Chicago’s legendary Maxwell Street market is being managed by the city — with a more lenient approach to vendors — now that the Daley administration has terminated its $850,000-a-year contract with JAM Productions.

In 2008, Maxwell Street merchants alleged during a town hall meeting that they were being racially harassed and threatened with eviction and deportation.

Hispanic aldermen championed their cause during City Council budget hearings last fall — by demanding that JAM be fired.

On Tuesday, Special Events Director Megan McDonald called the harassment allegations “alarming.” But she insisted that was not the primary reason for the management change (Suntimes).

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