CHICAGO: 2016 olympic bid [Archive] - Page 37

Soaring_Higher

03-06-2009, 03:06 AM

VERY BAD NEWS FOR THE CHICAGO BID

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Jim Scherr resigns as head of United States Olympic Committee

By Philip Hersh | Tribune reporter
March 6, 2009

Four years ago, when New York's bid for the 2012 Summer Games ended in a resounding defeat, Bob Ctvrtlik knew that years of revolving door-leadership within the U.S. Olympic Committee played a role in that outcome.

"We haven't had a lot of continuity with international relations," Ctvrtlik said in 2005, when he was one of the International Olympic Committee members from the United States. "People in other countries put a lot of weight on face time."

Thursday's surprise resignation of USOC chief executive Jim Scherr gives the rest of the world the old impression the USOC still can't get its act together.

So where Chicago's 2016 Olympic hopes are concerned, there could not be a worse time for the USOC to lose the man who has been the organization's primary face since 2003.

"I don't think it helps in any way, but I don't think it damages us," Chicago 2016 Chairman Patrick Ryan said Thursday.

In the four years before Scherr took over, first as acting CEO and then permanent boss, the USOC had four presidents, four CEOs and four marketing directors.

The stability since allowed the USOC and Chicago to establish what both sides called an unprecedented partnership to promote a U.S. bid. Ctvrtlik, the USOC vice president of international relations, has a key role in that partnership.

Now Chicago will have to waste time and energy before the Oct. 2 vote for the 2016 host in trying to explain why the USOC once again has an new CEO, Stephanie Streeter of Neenah, Wis., was given the job on an interim basis.

"Continuity is important but no less important than making changes to address the needs of the organization in the future," Streeter said in a teleconference. "We don't see a huge impact on the bid."

Streeter, 51, former chairman and CEO of Banta Corporation, was a four-year starter on the Stanford women's basketball team.

In several weeks of intense USOC board discussions over the organization's direction, Streeter, a board member for four years, apparently was vocal in wanting someone with more impressive business credentials and experience at the head of the USOC during the economic crisis...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-06-usoc-jim-scherr-resignati.ar0mar06,0,4433772.story

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the urban politician

03-06-2009, 04:07 AM

^ Why is this such bad news?

The strength of Chicago's bid does not rest on who the head of USOC is.

Soaring_Higher

03-06-2009, 04:25 AM

^ Why is this such bad news?

The strength of Chicago's bid does not rest on who the head of USOC is.

Yes, this is very bad news. It is extremely critical for IOC members to get to know the leadership of each bid organizing committee. That takes years to build... the USOC now plucked out a familiar face, and put Streeter in. No one from the IOC knows who she is. Stability and comfort are BIG factors to the IOC.

Tokyo, Rio and Brazil all have very powerful IOC members that are respected and influential.

At the end of the day only 100 people are voting for the host city. It is very personal and political, not cut and dry like we try to make it out to be.

Now I am not saying it's over for Chicago, but I will go so far to say that Chicago SHOULD NOT be favored to win. It will be interesting to see how things play out between now and October.

the urban politician

03-06-2009, 01:39 PM

^ That's cool, whatever. I"m getting tired of this "OH NO, how will this affect our bid?!!" panic that comes at the end of every piece of news. If Chicago wins it will be due to the strength of its bid, its location, and Barack Obama's Copenhagen visit.

If not, then screw this fickle process. Anyhow, maybe if the city stops fantasizing about the Olympics Daley can get focused on other, more practical & relevant things--like how he's going to spend the stimulus money and improve the CTA.

Soaring_Higher

03-06-2009, 02:03 PM

Something good can come out of this. Chicago may loose the "favorite status" which has harmed past cities in the voting.

But yeah, I hear you - I am tired of all this myself.

isaidso

03-06-2009, 04:59 PM

Good luck Chicago, but I'm rooting for Tokyo.

BVictor1

03-06-2009, 05:02 PM

Good luck Chicago, but I'm rooting for Tokyo.

Then you should be taking your comments to that thread and stay out of this one :yuck:

nomarandlee

03-09-2009, 01:04 AM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-09-usoc-web-onlymar09,0,4946340.story

USOC turmoil hurts Chicago 2016 chances
By Philip Hersh | Tribune reporter
5:22 PM CDT, March 8, 2009

Look at the résumés of the top two national Olympic committee officials in the three countries with cities bidding against Chicago for the 2016 Summer Games, and you find credentials attesting to years of deep involvement in the Olympic movement on every level.

