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Tominello Makes Heliport Cornerstone Issue of 11th Ward Campaign Kickoff

By Casey Cora | September 18, 2014 1:08pm | Updated on September 18, 2014 3:08pm
 John Tominello, 58, is running for alderman of the 11th Ward.
John Tominello, 58, is running for alderman of the 11th Ward.
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DNAinfo/Casey Cora

BRIDGEPORT — New 11th Ward aldermanic candidate John Tominello is slamming City Hall's approval of a multimillion dollar heliport project, making the divisive issue one of his campaign cornerstones.

"While the mayor and his billionaire friends are frolicking through the vineyards, we will be under the constant drone of helicopter blades," he said at Thursday's sparsely attended campaign kickoff outside All Saints-St. Anthony Church.

John Tominello introduces himself as a candidate:

Tominello, 58, also blasted the city's misuse of tax increment financing and what he alleges is a cozy relationship between City Hall and the nation's corporate elite.

Asked whether he supports charter schools, Tominello said the quasi-public schools are "union busting with a side order of get-rich-quick scheme."

Tominello's entry into the race means there are two self-described progressives on the ballot.

Tominello said while he'd like to see any progressive occupy the 11th Ward seat at City Hall, he doesn't think Maureen Sullivan — a political activist who just won an endorsement from the Northside DFA grassroots group — has the qualifications.

"This is a tough game, a really tough game," he said.

Also running in the 11th Ward race are John Kozlar and Patrick Daley Thompson.

Casey Cora says John Tominello is focused on the upcoming heliport:

But back to those helicopters.

Tominello has long criticized Chicago Helicopter Express' plan to build a hub on the banks of the Chicago River at 24th and Halsted streets.

Though the tour company has said charter flights for executives aren't part of their business plan, Tominello and others believe the company will fly white-collar businessmen above the South Side while producing nothing but noise for blue-collar Bridgeport.

The heliport plan won City Council approval in April.

Casey Cora breaks down the heliport plans:

"None of this was done with our knowledge. It was misrepresented. It was bum-rushed through. It was a bamboozle," he said.

Tominello said he and others have asked a team of aviation attorneys to dig into the heliport company's proposal.

Bill Seith, an attorney with the Hoff Law Group, said the firm was asked to "look at various aspects of the proposal and the various regulations that would apply and the requirements that [Chicago Helicopter Express] would have to meet but we have not been retained," he said.

Tominello, meanwhile, said his campaign website is forthcoming. For now, he's pointing people to his Facebook page and plans to start circulating petitions soon.

"We're turning down no help," said Janet Lamonica, Tominello's wife and de facto campaign manager.

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