PARTIES

Gary A. Grasso

Gary Grasso was mayor of Burr Ridge, Illinois from 2005 to 2012, and was a DuPage
County Board Commissioner from 2013 to 2019. Mr. Grasso unsuccessfully ran for
Attorney General in 2018, and thereafter returned to the position of Mayor of Burr Ridge
in 2019, which position he continues to hold currently. Mr. Grasso is also a litigation
attorney practicing in the area of legal malpractice and ethics. He is married to Janet
Grasso who was a Trustee in the Village of Burr Ridge from 2015 to 2019. The Grasso
family residence is located at 6030 S Grant St. Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527. 

Filippo Rovito a/k/a “Gigi” 

Filippo Rovito a/k/a “Gigi” is listed as a “Soldier” on the Wikipedia page for the “Chicago
Outfit,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Outfit. A printout of the Wikipedia page is
attached as Exhibit A. The page reads as follows: “Fillippo Gigi Rovito born 1976 is a
restaurant owner and outfit soldier, he was arrested for rape and extortion.” Gigi was
arrested and convicted in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual assault and unlawful
restraint against a 14-year-old girl. See Memo of June 4, 2013 from Police Chief John
Madden attached as Exhibit B. See also People v. Rovito, 327 Ill. App. 3d 164 (1st Dist.
2001). Prior to this, he was arrested and convicted for manufacturing, delivering and
possession of a controlled substance (heroin). See Exhibit B. Gigi received a 6-year
sentence running concurrently for both crimes and was released in 2002. See Exhibit
B. According to newspaper reports, in 2013 Gigi’s Capri Ristorante was where a $5,000
down payment was dropped off which was then passed to Gigi’s brother Roberto to
break an individual’s legs as part of a mob extortion scheme. See Exhibit A, and see
newspaper article of November 17, 2015 attached as Exhibit C.

Capri Ristorante - Burr Ridge 

In 2002 after his release from prison, Gigi established the Capri Ristorante (hereinafter
referred to as “Capri”) in Burr Ridge, Illinois. The business address is 324 Burr Ridge
Parkway No. 1, Burr Ridge Illinois. However, the business and liquor licenses were
issued to Gigi’s brother Roberto. 

PACE 

A transit agency part of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) that is funded by ridership
fares, and federal, state taxpayer funds to provide transportation services, bus and rail
services for disabled citizens, seniors and citizens seeking transportation assistance to

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and from doctor visits, other appointments, and other travel necessities of life within the
State of Illinois. As a state agency PACE owns land and equipment in which it uses to
provide services on behalf of the people and taxpayers of the State of Illinois.
 
Blu Valet  
 
A valet company owned by Michael Grasso, the son of Gary Grasso and former Village
of Burr Ridge Trustee Janet Grasso. This company has an exclusive contract to provide
valet services to the Capri Ristorante, owned and operated by Gigi Rovito. The
registered agent of this company, Michael Grasso, lists the Grasso family residence
address of 6030 Grant St. Burr Ridge, Illinois, as the business agent’s address. See
Exhibit D Blue Valet corporate registration with the Illinois Secretary of State.  

FIRST ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED  

I. Why did Mayor Gary Grasso use his discretionary power to grant Gigi a
restaurant liquor license within the Village of Burr Ridge when Gigi is a reputed
Chicago mob soldier who has been convicted of criminal sexual assault on a 14-
year-old female victim, has a previous conviction for the manufacturing, delivery
and possession of heroin, and who was a possible bagman for a mob extortion
beating contract? 
 
Upon being released in 2002 from serving a six-year term for his crimes, Gigi was able
to financially open up a new restaurant in Burr Ridge called Capri Ristorante. 
The Village of Burr Ridge initially issued a license for the operation of Capri Ristorante
to Maria and Roberto Rovito, with Gigi as its registered agent. However, Gigi is the real
owner and operator of Capri. See attached restaurant opening statement hereto as
Exhibit E and made a part hereof

Gigi’s 2008 Liquor Citation Hearing  

 
In July 2008 Capri was cited by the Village of Burr Ridge for the following: (a) pouring of
alcohol after 1:00 a.m., with Gigi failing to require that the premises be vacated by
persons other than employees within 15 of closing time; (b) allowing a convicted felon
Gigi to manage the restaurant, and (c) failure to disclose that a felon, Gigi, was
managing the Capri business. See October 30, 2008 correspondence attached as
Exhibit F and November 7, 2008 correspondence attached as Exhibit G and made a
part hereof.  
 
Upon the issuance of the summons to the purported Capri owners and managers, the
Village of Burr Ridge was required to convene a hearing of the Local Liquor Control
Board, in which Mayor Grasso alone serves under the Illinois Municipal and Village of
Burr Ridge codes as the Commissioner presiding over all issues pertaining to liquor
licenses. 

