Stop-OMP Says 'Corruption, Scandal' Plague Project

The federal indictment of a fundraiser for deposed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is tainting OMP, the O'Hare Modernization Program in Chicago, and a group opposing the project is wasting no time in making sure everyone sees the connection.

The group has issued a statement noting that federal prosecutors have indicted Chris Kelly, president and owner of BCI Commercial Roofing, accusing him and his company of paying at least $450,000 in kickbacks to a consultant, part of an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain $8.5 million in inflated contracts for projects.

John Geils is Village President of Bensenville, much of which would be bulldozed to make way for a new runway at O'Hare. "Sadly this is business as usual with the OMP project; kick backs, corruption and special favors and money for political cronies," he said.

Attorney Joe Karaganis, who battled the City of Chicago against the expansion, comments, "I know this it certainly another reason to reconsider what is easily the most absurd, expensive and useless waste of $20 billion in taxpayer funds anyone has ever seen."

Stop-OMP is trying to pressure the FAA to consider alternative runway configurations proposed by the Chicago air traffic controllers, and construction of a third airport in the metro area.

FMI: www.ohare.com, www.stop-omp.org