CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Chicago City Council's special Casino Committee will meet on Monday to discuss the mayor’s selection to have Bally's build a casino and hotel complex in the River West area. But, there’s some grumbling about her choice.
The council’s Casino Committee only met once and members raised questions about what were, then, three competing bids and no votes were taken. Downtown Alderman Brendan Reilly was among those surprised that Mayor Lightfoot named the Bally’s Corporation proposal, the recipient of the casino license, before they could meet again.
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“I think a number of my colleagues are not happy about that recent development and feel that this process is being expedited to produce the result that was arrived upon some time ago,” Reilly said.
Mayor Lightfoot insisted aldermen had plenty of opportunities for input into the selection process before now. A number of them disagree.
“There are a lot of mixed opinions, but when the committee concluded last week, there were a lot of skeptics on that committee, and many of those committee members are chairmen on the city council, who typically agree with the administration,” said Reilly.
But, Mayor Lightfoot does not seem concerned about the opposition.
“We have and we will continue to engage with city council members. There are going to be some that will vote no, and that’s how the world turns,” Lightfoot said during Thursday’s press conference.
Council approval is needed for the casino to be built.
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