Rahm Emanuel Runoff: Chicago Mayor Tied to Lobbyist for City’s Red Light Camera Firm, Review Shows
Via International Business Times
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces a stiff challenge in his bid for re-election, and the April 7 runoff could hinge on his support for controversial red-light cameras. The devices — which automatically ticket cars that appear to have violated Chicago traffic laws — have generated $500 million in revenue since they were introduced in 2002. But with the cameras often ticketing cars that only ran through yellow lights or went just a few miles per hour over the speed limit, and with a study showing the cameras deliver few safety benefits, polls show two-thirds of Chicagoans consider the camera program “a bad idea.”
Emanuel’s opponent, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, has pledged to suspend the red-light camera program if he is elected. And though one of Emanuel’s most prominent allies has called on the mayor to “rethink” the program, Emanuel steadfastly supports the cameras, saying they are “supposed to work as a deterrent” to unsafe driving.
Back