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However, Mayor Grasso (a seasoned litigation attorney) for this hearing apparently felt
a need to appoint a Village trustee Albert Paveza, a non-lawyer, to his assist him in
presiding over Gigi’s citation hearing. See Exhibit G.

On or about October 3, 2008, an informal hearing was conducted by Gary Grasso as

Local Liquor Control Commissioner and Trustee Albert Paveza, who was acting by
appointment to assist Grasso. Also consulting with Grasso was Mayoral appointed
Village Counsel for the Village of Burr Ridge.

Following the October 3, 2008 hearing, Grasso as Liquor Commissioner set forth an
offer for Gigi and Capri. See Exhibit G, p. 2-3. The terms required Capri to pay a
minimum $2,000 fine within seven days assessed as follows: $500 shall be paid as a
fine for the after-hours violation, $750 to be paid as a fine for operating with a manager
who was known to have been convicted of two felonies, and $750 to be paid as the fine
for failure to disclose the existence of the felonies on the liquor license application. 
 
Page two (second paragraph) of Mayor Grasso’s November 7, 2008
Agreement/Decision states Gigi shall be disqualified from serving as a manager on the
licensed premises of Capri. However, it further states that Grasso understands Capri is
a small business and so Grasso states that he authorizes Gigi to continue as manager
until the named supplemental manger’s application of Brian Green has been filed and
processed. See Exhibit G.

Under the Grasso Agreement/Decision, the filing of Brian Green manager’s application
was required to be done within seven days as a condition. However, Grasso further
allowed Gigi to be a non-manager host and employee at the licensed premise without
any further restrictions. The newly created position of “non-manager host,” without any
restriction by the Grasso Agreement/Decision, allowed Gigi to essentially do exactly
what he was doing prior to the citation issuance and hearing. See Exhibit G.  
 
Mayor Grasso’s Agreement/Decision then goes beyond the issue at hand and basically
provides Gigi with free and unsolicited legal advice by outlining the elements required
for Gigi to rehabilitate himself and get a liquor license despite the fact he’s ignored the
state laws pertaining to liquor establishments.  
 
Mayor Grasso’s Agreement/Decision states that “these violations against your
establishment are serious in nature and if any further violations or offenses occur these
violations will be taken into consideration to determine the appropriate penalty”. See
Exhibit G.  
 
Liquor Commissioner Grasso’s decision is silent regarding evidence, testimony, or an
explanation of how long Gigi had been operating illegally as Capri’s manager, why Gigi
failed to disclose his felony status on Capri’s application, and whether Gigi failed to
register as a sex offender for 6 years as required by state law requirements.

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2011 Rehabilitation Hearing of Gigi

Apparently taking up the suggestion of Grasso that he seek a “rehabilitation” hearing, in

early 2011 Gigi petitioned Mayor Grasso requesting a “rehabilitation” hearing in order to
be deemed able to manage and maintain an establishment possessing a Village liquor
license. A hearing was convened on March 9, 2011. See January 19, 2011 email
threads from Mayor Grasso attached as Exhibit H, which were sent to see if all those
who previously participated in Gigi’s 2008 liquor citation hearing would be available as
before to now hear Gigi’s rehabilitation case.

Six days later, (after Mayor Grasso had orchestrated a specific hearing date) Gigi’s
lawyer Robert Spadoni faxed a letter to the Village of Burr Ridge clerk requesting (not
confirming) a hearing date on March 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., a seeming indication that
ex parte communication was occurring between Gigi’s representatives and Mayor
Grasso’s administration. See a copy of the Spadoni request letter attached hereto as
Exhibit I and made a part hereof.

On February 28, 2011, Liquor Commissioner Mayor Grasso, once again appointed his
ally, Trustee Albert Paveza (a non-lawyer), as Deputy Liquor Commission to serve once
again as Assistant Liquor Commissioner. See February 28, 2011 correspondence
appointing Paveza attached as Exhibit J. This 2011 letter appointment was the same as
2008, contained no reference that Trustee Paveza would be compensated, and more
importantly, contained no indication that Trustee Paveza alone would be presiding over
this very important hearing.

The same day as Paveza’s appointment, Mayor Grasso issued a letter to Gigi
acknowledging receipt of Gigi’s rehabilitation request and setting a hearing for March 9,
2011. Commissioner Grasso’s letter set forth the minimum evidence GiGi needed to
establish rehabilitation, outlining six topics to be discussed regarding rehabilitation
including “character witnesses who are aware of your family history and willing to testify
that you are worthy of public trust with specific examples of what you have done to
rehabilitate yourself.” See Grasso correspondence of February 28, 2011 attached
hereto as Exhibit K.

Grasso’s February 28, 2011 correspondence advised that Gigi’s evidence at the
rehabilitation hearing should include “evidence that you have not been convicted of any
other felonies or serious crimes since your convictions” but then carves out an
exception stating, “other than the failure to register as a sex offender.” This seems to
indicate some knowledge on Grasso’s part about some failure of Gigi to register as a
sex offender as required by law. See Exhibit K.  
 
