A move to take over control of O'Hare and Midway emerges
A move to take over control of O'Hare and
Midway emerges
Greg Hinz on Politics
Photo by Daniel Acker/Bloomberg
In the newest and potentially biggest challenge to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's weakened
authority, a big union and reportedly several key aldermen are moving to hand control over
the O'Hare and Midway International Airports to an elected, independent airport authority.
The move at this point is taking the form of an advisory referendum, and city officials are
checking to determine whether such a takeover would be legal.
But the proposal could unite a variety of Emanuel foes—including unions, leaders of various
City Council factions and critics of O'Hare's expansion and noise—all under the rubric of
bringing reform to what long has been a seat of mayoral patronage and contract control.
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"This would bring about accountability for more than 6,500 contracts," said Jerry Morrison,
assistant to the president of SEIU's giant 50,000 member Local 1 in Chicago. "It's the last
bastion of patronage. Every contract out there is clouted."
Right now, every other major airport in the country is run not directly out of the local City Hall
but by an authority, sometimes appointed by the local mayor and governor, but in a few
cases elected, Morrison said. "Chicago is the only (major) city in the nation to have the kind
of arrangement we now have."
Despite Morrison's contentions, airport operations around the country frequently are highly
connected to local politics.
New York's airports, for instance, are run by an agency named by the governors of New York
and New Jersey that often has been accused of being a bed of patronage and contract
favoritism. Los Angeles' airports are run by a board named by that city's mayor. Atlanta's
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, frequently the busiest in the world, is run by the
city's Department of Aviation, with some decisions made by Atlanta's City Council.
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SEIU's actual resolution, to be introduced at a press conference tomorrow and first reported
by Politico, calls only for Chicago voters in November to indicate by referendum if the city
should cede back "the right to elect an independent airport authority, to provide independent
oversight and management of" O'Hare and Midway.
Morrison named only one aldermanic supporter—Scott Waguespack, 32nd, but he said
several others are interested.
Waguespack confirmed that he and at least 12 other colleagues are introducing the resolution
“to start a discussion.”
While fair treatment of workers is a major thrust of the proposal, concerns ranging from
security to noise pollution also are on the table, he said. “If you have an airport authority
that's more inclusive, you might get better results . . . than it's just run by one man."
The resolution itself strikes not only the theme of independent oversight but notes safety
concerns, alleged discrimination in awarding jobs, and several disputes with airport
contractors. The resolution only indirectly refers to the fact that SEIU has been warring with
Emanuel since janitorial jobs at O'Hare were outsourced three years ago, costing some union
members their jobs and prompting SEIU to endorse Emanuel's 2005 re-election foe, Cook
County Commissioner Chuy Garcia.
City Hall and major carriers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But the
idea of giving voters a direct voice and perhaps dominant voice in running the airport likely
would not sit well, if only because airport operations tend to be negotiated in great detail
between the carriers and the city's Department of Aviation, with the carriers seeking longterm stability.
SEIU has used the "advisory referendum" tactic before, with some success, most notably
prompting Emanuel to hike the city's minimum wage to $13 after votes in some precincts to
boost the wage to $15 an hour. Beyond that, Emanuel has ceded positions he once opposed,
for instance over the weekend agreeing to establish a new, independent, outside group to
discipline police who break department rules.
Update, 5 p.m. — Several hours after asking, I finally have some city reaction.
From aviation spokesman Owen Kilmer: "This proposal is backwards in its approach, and it
should be noted that no other major airport in the country has an elected airport authority.
Under Mayor Emanuel we have made major strides at the airports—modernizing terminals at
Midway, improving the experience for visitors, adding the first gates at O’Hare in 20 years,
addressing noise, and we are about to break ground on a new runway at O’Hare. We oppose
subjecting thousands of jobs and the economic future of the region to an unknown and
untested political process.”
Note that the statement does not say such a move would be illegal. But Kilmer has a point
that going in this direction really is rolling the economic dice.
Micah Maidenberg contributed.
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