In 2017, Cui emailed Burke asking the alderman to “look into” an issue he was having over signage at the property, even though the project was outside Burke’s 14th Ward, according to the charges. He told the alderman that a retailer leasing space in his building — identified by sources as Binny’s — needed a permit for the large pole sign or Cui would be forced to reduce the rent, costing his company an estimated $750,000.