Gigi’s attorney submitted four form affidavits purportedly executed by individuals named
Anthony Formato, Gloria Martinez, Mary Constanza, and Ron Toronto. All names were
handwritten into the form affidavits and the writing appears to be of the same hand. All
four affidavits were personally notarized by Gigi’s lawyer Robert Spandoni who
presented the case to the Liquor Commissioner. See attached a copy of the Four
affidavits are attached as Group Exhibit L.  

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Paragraph two of each affidavit provides that the statements are being made based on
the affiant’s personal knowledge. However, it is hard to imagine that all four affiants
would have the exact same personal examples in support of Gigi’s rehabilitation.  
 
It appears instead that all four individuals may not have the full story and are
misinformed about Gigi’s criminal background, including his convictions, because each
affidavit merely acknowledges that Gigi was convicted of criminal sexual assault and
possession of illegal drugs, but Gigi was actually convicted of manufacturing, delivery
and possession of a controlled substance—heroin—not merely possession. There’s a
big difference between a conviction for mere possession of a controlled substance as
opposed to a conviction for manufacturing, delivery, and possession. A possession
conviction is usually associated with possession for personal use as opposed to a
conviction for manufacturing, delivery and possession of a controlled substance which is
an indication that an individual is in the wholesale business of selling illegal drugs. The
affidavit states “Since Mr. Rovito’s conviction in 1991,” suggesting that there was only
one conviction, but Gigi had two separate case convictions with the sentences of both
cases running concurrently. This further show the affiants’ lack knowledge of Gigi’s true
criminal history. See Group Exhibit L.  
 
In paragraph four of the form affidavits, all four affiants state that “Since Mr. Rovito’s
conviction in 1991 and after he served his punishment, I have personally witnessed
rehabilitation as a person including his business endeavors.” However, the only
business endeavor discussed in the affidavits are those observed while at the Capri and
there’s nothing in the affidavits disclosing the other referenced “business endeavors”
that supposedly aided and assisted in Gigi’s alleged rehabilitation. See Group Exhibit L.  
 
The form affidavits in paragraph six state that for the past six years he Gigi “has been a
model employee demonstrating fine work ethic and higher moral character.” However,
the affidavits do not state how many times over the past six years the affiants have
observed Gigi or state any specific period of time that Gigi has been observed. 
 
Paragraph seven states he Gigi “has managed Capri’s well as the restaurant is very
successful and is frequently operating at or near capacity.” In other words, these
notarized affidavits state that Gigi is in violation of the very Grasso Agreement/Decision
from November 2008 where Mayor Grasso held that Gigi would not be the manager of
the Capri business because Gigi is not qualified to do so, and providing that Brian
Green would be applying to be licensed by the Village for the manager position. The
very same affidavits used to show rehabilitation are instead evidence that Gigi has been
subverting the agreement drawn up by Grasso in 2008. See Group Exhibit L.

Paragraph seven of the affidavits also indicates that the non-manager shadow manager
position created for Gigi as a result of Mayor Grasso’s 2008 Agreement/Decision is in
reality a fictitious position title. The affidavits are proof that Gigi was working as the true
manager of Capri in violation of the Grasso Agreement/Decision of 2008. This alone
should have been enough to deny the request for rehabilitation.

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A closer reading of the four form affidavits strongly suggests that the affidavits are not
character witnesses with the capacity or personal knowledge that is necessary to satisfy
the statute regarding felon rehabilitation, nor do they satisfy the required specific
examples of rehabilitation evidence so conveniently outlined for Gigi by Mayor Grasso
in the November 2008 Agreement/Decision.

Both Mayor Grasso and his hand-picked Village Attorney, who were both in attendance
during the March 9, 2011 hearing, apparently remained mute and made no inquiries into
the veracity of the affidavits, nor did they remind or bring to Assistant Local Liquor
Commissioner Trustee Paveza’s attention that the affidavits prove Gigi is in violation the
November 2008 Agreement/Decision issued by Grasso.

The 2011 Decision issued by Trustee Paveza granting rehabilitated status to Gigi is
troubling in that it does not reference that Trustee Paveza conferenced with the Village
Attorney, Mayor Grasso, or anyone else in issuing the 2011 Decision. However, on the
last page of the 2011 Decision of rehabilitation the Decision is made conditional by the
language “Petitioner is hereby required to remain free of any serious violations relative
to Capri Restaurant or further misconduct as a condition of remaining eligible to lawfully
occupy this position, manager and liquor license holder.” A copy of the 2011
rehabilitation decision by Deputy Liquor Commissioner Trustee Albert Paveza is
attached as Exhibit M.

