Entries associated with the tag "2016 Olympics":

The big news from last night's mayoral budget hearing is that the Olympics are back to being free.

That's right: building, staging, and removing the venues for the 2016 Olympic Games won't cost the public a dime; it will all somehow or other pay for itself.

I know this because I heard it from Mayor Daley himself, who was leading his annual budget hearing at the Falconer School on the northwest side.

In response to comments from one concerned resident, Daley said there will be "no public money for the Olympics. There will not be any money used for the Olympics."

Whew, what a relief. Silly me, I'd thought we were on the hook for at least $500 million ever since last year, when Daley, at the urging of the United States Olympic Committee, got the City Council to, you know, authorize up to $500 million for the games. I believe the USOC called it putting some governmental "skin in the game."

Of course, there's always the possibility that Mayor Daley forgot about that $500 million authorization. Just as it's possible that he forgot his more recent proposal to borrow $85 million to buy and demolish Michael Reese Hospital so he can eventually build the Olympic Village there. 

You have to understand, there are hundreds of details a guy's got to master in order to be mayor of a city as big as Chicago. It's possible things slipped his mind.

In other big news from last night's budget hearing, 32nd Ward alderman Scott Waguespack has apparently displaced Cook County commissioner Mike Quigley as mayoral public enemy number one.

At the 2006 budget hearing at Falconer, the mere mention of Quigley -- an outspoken critic of the mayor's TIF program -- drew a sarcastic barb from Daley. Last night someone mentioned Quigley and mayor said nothing.  But when preservationist Jonathan Fine mentioned that people in West Town would like a library installed in the city-owned Goldblatt's building on Chicago Avenue, Daley assailed Waguespack, the local alderman in that area, for voting against last year's tax hike -- which, if you remember, was supposed to be used to build libraries.

It just goes to show you how memory's a funny thing. When it comes to multimillion dollar Olympic expenditures, the mayor's memory is fuzzy. But when it comes to one small act of aldermanic insubordination, man, our mayor doesn't forget a thing.   

There was an Olympic rally on the south side this morning, but it wasn't like the rallies staged by Mayor Daley.

Instead of bringing in out-of-town celebrities to join the mayor's chorus -- Olympics good, Olympics good -- the newly formed coalition Communities for an Equitable Olympics raised the possibility that maybe, just maybe, staging the games in 2016 wouldn't be such a hot idea for Chicagoans.

It was a glorious sunshiny morning, and many of the leading south-side community organizations were there: the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization, Action Now, Centers for New Horizons, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.

Facing a horde of reporters and camera crews, they stood on the steps of Michael Reese Hospital, at 2929 S. Ellis, which the city -- as busted as it is -- is preparing to replace with a 37-acre development that could serve as the Olympic Village.

Think about this for a moment. The city's $400 million in the red, we're in the midst of a crisis in low-income health care, and the condo market's soft. But the mayor's gearing up to sink $85 million into a 7,500-unit condominium complex that will take the place of a hospital.

For the moment the activists are playing things diplomatically. "We're not here to hurt the Olympic bid," said Denise Dixon, a member of Action Now. "We're here to enhance it."

The coalition wants to force the city to sign a "legally enforceable benefits agreement" that would, among other things, guarantee that as much as 20 percent of the units in the Olympic Village development would be affordable for working-class and poor people who currently live in the area.

At the risk of sounding like the jaded old coot that I am, I don't know why they would trust any promise that the city makes when it comes to affordable housing. As best I can tell the whole point of the Olympics -- other than putting an international spotlight on the mayor -- is to move the poor people out of the south side.

I can only hope that if the city turns down the residents' demands they'll move to plan B: opposition. I say the sooner they get there the better. Until Mayor Daley can show how he would pay for the games -- other than with property tax dollars -- we shouldn't be spending millions to try to have them, 'cause we can't afford them.

When I think about it, there should have been people from the north, northwest, southwest and west sides at today's rally as well. After all, tax dollars are coming out of their pockets too.  

In the last few days Mayor Daley has been spreading the word that even though the city faces mountains of debt, there's absolutely no way he will raise property taxes.

Last week he and schools CEO Arne Duncan announced that the Board of Education would rather take $50 million out of reserves than hike taxes for the cash-starved system.

And today he proclaimed that he would mandate furlough days for nonunion city employees to help close a budget deficit he says stands at "a couple of hundred million dollars." But no new property taxes.

