Chicago Scene Cancels Boat Party

More recently the City of Chicago wanted to host to Olympics..., However now they are saying they can't police 800-1600 boats? I say they can but don't want to for whatever made up reasons. Again the City does not own the water, it is federal property and boat owners boats are private property which equals NO City of Chicago permits necessary. If police are needed the city can call in the state, coast guard, conservation police etc. This is why boaters pay to play (harbor fees, taxes, etc.). Some people can't understand that boats constitutional rights are being violated. I ask that everyone google your first amendment right....the right to assemble peacefully. Sometimes the City of Chicago could be wrong, google 2003 midnight closure of Meigs Field. The City is trying to test their boundries and I think people need to stand up. If you are not a boater this can happen to you too. We are in the 11th hour, lets see what happens this weekend when 100's of boaters show up to the playpen. Let's see who's bluffing then???? 

Guinness Book of World Records:  Most venereal disease infested waters in the world.

C'mon sleazebuckets we can do it!

This weenie fancies himself a regular Rosa Parks, all cause he doesn't want to go through proper channels.  Oh and gang killings on the West side do *not* make national news and barely are noticed locally.

That has to be some of the most incredible hubris I've ever read. Comparing his drunken douche-a-palooza to a 108 year old event that entertained and inspired thousands of people and the legacy that lives on in so many positive ways is both comedic and pathetic.

Well done on setting the bar so high for self aggrandizement, Mr. Widen.

P.S. The 1893 fair was the World's Columbian Exposition and the (Chicago) World's Fair was in 1933. Congratulations on getting your history mixed up, you arrogant ass.

Holy shit.  Was that "unique" capitalization all from his statement?  Somebody shouldn't be allowed near the shift key after they've been hitting their sponsor's bottles.

Yeah, it sure is a hoot when the government restricts the freedom of association of people we think are stupid. Hey! Maybe next year the city can cancel the Special Olympics softball game! That'd be a real knee-slapper!

That is an awesome argument. The only possible hole I see in it is . . . oh right, the permit process. "Someone told me not to bother." That is just pathetic.

P.S. all of the people who were allegedly going to go to this party are perfectly free to associate with each other. Not so much a "freedom of association" issue asshat.

This fucking jagoff and his merry band of douchebags contribute NOTHING to the city. Their boat party probably ends up costing the city money because of extra police and traffic cops and other security measures, already strained during a normal Venetian Night. It's not restricting freedom of association, it's asking them to get permits and they don't want to. So they bluffed and lost and it's awesome. Sometimes the "Cool kids" don't get their way.

The Special Olympics has enough motivation to get a permit.

When you lose spontaneity you lose the vibrancy of living.  Hope Chicago wakes up.  Corruption & bureaucracy are killing this city.  We need to keep the young people interested if we don't want a mass exodus.

"spontaneity" lol.  It looks like a big corporate sponsored party. 

Maybe so but corporate sponsors also bring much need resources into the city.  Of course they need to have an incentive to make money - that's how the wheels of the economy keep turning.  It looks like it would have been a fun event. Meanwhile I'm seeing a once vibrant city with endless miles of empty store fronts. Chicago needs to attract business and to make itself attractive or we will end up looking like Detroit.

As a business owner who closed their retail store last year, I keep thinking what kind of business I could do next and whether it should be in Chicago.  Give me a reason to invest in this city - high rent and taxes?  Being squeezed?  I've already have gone down in flames.  Find me on eBay; I'm in Liquidation mode. Listings at @LuxuryDiscounts on twitter,  A fine mess.

Perhaps you and "furytrader" (*fury* *creepy*) missed that there have been tons of festivals all summer long and that last weekend Pitchfork (for just one example) was massive.  Your crocodile tears about business ring very hollow.  Business is good, this is some stupid party, and this tool is too cheap to deal with the proper channels.  No offense but I think you're a complete bullshitter. If you can't keep a business open then it speaks more about your own personal flaws as a business person.

Seriously how ridiculous do you sound? Chicago's anti business because some ass wants to have a corporate event on the lake that the city, police, and probably coast guard will have to keep track of, but he doesn't want to pay.....

Fuck this idiot. And believe this, the families and friends of these sleazy goons will be the first ones to file lawsuits against the city and everyone involved as soon as one of these drunken morons bonks there heads and drowns.

Business is good?  I'm happy for you. What is it that you do exactly? Seems like you are not interested in having a discussion but are putting the time into attacking people - a sign of someone who is poor in spirit.  I pity you.

Sorry but corporate sponsorships that amount to nothing more than banners hanging from boats and free booze for boat whores and the guys they fall on their backs for amounts to no financial gain for anybody. Good for the self-important Mr. Widen for finding a group of suckers to drool all over the pictures in his little book, and his website. The only one benefitting from the whole thing has been him. You make nothing, I make nothing. Sorry your business failed- You may have to find something else to blame besides the city.

The so-called loss of that party was like dodging a bullet.

Everything would have been fine if you'd only had a boat party.