Rahm Calls for Independent Investigation of Lollpalooza Contract with City
By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 18, 2011 9:40PM
If you missed yesterday's live webcast between Mayor Emanuel and Andy Shaw of the Better Government Association, you missed Emanuel's most pointed comments yet about looking into the city's contract with Lollapalooza, which includes a very hearty amusement tax exemption.
Emanuel reiterated his intent to appoint an independent investigator to review the contract, which was negotiated in part by Mark Vanecko, one of former Mayor Richard M. Daley's nephews. Emanuel insists an independent investigator is necessary so that there are no conflicts of interests. Emanuel's brother Ari is the chairman of William Morris Endeavor, one of the co-owners of Lollapalooza with C3 Presents LLC. This is a position in which Emanuel has been consistent since the subject of the Lollapalooza contract was first broached during his mayoral campaign.
Emanuel told Shaw:
"First of all, I didn't come here [to the Mayor's office] so any member of my family could make money," he told Shaw. "So what I said in the campaign, which I think is the appropriate thing, [is that] I want this [to be] totally independent. I want either the Park District or the City Council to set up a third party to deal with it. I don't want to be near it."
Emanuel also said the decision to appoint an independent investigator should come from either the Park District of City Council.