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Mayor Daley and the Chicago 2016 crew have some unexpected tagalongs at their IOC appearance in Switzerland. It seems a few delegates from No Games Chicago made the trip as well and were carrying literature to distribute to the IOC and it seems Chicago's competition lent a helping hand. According to the Trib's Philip Hersh:
Journalists from media outlets in Spain and Brazil helped No Games carry 50 copies of the book into the building, apparently unconcerned how that looked given that their countries have cities (Madrid and Rio de Janeiro) bidding against Chicago for the 2016 Summer Games.IOC communications director Mark Adams told No Games delegate Tom Tresser that the IOC would accept the books, a compilation of reprinted news clippings. Adams then took Tresser aside for a private meeting.
Adams said he ensured Tresser that IOC President Jacques Rogge would get a copy of the No Games book, but that it was ``not very likely'' he could fulfill Tresser's two other requests: a meeting with Rogge and a chance sit in on Chicago 2016's Wednesday presentation to the IOC members.
When Hersh questioned No Game's claim that the trip cost $10,000 - saying it seemed a bit steep - Tresser responded, "That's how much it's costing us, pal.''
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If I understand correctly, No Games Chicago opposes the Olympics because they want the city to spend their money on things like transportation, housing, education, and other public endeavors. If you look at cities in the past who hosted the Olympics you can see how they have had a great impact on the cities that hosted them. When planned and executed correctly the Olympic Games have the potential to create great new neighborhoods, public facilities, more dependent transportation, and an overall beautification of the city. A great example of this is the Olympic Games of 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.
The key phrase here is "when planned and executed correctly." I think there will be a better chance that this Olympic effort will do a more adequate job of bettering Chicago because it will be being overlooked by the world. There will be a strong effort not to become an embarrassment on a global scale. It is almost inevitable that if this money were used for what No Games Chicago proposes, it will surly be miss-managed and nothing will ever get accomplished as usual.
Every recent big project undertaken by the Daley administration--Mil. Park; O'Hare expansion; Brown Line renovation; Block 37; etc.--has come in over-budget and over-schedule, often wildly so.
What on earth makes you think that the Olympics will be any different? Just because the world is watching?
I find your optimism stunningly naive.
As for the benefits of the Olympics on the overall city, I find that a weak argument: The Olympics will be a compact games in Chicago, meaning you don't need to overhaul much of the city. As well, even the small amount of Olympic planning and work done so far shows that the poor and unconnected will get screwed, which puts another hole in your idea that the Olympics will benefit Chicago at large.
As well, there are plausible arguments that the money spent on Olympics just isn't worth it, that it's a bad investment.
God, the silly optimism of Olympics boosters is rather annoying. Then again, that's how most cheerleaders are--annoying and silly.
The CTA Blue line slow zone elimination came in under budget and ahead of schedule. So did the brown line renovation.
When millennium park was originally envisioned, there were no A list architects involved and the plan was originally for 16 acres, not the final 24 acres. People love to talk about budget overruns in the park, but the cost increase was a result of the project becoming something else entirely. In classic Chicago fashion, the park wasn't just a few trees and some grass, its a world-class attraction.
The silly pessimism of Olympics naysayers is rather annoying. Then again, that's how most emo kids are--annoying and silly.
Dude, have you been on the Blue Line lately?
Judging by the weekly Blue Line closures still going on, I'd say the Blue line slow zone repair is far from complete.
That's a different phase of the project, the one undergone last summer on the western branch came in ahead of schedule. My fault, I should have qualified it.
Oh, you mean the one they advertised as erasing Blue Line slow zones throughout the entire system? I see.
Emo? Christ, I've been called everything from right winger to raging lib, but never emo. Cool. Does that mean I have to wear more makeup from now on?
No, the Brown Line renovation was amended at nearly the last moment, and costs went up at that point. The schedule was amended too to allow for more flexibility. And while the stations are generally nicer--in some case, a lot nicer--small problems still plague them, problems that are more than mild annoyances for commuters (stuck doors, even though doors are new; pools of water, etc.)
As for the Blue Line, I'm not sure you want to hold up as an example a line where recently installed ties still break down, needing replacement.
Nice spin on Mil Park--the Daley Administration recklessly changed its mind midstream, and that's a good thing? Mind you, I think the park is a great attraction, even if it was overpriced and over schedule.
Daley can't even handle a relatively small project such as the leasing of parking meters. And you would trust him with the Olympics? Wow, the trust you have.
The Olympics will bring a lot of benefit to the machine and Daley pals, and much less benefit to the city at large, with taxpayers on the hook for any costs (despite the bullshit lies Daley was telling a year or so ago). If Chicago is in such desperate need of attention that it will waste a lot of time and money on this crap--and it's hard to argue that the Games always make money--then perhaps this city isn't so great to be begin with.
This great impact you describe did not happen in either Atlanta or Salt Lake City. Olympic host cities in other nations at times have seen lasting improvements in public transportation, but this owes largely to a focus on public transportation that existed in these cities before the games. Atlanta got a park.
When planned and executed correctly the Olympic Games have the potential to create great new neighborhoods, public facilities, more dependent transportation, and an overall beautification of the city.
If by the city, you mean a couple areas by the lakefront.
I don't want the games here either, but with a petition at last count, 659, I doubt they're going to make much of a wave.