Even Millennium Park Is Corrupt!

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Aug 5, 2005 12:37PM

Shirley McMayon, the Chicago park director in charge of contracts for Millennium Park, and two business executives are the latest to be accused of corruption by the feds.

Investigators say McMayon gave out contracts worth $8 million in exchange got about $137,000 worth of bribe money and gifts. The other two indicted were Michael Lowecki, the owner of James Michael Inc. and John Kevin Haas, the company's former COO.

In exchange for awarding James Michael landscaping and lighting conracts, here's some of the stuff McMayon got:

- free skiing trips
- spa visits
- money
- a new computer
- a new bike
- tickets to a Packers game (!)
- over $20k to pay off her car
- vacation to a golf resort

James Michael also submitted bills for services and stuff that was never delivered and McMayon signed off on the bills.

So, now we know part of the reason that Millennium Park was so expensive.. by why was it so late? Are we still blaming Gehry for this one?

Photo via NBC5