Editing Richard M. Daley (section)

=== Fifth term (2003–2007) ===
On February 26, 2003, Daley took 78.5% of the vote to prevail over challenger Reverend Paul Jakes Jr.<ref name=daleys22/> Daley endorsed [[same-sex marriage]], saying on February 18, 2004, he would have "no problem" with Cook County issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago Mayor Backs Gay Marriage |date=February 19, 2004 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/chicago-mayor-backs-gay-marriage |access-date=January 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205072718/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,111882,00.html |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/us/daley-backs-marriage-for-gays-in-chicago.html | title=Daley Backs Marriage for Gays in Chicago | date=February 20, 2004 | access-date=December 1, 2012 | newspaper=[[New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>Simon, Scott [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129793408 "Chicago's Recommended Daley Allowance"] NPR September 11, 2010 Retrieved November 30, 2010</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine in its April 25, 2005 issue named Daley as the best out of five mayors of large cities in the United States, and characterized Daley as having "imperial" style and power.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050214,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418014008/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050214,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2005 |title=The 5 Best Big-City Mayors |first=Nancy |last=Gibbs |magazine=Time |date=April 17, 2005}}</ref> In May 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland the United Nations [[United Nations Convention Against Torture#Committee against Torture|Committee Against Torture]] released a report which noted the "limited investigation and lack of prosecution" into allegations of torture in Areas 2 and 3 of the Chicago Police Department and called on American authorities to "promptly, thoroughly and impartially" investigate the allegations, and provide the committee with more information.<ref>{{citation |title=Judge Rules Report on Police in Chicago Should Be Released |first=Monica |last=Davey |date=May 20, 2006 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/us/20chicago.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Committee against Torture, Thirty-sixth session |date=May 2006 |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/45c30bbf0.html |publisher=United Nations |access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref> Daley was inducted into the [[Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame]] in 2006 as a Friend of the Community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year |title=Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame |access-date=June 28, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017032241/http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year |archive-date=October 17, 2015 }}</ref>{{Primary source inline|reason=secondary source needed for noteworthiness|date=July 2015}}

==== Daley orders demolition of Meigs Field ====
[[File:Meigs field runway4.JPG|thumb|right|Meigs Field Runway a few days after destruction ordered by Mayor Daley, April 2003]]
A long-standing agreement between the city and state required the city to maintain and operate [[Meigs Field]], a small, downtown, lakefront airport on [[Northerly Island]] used by [[general aviation]] aircraft and helicopters, until 2011 or turn it over to the state. On September 12, 1996, the City Council approved Daley's plan to convert the airport into a park, and the state began planning to take over operation of the airport.<ref>{{cite news | title=Heavyweight Brawl on Lightweight Airport | date=September 12, 1996 | access-date=December 1, 2012 | author=Terry, Don | newspaper=[[New York Times]] | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/12/us/heavyweight-brawl-on-lightweight-airport.html}}</ref> Fresh off a 2003 re-election mandate, one of Daley's first major acts was ordering the demolition of Meigs Field. On Sunday, March 30, 2003, shortly before midnight, transport trucks carrying construction equipment moved onto Meigs with Chicago Police escort. By early Monday morning, city crews excavated six large X's into the only runway. The city's 50 aldermen, Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]], the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and the [[Department of Homeland Security]] were not consulted on the plan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley rips up Meigs runways in surprise raid; Terror concerns prompt closing, irate mayor says |date=April 1, 2003 |first1=Gary |last1=Washburn |first2=Jon |last2=Hilkevitch |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/04/01/daley-rips-up-meigs-runways-in-surprise-raid/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Daley's midnight raid |date=April 1, 2003 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/04/01/daleys-midnight-raid/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/01/us/chicago-mayor-bulldozes-a-small-downtown-airport.html | title=Chicago Mayor Bulldozes A Small Downtown Airport | date=April 1, 2003 | access-date=December 1, 2012 | author=Fountain, John W | newspaper=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> The demolition of the runway trapped planes. In the days following, many of those aircraft were able to take off using the [[taxiway]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-2-014x.html |title=AOPA Online: Stranded Meigs pilots can go NOW! |publisher=Aopa.org |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720045652/http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-2-014x.html |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

