McPier's Ochoa quits; top shows threaten to walk over reforms:

Greg Hinz

There are two big developments, as state lawmakers near a vote on legislation designed to revive Chicago's struggling convention and trade-show business.

First, bowing to political reality, Juan Ochoa, the CEO of the agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier, announced his resignation.

Mr. Ochoa said in a statement that he "achieved what I set out to do" when he was named boss of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, commonly known as McPier.

But the revamp plan being considered in Springfield would have removed him and his board, with former McPier chief Jim Reilly likely to be named the temporary new boss.

Mr. Ochoa, a Mexican by birth, said he will spend his time working on "the central issue our country will face this century: immigration reform."

The second development concerns a threat by some of the city's biggest conventions to leave Chicago unless legislation pending in Springfield is amended.

In an e-mail to lawmakers signed by officials from the National Restaurant Show, the American College of Surgeons and others, the trade officials said they "adamantly oppose" a clause in the proposed legislation that would give the new McPier the authority to have one firm as the exclusive contractor to operate McCormick Place.

The e-mail says that the trade-show officials met via conference call to review the draft legislation and concluded that giving just one firm that much power would undermine the goal of lowering prices.

"This clause must be removed, otherwise it negates all potential reform in other sections of the legislation," it says. Making the change "will save McCormick Place a great deal of business."

There was no immediate response from lawmakers, who have been reviewing the draft for several days but have not yet scheduled a vote.

The bulk of the draft imposes new work rules and other changes designed to cut costs and would allow the convention authority to rework its debt.

* * * 11:25 a.m. update: The spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan said he has not yet seen the note and is not sure what it references, but said officials would review and take it into consideration.

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