Ed Burke and taxi advertising

An ordinance was introduced in the City Council in the early 80s allowing advertising on the roofs of taxi cabs. 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke surprised many in attendance by forcefully opposing it. He railed against the ordinance, predicting it would lead to all kinds of evils, including sign pollution, crime, abortion, anything he felt was bad. 

As Burke shouted his opposition, 25th Ward Alderman Vito Marzullo sat in his chair at the side of the chamber and laughed. The ordinance passed easily. 

Some of the Aldermen thought that Burke had tried to get a taxi advertising contract for one of his allies, but it was awarded to a Marzullo favorite, instead. Nobody who knew was saying what had really happened.

 Excerpted from “Chicago Political Stories” at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/994143