Friday, June 12, 2009
News / Clout City Reading between the Olympic lines
Posted by Ben Joravsky on 06.12.09 at 12:30 PM
In the journalism business you're always, always supposed to give every side in every story an opportunity to tell its point of view.
I agree with this principle. I really do. I've been practicing it for what seems like forever, enabling me to have many joyous conversations with various city spokespeople through the years.
Which leads me to today's article in the Tribune about the impact the Olympics would have on our parks. With example after example, the story shows how the games will limit the access of ordinary citizens to public space as Mayor Daley turns the parks into construction zones. It's one of my favorite themes; I'm glad to see the Tribune take it up.
In its effort to be fair, the Trib gives the Olympic planners an opportunity to explain how the public could benefit in the long run.
I'll just parse one example that's near and dear to my heart--one that the Trib apparently didn't have the space to explore in detail.
Mayor Daley's planning to install an enclosed cycling track over in Douglas Park. To do so, he and his planners will have to tear down the existing Collins High School basketball court and swimming pool, which taxpayers just spent $30 million in property taxes rebuilding.
Not to worry, say the planners. When the games are over they'll convert the velodrome into a multisport facility that will include a swimming pool, a basketball court, and an indoor running track. So the public won't be losing anything--there will actually be a net gain.
That's the official version, at least. So let's break it down. First of all, the public will be losing something--use of the existing pool and gym, which we we just spent the aforementioned $30 million fixing up, for at least three years while the city builds the velodrome and uses it in the games.
Second of all, the multiuse facility is not exactly a slam dunk. The plan is to take a swimming pool out of the Olympic aquatics center they're building in Washington Park, load the pool onto a truck, drive the truck to Douglas Park, take the pool off of the truck, and install it in the field house.
Then they're going to build a running track and a basketball court--you know, to make up for the pool and court they're destroying in the first place.
And whatever it will cost to pay for all of this will come from money generated by the games.
I'll be fair and say I'm sure it's possible that all of this can happen.
Comments (19)
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I sense a riff is starting to develop betweem Prez Obama and Daley. Daley openly critized prez in the papers,maybe Obama won't be taking that trip to Denmark on behalf of Daley. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o570-57dVaU
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Sure it's possible. When the sky's the limit because you're using someone else's money, anything is.
The Olympics will be as much a part of Obama's legacy as it will be Daley's (and to further that point, a great launching pad for the 2016 general election). If Bam can put aside differences with Wright for 20 years, he certainly can put aside a few differences wif' da' Mare.
Daley got the Flu and nobody else wants it. One way to break the back of the machine,go after their Judges. Develop a slate of honest Attorneys as oppose to the traditional ambalance chasers,and con-artist. The only legacy the Olympics will leave is massive debt for our children,to pay,FOR AN 11 DAY CIRCUS.
Your Majesty of a Mayor the one and only King Daley may I ask of you, will Chicago be a better city with privatizing of city property, running the city with your hard line schemes, hoping to gentrify Washington Park, North Lawndale, and Bronzeville, closing down neighborhood schools and cutting jobs? Answer me please!
Do you see what California's budget looks like today. Thats Chicago after the Olympics. Except in Chicago the mayor can raise taxes whenever he wants. Enjoy the party while it lasts...then move out of town.
"What we've tried not to do is get people sitting around a table making detailed plans about something that might not happen," said Doug Arnot, 2016's director of sport, venues and operations. 2009 nominee, most ironic comment. we wouldn't want to plan now, would we? (see: meters, parking; closures, Blue Line; lines, bus; latest Daley boondoggle)
Believing the promises of the Olympic Committee doesn't require fairness; it requires incredible credulity, if not outright stupidity. By promising problems will be worked out eventually, the City has silenced virtually every community group that should be vigorously opposing plans that will disrupt their local parks and other facilities for years. Come October, these folks will be shocked to discover there's no window of opportunity between the time when it's premature to discuss details and the time when it's become too late to change them. All testimony to how Mayor Daley, although an appallingly poor manager of the city, is a master deceiver and manipulator of its residents.
The problem with waiting for details as they come out once the games are awarded is just another ploy his majesty uses to distract people. When Chicagoans are awarded the two week debt increaser the residents become property of the IOC. Whatever changes in venue location or the cost associated with building infrastructure will be passed on to some of you on this blog. I think I'll sell my property for a nice profit since some of the venues surround my current location. I wanna get away from the madness in Chicago, the city is going in the wrong direction.
Keep up the great work. You guys aren't afraid to tell the truth. We need more of that in this city. It was also great to see the Trib article and Telander's article in the Sun Times, people are paying more attention!
Fran Speilman's and her husband Dick Stone former news director and reporter for Wind radio.
To HELL WITH dALEY AND HIS PLANS, watch and fear me and my plan. Those who steal from the poor and underpriveledged ARE THE SCUM OF THE EARTH (From the book I'm sure richie doesn't know either)
off topic:any city worker that gets a pink slip should demand that your union make the city[daley] open the books and prove the city is broke!your union takes dues from your check they must demand this from daley!open the books and find the crooks!
Do not adequately represent city workers. The Unions allows Daley to get away with murder. Daley's minions regularly violate the rights of City Workers,in the work place. Labor contracts with the city are nothling but a piece of paper,with no power. The disciplinary powers of city managers is unchecked ,unless you go to Federal court. The city in its personnel literature mentions progressive discipline. Workers can be fired for even minor or non-existent infractions. Personnel board hearing are nothling more than dog and pony shows. Scumbag Hacks preside over Human resource Board hearings.
Daley has been stealing from the poor and underprivileged for years and it won't stop until the people KICK HIM OUT OF OFFICE. Chicago is my home town--I don't live very far from the city now. I was planning to come back but he seems to be actually TRYING to destroy the town and has been for years. The only thing that has stopped him from kicking out all of the poor and middle class citizens is the failing economy that killed any need for more stupid condos and townhouses. I never did understand who he thought would live in them. The 50% high school drop out rate drives many people away and there are only so many rich folks at any given time. He's been wanting to turn Chicago into Manhattan and if he doesn't stop with all this greed and waste he's going to turn it into....Dubuque.
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