"To do this any other way would have been needlessly contentious," Daley explained at a news conference Monday morning.<ref>{{cite news |title=When the mayor bulldozed an airport |date=May 1, 2011 |first=Eric |last=Zorn |url=http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2011/05/when-the-mayor-bulldozed-an-airport.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Daley argued that the airport was a threat to Chicago's high-rise cityscape and its high-profile skyscrapers, such as the [[Willis Tower|Sears Tower]] and the [[John Hancock Center]]. Daley criticized the Federal Aviation Administration, saying "Now, think of that; Mickey and Minnie have it. I mean, I can't believe that. They get it first before we get it?", referring to the post-[[9/11]] air space restrictions in place over [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref name=commentary>{{cite news |title=Rich commentary, The words of Mayor Richard M. Daley |date=April 30, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-04-30/news/ct-met-daley-quotes-0501-20110430_1_flight-attendants-racial-politics-chicago-river|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923074848/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-04-30/news/ct-met-daley-quotes-0501-20110430_1_flight-attendants-racial-politics-chicago-river|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2011}}</ref><ref name=stoopidest/><ref>{{cite news |title=Daley blasts air-ban decisions, Mayor vents anger over flight curbs for Disney parks |date=March 20, 2003 |first1=Michael |last1=Kilian |first2=David |last2=Heinzmann |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-03-20/news/0303200314_1_flight-restrictions-homeland-security-department-parks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602101341/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-03-20/news/0303200314_1_flight-restrictions-homeland-security-department-parks|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2015}}</ref> "The signature act of Richard Daley's 22 years in office was the midnight bulldozing of Meigs Field," according to ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' columnist [[Eric Zorn]].<ref>{{cite news |title=When the mayor bulldozed an airport; Daley's action inspired admiration, outrage and amusement |date=April 30, 2011 |first=Eric |last=Zorn |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/04/30/when-the-mayor-bulldozed-an-airport/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] }}</ref> "He ruined Meigs because he wanted to, because he could," ''Chicago Tribune'' columnist [[John Kass]] wrote of Daley.<ref name=richandme>{{cite news |title=Rich and me: How we fell out; I once believed in the bungalow mayor, the neighborhood guy who didn't put on airs. Unfortunately, that guy didn't exist |first=John |last=Kass |author-link=John Kass |date=May 5, 2011 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0505-20110505,0,3260675,full.column |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509031035/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0505-20110505,0,3260675,full.column |archive-date=May 9, 2011  }}</ref> "The issue is Daley's increasingly authoritarian style that brooks no disagreements, legal challenges, negotiations, compromise or any of that messy give-and-take normally associated with democratic government," the ''Chicago Tribune'' editorialized.<ref>{{cite news |title=A pre-emptive strike on Meigs |date=April 1, 2003 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/04/01/a-pre-emptive-strike-on-meigs/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> The Federal Aviation Administration cited the city for failure to comply with federal law requiring thirty-day advance notice to the FAA of plans for an airport closure. The city was fined $33,000,{{efn|{{inflation|US|33000|2003|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}} the maximum allowable. The city paid the fine and repaid $1 million{{efn|{{inflation|US|1000000|2003|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}} in misspent federal airport development grants. Daley defended his actions by claiming that the airport was abandoned, in spite of the fact that the Chicago Fire Department had several helicopters based on the field at the time, in addition to the dozens of private aircraft left stranded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=b97838cf-68d0-4d01-8dfc-bffd3366a7ff |title=Daley Cries 'Uncle', Reaches Deal with FAA for Meigs Mess |publisher=Aero-News |date=September 19, 2006 |access-date=December 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729081533/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=b97838cf-68d0-4d01-8dfc-bffd3366a7ff |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Hired Truck Program scandal ====
{{Main|Hired Truck Program}}
The $40 million-a-year Hired Truck program was the biggest scandal of Daley's first 15 years as mayor.<ref>{{citation |title=Hired Truck probe a routine matter, Daley insists |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=May 5, 2004 |first=Fran |last=Spielman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hired Trucks to homicide: Much that Daley faced in 2004 took years to surface |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Chris |last2=Fusco |date=June 12, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/5868507-452/the-watchdogs-hired-trucks-to-homicide--much-that-daley-faced-in-2004-took-years.html}}</ref> The Hired Truck Program hired private truck companies to do city work. A six-month investigation by the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' resulted in a three-day series of articles in January 2004 that revealed some participating companies were being paid for doing little or no work, had [[American Mafia]] connections or were tied to city employees, or paid bribes to get into the program. Between 1996 and 2004, companies in the Hired Truck Program gave more than $800,000 in campaign contributions to various politicians, including Daley, House Speaker [[Michael Madigan]], and Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]]; Daley received at least $108,575 and his brother John Daley and his ward organization more than $47,500.<ref>{{citation |title=Hired Trucks Thrive in Daley's Ward—Many truck firms in program operate out of mayor's 11th Ward power base—11th Ward companies, big and small, cash in on program—and give to politicians |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 26, 2004 |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Steve |last2=Warmbir}}</ref>

