Chicago Broke But Finds $86 Million to Buy Hospital and Tear It Down

The New York Times reports today that although the city is $300 million in the red, it is proceeding with plans to purchase the Michael Reese Hospital site and tear it down for the Olympic Village.

Just weeks after inspectors with the International Olympic Committee visited here as part of a bid for the 2016 Games, city officials appeared to be moving ahead with a deal to pay $86 million for a hospital campus that they hope to convert into the Olympic Village.

Last week, the city put out a preliminary request for bids from demolition contractors to tear down and clean up the 29 buildings on the 40-acre site of Michael Reese Hospital. The city said plans to buy the property and buildings from Medline Industries should be completed by late June.

Don’t we need MORE access to health care, not LESS? Come on, Chicago – wake up. Say “NO!” to the 2016 Olympic bid.