Daley: Olympics Bid 'Is The Only Economic Engine'

Chicago Sun-Times:

An impassioned Mayor Daley today portrayed the 2016 Summer Olympic Games as the economic salvation for Chicago, but warned that the city just might lose the Olympic sweepstakes "if people keep throwing darts."

Read the whole story: Chicago Sun-Times

Comments

[shocktreatment]

"Nothing else up my sleeve" isn't that what incompetent magicians always say?

Da Mayor is opening up to one of his real problems, a terrible lack of imagination. All of these "Mayoral Caucus", "Mayors and Managers Councils", etc. have left him dumfounded and clueless about our city's future. The only "economic engine" that has come from Daley's administration is the same as the last one: trickle-off. He opens a trough, fills it with other's money, and lets his cronies go. The citizens will get what trickles off their Sulka ties.

There is an old saying, "pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered". This town needs a comprehensive re-shuffle.

[twogunmojo]

daley will do whatever it takes to get the olympics...even conspire with huffpo to stop reporting on the gun violence that is ruining chicago.....

[BVictor1]

gun violence is happening everywhere.

[twogunmojo]

yes but you would think that with 30+ people killed over one weekend that the chicago news page on huffpo would have something about it...unless you want your city to be seen as the home of the future olympics...which will have competitive shooting as one of its events....

[Lakeview Greg]

Gee, according to the Chicago 2016 site the tennis stadium they want to build near me will also fix the old clocktower, and put back the baseball fields and kids playground after the Olympics. Never going to happen. If they build that thing, our park which we already spent a lot of money on is going to be nothing more than a giant parking lot forever. Rio or Madrid, please!!!

[Cogs]

Eliminating corruption and wasteful spending would be a real economic engine for the city, county and state.

[BVictor1]

at least our "corruption" gets things done

[47th]

For Daley and his ilk, corruption gets things done, for the average citizen in Chicago, not so much.

[Tinsdale]

Hizzoner has morphed into a carnival barker to tout his Olympic side show.
Economic Engine? Pulleeezzzee! What is next up his sleeve, claiming that the 2016 games will cure arthritis and give every Chicagoan minty-fresh-breath?

When you see Pat "Aon" Ryan glistening in flop sweat, bumbling his way through a non-explanation of why there was no transparency about the games' financial liabilities, anyone with a pulse can sense something is "hinky" about this deal.

Now comes Daley to save the day with a phony road show. These events will be stuffed to the rafters with ward bosses, their side-kicks, Daley back-slappers and patronage grifters. Pathetic.

Apparently, Daley has heard rumblings from his citizen-serfs that may threaten the patronage slop fest he has planned for the benefit of his favorite olymPIGS. Darts Away!

[Chicago jo]

Those who are against the 2016 Games being held in Chicago must become visible. Put a sign on your car. Put a sign in your window. Tell people you think it is a bad idea. We are being steamrolled. I know many people that are against this. Someone needs to figure out a clever way to connect those opposed and to give us a voice. MADRID 2016!

[mergina]

I don't know ANYONE who wants this GIGANTIC POMPOUS OVER-RATED MISERABLE WASTE OF THE EXPENSE HUMANITY SPENDS ON IT EVERY 4 YEARS here at all.

[BVictor1]

sounds like you need a wider range of friends.

[BVictor1]

I think I will start printing out "We Back the Bid" signs. We already have one here at our office.

[47th]

All Chicagoans, keep throwing darts, no Olympics in Chicago!

[MadelineL]

Why would you not want the Olympics in Chicago? It's a wonderful city and the benefits would be great. I love the adding of a new beach - which all Chicagoans could use after the games for years to come.

I say it is a win win.

[unstuffedshirt]

Because we will get stuck paying the bill as we always do. Take a look at how Daley proposes to fund this.

[nemain]

omg are you serious or are you just uneducated about the horrors of Chicago politics.

[47th]

I cannot afford my property tax bill now, I certainly won't be able to afford it after Daley and his Olympic "cost overruns". That is just one of many reasons I don't want the Olympics here.

[BVictor1]

Because 47th is an uninformed individual who's afraid that the Olympics is another word for poor black folk removal. He/she has no vision or understanding of the greater picture.

It is a win win, but some people just can't be convinced.

[daftdada]

Mayor Daley wouldn't have to worry about any economic engine if he were to keep track of his city's procurements. I.E. $6983.00 for a $200.00 chainsaw? And that's just one of many items furnished by a very a long list of front companies "doing business" with the city of Chicago. Forget about the 2016 Olympics, where are the 2009 Feds?

SEVEN THOUSAND dollars for a $200 chainsaw:

http://www.citypayments.org/contract/s021144b-poulan-pro-model-180-chainsaw-23-ci-dept-of-streets-sanitation

[chgo19]

Something of this magnitude should have been voted on by the people. I am a store owner and I haven't heard even one customer say they want the Olympics. People are vehemently opposed. Many say it will be Daley's 'snow storm' referring to what put Bilandic out of office. I fear that Daley's hubris is putting all of our standard of living in jeopardy. London is in horrible shape. The cost over runs are crippling. And then when it's over? In addition to more taxes, we as a city live with ugly, vacant buildings and lots. Daley did much good for our city but this will be a disaster and it will be all he is remembered for.