Mark Gyrion, Daley's [[second cousin]], was a superintendent of garages for the city's Water Management Department, and among his duties was deciding when City-owned trucks should be sold for scrap. Gyrion's mother-in-law's firm, Jacz Transportation, participated in the Hired Truck Program, receiving about $1 million between 1998 and 2004. Jacz Transportation bought a truck three days after the city sold it to a [[Franklin Park, Illinois|Franklin Park]] dealership and then leased it back to the city. Gyrion was accused of failing to disclose his mother-in-law's role in the Hired Truck Program and the transfer of the truck. Gyrion was fired and Jacz Transportation was one of 13 truck companies suspended from the Hired Truck program. About 35% of the 70 firms in the program were suspended or referred to the city's Inspector General.<ref>{{citation |title='No sacred cows': Mayor fires cousin—whose mother-in-law leased truck |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=February 10, 2004 |first=Fran |last=Spielman}}</ref> The program was overhauled in 2004, and phased out in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last=Novak|first=Tim|title=Paid to do nothing|url=http://www.ipsn.org/streets_and_sanitation/getting_in.html|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=February 28, 2011|author2=Warmbir, Steve|date=January 23, 2004}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Hired Trucks to homicide: Much that Daley faced in 2004 took years to surface |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Chris |last2=Fusco |date=June 12, 2011 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/5868507-452/the-watchdogs-hired-trucks-to-homicide--much-that-daley-faced-in-2004-took-years.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref>

