CHICAGO, March 16 (UPI) -- Chicago may strip an O'Hare airport concessionaire of minority vendor status because it allegedly acted as front for a top fundraiser for the governor.
The city Department of Procurement Services moved to revoke the minority-business certification of Crucial Inc., which lists Jabir Herbert Muhammed, son of the late Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad and former manager of Muhammad Ali, as the company's president. Officials charge the firm acted as front from Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a chief adviser to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Chicago's set-aside ordinance requires a minority not just own, but actually control and operate the business day-to-day, Lori Lightfoot, first deputy procurement officers told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Curcial Inc. has a 10-year concession agreement to operate two Panda Express Asian fast-food restaurants at O'Hare International Airport.
The company would be barred from doing business with the city for three years if it is decertified as a minority-owned business.
