Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Tuesday, March 19

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


The Mechanics
« Chicago Justice Project Makes a Connection Traditional Media Won't No Cap on Public Money + No Oversight = Unmitigated Disaster »

Olympics Wed Sep 02 2009

Aldermen Flip Their Support to Daley's Olympic Bid

City Council members, always content to roll over for the mayor's plans, have done it again. Suddenly, even those who had tried to placate residents' anger about cost accountability should Chicago be awarded the Olympics in 2016, are now saying they are happy with the mayor's plan. Even though nothing has changed. At all.

The article mentions Manny Flores' (1st) ordinance that would have limited taxpayer liability to $500 million, but that he had subsequently dropped it because it was not perceived as widely-supported in the council. Kind of like how the national Dems started off their bargaining on health care by cutting the throat of universal coverage before even bringing it to the table. Gotta love the spine.

 
GB store

Doc / September 2, 2009 1:01 PM

Did we truly expect anything more from the spineless sycophants that call themselves legislators? Daley and his toadies are entirely focused (read: obsessed) with the 2016 games, at any cost, and have thus far steamrolled the mild opposition from the likes of Alderman Flores et al. It's a complete non-story, because the ending was known long beforehand.

The only possibility, for the sake of taxpayers, is the oversight ordinance proposed by Flores. Of course, even in the unlikely event that it is adopted, I have little faith that enforcement will be adequate.

Chicagoans should be preparing themselves for a boondoggle that will dwarf other Daley-initiated failed projects, too numerous to list here.

Dennis Fritz / September 2, 2009 10:10 PM

Let's remember, the 2016 Chicago Olympics are no sure thing. In exactly one month, we may find the IOC has chosen another city. Let's hope.

Mike / September 3, 2009 10:31 AM

I am praying for Rio ... but deep down, I know Chicago is going to get it and it's going to be a financial disaster. By 2016, I don't plan to live here anymore.

GB store

Feature

Parents Still Steaming, but About More Than Just Boilers

By Phil Huckelberry / 2 Comments

It's now been 11 days since the carbon monoxide leak which sent over 80 Prussing Elementary School students and staff to the hospital. While officials from Chicago Public Schools have partially answered some questions, and CPS CEO Forrest Claypool has informed that he will be visiting the school to field more questions on Nov. 16, many parents remain irate at the CPS response to date. More...

Civics

Substance, Not Style, the Source of Rahm's Woes

By Ramsin Canon / 2 Comments

It's not surprising that some of Mayor Emanuel's sympathizers and supporters are confusing people's substantive disputes with the mayor as the effect of poor marketing on his part. It's exactly this insular worldview that has gotten the mayor in hot... More...

Special Series

Classroom Mechanics Oral History Project
GB store



About Mechanics

Mechanics is the politics section of Gapers Block, reflecting the diversity of viewpoints and beliefs of Chicagoans and Illinoisans. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Mike Ewing, mike@gapersblock.com
Mechanics staff inbox: mechanics@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15