‘Trying to steal from everybody’: Allegations of corruption fuel anger at Thornton Township budget hearing
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — Embattled Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard got an earful from angry residents at a budget hearing that went off the rails in South Holland on Friday.
There are 17 south suburban communities that are part of Thornton Township and during the hearing, residents made it clear that they are unhappy with Henyard, who is under the cloud of a federal corruption investigation.
“You all need to be in jail! Because this is ridiculous,” one resident said.
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Frustrated residents who attended the hearing demanded answers from Henyard, who is currently facing multiple lawsuits and a federal investigation in her dual role as Dolton Mayor.
Scores of residents said they are outraged by the allegations.
“Trying to steal from everybody. Everybody! And we’re not gonna let you have our money,” another frustrated resident said.
Investigators are said to be focusing on everything from contracts to Cronyism. Henyard and her allies have spent more than $100,000 on questionable and extravagant travel, much of which was uncovered by WGN Investigates.
But during Friday’s hearing, Henyard fired back.
“Now you will hear the truth, as it relates to the budget, from myself and my administration. Now you have to listen to learn,” Henyard said shortly before ordering the removal of a resident for allegedly disrupting the meeting.
The tense confrontation was later defused by police, with officers refusing to eject the resident, based on 1st Amendment rights.
But the time to go over the proposed 2025 budget was nearly lost in all the conflict.
The board of trustees was able to approve the road and bridge budget for 2025, and the larger general fund was passed on the second vote.
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