Rep. Jackson: Quinn Is Dragging His Feet In Boosts For South Suburbs
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn is answering criticism from U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., and said Thursday that he will have plenty more to say soon about what he's doing for the south suburbs.
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As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bob Roberts reports, Jackson said in a prepared statement Tuesday that the governor's delays on a casino for the south suburbs and construction of a third major airport are prompting other businesses to relocate or shut down.
While Jackson focused on a Jewel-Osco store in Olympia Fields that is slated to close in the next six weeks, he said the problem is far wider.
"The governor's delays continue to create a hemorrhaging of jobs in the south suburbs, with Jewel being just the latest company to announce shutdowns and layoffs," Jackson said.
The criticism was surprising, given that Jackson endorsed Quinn's election quest 19 months ago and Quinn's continuing support for Jackson, whom he called Thursday a "man of honor."
Yet Quinn said that he has not dragged his feet.
"We've done as much as humanly possible for jobs everywhere in Illinois, including the south suburbs," he said. "I'm an advocate, as he is, of a third airport. We've been working on that. We've been able to buy land for the third airport and we're continuing to do that."
He also cited planning for an Illiana Expressway that would connect I-57 and I-55 to I-65, an interchange connecting I-57 and I-294 and expansion of Governor's State University. Quinn said he will explain his plans for the south suburbs in much greater detail Monday when addressing the Southland Chamber of Commerce.
