New levels of distancing

Chamber executive who asks businesses for money stiffed landlord, records show

Some south suburban elected officials are distancing themselves froma group that is soliciting money from local businesses and endorsing candidates in political contests.

Public records and interviews with nearly a dozen local officials and former associates raise questions about the Southland Black

Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its president and CEO, CornelDarden.

Darden denied anywrongdoing and said he is engaged in a bitter dispute with a former business partner.

“Larry Ivory, he hates me with a passion,” Darden said. “I think he’s jealous of our success. What he’s trying to do is hurtful to Black people and Black businesses in the Southland.”

Ivory is president and CEO of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce, based in Peoria. Ivory andDarden co-founded the South Suburban Region Black

Chamber of Commerce& Industry in Joliet in early 2019. Both are no longer involved with the organization, which nowis based in Matteson.

Ivory said he disapproves of howDarden conducts himself.

“He has some questionable business practices,” Ivory said.

Donnell Cole, current president of the South Suburban Region Black Chamber of Commerce and Industry, saidDarden left the organization in summer 2019 after chamber representatives confronted him about expenses and filed a Joliet police report that alleged misuse of funds.

“Therewere some questionable transactions,” Cole said.

The organization questioned Darden about more than $20,000 in unaccounted funds, Cole said, and police records showed.

Darden’s new group, the Southland Black Chamber, has endorsed several political candidates in this year’s election. State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, gets the group’s nod in the 40th District state Senate race against Republican EricWallace, of Flossmoor. Democrat Debbie Meyers-Martin, of Olympia Fields, is endorsed over RepublicanMax Solomon, ofHazel Crest, in the 38th District state representative race.

Republicans, however, are endorsed in other key contests, which some may consider unusual, considering that only 8% of Blacks supportedRepublican

Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

Darden’s group has endorsed RepublicanNick Ficarello over Democrat Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant in the race forWill County executive. It has endorsed Republican TomMcCullagh, of Shorewood, over DemocratMeg Loughran Cappel, of Joliet, in the

49th District state Senate seat being vacated by Bertino-Tarrant.

Republican JackieHaas, of Bourbonnais, is endorsed in the 79th District state representative contest over Democrat Charlene Eads, of Bradley, in a contest to replace state Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst, R-Kankakee.

Darden said the endorsed Republican candidates better represent the concerns of Black smallbusiness owners.

“We believe politics are local,” he said.“We like elected officials who are open, accessible, who share informationwith us and who care about issues that concern Black businesses, especially minority participation in contracting.”

Wealthy Chicago entrepreneur andU.S. Senate candidateWillieWilson is scheduled to appear at a Southland BlackChambersponsored event Oct. 7 at a church in Joliet. A flyer promoting the event featuredWill County Board memberHerb Brooks, D-Joliet.

Brooks said hewould not be present at the event at the same time asWilson, who is running as an independent against incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin, Republican challenger Mark Curran and others. “Letme be clear, I’m not affiliated withWillieWilson in anyway,” Brooks said.

Brooks, a minister, said hewas asked by another pastor to attend.

“Theywantedme to help raise awareness about the chamber,” Brooks said. “I have nothing to do with CornelDarden.”

Others have distanced themselves fromDarden and the Southland Black Chamber, including Country Club HillsMayor James Ford. On Sept. 21, Ford sent a letter to merchants using stationary with the official village logo and labeled, “Business Alert—Solicitation.” A copywas obtained by theDaily Southtown.

The letterwarned business owners about solicitations by the Southland Black Chamber.

“This organization is in no way approved, supported or endorsed by the city of Country Club Hills,” Ford wrote.

In an interview, Ford said he felt obliged towarn community members.

“Iwant people to understand the organization is not legitimate and the president and CEO has experienced issues with investment of money,” Ford said.

Ford said he toldDarden the Southland Black Chamber could not solicit memberships fromother Country Club Hills merchants unless it first obtained a business license, as required by ordinance.

Darden said the ordinance requires businesses to pay the village a fee to join a village-sponsored chamber of commerce that is inactive.

“Mayor Ford has aweird notion about what it means to be representative of the people,” Darden said.“We have about 10 members in Country Club Hills.

They’re extremely happy with us. We provide great value to our members.”

In a police report filed in July 2019 with the Joliet Police Department, three representatives of the

South SuburbanRegion Black Chamber of Commerce& Industry, vice presidentNauteia Brass, chief financial officer

Lavita Blackwell and board memberMatthewWylie, allegedDarden falsified paperwork that removed Blackwell froman account atHarris Bank and added Darden’s wife, Erica Chiang, as an authorized signer. Chiang is vice president of the Southland Black Chamber.

The three said that $20,000 to $30,000 in funds raised during an event on July 29, 2019, had been deposited into the account, and claimedDarden had removed an unknown amount fromthe account without authorization.

The Southland Black Chamberwebsite lists its mailing address as 1017 Richards St., Joliet. Darden said he and Chiang live in the two-story home at the address.

The property is owned by Michelle BrassMcAdams, public records showed. McAdams provided an affidavit stating she rented the home to

Darden and Chiang, but sought to terminate the lease inNovember 2019 over nonpayment of rent.

McAdams testified she granted an extension allowing them to remain in the home until February but had obtained an eviction order forMarch 19. Then Gov. J.B. Pritzker halted evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a result of this I have been stuck,” she wrote, according to a copy that she provided. “CornelDarden and Erica Chiang are riding on the coronavirus train even thought their eviction was pre-COVID.”

McAdams filed a civil action inWill County Circuit Court. In July, Judge Domenica Osterberger awardedMcAdams a $6,947 judgment for nonpayment of rent against Darden and Chiang plus $1,129 in fees, court records showed.

Darden and Chiang did not appear in court, records showed. Darden on Thursday claimed no knowledge of the judgment against him.

“Iwasn’t aware of that,” he said. “I knowwith the pandemic the courts have been kind ofweird. I’ve never not paid rent.”

In an interview, McAdams said she is more than $6,000 behind on her mortgage for the home and in danger of losing the property to foreclosure.

“Cornell told me Iwill not see another dime out of him,” she said. “My house is in arrears, and they’re having barbecues over there.”

Other oddities arose during an investigation into the Southland Black Chamber. A membership directory on itswebsite lists public entities aswell as private businesses. The CalumetMemorial Park District, serving Calumet City and other towns, is listed.

“Iwas not aware of that,” Targett Johnson, executive director, said Thursday. “I just recently came to the park district.”

Darden said the city of ChicagoHeights and the village of Lynwoodwere members of his chamber.

ChicagoHeights Mayor David Gonzalez and LynwoodMayor Gene

Williams did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment.