Jan. 23--One of the first times Tribune reporter David Kidwell interviewed Mayor Rahm Emanuel about the city's controversial red light camera program, Emanuel reminded Kidwell who was in charge.
The mayor's office was stonewalling some of Kidwell's public records requests. It was early 2012 and Kidwell was trying to figure out the city's justification for its robust, lucrative camera program. Safety or revenue? Emanuel believed Kidwell's needling went too far.
"I have been in an executive position, and -- I mean this insulting so get it right -- you haven't," Emanuel snapped at Kidwell. "You have not been in the White House. You have not been in the mayor's office."
A year later, the camera program and its operator, Redflex Traffic Systems, were in trouble. Kidwell and colleagues had continued to investigate the clout the camera company enjoyed with City Hall insiders. The first explosive revelation came in October 2012 when the Tribune disclosed a cozy relationship between Redflex and John Bills, a high-ranking city transportation official. Redflex paid for a $910 hotel stay for Bills at an upscale Arizona resort. Bills failed to report the gift on ethics forms. That was red flag No. 1.
There was much more to come.
Bills is now on trial in a major bribery case that illustrates what observers have long described as The Chicago Way. Want city business? You'll need the inside track: Hire connected lobbyists. Contribute to the campaign funds of powerful politicians. Put a few friends on your payroll as consultants. Keep a wad of cash in your wallet. And don't forget to wine and dine the officials who sign off on your contract.
Bills, once the No. 2 official at the Chicago Department of Transportation, is accused of taking up to $2 million in bribes and gifts from Redflex and company officials in exchange for protecting and expanding their contract with the city. The once-struggling camera company got rich quick by landing the lucrative deal in Chicago under former Mayor Richard M. Daley, and then expanded the program under Emanuel.
The Chicago Way helped Redflex triumph, testimony from Bills' trial has alleged. Bills was a precinct captain for House Speaker Michael Madigan. Bills advised Redflex to hire Madigan's preferred lobbyist, William Filan, in order to get favorable treatment. Former campaign aides to Daley and Emanuel also landed work as Redflex lobbyists. Redflex was worried that a competing red light camera company was aligned with Ald. Ed Burke.
Testimony from insiders who are cooperating with prosecutors paints a picture of opportunity, greed and cover-up. Bills allegedly made sure Redflex got the contract to install the cameras. Redflex officials rewarded him with cash, lavish dinners, hotel stays, premiere golf outings, vacations, a Mercedes Benz, a boat.
Eventually, the largesse caught up with him. Prosecutors on Thursday used spreadsheets to allege that for five years Bills routinely made large cash deposits to his bank account -- money evidently obtained from a Redflex middleman, Martin O'Malley, who happened to be a close friend of Bills.
Despite demand from critics to discontinue the camera program, Emanuel and the City Council have resisted. The city has collected more than $700 million in revenue from drivers caught by red light and speed cameras since the program began. The city couldn't possibly forfeit that money spigot.
But now Chicago taxpayers more fully understand the maneuvering behind the scenes. There was a lot of money on the line. A lot of clout attempting to grease the contract. The way Chicago works.