Three of the six were Olympic athletes. One of those three also is an International Olympic Committee member. Of the other three, one ran a national sports federation for 12 years, another is an executive board member of an international federation and the last was a member of a Winter Olympic organizing committee.

And that isn't the half of what they have done in the Olympic sports world.

But it is light-years more than the two people now atop the leadership of the U.S. Olympic Committee, board of directors Chairman Larry Probst and interim Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter.

They have an aggregate five years of Olympic-related experience — virtually all as members of the USOC board of directors, though Streeter also is a two-year member of the Chicago 2016 board and thinks her four years of varsity basketball at Stanford gives her insight into what Olympic athletes need.

The USOC board's stunning decision last week to pressure Jim Scherr out of the CEO job and replace him with Streeter has opened the way for such comparisons and raised myriad questions.

Why is this significant in the 2016 race? Because the USOC and Chicago have trumpeted their bid effort as a partnership, which means both parties are involved in asking the IOC for extraordinary levels of trust to choose Chicago.

Unlike Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro, Chicago offers no omnibus financial guarantees for its non-organizational costs, such as permanent sports facilities and the Olympic village. The city essentially is banking on a recent history of successful Olympic Games in the U.S. and on establishing solid relationships with international sports leaders.............

Wouldn't be surprised if perhaps dealing with the USOC with its revolving door and squabbling of revenue with the IOC was a major reason why NYC decided to not even throw its hat in the ring this time around. Hard to do much when your benefactor puts roadblocks in front of you.

Soaring_Higher

03-10-2009, 03:36 PM

Here are renders from Chicago 2016's bid book. Some of you probably have seen some of these already, but I wanted to put them in order by area.

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/lake-front.jpg

Olympic Waterfront

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/archery.jpg
(Temporary Venue) Hutchinson Field, Grant Park

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/marathon.jpg
(Staging) Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/rowing.pg.jpg
(Staging) Grant Park / Lakefront

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/swimming-marathon.jpg
(Staging) Grant Park / Lakefront

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/entertainment.jpg
(Existing) Millennium Park / Grant Park

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/canoe.jpg
(New / Some Elements Temporary) Northerly Island

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/beach-volleyball.jpg
(Temporary Venue) Northerly Island

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/sailing.jpg
(Staging) Northerly Island

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/football-finals.jpg
(Existing) Soldier Field

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Lake Michigan Sports Complex

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/lm-exterior.jpg
(Existing) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/lm-interior.jpg
(Existing) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/badminton.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/basketball-prelim.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/fencing.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/handball.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/judo.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/rythmic.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/table-tennis.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/taekwondo.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/volleyball.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/weightlifting.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/wrestling.jpg
(Staging) McCormick Place

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South Shore Olympic Park

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/washington-park.jpg
Washington Park

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/stadium01.jpg
(Temporary) Olympic Stadium

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/stadium02.jpg
(Temporary) Olympic Stadium

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/stadium03.jpg
(Temporary) Olympic Stadium

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/swimming.jpg
(Temporary)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/diving.jpg
(Temporary)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/field-hockey.jpg
(Temporary) Jackson Park

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Douglas Park District (West)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/bmx.jpg
(Elements Temporary)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/cycling-track.jpg
(Elements Temporary)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/gymnastics01.jpg
(Existing / Staging) United Center

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/gymnastics02.jpg
(Existing / Staging) United Center

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/basketball.jpg
(Existing / Staging) United Center

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/handball-finals.jpg
(Existing / Staging) United Center

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/boxing.jpg
(Existing / Staging) UIC Pavilion

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Lincoln Park (North)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/lincoln-park.jpg

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/tennis.jpg
(Temporary)

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/triathlon.jpg
(Staging) North Avenue Beach

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Additional Venues Outside of Chicago

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/pentathlon.jpg
(Existing) Northwestern University - Ryan Field

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/equestrian.jpg
(Existing / Staging) Temple Farms

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/shooting.jpg
(Existing / Staging) Aurora, Illinois

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/madison.jpg
Madison, Wisconsin

