MySpace page generates controversy Councilman under fire for fake ad

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com

November 21, 2008 01:32 am

— GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — Village Councilman P.J. Macchia got an unhappy surprise when he opened his business MySpace account to check his messages last week.
“The message basically said, ‘You have been hacked.’ I didn’t really know what to think of it, so I changed my ‘username’ and password right away.”
It was too late. The person who hacked Macchia’s MySpace account, which he uses to book bands and promote events at the Cove Niteclub, had posted a disturbing “advertisement.” The advertisement, posted as an online bulletin on Nov. 6, calls for women who “like to be watched on camera and get paid for it.” The ad states 10 girls can get paid big money to live in a fully furnished house and have all their activities videotaped.
Village businessman Jim Zender said he doubts Macchia’s account was hacked and said he resents any attempted exploitation of women. Zender also takes issue with the fact a councilman is using MySpace pages.
“Our councilman, while holding office, is using MySpace, a computer and probably his business and connections to lure young girls to do questionable things,” Zender said. “I report this, as this is done while he sits on council. (People) have the right to know. This is dirty business in our little town.”
Macchia leases the local arcade to Zender but has been working to evict the businessman since July.
Macchia admits he uses MySpace frequently but calls the ad “a sick joke.”
“Here we are working to clean up the village, working to make Geneva-on-the-Lake the best place it can be, and someone thinks this is funny,” Macchia said. “No, I can honestly say I never posted anything like this on my MySpace account.”
Macchia said he uses his MySpace account for business purposes and calls it “a networking tool for local talent and bands.”
“MySpace has become a great way to find new bands and promote events at the Cove and in the village,” he said. “Bands look up venues, and venues look up bands. Bands also send their schedules to their fans, and the fans look up concerts. It is a new effective way to promote business.”
Zender said he is standing up for the reputation of all village officials and residents.
“I just feel this is not the kind of people we want holding public office in our little community,” he said. “These type of business practices may be illegal and may even be harmful or dangerous.”
Macchia said the violation of his MySpace account does not represent who he is or the businesses he owns.
“I’m not saying this fake advertisement isn’t a big deal,” Macchia said. “I mean, this is my reputation and my business that has been hurt. But (Zender) makes this public because he is being evicted. That is what this is about.”