Chicago, IL – Michael Reever, vice president of government relations for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, testified today at the Chicago City Council Aviation Committee hearing opposing Alderman Anthony Napolitano’s ordinance that would give City Council greater oversight over the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA).

If passed, the ordinance would effectively end the Aviation Commissioner’s ability to manage our airports, plan for the future, and ensure decisions are objectively made in the best interests of our city and region.

“The authority and ability to run and manage the airports should remain with the Commissioner and CDA,” said Reever. “These decisions should be left to professionals and experts; politics should not enter the discussion.”

Reever testified that the proposed ordinance would threaten the future of O’Hare International Airport, which is the economic engine of our region, as well as Chicago’s reputation as a world-class city and the transportation hub of the Midwest.

“This proposed ordinance risks disrupting the City’s most robust economic development tool that provides jobs and opportunity for people and businesses in wards across the City,” Reever said. “It risks Chicago’s global reputation as a transportation hub, further harming our economic position regionally, nationally and globally. This proposal is a regulatory stranglehold that will destroy our top economic asset, taking growth and job creation down with it.”

The Chicagoland Chamber was an early champion of the O’Hare Modernization Program. No other initiatives in the Chamber’s 112-year history have produced economic benefits as significant as those spurred by the O’Hare expansion and development.

Click here to view the full testimony.

About the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce combines the power of people with our legacy of leadership and business advocacy to drive a dynamic economy. We focus on delivering value for our members, making Chicagoland a world-class place to live and work. Visit ChicagolandChamber.org.