Friday, April 25, 2008
News / Clout City Stop that bulldozer
Posted by Ben Joravsky on Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:14 PM
All week cynics were telling me there was no way the residents would win round one of their case against the Latin School soccer field in Lincoln Park.
On one side, you had a collection of cloutless north-siders worried about coming up with the money to pay their lawyers.
On the other, you had the Park District and the city, with almost unlimited access to taxpayer dollars, and Latin, one of the wealthiest private schools in town.
Plus Mayor Daley wants the field and, as we all know, the mayor generally gets what he wants around here. The case, of course, is being held in the Daley Center, and as more than one lawyer has jokingly told me: "They don't call it the Daley Center for nothing."
Well, Cook County circuit judge Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird stunned us all this afternoon.
She didn't give the residents the complete victory they wanted, but she came pretty close.
Ruling that the residents made a persuasive argument that the field could only be built with approval from the Chicago Plan Commission, she prohibited Latin or the Park District from installing "lighting, permanent or fixed goal posts, permanent or removable bleachers or signage." Furthermore, the scoreboard, which has already been installed, "may not be lit, connected to lighting, or otherwise used."
In addition, Judge Kinnaird temporarily nullified the contract the Park District has signed with Latin--the one giving the school exclusive prime-time use of the field.
She did, however, allow Latin and the Park District to finishing installing the artificial turf.
The residents wanted Judge Kinnaird to halt all further work on the field. But after the judge read her ruling, they were feeling pretty good with what they got. I for one hope their lawyers get to start grilling Park District, Latin, and city officials under oath for the inside story on this deal.
Judge Kinnaird's restraining order will be in effect until at least May 20; during that time the residents will gather evidence to ask the judge to make her ruling permanent. In contrast, Park District and Latin lawyers said they will probably appeal to have the temporary restraining order lifted. Other than that, they'll be reviewing their options.
And what are those options? Well, Latin has to decide whether it wants to press on with construction if there's a probability a judge will void their contract. After all, what's the point of them spending up to $2 million to build a field if they don't get exclusive rights to use it?
And the Park District has to decide if it wants to waste even more taxpayers dollars installing a field that some court may eventually force them to pay for--or remove.
At Wednesday's hearing, Latin's lawyer argued that the Park District has to cover all construction and removal costs if a judge orders the field removed. Latin says it's going to cost $2 million to install the field. Lord knows how much it would cost to take it out. If the Latin contract gets nixed, then the school may have to chase after the Park District to get its money back. In other words, more lawyers, more litigation--any way you look at it, the taxpayers get screwed.
Of course, all of this could have been averted had Park District officials gone to the Plan Commission for approval of the field, as the law clearly states they should. Then again, if they had, residential and aldermanic opposition might have killed the deal. So they tried to sneak it through.
I guess the judge's ruling means that even in Chicago you're occasionally supposed to play by the rules.
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Wow Ben, you must need three Kleenex and a bottle of Jergens after writing this one.
Money talks and bullshit walks. The Latin School produces future leaders,not anti-social posters,whom contribute little to advance civilization.
wow. well, even Robert Moses didn't get everything he wanted. looking forward to more development.
The judge's ruling made Daley really mad and as you know the poop rolls downhill. Yup, by the time the caca got to my precinct captain I felt scalding hot coffee in my face. I don't mind, I LOVE Mayor Daley and I LOVE my precinct captain ;-)
"Wow Ben, you must need three Kleenex and a bottle of Jergens after writing this one." Maybe you could let Ben in on where to purchase the heavy duty, industrial strength lubricant you use, and the pre-moistened towelets by the gross....... Oh wait, that stuff is meant for the backside action you engage in, not what you've implied Ben's been up to..... Never mind.
Hey there big fella, now come on. The more times I post first on every blog entry the more my precinct captain will notice. Instead of having hot coffee thrown on me I might move up to head coffee fetcher. A man can dream.....
Now you know the only contact you have with coffee is as an enema, both before and after your 'precinct captain' takes you for a walk.
Congratulations on winning a Lisagor Award! You desire it much more than Greg Hinz.
Chicago taxpayers should figure that they're getting screwed here. It's time for another Mayor in Chicago.
People, we need your help now more than ever. Please help the legal fund at http://savelincolnpark.org/donate.
You guys have to admit that Orion as been right on a couple of things recently. Give credit where it is due.
Come on folks the school agreed to give the field to the Mexicans 75% of the time. Personally I would hate to be there when you have the gangbangers shoot it out. I would like to start a Free Robert Sorich Fund,similar to the clown proposing the land Lincoln park Fund. Tim Mitchell is the best Park guy we ever had.
Oreo is some idiot sitting in the consulting firm of Roosevelt goup getting paid to monitor blogs. Please do not give him any credit! I do agree with "fed with corruption" We need a new Mayor, not like the old Mayor.
The Latin School produces selfish elite who believe they are entitled to whatever they want - as evidenced by how the school went about getting this permit. Try visiting the starbucks down there when the "kiddies" get out of school - ick.
Brigeport Bob, The Chicago Park Dist is not just downtown or Lincoln Park. It's in the nieghborhoods outside the loop. Tim Mitchell(clone of Frank Kruesi) is a pct worker for Daley and has mismanaged the Park Dist as Kruesi did top the CTA!
Chicago Clout had this story and launched a very successful assault a couple of months ago. http://www.chicagoclout.com/weblog/archives/2008/03/we_need_to_bring_light_to_linc.html Lets give Patrick McDonough credit for a job well done. Oops, back in the shadows again. Save Lincoln Park from Daley and his thugs.
The Save Lincoln Park folks are a group of neighbors, some retired, some working, some stay-at-moms. We're fighting to keep our parks free and open to all and to say "NO MORE" to sweet heart back room deals. We all use the park. We all love Chicago. If you're dismayed by all the corruption and incompetence that Ben regularly covers - then join us at http://www.savelincolnpark.org. Sign our online petition and donate to our legal fund. On Wednesday the city had 12 lawyers defending this mess!
Orion was right that Latin would get their field. Period. Daley wants it. The rich powerful parents want it. It is not that bad. Also, Frank Kruesi maybe an arrogant jerk but he is smart and well educated--Kruesi did f up CTA--Tim Mitchell is fat and stupid and nothing like Kruesi. Slim Tim Mitchell is a fat sick corrupt joke.
Why should we give Pat mcdonut credit for hired trucks he put some hard working people out of a jobs. Many people needed the city trucking contracts to pay off their mortgages and pay their parent's nursing home bills. Mayor Daley has a right to build up lincoln park, for the citizens. Also he has a right to get the kids out of Navy Pier. If some of you tree huggers want to see open space go to Montana,or out West. We should honored to build a studium for the best and the brightest kids in Chicago. They even agreed to let the Mexicans you the facility, when it is not in use. SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM.
The plumber better go back to the shadows of Desplaines. The hired truck scandal was nothing more than a distraction . Mayor Daley tossed everyone under the bus on that gig. The real scandals that will stick to DALEY WILL BE RAINBLOCKERS, HIRING SCANDAL AND PATRICK DALEY(MSS). The shadow knows who created those scandals. The plumbers obsession, Frank Coconate. Pete Z. should be given the money and man-power to mrun for alderman in that ward. he would shake up the City Council!
The only time the rainblockers would not work is when the lazy city workers would put them in wrong. I saw some put in upside down. Stop city ghost pay-rollers and crybabies. Lets move Chicago forward.
When you say the best and brightest,you definitely are not referring to yourself. I hope Daley does another meigs field in Grant and Lincoln park. We will have a greater reson for running his corrupt ass out of office. We need term limits, in addition to a recall provision,applied to all City ,County,and State elected officials.
The IG and US Attorney should have investigated Park Grill and Laura Foxgrover. The Latin soccer field is just another tool for the Mayor to create contracts for friends and families. His son, who is hiding, will be called in soon for his role in the MSS scandal. The rainblockers or vortex will be completely removed by 2011, because they are a complete failure. Ben, Why don't you list the Latin School Board and a roster of the students that go to Latin school . Privacy is thrown out the window if they want to use a taxpayer funded park!
I was told they are going to take taxes out of the settlement. People with lawyers need to pay the lawyers also. How much will really go into your pocket, I am scared this was a sucker deal. Nothing worse than being a sucker for Daley's lollipop.
Pat, 75,000 for pain and suffering in a settlement is not taxable. Terry Brunner is paying the attorney for Coconate. DesPlaines needs some plumbers
We should have a fundraiser for frank. Shakman was for lost wages and opportunity. Chicago will short the checks. I sorry but shakman was a win for Daley. Mayor Daley is making the City of Chicago a International Icon. I love you Mayor Daley, you are my friend and buddy.
When will Daley feel some more heat from use,and your efforts?
