PROTEST CHICAGO'S OLYMPIC BID

*Please post widely*
PROTEST CHICAGO'S OLYMPIC BID
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
5:30PM at CITY HALL (121 N. LA SALLE ST.)

LET THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE KNOW THAT
CHICAGOANS DO NOT WANT THE OLYMPIC GAMES.
The City of Chicago currently has a $500 million budget gap. Chicago Public Schools
are being closed and the CTA is crumbling. The city is staggering from one budget crisis
to the next - and the Mayor's Office is already predicting that the 2010 budget will be worse
than 2009.

Meanwhile, Chicago's City Council has put the taxpayers on the hook for any cost overruns
that would occur if the city gets the Olympics. And Olympics and cost overruns go hand in
hand. Currently, the City of Vancouver, host of the 2012 Winter Olympics is on the hook for
$6 billiion in Olympics cost overruns - which may bankrupt the city. The 2012 Summer Games
in London are 4-times over budget, with a total bill of at least $20 billion.

On October 2nd the International Olympic Committee will decide on the host city for the 2016
Olympic Games. Let you voice be heard... Protest the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid.

CHICAGO NEEDS BETTER HOSPITALS, HOUSING, SCHOOLS AND
TRAINS... NOT OLYMPIC GAMES.
Endorsed by: NO GAMES: Chicago, Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP),
Answer Chicago, Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE), International Socialist
Organization, Northside Action for Justice, Green Party Chicago, March 10th Movement, Pilsen Alliance.

For more information or to endorse this action contact: nogameschicago@gmail.com, call (312) 235-2873
or visit nogameschicago.com.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on September 24, 2009 at 8:50am
i am opposed to the olympics in chicago but i mean the games would generate hella tourism and business revenue all over the city. tons more people staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, paying to the ride the cta, buying candy bars in convenience stores, etc. its a mixed bag. ithink
Permalink Reply by Eric R on September 24, 2009 at 1:51pm
"Make no small plans". Ol' Daniel Burnham would be a fan of the games, right? The opportunity for fraud and our tax dollars going straight to politician's friends and family is my major concern.

I am completing an internship that is taking me to nearly all 77 community areas in the city. The other week I had the opportunity to canvass/map the "commercial corridor"* in Washington Park, which we considered to be between State St. and S. King Drive on 57th St. The community could use a boost of some sort, I just hope they are not boosted right out of the area for the Olympic Stadium and the permanent development to come with it.

*It was difficult to choose an area due to a lack of businesses in the neighborhood.
Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on September 24, 2009 at 4:50pm
The fix is in kids... Protest all ya want... The hookers and envelopes of cash has already been delivered to the I.O.C... All they are waiting for is the hand job from Oprah...
Permalink Reply by Primitive Don on September 24, 2009 at 5:25pm
I'm really on the fence about the Olympics. As a property owner and news reader, I tend to be suspicious of Daley's big ambitious plans. I especially object to his use of over 100 TIF districts to skim away tax revenues from schools and parks into unregulated slush funds to dispense as he sees fit to developers and large corporations while simultaneously crying about massive budget shortfalls for the city, schools, and CTA.

That said, I know folks involved with the bid, and if Chicago were chosen I would not miss the opportunity to take our family to an Olympic Games here in the city. Just sayin.
Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on September 24, 2009 at 6:41pm
1700.00 for the opening ceremony!+ kids=ouch! But dont worry Oprah is stroking!

Primitive Don said:
I'm really on the fence about the Olympics. As a property owner and news reader, I tend to be suspicious of Daley's big ambitious plans. I especially object to his use of over 100 TIF districts to skim away tax revenues from schools and parks into unregulated slush funds to dispense as he sees fit to developers and large corporations while simultaneously crying about massive budget shortfalls for the city, schools, and CTA.

That said, I know folks involved with the bid, and if Chicago were chosen I would not miss the opportunity to take our family to an Olympic Games here in the city. Just sayin.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 27, 2009 at 11:35am
LMAO! I really hope that isn't actually true. I don't want to have to be under 'northside arrest' for 3 months. And what it will do to the lakefront path, actually, fuck the lakefront path now until at least 2012.

Chuck a Muck said:
The fix is in kids... Protest all ya want... The hookers and envelopes of cash has already been delivered to the I.O.C... All they are waiting for is the hand job from Oprah...
Permalink Reply by EevelWeezel on September 27, 2009 at 11:58am
What Lakefront Path? They're going to close 31st Street Beach to the public.

