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Re:There is no way out of Chicago’s parking meter disaster by defrost on Thursday September 07, 2023 @02:27AM (#37415413)
I'm outside the US.

Typically I'd think of a city having a contract with a service company for them to manage and service a city's parking meters for a cut of the revenue, "the city in control of its subcontractors".

These reads very much as the City of Chicago tightly subcontracted to maintain the 72 year revenue stream of Chicago Parking Meters LLC, "the tail wagging the dog".

Re:There is no way out of Chicago’s parking meter disaster by knubie on Thursday September 07, 2023 @03:11AM (#37415672)
As per the article Chicago needed cash, and quickly, to fill a budget shortfall, so they sold a lease up front to fill the hole.
Re:There is no way out of Chicago’s parking meter disaster by defrost on Thursday September 07, 2023 @03:33AM (#37415807)
As per the implication in the article, the former Mayor and close circle pushed an asymmetric "cash now, big trouble later" deal through in exchange for (implied) kickbacks and as a result of leaving office with zero chance of having to deal with the consequences.

There's much to be said for tying some form of liability to office holders who make a deal.

Re:There is no way out of Chicago’s parking meter disaster by xeromal on Thursday September 07, 2023 @10:52AM (#37419764)
Sounds very much like that story of Jacob and Esau where Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup.