Chances Chicago City Council Will Pass ComEd Deal Fade

Clip: 3/20/2023 | 2m 41sVideo has Closed Captions

Chicago's 15-year deal with ComEd is in legislative limbo.

The deal Mayor Lori Lightfoot brokered with Commonwealth Edison to extend the beleaguered utility giant’s lucrative contract with the city for 15 years remains mired in legislative limbo, more than a month and a half after she asked members of the Chicago City Council to quickly ratify the deal.

Aired 03/20/2023 | Rating NR

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>>> CHANCES ARE FADING THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL PASS A DEAL TO EXTEND A LOOK AT OF CONTRACT WITH COMMENT.

HEATHER SHARON JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT WHAT WILL BE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S FINAL DEFEAT.

REMIND US WHAT THIS INCLUDES?

>> IT WAS A 15 YEAR DEAL THAT INCLUDED $100 MILLION TO HELP THE CITY BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT ALSO INCLUDES AN AGREEMENT TO BUILD A TRAINING FACILITY THAT WILL COST $32.59 TO TRAIN 10,000 PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE GREEN ENERGY SECTOR AS WELL AS TRAIN ANOTHER 1000 RESIDENTS TO WORK FOR THE COMPANY.

BUT THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.

IT GIVES COMMENT THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO PROVIDE POWER TO CHICAGO HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

WHY WAS IT BLOCKED?

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT UNVEILED THIS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND THAT MEANT THAT ALL 50 MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH THEIR REELECTION AND UNWILLING TO TAKE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT VOTE SO CLOSE TO ELECTION DAY.

HER ENEMIES ON CITY COUNCIL WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HURT HER BEFORE HER TERM.

BUCK WE REMEMBER ABOUT A MONTH AGO THAT THE MAYOR WAS TOUTING THIS AND SAID THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD PASS THIS.

>> $100 MILLION TO GO TO NEIGHBORHOODS CLIMATE EQUITY PROJECTS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT IS COMPANY PROFITS THAT NO OTHER MUNICIPALITY AROUND THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE AT THAT SCALE.

>> IT IS NOT CHANGE ANY MINDS.

WHY?

>> THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

THE WAY THE DEAL ENVISIONED IT WAS TO CREATE A NEW NONPROFIT WITH PEOPLE APPOINTED BY COMED AND THE CITY.

AND WE'VE BEEN COVERING FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS THE TRIAL OF FOUR AFFILIATED FORMER EMPLOYEES AND IT WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONSTERNATION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO COME OUT DURING THIS TRIAL THAT WOULD EMBARRASS ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR.

>> THIS IS THE BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.

PAUL VALLAS , BRANDON JOHNSON.

WHAT IS THEIR PLAN?

>> THEY DO NOT LIKE LORI LIGHTFOOT'S PLAN.

BUT WHOEVER TAKES OFFICE ON MAY 22nd, THIS WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE TO DO LIST BECAUSE THIS AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY OPERATES UNDER WILL HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED.