Daley To Admit Parking Deal Got "Screwed Up," Spent Too Much Time On Olympics

Chicago Sun-Times:

Mayor Daley will acknowledge tonight that his administration "totally screwed up" the transition to private control of the city's 36,000 parking meters and that some Chicagoans believe he has "put too much time into" the quest for Olympic gold.

Read the whole story: Chicago Sun-Times

Comments

[BushBites]

I agree that Daley's a crook.

But how long are you going to keep this story up anyway?

[jick]

Wow, I really don't care. This headline has been up for way too long.

[OncevotedRepub]

I second that.

[Garrett123]

Hey (D)ick, enjoy your last term.

[Scooter60660]

I don't want the Olympics!

[docallen001]

I live in IL and have always thought that Daley should have also been thrown out of office when the Gov as removed. He must have an office of excuses hidden somewhere in his administration.

[Lerrin]

Is there really NOTHING ELSE happening in Chicago for this to be on HuffPo's front page for days on end?

[cromulent]

He's been mayor way too long. Time for someone new.

[LeaderofMen]

Apology not accepted. This is your last term in office.

[CindyCornelsen]

Wow. It's almost the same as having the parking spaces back or running the city efficiently. What a champ. Or is it 'Chump'? I get confused.

[MAWBlogging]

Puhleeze!!! You can't even stop to pee in Chicago without getting your car towed by Lincoln Towing! How does this man expect people to find a place to park in this city? Lincoln Towing will be the ONLY happy camper!

http://open.salon.com/blog/middleagedwomanblogging/2009/05/23/welcome_to_chicago_now_get_the_hell_out

[einstein10]

In his defense:

He was a 'good Democrat'.

[einstein10]

As much as he's sold out to the corporatists, and as much as he is similar to Bush Jr., he is our last line of defense against a totally evil Bush resurgence.

[einstein10]

Daley would privatize Lake Michigan if he could.

[einstein10]

"Mayor Daley's Lake Michigan"

then sell the naming rights to the highest bidder - How about 'BP Oil's Lake Michigan'?

[StillIRise]

Remember when he literally tore down Meigs' Field in the middle of the night?

He wanted to get rid of Meigs' Field, but the council was against it, so he took it upon himself to have his way ...

[ejhickey]

Update to the story - Daley never actually apologized. His office released a speech earlier in the day in which he said they screwed up . However when it came to the actual speech , he could not make himself say the words.

Being Mayor means never having to apologize or say you are sorry.

[moutonnoir]

Being mayor means selling public assets and then firing public workers, and then laughing..

[ejhickey]

Well said . More and more Daley is reminding me of Bush

[movecenter]

Another example of no government accountability. How do you make a 75-year deal with little debate or financial analysis? Sounds like under-the-table pocket greasing.

The people of Chicago really got screwed....not only with the high parking fees, but on top of it all, the city will lose a ton of money on the deal and the budget deficit is still huge. An apology is not enough. Daly needs to be penalized for poor, costly, corrupt decision-making.

[ejhickey]

Don't forget Morgan Stanley who financed the deal. Daley's nephew , William Daley III, works for them in the Chicago office. JP Morgan also helped with financing and guess who works for them - the mayor's brother - William Daley.

MS and JPM - didn't they a federal bailout?

[stagebandman]

The problem is this isn't going to change anything. It's a twenty year contract. How is it that every single person knew this was a horrible idea except those in the mayor's office? I really think it's time for him to retire.