Aviation chief wants more local flavor in airports

Travelers shouldn’t have to leave O’Hare Airport to get a “taste of the Taste” of Chicago — and that includes live music, newly appointed Aviation Commissioner Richard Rodriguez said Friday.

At his City Council confirmation hearing, Rodriguez said O’Hare concessions have a “strong local flavor” but Chicago “can do better.”

“The mayor has a vision of ensuring that there’s a Taste of Chicago implemented so that individuals don’t have to come to the city of Chicago just for the Taste itself, but anyone traveling through our airports can get a taste of the Taste…just passing through,” Rodriguez said.

“We’re known for great jazz and great blues. We’re known for sports and…great food. How do you make the Chicago airport system reflective of that? How often do entertainers have an opportunity to come and play given concerns with safety and security? It’s very challenging to try and just open the doors for anyone to come and perform in the airport…But I’m sure we can develop a plan to try and give our traveling public …more of what Chicago has to offer.”

Rodriguez, 37, is Mayor Daley’s 10th aviation commissioner since 1991.

He replaces Nuria Fernandez, who was at loggerheads with Rosemarie Andolino, executive director of the city’s O’Hare Modernization Project.

Apparently aware of those behind-the-scenes tensions, Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) asked Rodriguez during Friday’s Aviation Committee meeting to describe his relationship with Andolino, who reports directly to the mayor.

“As a partnership… we work very closely together,” Rodriguez said, vowing to work together with Andolino to convince major airlines to finance Phase Two of Daley’s massive runway expansion project.

Rodriguez spent 10 months as buildings commissioner and a year as O’Hare’s managing deputy for real estate and planning. But Carothers said there’s a world of difference between that narrow focus and running one of the world’s busiest airports.

“You have to admit, it’s going to be a big learning curve for you…You had to be shocked yourself” when Daley appointed him to the $165,612-a-year job, the alderman said.

For years, black and Hispanic aldermen have been demanding that minorities receive a bigger piece of the O’Hare concession, construction and employment pie. They have been disappointed with the results, as the revolving door of aviation commissioners continues to spin.

“One of our biggest concerns is making sure that, when we walk through the airport, we see people of color working in every station. There’s nothing that people of color should be excluded from doing at the airport…In concessions and janitorial and security, we want a diverse, representative workforce,” said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th).

Rodriguez said he is “completely committed to ensuring that everyone has a fair opportunity — at not just concessions but all contracting opportunities throughout the Chicago airport system.”

Southwest Side Ald. Michael Zalewski (23rd) said he plans to pressure the new commisioner to sell or lease city-owned property around Midway Airport to local businesses.

“Some of these businesses are actually considering leaving if they can’t expand,” Zalewski said.

“The city wants to hold some of this property for possible parking and airport operations. But that’s been talked about for years and nothing has happened. I have existing businesses that want to expand now. It’s not like we want to take the property and put up condos.”

In his opening statement, Rodriguez warned that “dynamic changes” in the aviation industry threaten to produce a “challenging summer season with rising fuel costs, reduced capacity, increases in fares and fees as well as merger discussions.”

“Through collaboration with our airline partners, we will continue to identify creative ways to generate revenues through commercial devevelopment, thus keeping our airports viable and competitive,” he said.