Patrick McDonough--You have some serious mental health issues. You are a mean spirited liar. PAtrick McDonough is obsessed with Frank Coconate and Jealous of him. Please get some good psyhiatric help and spend more time with your kids in DesPlaines. You have a control issue and are a megalomaniac. McDonough has issues. You need help.
Thanks Richard. He is really an Idiot. I made the mistake of helping him when Daley fired him. I didn't know he lived in Desplaines and lied in court. Lets get back to the Latin School and the taxpayers getting screwed again by Myor daley!
I like Mayor Daley because he is suffering from megalomania. (o(o-nate is silly. Get mortgage relief while rates are down.
Fat pig Tim Mitchell is corrupt the entire Park District is corrupt, the Human resources is corrupt. the law department and elegal services is corrupt, upper management is corrupt, petty, vidnictive and immoral more to come details on antother blog
Sounds like a lot of class envy going on. The poor working stiffs are jealous that they have to work two jobs to send their kids to Our Lady of Declining Enrollment school or to an inferior public school, while the Latin School family can drop $2MM for a soccer field without batting an eye. This while other schools don't have books, lab supplies or athletic shoes for their teams. Guess what, tought shit. Nobody said life was fair. You should be lucky that Latin is giving this wonderful gift to you plebian masses. This is how the riff-raff shows their appreciation for a brand new soccer field ?
I agree, maybe our Master would bless us both with one of his farts. I know you and I enjoy any and everything come from this man, even his excrement. We love Daley and the wealthy whom rule over us precinct workers.
The beautiful thing about life: Eventually, everybody dies. From Dust to Dust, From Ashes to Ashes, taking with what one came into this world with, namely, nothing. The Perfection of Creation being a balanced equation. Much Ado About Nothing.
If Frank CocoPuffs were in charge, With his boyfriend Jesse Jackoff Jr. The city would be ROYALLY fucked up. Not ONLY would taxes go higher....But a city income tax would be a REALITY, Crime would be at an ALL-TIME HIGH, Businesses would be LEAVING in droves, Not only another WHITE FLIGHT-But even more well-to-do or law abiding & decent families would be leaving the city in droves, Homelessness RAMPANT ALL OVER THE FREAKING CITY, Section 8 dumping grounds RAMPANT, Downtown-Michigan Av-River North & OTHER once thriving areas SUDDENLY becoming GHOST TOWNS, SPEEDING to the LEAVE the city limits would be commonplace because of the SKY HIGH crime rate across the whole freaking city, etc. WHAT A FUCKING NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!.
I supported anyone but Daley than and I'll support anyone but Daley now! He is pushing the middle class and poor out of Chicago with all his stealing! Maybe we should all move to DesPlaines like the Idiot Plumber.
I know this may be unpopular - and I agree the deal is sketchy - but you know that Latin has almost exclusive use of one of the turf fields up near Montrose, right? Same hours, less $$. If they don't get this field in their backyard, they'll continue monopolizing the hours at the other field anyway.
And your point is ? The money that Latin school parents save the city by not putting them in public school, while at the same time paying very high property taxes far outweighs whatever inconveniece it is to a few Mexicans not having access to a soccer field.
Spoken like a top tier precinct worker scum. Daley will move in the night and start the work in Grant and Lincoln park while we sleep. He has to deliver. Daley took the check from Gigi Pritzer,and some of the powerful wealthy ruling class corporate types, whom children attend the Latin school. Daley must perform.
Like Leona Hemsley said, things such as that are for the little people.
He would not ONLY make Edison Park the new "Morse Hellhole", Of course the Morse Hellhole would be a picnic compared to the Jesse Jackson Jr-Frank Coconate hidden agenda. Freaknik would be welcomed back with OPEN ARMS!!!!!. The sports teams would play in the suburbs. Frank Coconate would PROBABLY rule in Chicago, But live in McHenry or DuPage county. The newfound ills would be blamed on the "racist Republicans". Most of the enjoyable festivals would be cancelled. Yes, Jesse Jr says he wouldn't be like Sr......Of course he's right, He would be only WORSE!!!!!!.....He'd make Sr a boy scout compared to Jr.
I read the first paragraph but got bored. I don't kno wut this article's actually talking about because its a drag so wutever.
Orion is an ass sucking graduate of said Latin School or a wanna be ass sucker of said bastion of neo right bush licking conservative fucks
Why must the world constantly focus on the advancement of civilization? I hear the 70's were great. I would like to not work one day and just raise my family on a farm and eat our own food. I wouldn't mind a local business doing so but come on... the american government just takes advantage of every citizen and country.
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