I can see it now. Multitudes will funnel in to misbehave in manners they wouldn't dream of in their hometown and every panhandler for 50 miles will congregate in Washington Park to help relieve them of their money.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
LMAO! I really hope that isn't actually true. I don't want to have to be under 'northside arrest' for 3 months. And what it will do to the lakefront path, actually, fuck the lakefront path now until at least 2012.
Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on September 28, 2009 at 12:18am
This comes from the drudge report;
FOX-TV CHICAGO ORDERED NOT TO RUN ANTI-OLYMPICS STORY
Sun Sep 27 2009 21:56:11 ET

A local TV station that reported on Chicagoans NOT wanting the Olympics has been told NOT to run the report again, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT!

The Chicago Olympic Committee told FOX Chicago that its broadcast "would harm Chicago's chances" to be awarded the games.

The station's news director ordered staff to hold fire after the report aired once last Thursday morning, claims a source.

Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio are mounting strong bids for the honor to host in 2016.

The International Olympic Committee makes its decision on Friday. First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the in-person push.

Developing...

FOX VIDEO: 'Chicagoans for Rio': Not Everyone in Illinois Wants the 2016 Olympics
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on September 29, 2009 at 8:14am
Here's a Sun-Times editorial that address the transportation plan:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1793622,CST-EDT-edit28.article

Ethan, with Active Trans

Chicago Bicycle Advocate said:
I tend to be on board with Homebuilt. Chicago's infrastructure is in shambles. If getting the Olympics means a much improved public transportation system, I'm for it.

Homebuilt said:
Michael Reese closing had nothing to do w/the Olympics, it's been in the works for years now. Out of state owner of facility has been closing it down for years.

Last I had heard, they were going to use the Kenosha velodrome, but that may have been changed.

Frankly, I think the Olympics could bring a lot of good to the city. Massive development on that scale only happens a few times a century, and the opportunity to potentially have significant infrastructure improvements, and a new housing campus in a "difficult" area, is significant, building over the railroad tracks will not happen as a commercial development, but could as part of this, stitching the near-south side to the lakefront (no private developer is going to bother with the issues involved).

Of course there's lots of chance for fraud, etc., but that's why concerned citizens need to be involved in the process rather than just pissing and moaning about it.

"Make no small plans..."

M.A.R.K. said:
One of the sicker things that I think about as far as the Olympics is the closing of the struggling Michael Reese Hospital as the site of the Olympic village. And how the city would rather choose to purchase it to the tune of 1 Billion or so vs. invest money in the local people who depend on that hospital for their health and well being.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 29, 2009 at 10:44am
Haha, bringing "magic".

One of the comments on the article:

jotb wrote:
Ben Johnson roiding it up in 1988...

USSR rigging the outcome of the basketball game in 1972...

The tragedy in Munich in 1972...

Judges cheating Roy Jones out of a gold medal in 1988...

The bribing of judges in the Winter games in Utah...

The bombing in Atlanta in 96...


Ahh yes, the "Magic" of the Olympics.

Cheating, bribing, corruption, crime.


That more I think of it, Chicago should be the permanent home of the Olympics.

Active Transportation Alliance said:
Here's a Sun-Times editorial that address the transportation plan:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1793622,CST-EDT-edit28.article

Ethan, with Active Trans

Chicago Bicycle Advocate said:
I tend to be on board with Homebuilt. Chicago's infrastructure is in shambles. If getting the Olympics means a much improved public transportation system, I'm for it.

Homebuilt said:
Michael Reese closing had nothing to do w/the Olympics, it's been in the works for years now. Out of state owner of facility has been closing it down for years.

Last I had heard, they were going to use the Kenosha velodrome, but that may have been changed.

Frankly, I think the Olympics could bring a lot of good to the city. Massive development on that scale only happens a few times a century, and the opportunity to potentially have significant infrastructure improvements, and a new housing campus in a "difficult" area, is significant, building over the railroad tracks will not happen as a commercial development, but could as part of this, stitching the near-south side to the lakefront (no private developer is going to bother with the issues involved).

Of course there's lots of chance for fraud, etc., but that's why concerned citizens need to be involved in the process rather than just pissing and moaning about it.

"Make no small plans..."

M.A.R.K. said:
One of the sicker things that I think about as far as the Olympics is the closing of the struggling Michael Reese Hospital as the site of the Olympic village. And how the city would rather choose to purchase it to the tune of 1 Billion or so vs. invest money in the local people who depend on that hospital for their health and well being.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on September 29, 2009 at 11:35am
Tank, baby-

First: You need to watch more Bud Greenspan documentaries.

