Tiffany Henyard, Illinois' "supermayor," hosts lavish party amid controversy over excessive spending, according to a report.
An R&B singer and a rap artist performed at a lavish event.
Tiffany Henyard, the self-proclaimed "supermayor" of a Chicago suburb, is facing criticism after she hosted an $85,000 party with R&B singer Keke Wyatt and rapper J. Holiday last month, but few people showed up, according to media reports.
The mayor of Dolton, Illinois, has faced criticism for her use of taxpayer funds for luxury travel, concerts, and other expenses.
Valeria Stubbs, a former Dolton trustee, said the mini-concert at the "Taste of Thorton Township" event was a failure after attending it herself.
According to records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, J. Holiday was paid $20,000 for a half-hour set, while Wyatt was paid $30,000 to sing for 30 minutes.
The township spent $6,600 on inflatable bounce houses, comedians, a sound system, staff, and equipment.
In total, the gig costs taxpayers at least $85,769.
"Jennifer Robertz, a Lansing resident, was enraged when she heard the news. "I was flabbergasted," she said. "I was pissed off. That’s my money. That’s the people’s money.""
Planet Chronicle Digital has reached out to Henyard.
The Democrat, Henyard, has been at odds with residents and local officials due to her excessive spending and corruption accusations. Recently, she escalated the standoff with the Village of Dolton’s Board of Trustees by holding a board meeting despite its postponement.
Despite the village's finances being in the red, she declared at the meeting that she had cleaned up the village.
The board's request for a federal investigation into Henyard's alleged misuse of funds and their hiring of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to lead a special investigation into the mayor have been vetoed by Henyard.
In May, the board appointed a mayor pro tempore to replace Henyard if she refused to fulfill her responsibilities. Lightfoot's investigation into the town's financial situation showed that Dolton's general fund balance was $5.61 million in 2022, but by May 2024, the balance had decreased to a deficit of $3.65 million.
The trustees have initiated layoffs and are creating their own budget in an attempt to improve the village's financial situation.
Planet Chronicle Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
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