Community Groups Demand Voice On Olympics

Progress Illinois:

a coalition of a dozen community groups and labor unions from Chicago's South and West Sides held their second press conference in two weeks near the recently-closed Michael Reese Hospital to voice their concerns about the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Dubbed Communities for an Equitable Olympics 2016 (CEO 2016), the coalition does not oppose the idea of hosting the games; rather, they're demanding that the city sign on to a legally binding "benefits agreement" that lays out a plan for protecting affordable housing and living-wage employment in the communities potentially affected by the games.

Following is a five-minute video we put together on the event:

Read the whole story: Progress Illinois

Comments

[saami]

How sad, Michael Reese was once the best hospital in Chicago and a national leader in many areas. It also did an enormous amount of charity care in a neighborhood that needed it. The Prairie Shores apartments were an experiment successful in the 1960's at providing housing for the employees of all races and colors. I am proud to say that I was educated at Michael Reese Hospital and learned to be a nurse there. A wonderful place to work where our patients always came first and the ability to pay much later. The art and science of medicine and nursing was practiced there at the highest level and for all the best reasons.

[BradPittsburgh]

Picksburgh 2016.

[rwe]

With the likes of Todd Stroger, Emil Jones Governor Blago and of course that well known community activist running for Pres... And the strangle hold of corruptness from those above and the Chicago unions ... It ain't gonna happen without considerable makeover of Chicago politics

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm sorry but every area they named needs some major re-development and Mayor Daley goal is to change the face of Chicago, and if it means upgrading every neighborhood to bring wealth into Chicago - he'll do it! NO way will the global world come here and see a dilapidated area! Daley goal is clear... beautify Chicago throughout. Washington Park is right smack in the middle of Uni of Chicago and High Park and that area is about to become a middle class just like High Park…it’s no way around it. The Olympics will make that happen – hence why the protest.

[za2008]

Pursuing community benefits is a very important part of an Olympics bid--particularly for the next two games in London 2012 and Vancouver 2014. Local support and enthusiasm and legacy and a desire to avoid very expensive and obsolete facilities after the games indicate a need to consider local needs before the games.

It is also important to realize that an Olympics bid is a huge commitment of resources and labor--few cities can handle them alone and few can fill the skilled positions on their own while also meeting their own needs (consider the millions that came to work with the 18 million already in the city of Beijing to prepare for this year's games). Those people are either brought in from elsewhere (and return to elsewhere after they're done) or they are trained to meet the needs of the Games and continue to work in the city with "Worked on the Chicago 2016 Olympics" on their resumes. Well planned, both approaches could have a similar cost but one leads to long-term benefits for the city.

[za2008]

Correction: Vancouver 2010

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

kiss that idea good bye... Once again Progressives miss the bigger picture

[LeftLeanWing]

What in the Hell does that mean ?

[gevan]

Rio 2016, please