Live Breaking News & Updates on Politico Illinois Playbook

Stay updated with breaking news from Politico illinois playbook. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.

Chicago's Navy Pier should provide more public transparency on finances


Melissa Askew/Unsplash
Navy Pier is one of Chicago s crown jewels. In a good year the kind that came before the COVID-19 pandemic visitors spend more than $350 million in and around the pier.
And Navy Pier Inc., the nonprofit entity that runs the pier, gets use of this precious public asset by paying $1 a year in rent.
From 2017
Not only that. When Navy Pier Inc. was spun out of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority a decade ago, MPEA, a city-state agency, provided $115 million in taxpayer money for improvements to the century-old pier. Plus at least $60 million in operating funds. Plus vehicles and other equipment worth $2.5 million. Plus a $5 million, interest-free loan. Plus another $220,000 in, well, petty cash let s call it. ....

Mccormick Place , United States , Navy Pier , George Ryan , Gilbert Villegas , Rahm Emanuel , Bill Cunningham , City Council , Payroll Protection Program , Navy Pier Inc , Better Government Association , Pier Exposition Authority , Metropolitan Pier , Exposition Authority , Southwest Side Chicago , Politico Illinois Playbook , Payroll Protection , Better Government , Information Act , Mayor Rahm Emanuel , ம்க்கார்‌மிக் இடம் , ஒன்றுபட்டது மாநிலங்களில் , கடற்படை கப்பல் , ஜார்ஜ் ரியான் , கில்பர்ட் வில்லேகாஸ் , ரஹ்ம் இமானுவேல் ,