Chicago, are you ready to be ruled by the IOC from Switzerland for seven years? No kidding. The Host City Contract includes language on making local laws subservient to the IOC Charter and Swiss law. As reported in the Vancouver Sun: Contract binds Vancouver to play by IOC rules or not play at Elites of …
The mayor had another rough night meeting the public Tuesday at the South Shore Cultural Center. Here’s a gem from WBEZ’s coverage of the hearing. “The mayor didn’t answer that – or most – questions directly, instead asking his staff to meet people individually. A handful of speakers brought up the city’s 2016 Olympic bid …
As reported in Progress Illinois and WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight”: This month, Tribune business columnist David Greising has written two pieces urging more disclosure on the part of Chicago’s Olympic bid committee and, in doing so, spurred a lengthy editorial from his paper on the topic. On Friday, he appeared on Chicago Tonight’s “Week in Review” …
As reported in today’s Crain’s Chicago Business: Chicago’s business weekly dumps cold water on the over-inflated and unsupported claims of Olympic economic benefits. As noted local economist Allen Sanderson says, “It’s a party, not an economic investment.” Watch the Crain’s Chicago video news report. Mayor Richard M. Daley’s prediction that the 2016 Olympics would give …
National Taxpayers United of Illinois issued this statement today: Without liability protection, a Chicago 2016 Olympics will put Illinois taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars, according to the president of Illinois’ largest taxpayer organization. “Chicago submitted its bid details to the International Olympic Committee in February ballyhooing its financial strength, with organizers saying …
The Council of Canadians is one of Canada’s largest public advocacy organizations. On July 21 they issued a statement on the 2010 Winter Games: We are concerned that the civil liberties of local communities and those who have a critique of the Games are being undermined by an unnecessary security presence. The security budget for …
Thanks to our friends at Chicago Clout… And the song has already made news! Sing Along: Same ol’ names makin’ headlines Same ol’ crew stealin’ from the kitty Slitherin’ snakes through departments of our city Mayor Richie Daley tells us wrong from right It’s hard to do when he’s on the next flight He’s hangin’ …
As reported by the Provocateur: Reporting from the 44th, 46th, and 48th Ward Olympics Community Meeting Now, I went to another one of these a couple weeks back. The difference was that this particular “town hall” was put on entirely by the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee. As such, this was something akin to a public …
He hasn’t asked for it, but we are awarding long-time political consultant and commentator Don Rose an honorary No Games Chicago membership for his August 17 column for the Daily Observer. A few weeks back an old friend called to say he could get me $25,000 from Very Important People if I would “blog in …