By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) Is Chicago finally ready for reform? Chicago Ethics Board Chairman William Conlon is telling aldermen and other city officials that city ethics rules bar them from accepting the White Sox offer of free opening day tickets at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 3rd.

Conlon says the offer of tickets, along with a pre-game cocktail reception, is valued at more than $50, and has nothing to do with one’s official city responsibilities, which means acceptance is prohibited under the gift restrictions of the ethics ordinance.

Last fall, Conlon angered several aldermen when he barred them from accepting the Cubs offer of face value World Series tickets, which were valued at thousands of dollars.

On Wednesday morning, White Sox fan and 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea told “The Big John and Ray Show” on WLS, that he understand Conlon’s position. “In this day and age we should be inviting our first responders and our teachers down for a nice event at the ballpark and not elected officials. It sends the wrong message.”

Last fall during the Cubs controversy, O’Shea advised his City Council colleagues to “buy your own damned tickets.” Now, he tells WLS he will attend Sox opening day against the Detroit Tigers but will pay his own way.

“I will be attending opening day. I’ll be attending the ball game with my 12 year old son. I’ll be in section 556. The nosebleed section. You can actually see the state of Kentucky from where I’ll be perched.”

@ 2017 WLS-AM News