Mayor Daley Says Not to Worry About Olympic Costs

By Kevin Robinson in News on Sep 23, 2009 2:20PM

Mayor Daley spent a little quality time with our favorite City Hall reporter, Fran Spielman from the Sun-Times, to reassure jittery Chicagoans that they won't have to worry about having to foot the bill for the IOC's summer sports extravaganza, should Chicago get the 2016 Summer Games. “They have been very, very fiscally responsible in regards to their presentation. I really believe that. Unless … ,” Daley told Spielman, before ominously leaving his sentence unfinished. “An earthquake or something or a tornado,” he responded when pressed for an answer.

“They went through the World’s Fair, the Columbian Exposition. People really questioned that. Northerly Island [closing Meigs Field], they questioned. They questioned Millennium Park….Also remodeling of Soldiers Field” and the O’Hare Modernization Project, Daley said, citing the successes of previous mayors and pointing to projects that have happened during his tenure. He acknowledged his detractors as well during his chat with Spielman before announcing that he's a decision maker and can work with issues. “You have to be able to make a decision, stand by it and work with it. At the same time, I think 2016 has responded overwhelmingly to a lot of issues.” Daley made no mention of the report that the insurance Chicago 2016 is putting in place leaves taxpayers exposed to literally billions of dollars in risk, but he did refer to the ongoing economic troubles that have impacted Chicago. “People are very desperate today. ... People are very, very concerned — rightfully so — about this joblessness that’s going on. When they lose their homes ... or they lost their pension and health care and their job, that’s really tough. ... That’s very scary,” he said.