Neither the 2008 nor the 2011 letters appointing Trustee Paveza stated Paveza would
be compensated for his time serving pursuant to the appointment. However, in the
critical 2011 rehabilitation hearing, compensation was sought by Mayor Grasso for his
Paveza who alone presiding of this hearing. See correspondence attached hereto as
Exhibit N.

On March 30, 2011, the silent Liquor Commissioner attorney, emailed the Burr Ridge
Village Clerk a list of all costs for the Capri hearing which included a line item for
Trustee Al Paveza as hearing officer, which he is believed to have received. See Exhibit
N. Thereafter, on April 4, 2011, the Village of Burr Ridge billed Capri/Gigi for fees the
Village paid to all those who participated in Gigi’s successful rehabilitation decision. See
Exhibit N and Village of Burr Ridge billing statement attached as Exhibit O.

It’s troubling that both the Village Attorney and Mayor Grasso (both with 30+years of
experienced as lawyers) failed to point out the fatal flaws in the affidavits tendered to
support Gigi’s request for rehabilitation. Based upon the affidavits it is obvious that Gigi
was operating the restaurant as manager, therefore operating as the “shadow manager”
with free reign over the entire restaurant operation, including its employees and its
operation. Managing in this way is a blatant violation of the 2008 Agreement/Decision
issued by Grasso.

How was Gigi able receive a favorable decision in the face of all these fatal affidavit
deficiencies and evidence proving an open and blatant violation of Mayor Grasso’s
November 2008 Agreement/Decision? Notwithstanding all the affidavit defects and a

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blatant violation of the 2008 Agreement/Decision, the lone Trustee Albert Paveza, (a
non-lawyer) granted the reputed mob “soldier” rehabilitation status.

Moreover, this felon rehabilitation hearing was much more important to the residents of
Burr Ridge than the November 2008 citation hearing for clear violations, but few people
knew about either hearing because they were done in near secrecy. And yet Mayor
Grasso sat in silence during this very serious 2011 hearing to allow a felon
rehabilitation, the condition precedent to allowing Gigi to be manager of a liquor license
establishment. A felon convicted of sexual assault against a minor and drug
manufacturing and possession was given leave to operate a restaurant and serve liquor
where young people and families gather in the Village of Burr Ridge.

One must ask why Mayor/Liquor Commissioner Grasso intentionally failed to actively
participate, although present, as the Village of Burr Ridge Liquor Commissioner in this
very important rehabilitation hearing for Gigi.

Mayor Grasso appointed Trustee Paveza as Deputy Liquor Commissioner, to assist him
in the 2008 violation hearing regarding hours of operation, and a felon pouring liquor
after hours. Strangely, Mayor Grasso chose to opt out or in effect seemingly recuse
himself from this important rehabilitation hearing which he orchestrated but remained
silently present during the entire hearing along with his Village attorney but who both
participated in the drafting of the written decision of Trustee Paveza.

Mayor Gary Grasso “green lit” and paved the way to allow Gigi to obtain a liquor license
beginning with Mayor Grasso’s orchestrated 2008 hearing whereby he appointed
Trustee Paveza to provide the cover of credibility to the ultimate goal of licensing Gigi
through Trustee Paveza’s 2011 rehabilitation Decision.

It stands to reason that this orchestrated scheme allowed Mayor Grasso deniability of
having anything to do with the crucial decision of finally issuing a license to Gigi.  

All during Mayor Grasso ‘s term from 2005 to 2012, Gigi‘s restaurant, operated under
the names Capri Restaurant, Inc., Capri Ristorante Italiano, but none of them were legal
entities under the laws of the State of Illinois. Capri Restaurant Inc. was involuntarily
dissolved on October 1, 1992, with its registered agent Fillippo Hall Rovito and the
officer listed Filippo as the president, ie. Gigi. There’s no record of a Capri Ristorante
Italiano See attached corporate records. See attached a copy of the Illinois Secretary of
State corporate records for Capri Restaurant Inc. and Capri Italiano, which are attached
hereto as Exhibit P and Exhibit Q.  
 
Liquor Commissioner Grasso’s silence raises the unresolved question of whether
Grasso had an undisclosed potential or actual conflict of interest that was never
disclosed to the residents, voters or taxpayers of Burr Ridge, or had begun an attorney
client relationship with Gigi, Robert, Maria and Capri or some other business venture of
the Rovito family.

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Mayor Grasso, as Liquor Commissioner, issued Gigi and Capri an annual business and
liquor license from 2005-2012; during his time as Mayor, Grasso has never listed Gigi,
Roberto, or Capri, or any affiliated businesses or persons or entities doing business with
the Village of Burr Ridge, nor does he list his sons’ valet business Blu Valet, on his
Illinois Statement of Economic Interest. 
 
