Ald. Ed Burke reportedly has strong ties to Chicago's William Wrigley Jr. Company.
Burke and the Chicago City Council approved a deal 10 years ago to give $16 million in taxpayer subsidies to the gum company, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and since then the powerful alderman has kept a close watch over the company.
The original deal was meant to lure Wrigley to build its new headquarters in Goose Island, according to a report from the Sun-Times, instead of moving to the suburbs.
The paper reports Wrigley hired Burke's law firm three years after the deal and got Cook County officials to lower property taxes for two Wrigley buildings.
Burke abstained from voting on Wrigley deals, but the Finance Committee, which he chairs, reportedly has given the company what it asked for, including lower property assessments and two more years to complete its Goose Island headquarters.
The Sun-Times points out the HQ still isn't finished.
Read more in the Chicago Sun-Times.
