Friday, April 18, 2008
News / Clout City You can fight City Hall
Posted by Ben Joravsky on 04.18.08 at 06:30 PM
I'm going to have to start charging Mayor Daley for all the advice I've been giving him for free.
Last year, I wrote a story saying if Daley "really wants to bring the Olympics to Chicago, I suggest he move the site of the proposed equestrian center out of Lake County."
My point was that he was stirring up more local opposition than he could handle with his plans to stick stables, riding paths, a 15,000-seat stadium, and a barn in the middle of the Lakewood Forest Preserve.
Unlike the wimps here in Chicago, who take whatever beating the mayor offers and ask for more, the residents of Lake County don't mess around. They don't want Daley and his Olympics team paving over their forest preserve and they weren't afraid to say so. They created an organization (Voters for Preservation) and a Web site, besieged the International Olympic Committee with letters and e-mail of opposition, and, perhaps most significant, put up candidates to run against Lake County Forest Preserve board members who had voted for the Equestrian Center.
The result? This morning Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee, which is coordinating the city's bid, sent out a press release announcing that the proposed Equestrian Facility is being sited at Tempel Farms, a stable in Lake County. The release quotes Bonnie Thomson Carter, one of the Forest Preserve District members running for her reelection life, saying, "We were honored to have been considered as a potential site for the Olympic Equestrian Facility."
In a Sun-Times blog post on the move, Doug Arnot, Chicago 2016 director of sports and operations, says local opposition had nothing to do with the change of venue.
Right. I say if enough Chicagoans say no, we won't get the games and the higher taxes and loss of park space that comes with them. It's just too much of a headache for the International Olympic Committee to shove a project down the throats of people who don't want it.
Because Daley didn't take all of my advice -- he took the proposed center out of the forest preserve but kept it in Lake County -- he's still not out of the woods. When I told Jay Glenn, a leader of the anti-Olympics movement in Lake County, about the change he said, "I'm happy as far as Lakewood is concerned, but I don't believe one tax penny of taxpayers dollars should go to the Olympics."
So here's some more advice for Mayor Daley: Just forget about the Olympics. Spend the money on schools and parks and stuff that we really need. Folks will call you a hero. I'll give you all the credit. If anyone asks, I'll say it was your idea all along.
Comments (33)
Showing 1-33 of 33
How about spending instead on: The Up-grading CTA/RTA. Water Lines. Sewer lines. Outdated Highways. Job programs for kids(instead of talking about gun control). You can still create work for your friends and family. But at leaste spread it out. Like Ben, I really do not need the credit, you can have it. You arrogant spoiled biotch.
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Schools. CTA/RTA and water and sewer etc. But schools first. I don't have children, but CPS is so horribly ridiculous that my wife and I have decided that we have to move out of the city before we have them. We need massive funding increases for our schools before almost anything else.
COCONATE web site sucks, he doesn't even keep up with current events. He is still crying over losing an election for a job that doesn't pay anything. Great he spoiled it for a senior citizen.
Oreo, Against Olympics and Ripping up Grany Park is not current?What planet are you on? Winning is in the eyes of the beholder. Your just mad because I have survived everthing Daley has thrown at me. NOW the shoe is on the other foot and I'm going to put it right in Daley's A-S-S! Sorich took orders from JOHN DALEY about hiring and CONTRACTS$$$$$$.I think thats Mayor Rich Daley's brother. You think the Mayor knew?
the Olympics have made a profit EVERY year they have been hosted by the US starting in 1904....
They are going to knock more of the brothers and sisters out of there homes for the Olympics. I guess thats the main goal. It will be like Katrina in New Orleans, except its a man made hurricane.
How could we trust the Olympics when we have to trust the Chicago Park District (cutting programs for kids)and it is run by corrupt fat pig obese disgusting Timothy Mitchell aka Slim aka Tim Mitchell aka fatboy. He was an associate of Victor Reyes and Al Sanchez and worked on a number of campaigns including the 1999 Jesse Granato race that there was a book written about by famed Chicago author Peter Zelchenko where it documents the criminal activity of Tim Mitchell. Mitchell also worked in the 10th, 12th, and 25th wards and for Stroger. He used to drive the State's Attorney float in the gay parade and was made fun of by his Catholic School family while unbenkowst to them Tim Mitchell was twisted and confused in sexual issues. There is much much corruption in the Park District regarding jobs, contracts and other items. Just look at the Millenium Park overruns and the Park Grill and the sex scandals, political contracts, and no paying for taxes and services. Slim Tim Mitchell is also a racist and tries to violate civil rights and many other things. Slim Tim, sue the reader and let's depose you so we can ask you under oath about your disgusting habits and what you have asked employees to do. Slim Tim Mitchell the obese head of the Park District--how can you be the head of the Parks when you covered up corruption and worked with convicted felons, and now indicted people. Mayor Daley, how can we trust you when you put people like Tim Mitchell in charge of the Parks and how can we trust you or slim Tim for the Olympics.
And as some indulge in the sport of shit slinging, in both directions, the machine continues it's relentless sucking the economic life out of the taxpaying citizens of this city and county. Flush the shit down the drain. Write off the bad debt the bloodsuckers are. Fire them all. HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
I think Cocopuffs site is a great big puzzle with half the pieces missing. Mary O'Connor had the backing of some high profile movers and shakers. Mary was on Chicago Clout and that is what put her over the top. She also had some great advise from someone on the techniques to kick Coco to the curb. It worked. Coco ended up in last place again in every race he entered. Learn to be humble and make friends. Hug trees. Share the profits. Pay your bills. And never, ever knock my pal and buddy Ben J. he is a gift from GOD.
http://www.chicagoclout.com/ Great Stories. Wow, that guy is good. Fat Spatz got sponked on.