On December 27, 2012, after Mayor Grasso moved on to the DuPage Cook County
Board, Gigi submitted an application to obtain his liquor license to the newly acting
Mayor Robert S. Sodikoff, who was Grasso’s successor. Through his counsel, Gigi
notified Mayor Sodikoff that Gigi’s brother Roberto was transferring his interests in Capri
to Gigi. In the letter Gigi requested the removal of his brother Roberto from the liquor
license and that the liquor license be transferred to “Filippo (Gigi) Rovito” thereby listing
Gigi as the owner, manager, and licensee of the establishment on the newly issued
liquor license. See a copy of the December 27, 2012 letter requesting the transfer,
which is attached hereto as Exhibit R.  
 
In 2013, then Acting Mayor Robert Sodikoff, issued an opinion that a new annual liquor
license would not be issued, nor would the annual renewal be granted for Capri until
there had been compliance with previous orders. He also ordered an investigation
regarding the outstanding tax sales issue for food and beverage from the restaurant for
previous years owed under the Grasso administration. See Memo attached hereto as
Exhibit S.  
 
In February of 2013, Steve Stricker who was Village Manager for the Village of Burr
Ridge authored an email to Acting Mayor Robert Sodikoff that Illinois sales tax forms
Capri submitted to the State of Illinois Department of Finance were inconsistent with the
Village of Burr Ridge records which the Village had on file to determine the amount of
POE taxes that would have been due and owing to the Village. A copy of the email is
attached hereto as Exhibit T.  
 
On April 26, 2013, Steve Stricker sent an email to Acting Mayor Sodikoff informing him
that he had spoken with Gigi’s attorney and that the Village of Burr Ridge is owed
$15,000 for the years 2011-12 under the Mayor Grasso administration and that the
numbers would be scrutinized carefully going forward under the Sodikoff administration.
See April 26, 2013 correspondence attached as Exhibit U.  
 
Upon payment of the outstanding taxes, at the final license hearing on April 30, 2013,
Liquor Commissioner Robert Sodikoff approved the eligibility of Gigi as a new owner of
Capri and issued an annualize class H liquor license for Capri Restaurant, completing a
plan originally green lit from the Mayor Grasso Agreement/Decision. See a copy of the
final memo of May 2, 2013, attached hereto as Exhibit V.  
 
On July 18, 2013, at 2:30 a.m., less than 3 months from Gigi receiving the Capri liquor
license, a business check at Capri found the door open and seven people in the
business including manager Gigi, in violation of the ordinance of closure at 1:15 a.m.
The officer issued a verbal warning. This was a repeat of 1st violation in 2008. See a
copy of Chief’s Madden letter attached hereto as Exhibit W with citations.  
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On August 1, 2013, Burr Ridge Police Chief John Madden issued a letter to Gigi
confirming their discussion regarding the July 18, 2013 violation, at which time Gigi
stated “that he was unaware of the rules concerning this violation” and upon discussing
it agreed going forward that Gigi and Capri would comply and the Chief directed this as
a warning to him.( This statement by Gigi “that he was unaware” is false because he
had been cited in 2008 for this same violation Exhibit “E” herein). See a copy of Chief’s
Madden August 1, 2013 letter attached hereto as Exhibit W with citations from July 18,
2013.  
 
Just a few days later, on August 6th, 2013, officers conducted another business check
on Capri and again found it to be in violation of clearing out the business by 1:15 a.m.
The officer noticed two patrons and Gigi sitting at the bar with an employee still tending
bar. See a copy of the 8-6-2013 citation and complaint which are attached hereto and
made a part hereof as Exhibit X.  
 
Gigi was served with a Burr Ridge Village police complaint citing violation of liquor
license ordinances because people were on the premises past 1 a.m. hour. This was
the third violation by Gigi for the very same offense of not clearing out by 1:15 a.m. It is
a violation that Gigi stated he understood and agreed to comply with on numerous
occasions. See Exhibit W.

This all was occurring in the summer of 2013, while at the same time, it was reported in
the Chicago newspapers that Gigi, the owner of Rovito’s Capri, was contacted to
arrange a beating of a Melrose Park used car dealer for failing to pay a mob gambling
debt. See Exhibit C. Gigi’s Capri Ristorante was the location where a $5,000 down
payment was dropped off to pay for the enforcement. ie., the breaking of the legs. See
Exhibit C.

This conduct is in direct violation of paragraph two (2) of Deputy Liquor Control
Commissioner Albert Paveza’s Decision of 2011 granting Gigi rehabilitation. Stated that
2011 Decision, “Petitioner is hereby required to remain free of any serious violations
relative to Capri Restaurant or further misconduct as a condition of remaining eligible to
lawfully occupy this position, manager and liquor license holder”. The aforementioned
violations and conduct should preclude Gigi from being able to maintain his manager
and liquor license status because this illegal activity happened inside Capri Restaurant.
Gigi’s rehabilitation status and liquor license should have been immediately revoked
because of reported FBI criminal activity occurring in the restaurant with its Burr
Ridge licensed owner.

