Wednesday’s zoning vote marks the final stage of Council approvals for the massive project. Retiring Zoning Commitee Chair Tom Tunney (44th) noted “casinos have been dreamed about - whether it’s a nightmare or a dream” for 30 years, that “there’s risk in everything” and that the primary casino vote “has already happened” back in May. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said Wednesday, pointing to committee votes that occurred before traffic studies and safety plans had been delivered to Council members. This one seemed it was literally turned on its head,” downtown Ald. “This process was like nothing we’ve ever done before. Alderpersons went along with her choice three weeks later. We’re talking about 6,000 jobs” in a neighborhood “we used to call Ghost Town.”Īfter creating a special Council committee to consider “all things” casino, Mayor Lori Lightfoot bypassed that committee, choosing Bally’s in early May. With this casino, we’re gonna get $200 million a year, man, to help us out. Walter Burnett (27th) countered that the casino project is “bigger than anybody’s ego,” adding: “This is something that three administrations have been trying to do. That could come back to haunt us,” Hopkins said.Īld. “We’re hitching our wagon to an inexperienced team.