This is a surprising turn of events for the mayor, who hasn't been reluctant to hike taxes in the past. For instance, to help close last year's $293 million deficit, Mayor Daley raised roughly $276 million in fees, fines, and taxes, including $83.4 million in property taxes. And this was on top of his $113 million increase in what I call the TIF tax (which the mayor doesn't acknowledge because he's apparently convinced himself that TIFs aren't taxes even though we have to pay them).

So what gives this year?

Well, there are two theories bouncing around City Hall. The nice guy theory is that Mayor Daley truly cares about the little people of his town and he realizes that in these hard economic times they can't afford another tax hike.

"Chicago taxpayers have been generous and supported our school improvements, and they deserve a break," the mayor told reporters at a July 23 press conference where he announced no new property taxes for the schools.

Arne Duncan was even more direct. "People are hurting," he said at the same press conference. "They're having a hard time making ends meet. And we refuse to add to that burden....We will not raise taxes. It would have been the wrong thing to do at this time."

Then there's the more, shall we say, realistic point of view that goes like this. With just six months left before the city submits its official bid for the 2016 Olympics to the International Olympic Committee, the last thing Mayor Daley wants or needs is to risk igniting anything remotely resembling a property tax revolt. Not when he's trying to show the world that everyone in Chicago just can't wait to host the games. There will of course be plenty of chances to jack up taxes next year, when he won't have to impress the IOC.

So which theory do you buy: Mayor Daley truly cares about you, or he wants you to remain asleep? 

I'm sure there will be plenty of seats available when the Plan Commission meets Thursday to discuss Mayor Daley's plans to borrow $85 million to buy and demolish Michael Reese hospital.

What's that? You didn't know the meeting was even on the calendar [pdf]?

Well, of course not. When it comes to throwing a fundraising bash in Millennium Park intended to feed the fantasy that the games will magically make our lives better, the Olympic planners can't send out enough press releases (I think I got three) inviting the media to show up. (And if you want to see who pitched in some cash, read the report from Crain's.)

But they don't send out any announcements for a meeting that will explain the finer points of their plans to get started on building a 7,500-unit (give or take a couple hundred) Olympic Village--such as how in the world we're supposed to pay for it without bankrupting our schools and parks.

And they hide the meeting on a weekday afternoon.

Too bad. I for one am really looking forward to the city's first public explanation of how they're borrowing $85 million but not really spending the money.

I'll keep you posted--or you can see the fun for yourself at at 1 PM Thursday in the City Council chambers.... 

I hope the International Olympic Committee saw Greg Hinz's recent story in Crain's Chicago Business about the latest development in the ongoing debacle of Mayor Daley's dream to build a superstation below Block 37.

According to Hinz, the project is so far behind schedule and over budget that the city's going to have to spend another $20 million in TIF funds just to pay off existing debt.

Again, this $20 million is just to pay back off existing debt. It isn't to complete the project -- the city still hasn't figured out how they're going to pay for that. With the new expenditures, the project -- originally budgeted at $213 million -- will have consumed about $320 million.

"Until even more money is found," Hinz writes, "the semi-completed station will be mothballed, much like an unfinished basement in a home whose owners has poured the concrete but can't afford to install carpeting, paneling and other finishing touches."

And even when -- or if -- the city figures out how to complete the project they still can't use it because it doesn't have any tracks to run on. The line is intended to provide high-priced express service for tourists, business execs, and other high rollers zipping between the Loop and Midway and O'Hare. But there are no tracks on which to run the express service. Eventually the city plans to seek bids from private companies looking to build the tracks and operate the line. Either that or the express service will have to share existing Blue and Orange line tracks so the high rollers save a few extra minutes on the ride downtown.

I remember when the City Council passed the funding for this project back in 2005. A few aldermen told me they voted for it because they had no choice--it was one of the mayor's pet projects. Keep in mind, the Olympics is another one of Mayor Daley's pet projects -- which everyone, including Barack Obama -- feels compelled to endorse.

Let's hope the IOC gives the games to Rio. It will be a miracle if this bunch gets through the games without driving us bankrupt. 

Congratulations, Mayor Daley, the International Olympics Committee yesterday named Chicago as one of three four finalists to host the 2016 games.

Now I have some advice if you want to win the nod: lie.

Keep saying the games will cost no more than $500 million in public money, even though they're going to cost much more than that.

Keep saying that construction in Jackson, Lincoln, and Douglas parks will last no more than ten months, even though it will probably start years in advance of 2016.

