She is the "Queen" of the 48th Ward. You will never remove this Hog.

GO TO THE TRIBUNE's CLOUTSTREET AND SEE YOUR ALDERMAN'S ETHIC STATEMENTS AND THEIR SECOND JOBS.

Is truely Daley's rag (Newspaper). They are trying to tilt public opinion in favor of Ania Alvarez. The Suntime never mentions how Anita helped coverup evidence to convict Mariam Santos. Also how she rallied in the States Attorney coverup to protct Daley and Jon Burge. Daley recruited Anita Alvarez right out of law school,to work for his as a partner in crime.

Actually Ben,

As your strongest supporter on TIF education and opposition, I would take a pass at the Uptown Theater.

The Uptown is near impossible to restore profitably. It is much more a museum quality public space than movie theater. It has sat vacant long enough, with a trail of nutcase owners, scam preservation groups etc holding it hostage from the public.

Here is a set of photos from last year..
http://stbarbara.blogspot.com/2007/04/temple-of-ci...

What better way to use TIF Money than to provide access to one of the great public spaces in World History?

JBP

every TIF project no matter how debauched has its constituency

thanks for reminding us that the Hollywood-Sheridan TIF was drawn up out of the gate to port the property taxes of the future to another TIF

"What better way to use TIF Money than to provide access to one of the great public spaces in World History?"

That would be a good argument, if this was getting developed into a public space.

But it isn't.

This is a better use of TIF funds than many of the projects I've seen, but still, to call this is a public project is a bit overboard - if taxpayers get a "10% off your first concert" bone thrown to us, we'll be lucky.

When they finally get the Uptown rehabed ,they should invite Prince to sing his song.

"What better way to use TIF Money ... "

1. our school children

1 out of every 2 "TIF" dollars would be a Chicago Public Schools operating dollar "but for" the TIF. Do you support taking money away from our school children to feather the Mickelson's nest?

The Anita Alvarez story does NOT belong in this posting. Unless you're trying to forcefeed your PRO-PERAICA hidden agenda. This column is about the Uptown Theatre.

A concert venue/theater certainly is a public space. How much more public can it get?

Taking money from a bloated public school budget does not really bother me that much. Maybe someone will reconsider early-retirement programs or some other feather bedding.

There is only one Uptown Theater and there may be no other way of getting into usable condition.

If we are going to waste taxpayer's money, can we at least waste it on something as glorious as the Uptown rather than the myriad of other hapless projects?

JBP

"Hey Stupid One.....
July 31st - 12:16 p.m.
The Anita Alvarez story does NOT belong in this posting. Unless you're trying to forcefeed your PRO-PERAICA hidden agenda. This column is about the Uptown Theatre."


Who do you think you are, the blog police?


The only agenda Peraica has is ending the corrupt reign of the midget king.


What's your not-so-hidden agenda?

"John Powers
July 31st - 1:08 p.m.
A concert venue/theater certainly is a public space. How much more public can it get?"

Well, let's see:


1. the public has FREE access to the space

2. the public receives substantially all profit garnered from any admission charged

3. the public approves of the acquisition of said space

4. the taxpaying public re-coops it's investment in said space, before any profit is gained by anyone other than the public


But, since that's not what you require of your portion of the taxes used to enrich the private parties involved, do you figure that no other taxpayers should hold an opinion that disagrees with yours?

Dan Proft, Or WHICHEVER jackoff of the bald-headed ASSHOLE Tony "I Think I'm The New Allah" Peraica.

I normally hate TIFs - but the improvement on this previously dilapidated corner - and the associated opening of tax-generating businesses - seems like why TIFs were originally created - ten years ago this was a wasteland, the Uptown is uneconomic to fix as a stand-alone business - this one doesn't bug me.

I think John has a good point regarding saving the Uptown, at least the facade, which is indeed enjoyable to the public. Preservation of historic buildings does have a value for society.

Having offered that, let's move to:

"A concert venue/theater certainly is a public space. How much more public can it get?"

As admission will be charged, it certainly doesn't qualify as public.

Millenium Park = public.

(well, when they aren't renting it out to corporations, anyway

The lakefront = public. Northerly island = public.

No need to go on.

"Taking money from a bloated public school budget does not really bother me that much."

Ah, the old throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater approach. So would you be laying off teachers & increasing class sizes then, or simply delaying needed repairs to buildings, removing mold, etc?

Nobody believes the public schools are well run. That said, indiscriminately slashing budgets is not going to improve them. The devil is always in the details...

By the way John, how's that argument that inflation is solidly in check working out for you?

More info here:

http://www.uptownupdate.com/2008/08/uptown-theatre...

[Editor's note: Jerry Mickelson of JAM Productions sent the following email and asked that it be shared with the Friends of the Uptown. If his purchase is approved by the court, JAM will become the new owner of the UPTOWN THEATRE in Chicago. His message is fowarded here in its entirety.]

This sort of project - restoration and preservation of a historic building and prevention of blight -is actually what a TIF is intended for and is an appropriate use of TIF. There are 2 kinds of TIF, conservation or blight, and this meets both tests, in my opinion.

I save my fire for the illegal ones, but support the historic preservation ones. It is nearly impossible to get anyone to restore these buildings otherwise unless they are philanthropists.