaving Tinley Park citizens to bear the pain and expense of mismanagement and political gamesmanship.

Decades of Neglect and Resident Frustration
The Tinley Park Mental Health Center has long been a symbol of the State of Illinois’ neglect and mismanagement. For years, the site sat abandoned, accumulating environmental hazards such as asbestos, mold, and mercury. Residents have expressed relief that action is finally being taken to address the mess left behind by decades of state inaction. However, there is growing concern that they are being gaslit into feeling grateful for a deal that may not truly serve their best interests. The $1 transfer of the property to the Park District, coupled with a $15 million state grant for cleanup, has been criticized as a questionable arrangement that forces the community to accept sub-standard remediation efforts.

A Call to Action
Despite its lack of control over the project, the Village of Tinley Park administration has consistently advocated for better oversight and greater accountability. Village officials and community advocates remain committed to highlighting resident concerns and pushing for investigations to ensure safety protocols are followed to protect both workers and citizens.

A Redevelopment Vision
As the cleanup progresses, the community remains focused on the long-term vision for redeveloping the site into a resource that benefits all Tinley Park residents. However, the challenges posed by the absence of local oversight and political interference serve as reminders that the community must continue demanding transparency and collaboration.

What’s Next?
For concerned voters, this is a critical moment to hold all involved parties accountable. Tinley Park citizens are urged to remain vocal, demand answers from the Park District, and push for action that prioritizes their safety and well-being. Media coverage from sources such as Fox 32 Chicago, Patch, Yahoo News, and NewsBreak provides further insight into this ongoing situation and underscores the importance of vigilance and unity in addressing these pressing issues.