Second: "Finance" at the world, national, state, local and municipal levels has been orchestrated with fancy-shmancy accounting since at least when the US abandoned the gold standard in 1971.

Third: The Olympics would be tremendously inconvenient for everyone who lives in Chicago.

Fourth: The Olympics would be great for business and would provide economic benefit for many (but not all).

Fifth: I'd be pretty excited to see Chicago on TV for 14 days in August of 2016.

Sixth: I don't meet a lot of Brazilian women beach volleyball players in local bars right now.

Seventh: Sign me up!

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Haha, bringing "magic".
One of the comments on the article:
jotb wrote:
Ben Johnson roiding it up in 1988...

USSR rigging the outcome of the basketball game in 1972...

The tragedy in Munich in 1972...

Judges cheating Roy Jones out of a gold medal in 1988...

The bribing of judges in the Winter games in Utah...

The bombing in Atlanta in 96...


Ahh yes, the "Magic" of the Olympics.

Cheating, bribing, corruption, crime.


That more I think of it, Chicago should be the permanent home of the Olympics.

Active Transportation Alliance said:
Here's a Sun-Times editorial that address the transportation plan:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1793622,CST-EDT-edit28.article Ethan, with Active Trans

Chicago Bicycle Advocate said:
I tend to be on board with Homebuilt. Chicago's infrastructure is in shambles. If getting the Olympics means a much improved public transportation system, I'm for it.

Homebuilt said:
Michael Reese closing had nothing to do w/the Olympics, it's been in the works for years now. Out of state owner of facility has been closing it down for years.

Last I had heard, they were going to use the Kenosha velodrome, but that may have been changed.

Frankly, I think the Olympics could bring a lot of good to the city. Massive development on that scale only happens a few times a century, and the opportunity to potentially have significant infrastructure improvements, and a new housing campus in a "difficult" area, is significant, building over the railroad tracks will not happen as a commercial development, but could as part of this, stitching the near-south side to the lakefront (no private developer is going to bother with the issues involved). Of course there's lots of chance for fraud, etc., but that's why concerned citizens need to be involved in the process rather than just pissing and moaning about it.

"Make no small plans..."

M.A.R.K. said:
One of the sicker things that I think about as far as the Olympics is the closing of the struggling Michael Reese Hospital as the site of the Olympic village. And how the city would rather choose to purchase it to the tune of 1 Billion or so vs. invest money in the local people who depend on that hospital for their health and well being.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 29, 2009 at 11:56am
Zeroth: Tank, baby? Cue awkward silence.

Sixth: LOL, and I doubt you will in 2012.

Kevin Conway said:
Tank, baby-

Sixth: I don't meet a lot of Brazilian women beach volleyball players in local bars right now.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Haha, bringing "magic".
One of the comments on the article:
jotb wrote:
Ben Johnson roiding it up in 1988...

USSR rigging the outcome of the basketball game in 1972...

The tragedy in Munich in 1972...

Judges cheating Roy Jones out of a gold medal in 1988...

The bribing of judges in the Winter games in Utah...

The bombing in Atlanta in 96...


Ahh yes, the "Magic" of the Olympics.

Cheating, bribing, corruption, crime.


That more I think of it, Chicago should be the permanent home of the Olympics.

Active Transportation Alliance said:
Here's a Sun-Times editorial that address the transportation plan:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1793622,CST-EDT-edit28.article Ethan, with Active Trans

Chicago Bicycle Advocate said:
I tend to be on board with Homebuilt. Chicago's infrastructure is in shambles. If getting the Olympics means a much improved public transportation system, I'm for it.

Homebuilt said:
Michael Reese closing had nothing to do w/the Olympics, it's been in the works for years now. Out of state owner of facility has been closing it down for years.

Last I had heard, they were going to use the Kenosha velodrome, but that may have been changed.

Frankly, I think the Olympics could bring a lot of good to the city. Massive development on that scale only happens a few times a century, and the opportunity to potentially have significant infrastructure improvements, and a new housing campus in a "difficult" area, is significant, building over the railroad tracks will not happen as a commercial development, but could as part of this, stitching the near-south side to the lakefront (no private developer is going to bother with the issues involved). Of course there's lots of chance for fraud, etc., but that's why concerned citizens need to be involved in the process rather than just pissing and moaning about it.

"Make no small plans..."

M.A.R.K. said:
One of the sicker things that I think about as far as the Olympics is the closing of the struggling Michael Reese Hospital as the site of the Olympic village. And how the city would rather choose to purchase it to the tune of 1 Billion or so vs. invest money in the local people who depend on that hospital for their health and well being.

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