The gravy train is about to end for a clout-heavy O'Hare Airport concessionaire whose partners have included veteran political operative Jeremiah Joyce, one of former Mayor Richard M. Daley's closest friends in politics.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, Mayor Rahm Emanuel re-introduced a 20-year contract that calls for Westfield Concession Management to quarterback concessions at O'Hare's International Terminal. For much of the Daley administration, the lucrative contract has been held by Chicago Aviation Partners, a partnership between Duty Free International and McDonalds that has included Joyce as a part owner and paid consultant. The contract expired in 2003. It has been extended on a month-to-month basis ever since as the city tried three times to open the lucrative business to competition - and clout-heavy lobbyists lined up on all sides. Westfield is represented by lobbyists Thom Serafin and Tim Dart, brother of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. The firm's property tax appeals have been handled by the law firms of Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee, and Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago). Chicago Aviation Partners is represented by Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine and former Hispanic Democratic Organization chieftain Victor Reyes. The City Council was poised to choose Westfield before Emanuel took office and ordered a thorough review of the agreement to make certain the shopping mall giant was offering the city the best deal. Burned by the 75-year, $1.15 billion deal that privatized Chicago parking meters, aldermen have raised similar questions. Emanuel's decision to re-introduce a contract that died with the old City Council paves the way for a $26 million overhaul that will relocate security checkpoints at the international terminal and build new concession space on the secured side of the terminal. The mayor argued Wednesday that the city would lose $200,000 a month if the contract had to be re-bid.