==== Daley patronage chief among officials convicted of fraud ====
On July 5, 2006, Robert Sorich, formally, director of the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and, informally, Daley's [[patronage]] chief, and Timothy McCarthy, Sorich's aide, were each convicted on two counts of mail fraud connected to rigging blue-collar city jobs and promotions. Sorich's best friend, former Streets and Sanitation official Patrick Slattery was convicted of one count of mail fraud. A former Streets and Sanitation managing deputy commissioner was found guilty of lying to federal agents about political hiring.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley jobs chief guilty; Jury convicts 4 in city hiring fraud; feds say, 'Stay tuned' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/07/daley-jobs-chief-guilty/ |first1=Rudolph |last1=Bush |first2=Dan |last2=Mihalopoulos |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=July 6, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/us/07chicago.html | title=Chicago Officials Convicted in Patronage Arrangement | date=July 7, 2006 | access-date=December 1, 2012 | author=Ruethling, Gretchen | newspaper=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> Sorich, McCarthy and Slattery lived in the Bridgeport neighborhood in 11th Ward, the Daley family's home neighborhood and ward. "I've never known them to be anything but hard working, and I feel for them at this difficult time," Daley said.<ref>{{cite news |title=In terms of clout, city's 11th Ward towers above rest |date=July 19, 2005 |first1=Mickey |last1=Ciokajlo |first2=Robert |last2=Becker |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/07/19/in-terms-of-clout-citys-11th-ward-towers-above-rest/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/06/AR2006070601563.html | title=Favoritism Trial Hurts Chicago Mayor | date=July 7, 2006 | access-date=December 1, 2012 | author=Slevin, Peter | newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> "It is fair criticism to say I should have exercised greater oversight to ensure that every worker the city hired, regardless of who recommended them, was qualified and that proper procedures were always followed," Daley admitted a few days later.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/11/daley-i-could-have-done-more-2/ |title=Daley says 'should have exercised greater oversight' |first=Gary |last=Washburn |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=July 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Daley Says He Should Have Exercised More Hiring Oversight |first=Ben |last=Calhoun |date=July 11, 2006 |publisher=[[WBEZ]] |url=http://www.wbez.org/story/news/local/daley-says-he-should-have-exercised-more-hiring-oversight |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200523/http://www.wbez.org/story/news/local/daley-says-he-should-have-exercised-more-hiring-oversight |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Weeks later, [[David Axelrod (political consultant)|David Axelrod]], a Democratic political consultant whose clients included Daley, defended patronage in an [[op-ed]] in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Well-oiled Machine; A system that works? Political debts contribute to better city services |date=August 21, 2005 |first=David |last=Axelrod |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/08/21/a-well-oiled-machine/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=An Axelrod to Grind |first=Steve |last=Rhodes |date=January 7, 2010 |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/An_Axelrod_to_Grind.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=January 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330171614/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/An_Axelrod_to_Grind.html |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Daley son concealed city contracting ====
Mayor Daley's son [[Patrick R. Daley]] was an [[MBA]] student at the [[Booth School of Business|University of Chicago Graduate School of Business]] working as an unpaid intern at Cardinal Growth, a Chicago [[venture capital]] firm, when he profited from two Cardinal Growth ventures formed to win city contracts while concealing his role. Patrick's cousin, and Mayor Daley's nephew, is Robert G. Vanecko. In June 2003, Patrick and Vanecko formed a Delaware company, MSS Investors LLC, and invested $65,000 each.{{efn|{{inflation|US|65000|2003|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}} MSS Investors LLC in turn purchased a 5% stake in Municipal Sewer Services, a Cardinal Growth venture. Patrick and Vanecko failed to disclose their ownership stake in Municipal Sewer Services as required by city ethics ordinances.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley's son also invested in city sewer deal |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Chris |last2=Fusco |date=June 6, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/5743011-452/daleys-son-also-invested-in-city-sewer-deal.html}}</ref> Brunt Brothers Transfer Inc. was one of the largest black-owned contractors in the [[Hired Truck]] program. Municipal Sewer Services partnered with Brunt Brothers Transfer Inc. in their bid for City sewer-inspection contracts. Five months after Patrick and Vanecko became owners, Municipal Sewer Services' city contract was extended by $3 million,{{efn|{{inflation|US|3000000|2003|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}} the first of two no-bid contract extensions, totaled an additional 23 months and $4 million.{{efn|{{inflation|US|4000000|2004|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}} Patrick and Vanecko cashed out their initial investment after about a year as the federal investigation into the Hired Truck program advanced. Patrick and Vanecko got a $13,114 "tax distribution" in December 2004. Patrick, then 29 and a recent University of Chicago MBA graduate, enlisted in the [[US Army]].<ref name=son>{{cite news |title=Daley's son's secret deal; Mayor signed pacts, but spokeswoman says he didn't know his son was an owner of a sewer-inspection business that did city work |first=Tim |last=Novak |date=December 14, 2007 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/3192303-418/sewer-services-municipal-daley-company.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref><ref name=folds>{{cite news |title=Sewer firm tied to Mayor Richard Daley's son folds |date=April 24, 2008 |first1=Todd |last1=Lighty |first2=Dan |last2=Mihalopoulos |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-04-24/news/0804231029_1_mayor-daley-city-contracts-robert-bobb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812041823/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-04-24/news/0804231029_1_mayor-daley-city-contracts-robert-bobb |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> The day after the Mayor's son's and nephew's hidden involvement in the city contract was disclosed by the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', Daley spoke at a Chicago police recruit graduation ceremony, then left for [[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]] to see his son deployed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley quiet on son's tie to deal; Owned stake in firm with city contracts |date=December 15, 2007 |first1=Mickey |last1=Ciokajlo |first2=Ray |last2=Gibson |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/12/15/daley-quiet-on-sons-tie-to-deal/}}</ref> Before departing, Mayor Daley read a statement to reporters, his voice cracking, fighting back tears,

<blockquote>I did not know about [Patrick's] involvement in this company. As an adult, he made that decision. It was a lapse in judgement for him to get involved with this company. I wish he hadn't done it. I know the expectations for elected officials, their families, are very high—rightfully so—especially for me.&nbsp;... Patrick is a very good son. I love him. Maggie and I are very proud of him. I hope you respect I have nothing more to say on this.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor calls son's deal a 'lapse in judgment' |date=December 19, 2007 |first=Gary |last=Washburn |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-12-19/news/0712180755_1_mayor-richard-daley-navy-pier-contract|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812041631/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-12-19/news/0712180755_1_mayor-richard-daley-navy-pier-contract|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref></blockquote>

