Chicago Sued Over Parking Meter Privatization Deal

Chicago's much-maligned parking meter lease deal is getting a fresh beating.

The Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, a good government advocacy group, filed suit against the city and state in Cook County court Wednesday on the grounds that the 75-year, $1.15 billion parking meter lease deal illegally uses taxpayer assets to benefit a private company.

The suit, which names Chicago Comptroller Steve Lux, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes and Secretary of State Jesse White as defendants, also claims the city lacks the standing to lease public streets and deploy taxpayer-funded city workers on behalf of a private company.

"This a horrible deal for Chicago taxpayers," the IVI-IPO's Owen Brugh said at a press conference Wednesday. "But IVI-IPO intends to hold the city accountable. Even the city of Chicago has to follow the law."

The suit seeks to have the deal overturned, though city lawyers have made it clear that "killing the deal is practically impossible," according to Mick Dumke's paraphrasing of their statements in the Reader.