Pay more attention to the Chinatown bad deal 

It is remarkable that The Tribune seems to want to see this story die. ÜA $9 million gift by a public agency to a private developer would be huge news in Chicago. ÜThe politicians involved would be closely questioned by the press. ÜThey would be asked, for example, why they didn’t just lease the property to the Copelands, resulting in a 90-year return and in addition, ask for a piece of their gross income for the very valuable property they were asking the city to put into this deal. ÜAn active press would be seeking answers from the politicians.

It may be that this give-away is what the people of this city want, but it should be fairly debated in the public press based on factual reporting. ÜIf The Tribune is slanting its news stories or failing in its coverage to support its editorial positions or its advertisers, there is little reason to read The Tribune, other than the obituaries and the high school scores.

It will be interesting to see who the financial supporters are for Mayor Romero, Councilman Brown and Councilman Settle, the three who voted for this give-away. ÜI would think that the Copelands and their surrogates, as well as other downtown developers, would be grateful and will open their checkbooks.