Mayor Daley also said he didn't know if there were other city contracts involving the younger Daley.<ref>{{cite news |title=This one fails the smell test |date=December 20, 2007 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/12/20/this-one-fails-the-smell-test/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor in dark: aide; Says Daley had no role in sewer firm's pact with city |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=December 15, 2007 |first=Fran |last=Spielman}}</ref> The city's [[Inspector General]] and federal authorities began investigations in December 2007. Patrick and Vanecko hired [[criminal defense attorney]]s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley kin lawyer up; Contract Probe; Son, nephew hire criminal defense attorney |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=March 27, 2009 |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Fran |last2=Spielman}}</ref> Municipal Sewer Services LLC folded in April 2008.<ref name=folds/> In January 2011, Anthony Duffy, the president of Municipal Sewer Services, was charged with three counts of mail fraud in conjunction with minority-contracting and Jesse Brunt and his company, Brunt Brothers Transfer Inc., were indicted on three counts of mail fraud. Patrick and Vanecko were not charged.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daley son's business partner indicted for mail fraud |first=Tim |last=Novak |date=January 7, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/3193061-418/brunt-company-owned-duffy-sewer.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Former business partner of Daley's son indicted; Bartlett man accused of using minority-owned business as a front |date=January 6, 2011 |first1=Hal |last1=Dardick |first2=Jeff |last2=Coen |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/01/06/former-business-partner-of-daleys-son-indicted/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Key players in city sewer-cleaning case |first=Tim |last=Novak |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/3172334-417/mss-chicago-daley-business-company.html |access-date=December 1, 2012}}</ref>

In 2005, Concourse Communications, another Cardinal Growth venture, signed a city contract for airport [[Wi-Fi]] service at city-owned [[Ohare|O'Hare]] and [[Midway Airport|Midway]] airports. For years, the Daley administration maintained that Patrick had no financial stake in the deal. Concourse disclosed its investors to the city, as required, but Patrick was not reported. Patrick lined up investors for Concourse. On June 27, 2006, nine months after Concourse signed the contract, Concourse was sold at a 33% profit to [[Boingo Wireless]] Inc. for $45 million.{{efn|{{inflation|US-GDP|45000000|2006|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}} On June 30, 2006, Patrick received the first of five payments totaling $708,999.{{efn|{{inflation|US-GDP|708999|2006|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}} On December 3, 2007, shortly after Patrick received the last of those payments, Mayor Daley's press secretary, Jacquelyn Heard said Patrick Daley "has no financial interest with the Wi-Fi contract at O'Hare."<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Mayor Daley's son profited after airport Wi-Fi deal |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Chris |last2=Fusco |date=June 6, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/5754016-452/former-mayor-daleys-son-profited-after-airport-wi-fi-deal.html}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' editorialized, "...&nbsp;the conflict of interest was blatant."<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethics laws can't stop every schemer |date=June 9, 2011 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref>

==== Park Grill contracting scandal ====
[[File:Mayor Daley Revealing Chicago.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chicago Mayor]] Richard M. Daley at the opening of the 2005 ''Revealing Chicago'' Exhibition in the [[Boeing Gallery]] and [[Chase Promenade]] in [[Millennium Park]].]] In 2003, an operating company included over 80 investors,<ref>{{cite news |first=Kenneth L R. |last=Patchen |title=Licata defends restaurant deal |work=Highland Park News |date=February 24, 2005}}</ref> including some of Mayor Daley's friends and neighbors<ref name=oversight>{{cite news |title=Millennium Park oversight plan advances |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=May 9, 2007 |first=Fran |last=Spielman|page=66, Financial section}}</ref> won, under controversial circumstances, a lucrative contract to operate the [[Park Grill]], the only restaurant in the new [[Millennium Park]].<ref name=cloutheavycafe>{{cite news |first1=Tim |last1=Novak |first2=Steve |last2=Warmbir |first3=Robert |last3=Herguth |first4=Mark |last4=Brown|title=City puts heat on clout-heavy cafe; Changes ordered at Park Grill, with Daley cronies among backers |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=February 11, 2005 |page=6, News section}}</ref> In 2005 Daley criticized the deal, saying that the city wanted to renegotiate the pact.<ref name=parkperks>{{cite news |magazine=Crain's Chicago Business |last=Hinz |first=Greg |title=Park perks; Why did the city just get three local bids for a world class restaurant location? |date=February 28, 2005 |access-date=March 18, 2010 |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?article_id=23154}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Gary |last1=Washburn |first2=Liam |last2=Ford |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-02-17/news/0502170373_1_millennium-park-millennium-park-restaurant |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711094306/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-02-17/news/0502170373_1_millennium-park-millennium-park-restaurant |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |title=City wants new park restaurant pact - Millennium eatery got sweet deal, Daley says |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=June 1, 2010 |date=February 17, 2005}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' dubbed the Park Grill the "Clout Cafe"<ref name=emails>{{cite news |first=Fran |last=Spielman |title=Daley: City ethics panel given 'clout cafe' e-mails; Role of park official involved with restaurant partner being probed |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=March 25, 2005 |page=10, News section}}</ref><ref name=cloutcafe>{{Cite news| last=Rhodes |first=Steve |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Clout-Cafe-Wins-Again.html|title=Clout Cafe Wins Again |publisher=[[WMAQ-TV]] |access-date=March 15, 2010 |date=July 28, 2009}}</ref> and included the contract award process in a year-end review of 2005 Daley administration scandals.<ref name=rough>{{cite news |first=Fran |last=Spielman |title=Daley's rough year: Wave of Scandals weakens mayor's influence|page=16, news section |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 2, 2006}}</ref> The contract was never renegotiated, and after Daley announced he would not seek a seventh term, the owners of the Park Grill sought to sell.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clouted Park Grill owners want to sell Millennium Park eatery |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/4479391-418/clouted-park-grill-owners-want-to-sell-millenium-park-eatery.html |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=March 25, 2011}}</ref> Deposed in August 2013 in Mayor [[Rahm Emanuel]]'s administration's lawsuit to renegotiate the contract, former Mayor Daley responded "I don't recall" 139 times.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Mayor Daley under oath in city's Millennium Park lawsuit: 'I don't know what I knew' |first=Tim |last=Novak |date=October 18, 2013 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No known way of knowing now what Daley knows about what he knew |first=Mark |last=Brown |date=October 21, 2013 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref>

