The revamped Taste of Chicago is still losing money for the city. 
The taste lost $1.3 million last year.
The losses come on the heels of major changes after Mayor Emanuel took office.
He cut the event from 10-days to five and moved it away from the July 4 holiday.
The city also charged for reserved seats at some concerts and added $40 gourmet meals prepared by local chefs.
The mayor’s office is backing off the push to make the lakefront festival profitable now saying the focus is on safety rather than the bottom line.
18 Comments to “Taste of Chicago lost $1.3M for city last year”
February 20, 2013 at 7:42 AM
Who's getting fired for this? I feel like if you're a government worker you're entitled to major screw ups and not held accountable for anything. You're allowed to do the bare minimum and waste our tax money. Anybody else feel this way? There are few gov employees that do a great job…the rest need to step up or be let go for better talent.
February 20, 2013 at 9:25 AM
They won't let go. They'll hold on to it for dear life. Sack the union so those lousy and incompetent workers can easily be sacked too.
February 20, 2013 at 7:53 AM
no it's all about greed..for the mayor, not the safety. it was more profitable for the vendors before. put it back to 10 days and over the 4th of july..hey stupid mayor manny…pay attention …give the people what they want..not what you think is good for YOU!!!! You ignorant bastard.
February 20, 2013 at 9:51 AM
They forget that they work for us , we donot work for them
February 20, 2013 at 8:24 AM
Rahm is so unqualified to be a Mayor. He has no idea what he's doing. The taste. Violence. Schools. Legally he shouldn't have been allowed to run for mayor. He needs to go.
February 20, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Then why did you vote him in, why did you let that Mickey Mouse Committee allow him to run? Don’t sit on your hands and allow the Machine to run over you stand up to it or sit down and shut up. Right now a Mayor from another state is trying to buy an Illinois Senate Seat in the 2nd and I see no outrage so shut up you get what you deserve. Good Luck Chicagoland, and stop sending the bill to Springfield.
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February 20, 2013 at 8:56 AM
Great comments !!!!
February 20, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Less people want to go here anymore. Lot's of shirtless thugs holding their crotches and have their butts exposed. Unsafe vibe, seems like trouble waiting to explode anytime.
February 20, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Get on the train and go to Milwaukee, they gather up the Bangers and haul them off
May 15, 2013 at 2:39 PM
The city lost money last year and will lose even more this year at "who cares fest".
February 20, 2013 at 9:30 AM
What a shame to see another great event that we all enjoyed as kids get squeezed to death by Chicago's corrupt government. It's become so expensive and so difficult to swing that it is no longer an option for working class citizens of the greater Chicagoland area who are already struggling with one of the nation's highest costs of living. Nice work Mr. Mayor.
February 20, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Only 1.3 million, all the more reason to do it again, and by the way the city didn't lose it the taxpayers on Illinois lost it
February 20, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Admission to anything free in Chicago is HELL ON EARTH!!
May 15, 2013 at 2:11 PM
LOL…. Lets call it Zoo Fest
February 20, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Start charging admission, lower prices of food (price of admission can help this) and have make sure it's actually good quality food . I have gone every year for the last 20 years. The food quality last year dropped substantially. The ribs were the worst meat quality with the worst sauce I have ever tasted. Pick quality !!
May 15, 2013 at 2:07 PM
Go ahead and ask the city how much overtime they pay to have paramedics and police officers there. Thats right the fine citizens of Chicago ar paying for that . For the summer fest fiasco
May 15, 2013 at 2:12 PM
Just get rid of it.