(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago City Council members raised questions and concerns in their first meeting on the mayor’s choice to build a casino in Chicago.
The City Council’s Special Casino committee spent hours questioning City officials and officials from Bally’s Corporation about the Casino plan Mayor Lightfoot has decided is the one that should move forward in Chicago.
Not surprisingly, Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., whose 27th Ward would host the Bally’s River West casino, wants to see the City Council approve the site and the plan.
"We're talking about a billion dollar project coming to the city of Chicago that's going to bring 6,000 jobs," he said.
But 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, an opponent, recalled the disastrous, though quickly approved, parking meter deal during the Daley Administration. He said the council should slow down.
"The idea that we're going to voting on legislation in about a week and we just received a copy of the proposed legislation this afternoon and that we have all these questions outstanding, that really gives me cause for concern."
Aldermen questioned finances, community benefits, ethics and more in what was the only the Special Casino Committee’s second meeting.
During the long hearing, some members of the special casino committee questioned whether Bally’s—which is better known for acquiring properties—has developed a casino as big or expensive as the one in Chicago would be.
Bally’s CEO Soo Kim told the Council members their big Twin River casino outside of Providence, Rhode Island is comparable. He said another factor is that Bally's made sure every job in the facility was a union job and that's not something the company was directed to do, but how it chooses to operate.
Several Aldermen placed a high value on a labor peace agreement, but others cautioned this process is moving too fast and they reminded colleagues of that much maligned parking meter deal.
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