As Chicago Scrambled in Early Days of Coronavirus, Political Ties Helped Win No-Bid Contracts – Better Government Association

While it’s not illegal to use personal relationships, the tale of how a furniture company became a top supplier of medical gear helps illustrate how valuable those connections were during the early days of the pandemic when speed was critical. “This was an all-hands-on-deck moment,” said Joanna Klonsky, a consultant and political adviser to Lightfoot, “and everyone was looking for ways to be helpful in an emergency.”