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/cycling-race.jpg
(Staging) Madison, Wisconsin

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/cycling-mountain.jpg
(Staging) Madison, Wisconsin

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/football-prelims01.jpg
Football Prelims

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/football-prelims02.jpg
Football Prelims

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Olympic Village

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/village01.jpg

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/village02.jpg

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/village03.jpg

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/village04.jpg

http://www.cmissions.com/myspace/village05.jpg

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Dr. Taco

03-10-2009, 09:24 PM

thank you, soaring_higher. i know that took a lot of work :)

i think the bid looks pretty good

nomarandlee

03-11-2009, 04:35 AM

Well done Soaring Higher. :banger: I hadn't seen many of those photos before.

cbotnyse

03-11-2009, 12:39 PM

awesome, thanks for that!

bnk

03-11-2009, 09:29 PM

Like the others said good job.

Basketball prelims in the McCormick Place? Are there no other places to play out there?:shrug:

Soaring_Higher

03-11-2009, 09:32 PM

Like the others said good job.

Basketball prelims in the McCormick Place? Are there no other places to play out there?:shrug:

There are, but then it won't be as "compact."

What do you think of their reliance on temporary venues and the park space gobbled up? In discussions with others who don't live in Chicago, they were impressed with the selection of venue locations, because they offer nice backdrops with the lake, mature trees and the skyline.

Chicago Shawn

03-12-2009, 12:06 AM

^Personaly, I think its great. The venus will bring some new structures and investments, as well as renewed attention to our parks. Even the areas with temporary upgrades will see a slew of new investment. Our inland parks have been neglected for years (although much has improved over the past decade), and the venues will mean new landscaping, new pathways, and in some cases new buildings, attractions and features. I personally belive that the Olymipics will provide for a renewed focus on our inland parks for recreational activities after the games have come and gone.

Additionally, this finally provides us with an opportunity to finish the conversion of Northerly Island into a unique recreational outlet. Personally, I would prefer a more natural setting, and if just half of it ends up as such, then I would be happy. I really hope that the twisting canoe/kyakk course stays. That would be pretty cool.

the pope

03-12-2009, 04:00 AM

is it just me, or does the interior of every indoor venue look the same? I realize there's only so many ways to doll up a gymnastics venue, but I swear that's the same banners and color scheme that has been used for the last 86 olympics.

nomarandlee

03-12-2009, 05:01 AM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-olympic-funding-12-mar12,0,5351172.story

Chicago's Olympic bid team wants $250 million state guarantee
New request is a $100 million boost over Rod Blagojevich's '07 pledge
By Kathy Bergen and Ashley Rueff | Tribune reporters

March 12, 2009

Olympics supporters are asking for a much higher financial guarantee from the state—$250 million—to help Chicago win its bid for the 2016 Games.

The request dwarfs the $150 million in taxpayer money pledged in 2007 by ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich and comes amid worries that Chicago's bid is at a competitive disadvantage because it doesn't include the full government guarantees offered by rival finalists Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

"We've always anticipated working with the state on a guarantee and that's the start of that process," said Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the Chicago 2016 bid team.

A spokesman for Gov. Patrick Quinn confirmed his support for the additional $100 million.

The bid team has already lined up $500 million in city guarantees and $500 million in private insurance to cover any potential losses in operating the games. Bid officials say it's very unlikely the funds would ever be tapped.

kbergen@tribune.com

arueff@tribune.com
..

bnk

03-12-2009, 05:09 AM

..

Give it to them.

The cost benefit ratio is in the favor to support the games are now by a factor of much more than this puny upance.

Billions are at stake. This is not a position to be at a disadvantage.

I have said before and will say again...Chicago will never get this chance again in 300 years or so. Grab it already.

bnk

03-13-2009, 01:01 AM

video inside link

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6707298

A closer look at Chicago's Olympic bidThursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:16 PM

By Ben Bradley

March 12, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS)

-- Flying isn't cheap these days but in 2016 it will be free for thousands of Olympic athletes.

Chicago's Olympic team is promising to pick up round trip, economy class airfare for athletes, coaches and support staff. The total number: 10,000. The cost: Projected at $38.1 million. The rationale?

"Basically it's a requirement of hosting. There a lot of elements in the bid book that are just standard requirements," said Doug Arnot, Chicago 2016 Bid Operations.

