VENDING MACHINES AT STATION DRAW ALDERMAN'S IRE

Station Operator Has Links to Indicted Rezko

A MilwaukeeWorld Hound Dog Team Investigation

Special to the Readers of milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

With a headline of "Let them eat Twinkies and Sun Chips," Ald. Robert Bauman issued a press release Wednesday, May 28th, 2008, berating The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for its decision to allow the operator of the newly remodeled Amtrak Depot / Intermodal Facility to fill a planned restaurant space in the building with vending machines.
Forget the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Terminal or the restaurants of Washington's Union Station, Bauman said. "Milwaukee travelers will have to settle for plastic wrapped sandwiches, soda pop and potato chips."
Bauman says the issue is a decision by Wilton Partners, the operator of the state-owned facility, to lease a proposed 3,200 square foot restaurant space to an unnamed vending machine company.
"This is a disgrace," Bauman said, adding, "it is indeed ironic that WisDOT has no problem spending billions of dollars expanding Milwaukee area freeways, but when it comes to their Amtrak Depot / Intermodal Facility, vending machines will suffice."
The station recently reopened after an acclaimed $15.8 million remodeling by Milwaukee Intermodal Partners, a joint venture between Wilton, of Los Angeles, and Chicago-based Project Management Advisors. The joint venture retained long term leasing rights to the station as part of its contract with WisDOT.
The Wilton website certainly offers a rosier picture for the station than Bauman's assessment, promising a "modern travel and service-oriented rail station" offering "concessions, a convenience store and multiple food and beverage concepts" along with a "wide array of food, shopping and service tenants." [The Project Management Advisors site promises "an extensive range of top national brands of retail products and services" for the station.]
Offerings at the only other "public - private partnership" in Wilton's portfolio -- the $100 million renovation of the Illinois Tollway Oases give a sense of the company's culinary range.
There, Wilton signed contracts with its "variety of restaurants and retailers," including McDonald's, Panda Express, Subway, Stonebridge Gyros, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and Travel Mart. Still hungry?
According to a 2005 Chicago Tribune article entitled "Tollway Oasis Pact Rich with Links to Governor's Allies," about Wilton's 25-year contract with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the tollway's "Subway and Panda Express are controlled by firms with strong ties to the fast food empire of Antonin 'Tony' Rezko."
Jay Wilton, the owner of Wilton Partners, was, like Rezko, a major early contributor to the campaigns of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama. Rezko was the link between Obama, then an Illinois legislator and Wilton. On July 16, 2003, Wilton gave $5,000 to Obama’s first U.S. Senate run. A few days later, Wilton gave $50,000 to Blagojevich. Shortly thereafter the Oasis contract was signed.
As of Wednesday evening, a federal jury in Chicago had yet to return a verdict in Rezko's corruption trial there.
The Public Works Committee, chaired by Bauman, will meet Thursday. Among items on the agenda is File 080208, a communication about the proposed expansion and reconstruction of I-94 from the Illinois line to Milwaukee. Bauman says the WisDOT plans for the $1.9 billion freeway project conflict with needed improvements in public transportation and the imperative for expanded rail options in the region.
When informed about the Rezko - Wilton connection, and the possibility that Rezko might be the contractor for the concessions at the downtown station, Bauman expressed surprise and amazement.

FUN FACT
Pre-remodeling, the train station had a sit-down restaurant and bar. It was a lousy place to eat, but an enjoyable place to drink.
--Michael Horne