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 SECOND ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED

II. Why did PACE grant convicted felon Gigi’s Capri restaurant free use of a
public parking lot for valet parking purposes through the private valet company
of Mayor Grasso’s son, while at the same time PACE was increasing fares and
cutting services to its public ridership?  

In late 2014 or early 2015 PACE was contacted by someone, (currently yet to be
disclosed by PACE after several inquiries and FOIA requests) seeking to gain use of the
PACE taxpayer owned Park and Ride parking lot located at Lincolnshire Drive and
McClintock Drive in Burr Ridge, Illinois for parking.  

At that time, Gary Grasso was a member of the DuPage County Board and in 2015
Janet Grasso, Gary Grasso’s wife, held elective office in the Village of Burr Ridge as a
member of the Board of Trustees.

On January 29, 2015, Mayor Grasso’s son executed a Service Agreement on behalf of
his company, Blu Valet, to provide valet parking service for Gigi’s Capri, from 5:00 p.m.
until 11:00 p.m. Tuesday thru Thursday and until12:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
According to the Service Agreement, “Any overflow valet parking will be parked in the
PACE lot to the east of the Capri Ristorante.” This Service Agreement was dated
January 29, 2015 and indicates that Blu Valet has authority to use the PACE lot, even
though the PACE letter agreement of March 3, 2015 (see below) had not been
executed. See a copy of Blu Valet and Capri valet Service Agreement attached as
Exhibit Y.  
 
On March 3 of 2015, T. J Ross, who was then Executive Director of PACE Suburban
Bus, UNILATERALLY executed a parking licensing agreement not to a Village of Burr
Ridge official but to Capri, a private company owned by Gigi. The letter agreement from
T.J. Ross at PACE gave a free non-exclusive license to use government property—the
PACE parking lot—for Capri parking. See a copy of PACE letter attached hereto as
Exhibit Z.

The March 3, 2015 license agreement purports to confer rights to public property that
can only be used by Capri. Moreover, there is no mention or reference of a known
separate valet service agreement with Blu Valet, who would essentially be using and be
responsible for the lot. In compliance with the Pace/Capri letter agreement Blu Valet
added PACE and Capri as additional insured to its policy as opposed to Capri as
required by PACE Agreement. The apparent use by Blu Valet was not a material fact
considered or disclosed to PACE and was possibly intentionally concealed from PACE.
Therefore, the use by the non-licensed valet company is apparently an unauthorized
assignment use which is prohibited without first obtaining written authorization by
PACE. See Exhibit Z.

In order to satisfy an application for a parking variance, Capri and its attorney—who at
this time was none other than Gary Grasso—proposed requiring Capri employees to
move their cars to the PACE lot between 5:30 and 6:00. Parking during this time is a

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violation of the PACE letter agreement which provides that cars may start parking at
6:00 p.m. not 5:30 p.m.

Gigi/Capri and Blu Valet may have also extended the PACE lot use to another Gigi
affiliated business, Amore Yoga studio, which was operated by Stefanie N. Rovito, a
relative of Gigi. To promote its business, Amore Yoga offered its customers
complimentary valet parking courtesy of Capri. See the Amore advertisement and email
comments regarding complimentary parking at Capri attached as Exhibit AA.  
 
This PACE agreement serves only to financially benefit Gigi, Capri, and Blu Valet, the
company of Mayor Grasso’s son. It is our understanding that the total financial benefits
received by them over the six-year period probably is well in excess of $500,000.
Unfortunately, RTA and CTA are increasing ridership fares on its bus and train patrons
to help support PACE while PACE is cutting ridership services to seniors, disabled
persons, handicapped and other residents who depend on PACE’s vital service. 
 
The PACE agreement executed by the Executive Director (without any PACE board
action) is in violation of laws of the State of Illinois and serves to the detriment of the tax
paying public in violation of the Illinois State Constitution which states “public funds or
property or credit shall be used only for public purposes.”  
 
If public property is used for private purposes, there should be compensation for the use
of taxpayers owned property. But in this case, there is none. In this case, PACE like
most boards and commission who are entrusted with taxpayers owned property, is
required to seek compensation especially from a private company who seeks to use
public property for private business purposes.

For example, the Chicago Board of Education (CBE) formally approves monthly rental
rates of their school lots for private valet companies to support the education services of
our children and will enforce those agreements as shown in a recent article whereby the
CBE was cancelling a contract for nonpayment and putting the lots out to bid seeking to
get top dollar to help fund the education of our children. In Naperville, commuters must
pay $5 per space. See a copy of Chicago Board of Education article and Naperville
article attached hereto as Group Exhibit BB.

As you can discern from the article, CBE has been able to collect hundreds of
thousands of dollars from their parking lot leases to support educating our children.
Unfortunately, it seems PACE and its Board have failed to receive funds for the use of
taxpayer owned property to support transit services, for seniors, disabled and handicap
residents, as required by law.
 
