CHICAGO — Vendors who bill the City of Chicago for goods and services are being asked to discount their invoices, according to a copy of an email reviewed by WGN Investigates.
“Dear Valued Partner,” the message from Chicago’s chief procurement officer Sharla Roberts begins. “In light of the difficult economic times, the City of Chicago faces news challenges to reduces its costs.” One sentence later the email gets to the point: “Therefore, the City requests a price reduction of minimally 3% off all invoices sent to the City for the next twelve months off any contracts you currently hold as a prime contract with the City.”
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One alderman laughed off the request as pointless saying vendors have previously negotiated contracts. “They don’t have to do sh*t,” the alderman said.
Another alderman, Ray Lopez (15th Ward), posted to social media: “What normally is loudly proclaimed in September as ‘yearend efficiencies’ is now loudly demanded in springtime, proving @ChicagosMayor & his City Council amigos overcharged taxpayers in order to create another slush fund to cover the impending 2025 budget shortfalls. The question now: Who is getting the 3% whack next week?”…