==== Long-term leases of public infrastructure ====
In January 2006, [[Skyway Concession Company]], a joint venture between the Australian [[Macquarie Infrastructure Group]] and Spanish [[Cintra|Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte S.A.]], paid the City $1.83 billion{{efn|{{inflation|US-GDP|1830000000|2006|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}} for rights to operate the [[Chicago Skyway]] and collect tolls for 99 years. The deal was the first of its kind in the U.S.<ref name=daleys22/><ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago privatizes Skyway toll road in $1.8 billion deal; City says $1.8 billion deal will help pay off large debts |date=October 17, 2004 |first=Alyson |last=Brodsy |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=37412 |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204020/http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=37412 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In December 2006, [[Morgan Stanley]] paid Chicago $563 million{{efn|{{inflation|US-GDP|563000000|2006|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}} for a 99-year lease of the city's parking garages.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago's 99-Year Parking Garage Lease Draws Taxpayer Suit |first=Andrew |last=Harris |date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-14/chicago-s-99-year-parking-garage-lease-draws-taxpayer-suit-1-.html |access-date=December 16, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/chicago-parkingmeters-idUSN0227950220081202 |title=Chicago leases parking meters for $1.16 billion |first=Andrew |last=Stern |work=Reuters |date=December 2, 2008 |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140429/http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/12/02/chicago-parkingmeters-idUSN0227950220081202 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aNqps6bJnmjE&refer=us |title=Chicago Receives $1.16 Billion for Metered Spaces |first=Adam L. |last=Cataldo |publisher=Bloomberg |date=December 2, 2008}}</ref>  "I'm the one who started talking about leasing public assets. No other city has done this in America," Daley recalled in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=One-on-One with Mayor Richard Daley |date=November 2, 2009 |access-date=April 23, 2013 |first=Alison |last=Cuddy |publisher=[[Chicago Public Radio]] |url=http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/one-one-mayor-richard-daley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203123/http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/one-one-mayor-richard-daley |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=A Round of Really!?! With Mayor Daley |first= Mick |last=Dumke |date=November 5, 2009 |access-date=April 23, 2013 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/questions-for-mayor-daley-on-tifs-parking-meters-and-the-city-budget-crisis/Content?oid=1227426 |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]]}}</ref> [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning commentator [[George F. Will]] wrote of the deals in ''[[The Washington Post]]'',

<blockquote>Unfortunately, Daley's theory—that it can be better to get a sum X immediately, rather than getting over many years a sum Y that is substantially larger than X—assumes something that cannot be assumed. It assumes that governments will prudently husband sudden surges of revenue from the lease or sale of assets.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020702134.html |title=Daley's Art of The Lease |date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=December 1, 2012 |author=Will, George F. |author-link=George F. Will |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref></blockquote>