Wednesday, June 17, 2009
News / Clout City Mayor Daley: Big Olympic Spender
Posted by Ben Joravsky on 06.17.09 at 03:48 PM
The bad news out of Switzerland is that Mayor Daley's assuring the International Olympic Committee that Chicago will cover any cost overruns on the 2016 Olympics.
For the last three years, the mayor's been insisting he has a magical formula for getting someone else to pay. I told you not to believe him.
I've long thought that the Olympic bid is a cruel joke Mayor Daley is playing on his constituents--to see how much nonsense we'll swallow before we throw up. It looks like our tolerance is endless. How else to explain why folks aren't taking to the streets to stop this lunacy?
The good news out of Switzerland is that the No Games folks--among the few people around here willing to stand up against this scheme--sent a contingent to keep track of all the double dealing. They're providing updates you might find interesting. Their first one notes that Mayor Daley's flacks want the international press to believe that local corruption ended when Rod Blagojevich left office.
This on the heels of Fran Spielman's on-target analysis of Mayor Daley and the latest pension fund scandal, another report that the city still isn't running its hiring process in compliance with court order, the indictment of alderman Isaac Carothers ...
Maybe we should chip in and buy the IOC a subscription to the Sun-Times and Trib. Or they can just link to us for free.
Comments (40)
Showing 1-40 of 40
The IOC will be enamored with visions of St. Barack so they will look past Daley's corruption. Even if they didn't they are not exactly ethical themselves. Let's face it, we will get stuck with Daley's big 17 day party.
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The best pay back to Mayor Daley is to vote him out in 2011 before the Olympics in 2016!
Brave Chicagoans stand up to our thug Mayor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o570-57dVaU
Just how far are Chicagoans going to to let Daley go.Please vote all his rubber stamps out with him.They claim they did"t know how far he would go to get Olympics in 2016.Just like Daley he did"t know about family busness deal.If rubber did"t know they should have.
Chicago's government is a government by Daley, for Daley and of Daley. Let's DMTMA.
I can't for the life of me understand the Pollyana-ish morons who continue to extoll the virtues of a 2016 Games being awarded to Chicago...its as if they do not want to use ANY common sense with regard to how it will be paid for...a common defense to their argument is "Our federal government should subsidize the cost like other countries!!" REALLY? And who the hell would be on the tab for the cost if the Feds subsidized? That's right geniuses, EVERYONE of us!!! There really should be an IQ requirement with regard to voting.
Daley,Madigan and all the other Machine types want to thank PREZ (THE MAGIC ONE) for looking out. Sneed hears President Obama met privately "within the last week" with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to discuss her future . . . er, possible, run for the U.S. Senate. The White House meeting included Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, according to a top Sneed source. "She is considering all of her options carefully and weighing how she can serve the public . . . and talking to President Obama is an important part of the decision-making process," said Robyn Ziegler, Madigan's spokeswoman. So, who called the White House meeting? "I didn't ask that question," Ziegler said. Hmmm. It's a safe bet that Madigan is rethinking a bid for the governor's job. "Well, she hasn't ruled out a Senate bid," Ziegler said.
a little perspective - along with signing this guarantee, the chicago olympics committee signed an extra insurance policy on the costs of the games, which they themselves are paying the premium for. in short, something terribly catastrophically wrong has to happen to the games for the taxpayers to have to shoulder the burden.
"in short, something terribly catastrophically wrong has to happen to the games for the taxpayers to have to shoulder the burden. " Your talking about a Administration that doesn't know what it is to come in under a Budget or spend what what need. Daley and his crew ar always short money and over budget. The Olympics will be the there finest hour ......$billions in contracts for family and friends.
Love how our clueless alderpersons are saying they were "surprised" that Chicago taxslaves are now on the hook if we're awarded 2016. Do those morons have to be bribed to stay awake and, do their effing jobs!?
"a little perspective - along with signing this guarantee, the chicago olympics committee signed an extra insurance policy on the costs of the games, which they themselves are paying the premium for. in short, something terribly catastrophically wrong has to happen to the games for the taxpayers to have to shoulder the burden." Just who do you think foots the bills for the Chicago Olympic committee in the first place? Guess what? It's actually US, ALL OF US, who are really paying that premium and then when the 17-day "Daley bash" runs grossly over budget, as anything Daley does inevitably does, once again we'll be the ones left picking up the tab. Again. Keep voting for the boy-king, Chicago. This is what you deserve because this is what you keep choosing.
Fran work so hard, harder than any other reported to get the facts period!!!! she also works so hard when writing her story of then not reporting the facts!!!
The basic premise of Chicago Olympic bashers is economics is a zero sum game -- that any money spent on the Olympics will not only subtract dollars that could be spent elsewhere, but won't earn any return on investment either. This is essentially the communistic view of economics, as opposed to a capitalistic view. It's a wrongheaded assessment because dollars invested do earn a substantial return. As one who lived in Atlanta during the Olympics, I can attest for the fact that the sizable investment had a substantial and long-lasting return for the city.
There are many different reasons that people have about not wanting the Olympics. It is not all economics. I believe that we can have our opinions and feelings without being called names.