In this case, the taxpayers and riders who support RTA and PACE, are subsidizing or
underwriting the private restaurant business of an individual with reputed mob ties who
is a felon convicted of criminal sexual assault and manufacturing, delivering and
possession of heroin. How is this possible? 
 
A review of the PACE Board, agendas, minutes, and resolutions during the period of

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time from 2014-2015 (received in response to a FOIA) indicate that there are NO
records showing that an agreement was ever approved by the PACE board. 
 
PACE has been contacted concerning the March 3, 2015 PACE letter agreement with
Capri and it has been revealed that PACE was contacted by a person representing the
Village of Burr Ridge or at the Village’s behest and not from Capri directly seeking to
use the PACE Park and Ride lot. In response to a media inquiry, PACE spokesperson,
Maggie Daly Skogsbakken stated that it is not unusual for PACE to work with
communities, seemingly suggesting that the license agreement with Capri was arranged
by the Village of Burr Ridge. Maybe it is not unusual for PACE to work with
municipalities, but the PACE letter agreement with Capri was NOT an agreement with
the Village or any other public entity and was instead for the pure benefit of a private
company. Despite the statements of Skogsbakken, the PACE letter agreement is
addressed to Capri Ristorante not the local government, in this case, the Village of Burr
Ridge. See a copy of the news article with the statement of the PACE spokesperson
attached hereto as Exhibit CC.

PACE related questions for further investigation

1. Did T. J. Ross, the Executive Director of PACE Suburban Bus, have legal authority
to execute a land use agreement providing for free use of PACE public property to
a private for-profit company?

2. Does PACE have the authority to grant free use of its parking lot without receiving
any consideration in return?

3. What was the amount of revenue PACE had to forego as a result of the PACE
letter agreement licensing parking property for free to a restaurant that is operated
by a felon convicted of sexual assault on a minor and manufacturing, delivery, and
possession of heroin?
 

THIRD ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED

III. Grasso’s relationship with Gigi and Gigi’s associates.

1. Proposed parking variance before the Burr Ridge Village Board.  

 
Grasso claims that he was not involved with the 2015 PACE letter agreement, (no
contact with Village staff or PACE official as a member of the Du Page Board which has
appointment power of certain PACE Board members). However, it’s obvious that he
was representing Capri and his son’s company Blu Valet at the time the PACE letter
agreement was executed. 

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It is our belief that Grasso began openly representing Capri Ristorante and Gigi as their
legal counsel once he was elected to the DuPage County Board in 2013.We have no
way of knowing the true relationship or when it began between Grasso and Gigi,
because Grasso does not divulge any legal clients of his law firm that may be doing
business with the Village of Burr Ridge on his State of Illinois Candidates Campaign
Disclosure Statement.

Though aware of Gigi’s violations, aware of the 2008 Agreement/Decision authored by

Grasso, aware of the 2011 Trustee Paveza rehabilitation decision, and aware of the
local media reporting that Capri was the location used as a down payment drop off
location for a mob enforcement beating, Grasso continued to represent Gigi and Gigi’s
business interests. On May 4, 2015, Attorney Grasso issued a letter to the Village of
Burr Ridge regarding his clients, Capri Restaurant/Bob Garber. The May 4 letter
concerned an application for a parking variance and references the PACE letter
agreement, which Grasso claims no involvement. A copy of the Attorney Grasso letter
of May 4, 2015 and email threads is attached as Group Exhibit DD.

However, email threads in February of 2015 with Capri consultant Sandy Andrews of
Q.C. Enterprises, Attorney Grasso, and Village official Doug Pollock provides insight
with respect to those involved in the PACE letter agreement. The letter was cc’ed to
Sandy Andrews of Q.C Enterprises as an agent for Capri. See Group Exhibit DD.  
 
Attorney Grasso’s letter seems to discuss the issue of parking for patrons and
employees who regularly park in the County Line Square shopping area (where Capri is
located), but the letter addresses primarily the use of the valet company having ample
space, or staging area to receive cars for service. The letter also states that “Employees
who park in the County Line Square lot before 5:30 pm will be instructed and given an
opportunity between 5:30 and 6:00 pm to move their cars to the free PACE lot.” This
appears to be a clear violation of the PACE letter agreement allowing usage beginning
at 6:00 not 5:30. 
 
It appears to be the intent of the PACE letter agreement to enhance the business of
Mayor Grasso’s son, Michael, who provides the valet service to support Capri’s
operation. However, there is no mention in the PACE letter agreement regarding the
use of a valet company to provide customer parking. It seems obvious that there may
have been a failure to apprise PACE of the real intended use by Capri or those
speaking on its behalf for this parking area.
 
In reviewing the PACE letter agreement, Attorney Grasso is apprised of the limited days
and hours of the intended lot use for Capri’s customers and that the PACE letter
agreement does not mention that it is to support a valet business.
 
