The former deputy aviation commissioner had an undisclosed position as a sales representative for SafeSpeed LLC. The red-light camera vendor keeps emerging in federal probes.
As the bipartisan backlash against red-light traffic cameras continues to build, a third Illinois state lawmaker has introduced a proposal to ban the controversial devices statewide.
Four municipalities targeted in a sweeping corruption probe have all contracted with Alliant/Mesirow, where House Speaker Mike Madigan’s son works to secure insurance deals with local governments.
Chicago has more red-light cameras and revenue from them than any other large city in America. The cameras are costly for drivers, create government mistrust and foster corruption.
State Sen. Martin Sandoval has resigned as chairman of the powerful Illinois Senate Transportation Committee, weeks after federal authorities raided Sandoval’s home and offices as part of an ongoing corruption probe.
Federal raids on the home and offices of state Sen. Martin Sandoval were followed by raids on several suburban village offices in his senate district. Sandoval and at least three others being investigated are connected to a red-light camera company, which has denied wrongdoing.
Red-light cameras generated lots of traffic ticket revenue for local government without proof they made roads safer. One Illinois House bill would ban them from certain municipalities, but another would ban them statewide.
Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.