Overturning the wishes of LAX staff, a five-member council committee on Monday awarded an airport retail contract worth $30 million a year to a business group that includes Magic Johnson.
Councilman Bernard Parks provided the key vote, refusing to go along with LAX’s preferred vendor, Areas USA. The Lakers’ legend was the highest-profile supporter of Parks’ failed 2008 campaign for the county Board of Supervisors. Separately, the Board of Referred Powers put off a hearing on five food and beverage contracts, Those contracts have been hotly disputed, raising allegations of conflicts of interest and lobbyist influence.
Los Angeles International Airport is attempting to freshen the food and retail options for passengers, which have remained stagnant for many years. The dominant food contractor is HMS Host, while the dominant operator of gift shops and other retail outlets is Hudson News.
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