Keep saying the games will benefit south-siders, even though it will force residents out of their neighborhoods by jacking up land costs and property taxes.

Keep saying the Olympics will bring recreational opportunities for inner-city kids, though it there are no current plans to leave poor neighborhoods with much in the way of public facilities.

Keep saying it's all about putting Chicago in the international spotlight, even though it's really about doling out contracts, sparking real estate deals, and feeding your ego.

Keeping saying it will be governed by an open and transparent process, even though major deals will continue to be made behind closed doors and budgets and building plans will be kept out of public view.

Keep saying whatever you have to say to stall the opposition. 'Cause once you win the games, it won't matter what the opposition says. You can plow them over like a bunch of trees in Jackson Park.

In other words, stick with the game plan. It's got you this far, after all. 

Every now and then the Sun-Times comes out with a layout so brilliant that it makes me want to cheer. So it was on page four of this morning's paper.

At the top of the fold is a large picture of the sinkhole on the 1800 block of West Montrose, caused by a broken water main. "Sinkhole swallows street," reads the headline. "'We've got to get out of here,' bar owner says as he sees Montrose collapse."

Below that article is a smaller story, headlined "Chicago is front-runner in Olympics race: expert."

I always found it a curious choice of priorities for Mayor Daley and Chicago's business elite to plow on with plans to spend billions of tax dollars on the Olympics while the CTA's train lines and buses were falling apart. Now it turns out the streets are caving in -- city officials predict more sinkholes because the water mains are old and in need of repair -- as they push on with their big-time party plans.

Then again, this is the city that wants to build a $400 million track and field stadium for the world's elite athletes while Chicago schoolkids train in hallways because we don't have a single indoor running track.

In its article on the Olympics, the Sun-Times quotes Ed Hula, who runs the Web site aroundtherings.com, as ranking Chicago ahead of the competition to win the 2016 games because of its "strong infrastructure of hotels and transportation, a city-centered venue plan and an effective marketing scheme."

Let's see how those effectively scheming marketers spin the collapse of Montrose Avenue. 

Photo by theeereilly. 

Well, it didn't take long . . .

Roughly eighth months after Mayor Daley broke his promise not to spend any public money on the 2016 Olympics, he's proposing to spend untold millions buying Michael Reese Hospital so he can tear it down for the Olympic Village.

The mayor didn't tell reporters how he would fund the purchase of the 37-acre site, west of Lake Shore Drive between 26th and 31st streets. But give Crain's columnist Greg Hinz credit -- he figured it out. "The property," Hinz dryly noted in in his Wednesday account of Daley's proposal, "is included within the Bronzeville tax increment financing (TIF) district."

It's also next to the 47th and King TIF, the 40th and State TIF, the 41st and King TIF, the 35th and State TIF, and the 43rd and Cottage Grove TIF. State laws governing TIFs allow the city to "port" TIF funds -- that is, move TIF money from one district to an adjoining one. Including Bronzeville, these TIFS had about $19.3 million in their accounts as of last December.

Remember, TIFs are property tax dollars diverted from the schools and parks and county into slush funds controlled by the mayor. He could use them to rebuild the CTA, hire more teachers, or help offset the city's $196 deficit, which instead has him calling for a $300 million increase in property taxes and fees. Instead, he's pouring money into his pipe dream.

Enjoy the games, my friends. 

Apparently, the best way the U.S. Olympic Committee can get its message to Mayor Daley is to use the press.

If you recall, when they wanted him to break his promise to use no public money to pay for the 2016 Olympic games, Olympic committee vice president Bob Ctvrtlik went to the media.

"We definitely want the government to have some skin in the game," Ctvrtlik told reporters on March 7. "We had been assured by the mayor that this is the case with the city of Chicago."

Within a week Daley not only reversed his long-standing pledge not to use public money but had slammed through the City Council a Rube Goldberg financing scheme likely to cost taxpayers at least $500 million if, God help us, we get the games.

Last week Ctvrtlik's boss, UOC chairman Peter Ueberroth, came to Chicago and told reporters that if Daley doesn't improve his act, the International Olympic Committee will award the games to another city. "You have to care about  and develop real friendships globally if you're going to be successful in the Olympic movement," Ueberroth said.

In other words, Chicago has to start making nice to IOC shot callers.