At the May 26, 2015, Village of Burr Ridge Board meeting there was testimony
regarding the Planning Commission’s meeting of May 18, 2015, where issues
concerning parking problems with Capri in the County Line Square Mall were
addressed. Attorney Grasso represented Gigi, Capri, and Blu Valet at the meeting
before the Village Board.  

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The entire meeting was dedicated to eradicating the problem of parking within the
County Line Square shopping area. It must be noted that Attorney Grasso stated that
the petitioner was committed to solving the problem through requesting the Capri
employees to park in the free PACE lot; during the meeting there was actually very little
reference to utilization of the PACE lot to eradicate the parking dilemma. The PACE
letter agreement states that the lot was to be used by Capri customers. There was no
discussion of employee use or valet company use. 
 
On page 10489, of the Village of Burr Ridge meeting minutes, Attorney Grasso stated
that his client Capri is hoping to re-purpose approximately 20 parking spaces to
accommodate the parking requirements but never mentions PACE parking or Blu
Valet’s use of the PACE lot to alleviate the parking problem. However, on that same
page Trustee Bolos pointed out that if the valet service was doing their job correctly
there should not be a parking problem because there is a solution. See a copy of the
meeting minutes showing the comments attached as Exhibit EE.
 
The May 26, 2015, Village Board meeting commences with Trustee Janet Grasso being
available for the just prior consent agenda votes and voting on all other matters.
However, when it came to the Planning Commission’s recommendation pertaining to
the parking variance impacting her husband’s client Capri and her son’s company Blu
Valet, purportedly supported by PACE letter, there is no reference of her voting in the
official Village Board meeting minutes at all on the Capri agenda item. The minutes
merely state that five votes carry but the subsequent agenda item shows that Janet
Grasso was present in the room at the time Capri’s matter was considered. See Exhibit
EE.

 
2. Defense of Gigi regarding denial of insurance claims concerning Mercedes
Benz Convertible

In 2015 Gigi filed an insurance claim in the amount of $181,000 for his 2013 Mercedes
Benz Convertible SL63, which was allegedly stolen and then set ablaze. The claim was
denied by the insurance company, American Family Insurance, because of a breach of
a policy general condition. Litigation followed, see Mercedes -Benz Financial Services
USA v. Filippo Rovito, Jr., American Family Mutual Insurance and Briget A. Pluim,
agent, Case No. 2015 M1 125142.

General condition # 5 of the insurance policy provides as follows: “Concealment or

Fraud, with respect to all insureds, this entire policy is void if, before or after a loss, any
insured has: a. intentionally concealed or misrepresented any material fact or
circumstances; b. engaged in fraudulent conduct; or c. made false statements; relating
to this insurance.” See a copy of the pleading attached hereto as Exhibit FF.

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 3. Campaign contributions by Gigi and his associates to Mayor
Grasso’s run for Illinois Attorney General.

In 2017 Gary Grasso filed election papers to run for the office of Illinois Attorney
General. During the campaign, candidate Grasso accepted contributions from Gigi and
his associates, though Grasso was fully aware of Gigi’s Village of Burr Ridge violations
and was surely aware of the reported mob ties. The campaign contributions ran afoul of
campaign finance laws for being in excess of contribution limits. When asked about the
contribution, Gigi gave his usual response claiming ignorance. See a copy of various
news reports of this Mayor Grasso campaign violations attached as Exhibit GG.

In 2019 after losing primary race for Illinois Attorney General and his term ending on the
DuPage County Board, Attorney Grasso was once again sworn in as Mayor of Burr
Ridge. He was still in the private practice of law, giving him the cover of NEVER having
to disclose the names of his clients, because of the attorney client privilege.

On December 21, 2020, Sandy Andrews of Q.C. Enterprises at 2272 S. Hillock,

Chicago, Illinois (who was Capri’s consultant and agent, and Mayor Grasso worked with
her in 2015 when Capri sought its parking variance and secured use of the PACE lot)
filed an application as Capri’s agent for a restaurant expansion of Capri. Sandy
Andrews listed herself as “Petitioner” even though the relief sought was for Capri. The
name of Capri was nowhere to be seen on the application form. A copy of Sandy
Andrews of Q.C. Enterprises application for Capri expansion and email correspondence
is attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit HH.

On December 8th, 2020, just thirteen days before the aforementioned application filing
by Sandy Andrews of Q.C. Enterprises, there was a $500 campaign contribution to
Mayor Grasso’s Campaign fund (known as “Grasso4BurrRidge”) by none other than
Q.C. Enterprises, Inc. This fact was not disclosed at the zoning hearing that Q. C.
Enterprises petitioned for. A copy of the Grasso4BurrRidge D-2 statements, listing
contributors and officers is attached hereto as Exhibit II.

CONCLUSION

The issues and information raised herein are compiled by concerned citizens, but further
investigation and action are now needed by governmental agencies with authority to
address these concerns. We appreciate your time and consideration.

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