Daley chooses former campaign contributor for first $79 million phase of massive O’Hare expansion

March 4, 2009 by James Bregenzer
Filed under: Corruption, Mayor Daley

Moving forward with his massive O’Hare Modernization Program, Mayor Daley chose former campaign contributor and insider Matthew Walsh last week to complete the majority of the boondoggle’s $79 million first phase.

Daley’s latest contract with Walsh Construction brings their share of the O’Hare Modernization Program to $372 million.

The program, which will do little in terms of actual airport improvement or airline efficiency, continues to receive opposition from major airlines and area residents and moves forward despite the city’s $50 million budget deficit.

The only discernible benefit the program provides is long and lucrative service contracts to Chicago’s most corrupt and politically-connected criminals (remember Tony Rezko?)

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

A clout-heavy company with two generations of ties to the Daley family has been chosen to build the third and final runway in Phase One of Mayor Daley’s massive O’Hare Airport expansion project.

The $79 million contract was awarded Friday to a joint venture of Walsh Construction and T.J. Lambrecht Construction. That brings Walsh’s share of the O’Hare expansion gravy train to nine contracts valued at $372.6 million.

Matthew Walsh’s father grew up with Mayor Daley’s father, former Mayor Richard J. Daley. Before Richard M. Daley stopped accepting campaign contribution from city contractors in the wake of the Hired Truck scandal, the Walsh family had been among the mayor’s most reliable contributors.