- Al Podgorski / Chicago Sun-Times
- Despite intense study, not even Alderman Ed Burke could figure out what the hell’s up with the city’s latest privatization deal.
You know they did.
A Chicago City Council committee signed off Monday on Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s latest privatization deal—even though, after nearly five hours of testimony, aldermen still didn’t quite know how it added up for taxpayers, what its shortfalls might be, or exactly which companies were included in putting it together.
In more than a few places, they weren’t even sure what the contract said.
“As I tried to go through these documents over the weekend, I have to admit, I don’t really have the expertise to understand them,” said Ed Burke, who’s read a few contracts in more than four decades as an alderman and attorney.
Mayoral aides were happy to help.