If one believes a lie long enough it becomes the truth . Atlanta is still in debt,and had to displace many of its citizens. The only city that made a profit on the Olympics is L.A. The Economic returns will be short lived for a 17 day event. Yes!! Walsh construction will make out like a bandit,and the rest of Daley's family. Rents is the target area will 2x. I don't what is so rational about stealing others money and property,spouting rougue Capitalism dogma. This not a Communist view to stop thugs and Hustler for ruinning our lives and city. For you to use Government for your only personal gain,and use others as a door mat is "Fascism"
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 For immediate release: March 31, 2009 Contact: Professor Steve Balkin, sbalkin@roosevelt.edu; ph: 312-341-3696 Will Chicago Olympics be another Vancouver? The preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics is plagued by cost overruns, environmental degradation, and displacement to the city’s poorest. Will this pattern repeat itself in Chicago if Chicago gets the 2016 Summer Olympics? To answer this question, Conrad Schmidt’s 90 minute documentary video about the preparation for the Vancouver Olympics, “Five Ring Circus†will be shown, with a panel discussion afterwards. This event is free and will occur on Tuesday evening, April 7 at 6:15PM in the 2nd Floor Congress Lounge at Roosevelt University’s main campus, 430 S. Michigan Avenue. It is hosted by Roosevelt University’s Department of Economics and Social Justice Program. The public is welcome. Steve Balkin, Professor of Economics, says, “The Chicago Olympics 2016 bid seems to have strong forces both for and against. The International Olympics Committee is in town and there will be two big public protests on Thursday, April 4. So, I thought a balanced and public examination of this seems warranted. My students are studying cost theory and this is a very good case. The issues surrounding the Olympics involve not only fiscal responsibility but also sustainable economics, democracy, compatibility with an appropriate vision for the future of Chicago, and social justice.â€
So far, the Chicago City Council has approved only a $500 million guarantee against operating losses, while the state has pledged an additional $250 million. These were augmented by a previous pledge to obtain a $500 million insurance policy. The only guarantees in place against construction costs are the insurance policies required of contractors who would build the facilities. The bid team's confidence in the plan is partly predicated on its estimated costs rising only modestly because of inflation. But Olympic plans often don't play out as expected. London's plan for the 2012 Summer Games has run into serious financial problems, with the original estimate of $4.9 billion ballooning to $13.5 billion, and much of the corporate sponsorship money pledged has evaporated amid the global economic crisis. Chicago's guarantee figures -- which would rise to as much as $2.5 billion -- are a far cry from the full tab projected for hosting the Games. The $4.8 billion projected operating budget for the Games includes a projected surplus of $500 million. Jacquelyn Heard, the mayor's spokeswoman, said Daley's decision to sign the agreement would not put taxpayers further on the hook. "When the mayor said he was prepared to sign the host-city agreement as is, he said it with the knowledge that by the time we are required to sign it, we will have solidified this private extra insurance," she said. "The mayor would not even think about going back to the taxpayers to finance the Olympics." But Ryan acknowledged that if losses exceeded the guarantees, the city would indeed be responsible for covering the costs. This would only happen "if everyone was so inept that we go over," he said. Daley's moves left some aldermen asking questions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0Y5PjkeTs Thanks for saving my job at the Department of Water Management Mayor Daley, you are myyyy friend!
"Maybe we should chip in and buy the IOC a subscription to the Sun-Times and Trib. Or they can just link to us for free." I'm sure there's a fair sample of Dumke & Joravsky in No Games Chicago's evidence book.
Please visit www.nogameschiago.com and make any size donation to support the campaign. No Games is an all volunteer organization that uses contributions for direct expenses like making 200 copies of a 160 page spiral bound book to distribute to the media, IOC and others who can help stop the bid
DO OVER BECAUSE OF TYPO Please visit www.nogameschicago.com and make any size donation to support the campaign. No Games is an all volunteer organization that uses contributions for direct expenses like making 200 copies of a 160 page spiral bound book to distribute to the media, IOC and others who can help stop the bid
COME ON PEOPLE STAND UP!!! There is no way we can survive in the city with this corrupt PUNK spending our badly needed tax dollars. This fool is only warried about himself and his corrupt CLAN CULTURE OF POLITRICKS. It is past the time for a good old fasioned AMERICAN A SS KICKEN FOR THOSE WHO THINKK ITE WISE TO DEFRAUD OUR AMERICAN DREAM WITH GANG ACTIVITY. WHEN THE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER THIS WILL QUUICKLY END.
Lying about the cost of such a big endeavor that cost billions of dollars to operate! While he's hiding the cost of the games with backroom deals in Switzerland, the public stays in the dark and they'll just keep spinning the wheel and have Mike Jordan commercials running on Comcast selling the Olympics as a great deal for you and your family. While this is happening CPS will loose funding and close schools, union jobs are cut, CTA infrustructure crumbles, city services are depleted and your tax bill keeps increasing and you'll wonder how and why?
By the way, the games will be in our parks we pay taxes for and his corporate buddies take the profits and won't share them with the public; I guess we're the fools right?
Has anybody done any kind of impact study on how T.I.F.s have affected ed the City’s budget? Anybody have a calculator?
Ali Daley !!! and the 50 fools,....I hope the people are not fooled by their dog and pony show. The 50 fools are worried about possible contenders,having an issue to unseat some or all of the 50 fools,next February 2011
"Has anybody done any kind of impact study on how T.I.F.s have affected ed the City’s budget? Anybody have a calculator? " My calculator doesn't have enough display space to show it!
Daley knows what he is doing. I hope he does not kill himself. He works so hard for Chicago. Daley is the real deal, for real.
Mayor Daley is removing dead wood off the City payroll. Simple as that. It is a tough decision to make, but that is why we pay him the big money!
"I don't know where he gets the authority to do that," said Ald. Brian Doherty (41st). "We're supposed to be the watchdogs of the budget, and they've been very arrogant in doing whatever they want and not consulting us."
Keep up the great work No Games Chicago... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqR8_gDDkkU&feature=channel_page
Looking at the riots in Iran, you have to wonder why we're not doing that in Chicago to reclaim our city from Pat Ryan and the Olympic committee?
This fake Olympic logo is hilarious!!! Check this out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anti-chicago-…
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