Redflex Crushed by Chicago Media, Blogs; Loses Bid for Speed Cameras
The Chicago Tribune has been busy exposing the already well known connection between Rahm Emanuel, Redflex Traffic Systems and high dollar lobbyists.
This time the damage was a bit more fatal to Redflex, who has now lost out on the lucrative speed camera dragnet, which Emanuel has forced down the throats of his electorate. And their red light scamera program in Chicago (the largest in the U.S. with 384 cameras) is now in jeopardy.
Local media and blogs have begun piling on the beleaguered Australian camera vendor today, even printing the rejection letter [link] from the city for the speed camera contract proposal.
The whole matter is allegedly based on unreported hotel bills paid by Redflex for John Bills, a Chicago Dept. of Transportation official who oversaw their operations within the city, that amout to $910. It's hard to believe that there isn't more to this particular scandal than just that ethical blunder.
The Expired Meter, a motorist blog in the Windy City summed up the series of events quite nicely, but this is still a developing story:
More on this story from other major media outlets in Chicago:
City axes speed camera firm's bid, citing delay in reporting ethics case (Chicago Tribune)
City's Red-Light Camera Vendor Under Scrutiny (NBC Chicago)
Speed camera contract bid thrown out (WGN TV)
City Tosses Bid By Red Light Camera Vendor For Speed Camera Contract (Chicagoist)
