In the Sun-Times, Mayor Daley says it would take an earthquake or a tornado to make us foot the bill for the 2016 games. “They have been very, very fiscally responsible in regards to their presentation. I really believe that. Unless … ,” Daley said without completing the sentence. Unless what? What would it take …
David Zirin is The Nation’s sports editor. He writes about Chicago’s bid in his September 22 column: Recently Barack Obama criticized planned protests at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh because, as he knew from his Chicago days, “focusing on concrete, local, immediate issues that have an impact on people’s lives is what really makes a …
From the Chicago League of Women Voters (published in the Chicago Tribune, September 20): The League of Women Voters of Chicago opposes the selection of Chicago as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics. We do so in reliance on the principle of our organization that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation …
As reported in today’s Crain’s Chicago Business: Mayor Richard M. Daley and Patrick Ryan assure Chicago taxpayers that a safety net of insurance would insulate them from the financial risks of hosting the 2016 Olympics. But the insurance policies Mr. Ryan says he’ll secure would cover only about $1.1 billion of the $3.8-billion operating budget …
From an essay by Steve Bartin in Newgeography.com: Most American cities chose not to bid on the 2016 summer Olympics and with good reason. With the exception of the 1984 Los Angeles games, the Olympics has proved a big time money loser in city after city. More often than not, it has been staged more …
The Chicago Reader reports on a study done by the European Tour Operators Association, that, despite claims by Olympic organizers, international tourism to host cities actually DECREASES after hosting the games. According to the ETOA, in fact, “there is no strong link” between hosting any sporting event and growth in tourism. “The audiences regularly cited …
As reported in The Chicago Tribune: Mayor Richard Daley likes to say his dream of bringing the Olympics to Chicago won’t be a drain on taxpayers’ wallets and pocketbooks. “Tax money isn’t paying for it. There’s no tax money whatsoever,” Daley said earlier this year. “We are very strong in that position … in the …
Jay Stone is the son of Alderman Bernie Stone of the 50th Ward. Jay has created a web site, No Chicago Games, that outlines Chicago’s long history of political corruption. He makes the case that President Obama should NOT endorse or support Mayor Daley in his fanatic quest to host the 2016 Olympics. The Top …
Surprising no one, the Chicago City Council voted this afternoon (Wednesday, September 9) unanimously to approve Mayor Daley’s blank check for the 2016 Olympics. Mayor Daley wanted this bid and to have a competitive Olympic bid you have to sign a blank check. The Mayor knew this. The 2016 Committee knew this. No Games Chicago …
So the City Council is set to sign the Mayor’s 2016 blank check and will give oversight of our taxes for the games to Alderman Ed Burke, Chairman of the City Council Finance Committee. This clearly won’t work for Chicago’s taxpayers. The Alderman has so many conflict of interests representing firms that do business with …