Quinn jabs Chicago aldermen over parking meter lease - Chicago Tribune

September 09, 2011|By Kristen Mack | Clout Street

Gov. Pat Quinn took a little shot today at Chicago aldermen who passed a resolution urging him to sign into law a major gambling expansion that would net the city a casino.

?This is the same City Council that approved a parking meter proposal. . .I don?t think my neighbors or folks in my neighborhood are very happy with the 75-year parking meter disaster,? Quinn said.

Many aldermen approved the parking meter lease quickly with little discussion under then-Mayor Richard Daley. The deal raised rates and there were problems with implementation.

?To do things in a hasty, ill-considered way is the wrong way and I don?t do it that way," Quinn added.

The governor's comments came after the City Council on Thursday backed Mayor Rahm Emanuel's push to get Quinn to sign the bill. They argued that a Chicago casino would bring new jobs and generate roughly $20 million a month. Emanuel has pledged to use the revenue to rebuild the city.

Quinn has expressed deep reservations, saying the bill is "top heavy" and could weaken gambling oversight. Lawmakers have yet to send it to him.

On Thursday, Emanuel suggested that the gambling bill is different because the proceeds would be used to rebuild Chicago, not fix past mistakes. Emanuel said lessons had been learned from the parking meter lease.

Quinn and Emanuel appeared at an education panel sponsored by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan this afternoon. It was the first public appearance the two have had in weeks. Quinn said they did not discuss the gambling legislation.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGDMWy8X847Dgo3HTwE81ZOfmSZhg&url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-quinn-jabs-chicago-aldermen-over-parking-meter-lease-20110909,0,6936560.story

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