LAX concession process is 'radioactive'

That's how an insider describes the swarm of lobbyists, lawyers and publicists who have been hired by companies looking for a lucrative piece of airport business. In this Mosh Pit of city governance, the process of awarding contracts gets turned on its head, with the winning bidder becoming the losing bidder, and the losing bidder getting another, undeserved chance. From the LAT:

Among the more than 30 people hired to shape the outcome of the contentious LAX contracting fight, roughly a third served either as city employees or political appointees. They include a former city councilman, six former City Council aides, five former city commissioners, a former assistant city attorney, one former airport executive and the man who was the City Council's top policy advisor when several current council members were still in grade school. The crush of connected lobbyists --which also includes a former district attorney and a onetime high-level official at the Los Angeles Unified School District -- has taken even veteran lobbyists aback. "In their effort to curry favor with the City Council, all the bidders have been over the top in terms of their profile, and that effort has made this process radioactive," said Steven Afriat, one of the few city lobbyists not involved in the airport process. "That's why it's confusing and frustrating to everyone involved, including the decision-makers."