This may not be so easy for Daley to do. It's one thing for the mayor to sign on to a plan to waste public tax dollars -- he does that all the time (think $40 million handout to the Merc). But it's another thing to actually get him to be ingratiating or solicitous. Daley doesn't suck up to people, people suck up to Daley. If the mayor wants to do something, he just does it -- to hell with the opposition (think the destruction of Meigs Field). In the case of the Olympics, Daley probably figured all he had to do was invite the IOC to McCormick Place, feed them deep-dish pizza, take them on a bus tour of the city, and the games were his.

Now he knows better. We're number four.

It's funny the things that enrage Mayor Daley.

Aides and city employees indicted or carted off to jail on corruption charges? Hey, stuff happens.

The CTA's breaking down physically and financially? Hey, man, don't bother me, I got to catch a plane to Paris. My buddy Frank did his best.

But one alderman dares to tell the mayor he can't do what he wants? Look out, mama -- Katie bar the door.

Witness how Daley reacted to rookie alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd), who after weeks of community meetings decided to go with the majority of his constituents and oppose the mayor's plans to move the Chicago Children's Museum to Grant Park. Daley laced into Reilly, albeit screwing up his name. He was so riled he misquoted Reilly in his efforts to tarnish him. Reilly and his constituents, he insisted, were child-hating bigots whose opposition imperiled the future of the entire city. His face got red. His hair fell across his forehead. He snarled. He sneered. He threatened.

It was a vintage Daley temper tantrum. People at City Hall tell me he throws them all the time. It seems to be an effective tactic: most aldermen fall in line. To cite just one example, the council voted 35-5 for Daley's grand scheme to bring the 2016 Olympics to town, despite knowing full well we can't afford them. They figured the city wasn't going to get the games anyway, so why piss off the mayor with a "no" vote? And if the International Olympic Committee were to award the games to Chicago? Well, that's a risk the aldermen were willing to take. Better to risk public bankruptcy than the mayor's wrath.

In his tirade against Reilly, Daley said he was standing up for Chicago's children. "I hope you understand what this fight is all about," he said.

Who's he trying to kid? This fight is not about children -- it's about patronage, and it's about power. The mayor has both in spades, and he wants to keep them, particularly with his Olympic dreams on the line. As story after story points out, one of the biggest things Chicago has going for it in the eyes of the IOC is the notion that Daley's an all-powerful mayor (a benign tyrant, if you will) who can get whatever he wants. Want to shut down Washington, Jackson and Douglas parks for months, maybe years? Want to divert millions, if not billions, of property taxes from the cash-starved schools? Want to soak the taxpayers for billions in order to throw a three-week party? Mayor Daley can get it done. No one dares cross him.

Except, it turns out, Reilly. I didn't think he had this kind of guts when he was running for office in February, but he's shown signs of it before. I can only hope his council colleagues aren't afraid to emulate him.

Continuing his relentless campaign to win the hearts and minds of local Chicagoans for the 2016 Olympics, Mayor Daley showed up at Wednesday's opening of the Attack Training Center, a "$15 million state-of-the-art athletic facility" at 2641 W. Harrison.

"This will be a very special place for young amateurs to come together and get the training necessary," Daley said at the opening."This is very important for our [Olympic]s bid. You need a facility like this."

According to the Sun-Times, "the center was build on city-owned industrial land sold to the developer at a bargain price."

But even though the public is subsidizing the facility, it's not a public facility--it's a private operation. Yes, its owner, noted trainer Tim Grover, promises to make it available at times to local students. And, yes, an argument can be made that it's beneficial to use tax dollars to put vacant land back on the tax rolls.

But let's not kid ourselves. As wonderful as this training center might be, it's hardly an attempt to rectify inequities that plague sports and recreation in Chicago.

Once again the city's forcing taxpayers to fund athletic facilities that will have almost no benefit for ordinary citizens. The city is planning to spend hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars on the games, while there is still no -- not a one -- indoor running track for its public schools. Most schools scrounge for land to play their soccer games, while the Park District is turning over prime land in Lincoln Park so the Latin School, one of the most expensive private schools in the area, can build a soccer field. (The Latin School will be guaranteed use of the field during prime hours). The proposal to build an Olympic stadium in Washington Park only means that sometime in the next few years, hundreds of local softball, baseball, and tennis players will have to find somewhere else to play as their park becomes a construction zone. And Daley is planning to use Park District money to build an aquatics center in Douglas that will have no walls, so it will be useless for at least eight months a year after the Olympics leaves.

Despite Daley's public relations campaign, the essential point regarding the Olympics remains the same: Chicagoans will get nothing from the games except the bill.