City's Plans For Obamapalooza Coming Together
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 1, 2008 5:50PM
Days after Mayor Daley invited everyone in the entire world down to Grant Park for Tuesday's Obamapalooza, the City is now saying people will be turned away if things get too crowded. Ray Orozco, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said, “If Grant Park reaches capacity, people will be turned around. This is for public safety.” According to Crain's:
Added embattled Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, "We can't have foolishness. We can't have mischief."
- On-street parking will be banned between the lake and the Kennedy Expressway, from the river south to Cermak Road (22nd Street) after Tuesday’s rush hour.
- Intermittent “rolling” closures are likely on Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, and sections of Balbo and Columbus drives will be shut as early as Saturday. Buses will not be allowed to drop off passengers on Michigan Avenue.
- Anyone with a ticket to the party should enter on Congress, walk east to Columbus and then south. Anyone else will be turned north on Columbus, until the park reaches capacity.
- Monroe Harbor will be closed, and boaters will not be allowed to observe the festivities from the water.
- The CTA will operate at rush-hour levels starting mid-afternoon on Tuesday through 2 a.m. Wednesday. But with large crowds expected, bicycles will not be allowed on trains between 4 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday. More details of the CTA’s plans are on its Web site: Transitchicago.com.
- As previously reported, virtually the entire Chicago Police Department will be on duty, with all days off cancelled. Mr. Weis said other law enforcement agencies will be on call in case they are needed, but he believes the department has adequate staff for the job.
- Metra said it would add extra trains both early in the afternoon for those who want to avoid crowds commuting home, and between 11 a.m. and 1 a.m. for late revelers. Those travelling downtown that evening will get able to get a special $5 round-trip ticket. The rail service also noted that its Electric Line stop at Roosevelt Road will be closed after 10 a.m. Tuesday; riders should use the Van Buren stop.
Photo of Obamapalooza set up by Karl Klockars