Friday, March 12, 2010

Reputed mobster charged with rigging bids at Chicago convention center

Major trade shows are abandoning Chicago's McCormick Place--the city's sprawling trade show complex, because of high costs compared to similar facilities in Las Vegas and Orlando. A top-heavy management structure stacked with political hacks is partly responsible, as are arcane union work rules.

But it gets worse, as Chicago Breaking News tells us. Reputed mob lieutenant Rudy Fratto, allegedly a member of the Elmwood Park crew of the Chicago Outfit, has been charged with mail fraud in regards to bid rigging at McCormick Place.

Chicago's convention business is an important jobs engine for the city. Restaurants, taxi firms, and hotels all suffer when trade shows ditch Chicago. McCormick Place's problems should be a major issue in this election year.

Related posts:

Daley looking at partial McCormick Place privatization
Chicago's convention authority: Losing trade shows, padding the payrolls
Union work rules driving trade shows from Chicago
Mayor Daley denounces price gouging at city's convention center
Electrical services costs at Chicago trade show "four to eight times" what they were in Orlando
Dallas wins out over Chicago for new trade show
Chicago's mounting trade show woes
Chicago Tribune: A third major trade show may bail on Chicago
Union "tyranny of the few" drives Plastics Show from Chicago
Marathon Pundit on CBS 2 Chicago
Agency that runs Chicago's convention centers "in deep financial hole"
Union extortionists may drive another trade show from Chicago

Technorati tags:
at

No comments:

Post a Comment