More Chicago Way Corruption - Mayor Rahm Emanuel makes airport advertising deal even sweeter for clout-heavy company

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration has quietly approved a $10.5 million addendum to a digital advertising deal at O’Hare Airport that makes it even more lucrative for a clout-heavy company.

The agreement paves the way for Clear Channel Outdoor to take over management of luggage cart services at O’Hare currently controlled by SmartCarte and to sell advertising on those carts.

“This is a supplement to the five-year master agreement approved by the City Council in 2013,” mayoral spokesman Andres Orellana wrote in an email to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“This … adds luggage cart management services for [O’Hare] to the agreement, as was originally contemplated in the Airport Advertising RFP [request for proposals].  Under the Clear Channel agreement, the city receives 21% of luggage cart gross revenues and, for the first time ever, 71% of any advertising revenue.”

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