Monday, April 13, 2009
News / Clout City The Olympic Blank Check
Posted by Ben Joravsky on 04.13.09 at 01:19 PM
Tribune reporter David Heinzmann's account of last week's Olympic forum at the Chicago Cultural Center pretty much sums up the whole bid.
"Never carved in stone, the plans for a Washington Park amphitheater continue to shrink as Chicago's Olympic organizers delicately negotiate with park advocates who fear the 2016 Summer Games would damage the historic site, writes Heinzmann.
In particular, Heinzmann's talking about what will be left after the city removes the 75,000-seat stadium it's planning to build in the middle of Washington Park. But Heinzmann's synopsis could apply to all of the venues.
The Olympics bid team has always been under pressure to strike a delicate balance. On the one hand they'll tell Chicagoans, we'll leave you with a legacy that will last for centuries. And on the other they say, don't worry--when we're gone you won't even know we were there. When anyone complains about a specific plan, they say, oh, it's a work in progress, we're still working out the fine points.
It would be a different story if Mayor Daley were proposing to build the games on some wasteland desperately needing development. But from the get-go it was clear that Daley didn't want to spend money or political capital on acquiring land. Instead, he prefers to build it on vacant city-owned land--which is apparently how he regards our parks.
Some folks have actually fallen for the bid committee's spiel. They're the ones writing the letters and e-mails saying the Olympics will spur tourism. But once the three weeks of fun and games are over, why would tourists still come here--apart from any of the other reasons they would otherwise visit Chicago? I suppose they'll be flying in by the planeload to stand on the spot in Washington Park where the Olympic stadium used to be.
It's much the same with the financing. First it wasn't going to cost us money. Then it was. But not really--we're only an insurance policy. Then we were back on the hook--but only to build the Olympic Village. And so on and so forth.
The best way to think of the Olympics is as a giant blank check given to Mayor Daley by his hapless citizens, leaving him free to spend what he wants to build what he wants anywhere he wants it. If you're comfortable with that proposition, join his crusade. He's serving the Kool-Aid in a least a half dozen different flavors.
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"He's serving the Kool-Aid in a least a half dozen different flavors." And yet, it's all still KoolAid, made from powdered bullshit, and served with a twist of lemon, for that sour aftertaste we've all come to know and, apparently, hanker for.
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TEDDY BALLGAME: On the other hand, look at the Unholy Ned that can break loose over a paltry $1.2 million or $16 million at the Psych Olympics! They've been very parsimonious when it comes to that ..... Here's a swing and a line drive foul, into the seats on the third base side, one and two the count....... Hey, quite an interesting show in that Clinic-Boomeranging event this year! Certainly some unusual technique on display..... Now a curve ball, low and inside, two and two.... But you know, over in the Dissembling Competition, that software behemoth on skates has got to be a heavy favorite. And don't forget, it'll be Consumer Night Monday, with those pesky Cagey Bees in town, some lucky fan...... ********************************** ********************************** CHI-TOWN DAILY NEWS APRIL 6th Comsumer protesters picket the 5th Floor over the closing of four mental health centers and attain the Holy Grail of a meeting with Paul Volpe...... another meeting is scheduled for the next night. http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Mental_health_demonstrators_press_Daley_administration,24938 --------------------------------- CHI-TOWN DAILY NEWS APRIL 7th Then, on the morning of the last day that the four mental health centers are open, Alex *arker reports ....... http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Exclusive_Billing_glitch_led_to_mental_health_closures,24833 Exclusive: Billing glitch led to mental health closures followed up here: PROGRESS-ILLINOIS APRIL 7th http://progressillinois.com/2009/4/7/%2416-million-upgrade-four-clinics How A $16 Million "Upgrade" Could Cost Chicago Four Mental Health Clinics Within hours if the Chi-Town's "Billing Glitch' report, the Mayor has halted the closings while the negotiations are still going on, and vows to get "to the bottom of" the computer controversy..... But then there's a communications glitch of some kind, this time not in the software but rather the organization..... http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Mental_health_centers_appear_to_be_closing_despite_mayoral_reprieve,25014 http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/04/four-cityrun-mental-health-clinics-say-theyre-closing-even-as-mayor-richard-daley-claims-reprieve.html ----------------------------- AND THEN: CHI-TOWN DAILY NEWS APRIL 9th http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Federal_dollars_will_save_mental_health_centers_,25020 "On a day of twists and turns on the fate of four city-run mental health clinics, the mayor's office announced that the centers will stay open with the help of federal economic stimulus dollars." ---------------------------------
$1.2 million to keep mental clinics open. Daley and his wife Maggie blow more than $1.2 on travel and eats,over a 6 month period. Also,Daley was able to restrict the 1st amendment rights of no Olympic bid protesters. Police set up phony free speech zones,and tried to restrict protester from using public sideways and areas. Where is the A.C.L.U?
Daley was given an alternative site . The old U.S steel site,it was soundly rejected.
What, a Ben (Dover) article with no references to his favorite, tired old the say, the TIFs ? He must be slipping.
Orion -- TIF's are something that should be reported on regularly to get people's attention. Since they are so extremely influential in the finances of Chicago, I am glad that Ben stays on top of them. There is always a new abuse of TIF's occurring. I don't get how he would be Ben "Dover" either, since he's certainly not in anyone's pocket.
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