Retired Security Expert Tabbed for Obamapalooza

By Hunter Clauss in News on Oct 28, 2008 5:40PM

Going to Sen. Barack Obama’s election night rally in Grant Park? Well, Chicago officials say Neil Sullivan’s got your back. The retired security expert is getting paid $100 an hour, with a $60,000 cap, to make sure no one raises the roof too high. Sullivan previously worked with the city by revising its emergency and evacuation plans, which hopefully weren’t the same plans used in The Dark Knight (yes, everyone exit the city on Michigan Ave. while cons are bused to Navy Pier). Sullivan was originally hired in the event that the Cubs and the Sox made it to the playoffs and possibly the World Series (HA!). Since that dream didn’t come true, city officials gave him the Obama rally.

Ray Orozco, who’s in charge of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and his awesome Chicago accent told the Sun-Times that the rally will be different than the Taste of Chicago. "You’re probably dealing with a smaller crowd, but...a tighter security bubble. We’ve been planning this for quite awhile...We plan for the worst-case scenario.”

Understandably, the city isn’t screwing around. Off-duty paramedics and firefighters have been ordered to take home their equipment in case of an emergency at the rally. Mayor Daley, who wanted the event at the United Center, said that Grant Park would be closed eight hours in advance for preparations. Streets will also be blocked off and arrangements are being made with the CTA. The Obama campaign has agreed to pick up the $2 million price tag for the event.

Image of Neil Sullivan from the Chicago Building Congress website