Alderman Tom Tunney has taken a lot of heat in the FanPress the last few weeks. Our good friend CCD (who has done a solid job in filling the gap of reviewing the business side of the Cubs) and Tim at Aisle 424 have been leaders in feeding the flames.

This site was of the opinion that the sign would get done easily, just on a schedule to show the Ricketts who really is the Boss.

As this issue has dragged out, Greg Hintz has exposed the real reason for the delays:

Mr. Tunney says he feels strongly about this issue because he wants to preserve the view from inside of the ballpark into the neighborhood. The view is not only unique but good publicity for the Lake View neighborhood, he says.

But Mr. Tunney doesn't exactly deny that he's also trying to protect the view from outside in -- say, from those rooftop clubs. The owners "have invested millions of dollars" and reached "an understanding" with the Cubs in which the team gets 17% of their revenues.

Would the good alderman hold that view because the rooftoppers have given his political campaign fund at least $80,000 in cash and donated services in just the past three years?

"Both sides have contributed to our campaign," he replies.

That's true. But I didn't see anything in Mr. Tunney's disclosures anywhere near the size of the $27,500 that 3639 (N. Sheffield Ave.) LLC reported donating on April 21, 2009, for "food, drink and rooftop for event" for Mr. Tunney. Or the even bigger $37K Sheffield-Waveland Rooftops reported dropping on June 13, 2008, for "food, drink and baseball event" for Mr. Tunney.

So, Tunney is holding up a good business deal for his billionaire constituents and their multi-million dollar business, constituents who drive the economy in his ward and who make it possible for the Rooftops to even make their donations to Mr. Tunney, all for a measly $26,667 per year?

Tunney has to be a Sox fan. He only seems to know how to play small ball.