Please Kate can you knock this self promoting Idiot off the board. No one cares about his copy cat website. GL is on target.
"So heer's some more advice for Mayor Daley: Just forget about the Olympics. Spend the money on schools and parks and stuff that we really need. Folks will call you a hero. I'll give you all the credit. If anyone asks, I'll say it was your idea all along." Ben--that is genius advice. Daley should spend the money on schools, parks, and the CTA. Duh We can't afford keeping the CTA open Park services are cut or too expensive Daley is only for the rich and white
Maybe Daley can give Ben a big 6 figure job. or a big contract like he gives other lawyers, consultants, and media whores. Ben actually is giving good advice
If Ben is so smart, why is he schelpping for a FREE newspaper that cannot even afford to print in ink that does not smudge ? Keep hollering from the cheap seats Ben (and lil Mick). We will keep handling the people's business.
Oreo(orion) should read BJ in print. She actually makes sense in todays sun-times. The funny part is she is as guilty as the owner of the communist paper. Thank God for ben and lil mick. BY MICHAEL SNEED Sun-Times Columnist msneed@suntimes.com Tutin' Putin update: President Putin is now shootin' down that report from a Moscow newspaper that he ditched his wife and is going to marry an ex-gymnast more than half his age. • • To wit: Putin, 55, not only denies the report -- which appeared in the Moscow Korrespondent -- and was picked up worldwide . . . but his alleged fiancee, Alina Kabaeva, claimed the story was "madness." (The London Telegraph claims word of the romance had been circulating for months.) • • The buckshot: The billionaire owner of the paper, Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB agent, accused his staff of lying, and the Moscow paper retracted the story ... after receiving unscheduled visits by state security services (former KGB) . . . which led the London Times to report: "the tale has taken a new and darker twist." • • The potshot: Despite the printed retraction, a deputy editor for the paper was quoted as stating: "I am absolutely convinced that the foundation of this story is true, that there was a romance. Our information came from an absolutely reliable source." • • The upshot: So goes the story of freedom of the press in Russia, where more than a dozen journalists have died in Russian contract-style killings since 2000. The country regularly ranks as one of the most dangerous in the world for journalists
The only thing that makes any of these cretins relevant to the public at large is that the public has failed to deny these criminals reelection. They only have the ability to commit their crimes because the majority of residents of this city and county have failed to prevent them from having that ability. VOTE THEIR ASSES OUT OF OFFICE. Focus on VOTING OUT Incumbents, from whatever offices, be they Executive, Legislative or Judicial branches of city, county and state governments, remove these miscreants from the positions of power they currently misuse and abuse, and begin the process of reclaiming the Democracy we all seem to think we have. REGISTER TO VOTE VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
"If Ben is so smart, why is he schelpping for a FREE newspaper that cannot even afford to print in ink that does not smudge? You're kidding, right? The paper may be free but Ben's keystrokes sure aren't. The man gets paid for what he writes. Anybody cutting you checks for posting on this blog? Alrighty then.
Whatever he is getting paid, he should accept it with a mask on, because he is robbing his employer- writing the same old shiz-nit week after week after week. Sort of like Irv Kupcinet before the spear-chucker took over.
Patrick McDonough and Frank Coconate are real men unlike my little Orion. Coconate and McDonough are heroes against corruption
Pat Mcdonough is not that Daley turd sucking Orion. Pat is one the few people who stood up to the mini- tyrant Daley. Daley needs to store up on Tuna just in case he follows SORICH to Sandstone Minn. If you want to see the real butt wipe--- Orion,you need to go Hamburg social club in Bridgetport on 35th and lowe.
Hello, I am the founder of preservelakewood.net. We have been protecting Lakewood Forest Preserve since 2003. We along with Voters for Preservation have worked long and hard to not have the Equestrian Venue in Lakeowood Forest Preserve. Now It's time to say to the citizens who live in Chicago. PLEAS WAKE UP AND GET INVOLVED I have talked to many Chicagoins and they all think they have time , till the year 2009 to fight this. You must take action now. Your taxes will help pay for this, road congestion, removal of some homes and etc. It only takes one person to get the ball rolling. The majority of other countries who have had the Olmpics , have in the long run been in debt for a very long time.Who ends up paying??? Once again the people of Chicago. Please help, fight for what you believe in with honor, fact's, dignity and never lose your temper.
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/04/city-water-work.html Chicago is run like an insane asylum. Now I know why Coco quit.
What a bunch of angry people or maybe you think you're being funny? The Olympics, in Chicago, is a horrid idea. But it keeps all of Daley's buddies in the money. Although now that Chicago is the 7th Worst Housing market, it would be a way of selling off the 1,000's of unsold condos on Ashland and the South Loop. When so many of you Daley-haters were voting for Barack, I wonder if you considered that a vote for Barack will keep Daley out of jail?
I notice that a Gaylord gang banger has voiced himself to get attention. Hillbilly APR 21 the last Gaylord that I arrested happened to be Spanish and when I explained to him what Gaylords stood for he became very upset. Great American youth love our race destroy spics. Just goes to show you that some people will join anything.
Um, no it doesn't. That's an acronym that was created after the fact; one would think that a supposed law enforcement officer would know better. I refuse to post the link of the "official" AGLN website, but it's easily googleable for this with an interest in learning the facual history of the name of the gang.
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