The following letter to the editor by Commissioner Peraica was published in today’s SouthtownStar:

To the Editor:

Phil Kadner’s recent column Sunday (”Everything you need to know except …) was right on point. Cook County government is sorely lacking in terms of the online transparency it provides taxpayers. It is for this reason that I launched my own Web site – www.CommissionerPeraica.com – to serve the constituents of the 16th District. It’s also the reason I provide “live tweets” on Twitter of every Cook County Board meeting at www.twitter.com/tonyperaica. More importantly, however, are our efforts to provide transparency for the entire county. My office hosts a site called CookEmployees.com that provides an updated searchable listing of all employees and vendors – with salaries – in Cook County.

The county board recently approved my resolution to put the county check register online so that all taxpayers can see firsthand how their money is being spent (or misspent). In this day and age, there is no reason our local and state governments should not be using simple, inexpensive online tools to be more open and transparent. Of course, transparency is the enemy of political insiders who rely on secretive no-bid contracts and county jobs to build and maintain their campaign armies. Thank you, Phil Kadner, for shining the light on this important issue.

Tony Peraica,

Cook County Commissioner,

16th District