Daley Adds Obama Pal to Chicago 2016 Board

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Mar 3, 2009 10:30PM

In a bid to tie President Obama even more tightly to the city's 2016 Olympics bid, Mayor Daley has appointed Marty Nesbitt to the Chicago 2016 board. Nesbitt replaces another Obama friend, Valerie Jarrett, who stepped down from her spot when she accepted a job in the White House. Nesbitt, who was national treasurer for Obama's presidential campaign, said, “I don’t think me on the board adds anything to the president’s enthusiasm. He’s been a supporter of having the Olympics in Chicago from the very beginning. He’s eager to be helpful in any way he can...I love Chicago. I’m eager to have its diversity, its fellowship and its architecture on display for the rest of the world. Having the rest of the world know Chicago as we know it has got to be good for the city. There can be a lasting economic impact.” Nesbitt is also board chairman at the CHA and serves on the board of the University of Chicago Lab School. As to the sensitive issue of whether or not taxpayers will have to chip in for the cost of the Games, Nesbitt, said, “There’s sort of a history of U.S. cities pulling off these Olympic events in a way that doesn’t cost taxpayers any money. We have a decent plan in place that minimizes risk. I don’t think there’s any risk to taxpayers at all.” "Decent" isn't good enough, Mr. Nesbitt. It'd better be an incredible plan.