Daley sneak attack on O'Hare Modernization Project

Mrs. Marathon Pundit was at Chicago's O'Hare Airport this morning--she's there often--and she noticed that the short-stay parking lot next to Terminal One, in which every spot is usually taken, was at best, in her words, just one-third full.

I asked her if she was sure, and she replied, "Yes, just one-third full."

Which explains why the airlines servicing O'Hare are now balking at paying their share for the O'Hare Modernization Project (OMP), which would build new runways and increase capacity at Chicago's primary airport.

But the City of Chicago has acquired 600 homes in Bensenville, which is just south of O'Hare, and was hoping to move on to Elk Grove Village to snatch more homes and businesses.

Now the project stopped is stuck in today's February thaw mud.

Or is it?

In a curious and confusing about-face, ABC 7 Chicago reports that the City, even though Mayor Richard Daley who just yesterday said he would not ask that any federal stimulus money to go towards the controversial project, now wants stimulus cash for OMP. Its director told ABC 7's Charles Thomas, "We believe that OMP is perfectly positioned to meet any of the criteria that then gets established to compete for that money."

Daley was in Washington this morning talking stimulus.

But Bensenville's village president John Geils, a vocal OMP opponent, heard Andolino's comment. And he plans to travel to Washington tomorrow to give lawmakers an opposing view on the project, which he calls "a $20 billion boondoggle."

But I have one question tonight? Why the cloak-and-dagger tactics, Mr. Daley?

Watch the video. Andolino's comment could not have possibly been a slip-of-the-tongue.

Related posts:

O'Hare secrets to spill?

O'Hare Modernization Program is now the O'Hare Pork Program

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