That's the same explanation Governor Pat Quinn gives for supporting a hike in the state's financial guarantee for the games. It's now $250 million.

"The city of Chicago said that's what's needed," said Gov. Pat Quinn.
At the same time, Chicago's bid team has inked an agreement with the Chicago Park District. It allows for all park land and Soldier Field to be used for the Olympics at "no rental cost."

Late summer is typically a slow season at Soldier Field with one notable exception: pre-season Bears football.

"The arrangement at Soldier Field is it would be during pre-season and the Bears have the ability to work with us in 2016. To ask the NFL to have their games away," said Tim Mitchell, Chicago Park District.

McCormick Place would also have to turn away customers who typically pay full price. In May through August of last year, the convention halls made $29.1 million from exhibitors. The Olympics would only pay a "nominal fee" yet to be worked out.

Monroe Harbor, along with sections of some of the city's biggest parks, would be closed for construction in the year or two leading up to the Games.
The upside: Olympic leave-behinds like a new kayaking center on Northerly Island and an indoor cycling and sports facility in Douglas Park. But experts warn the park district will have to pay the upkeep on those facilities for years to come.

"These things left behind are now white elephants. We may only have baby elephants, but still going to have white elephants if these don't get used on a regular basis," said Allen Sanderson, University of Chicago economist.
The Chicago Park District says with new facilities come new recreational options for resident, and revenue opportunities for the city. And that more than off-sets any inconvenience of the Olympics.

nomarandlee

03-13-2009, 02:49 AM

Give it to them.

The cost benefit ratio is in the favor to support the games are now by a factor of much more than this puny upance.

Billions are at stake. This is not a position to be at a disadvantage.

I have said before and will say again...Chicago will never get this chance again in 300 years or so. Grab it already.

I think it should be pretty much a no brainier. $250 million isn't a horrendous amount to be on the hook for. Plus, the name Illinois will likely be uttered more in that two weeks then it has in the last thirty years combined internationally. I am willing to guess that your average world citizen does have the first clue what state Chicago resides in. If there was a games people would be much more aware of the fact and name recognition is the first step in good marketing.

BVictor1

03-13-2009, 05:12 AM

Community Presentation by the Chicago 2016 Committee

Tuesday, March 24 from 6 to 9 PM

Mr. Gyata Kimmons, Director of Community Relations for the Chicago 2016 Committee, will give a presentation on Chicago's high-stakes Olympic bid. The presentation will be held at the Erie Cafe Banquet Room at 536 W. Erie St. For more information, please visit http://rivernorthresidents.com

nomarandlee

03-13-2009, 01:50 PM

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/03/lawmaker-trade-olympic-aid-for-concealed-weapons.html

Trade? Olympic aid for concealed weapons
March 13, 2009 3:11 AM | 3 Comments

An Illinois legislator is suggesting that Downstate lawmakers should get something in return for helping Chicago vie for the 2016 Olympics -- perhaps a law that allows the carrying of concealed weapons.

Four proposals aimed at allowing the carrying of concealed weapons have been introduced this year, but are unlikely to pass because of opposition by lawmakers from the Chicago area.

Democratic Rep. Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg suggests horse-trading could benefit gun owners and Olympic supporters, who are asking the state provide a $250 million safety net should the games go over budget.

Phelps said that while he has ideas of withholding support for the Olympics, there's not yet a coalition to do so.

-- Associated Press

Wow, talk about old fashion horse trading. :yuck: We promise 250 billion of a last resort that may not even get used and you allow the state to be turned into Arizona or Texas. :rolleyes: Of course it is not like the state doesn't benefit from an Olympics either.

lawfin

03-13-2009, 06:39 PM

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2...d-weapons.html

Trade? Olympic aid for concealed weapons
March 13, 2009 3:11 AM | 3 Comments

An Illinois legislator is suggesting that Downstate lawmakers should get something in return for helping Chicago vie for the 2016 Olympics -- perhaps a law that allows the carrying of concealed weapons.

Four proposals aimed at allowing the carrying of concealed weapons have been introduced this year, but are unlikely to pass because of opposition by lawmakers from the Chicago area.

Democratic Rep. Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg suggests horse-trading could benefit gun owners and Olympic supporters, who are asking the state provide a $250 million safety net should the games go over budget.

Phelps said that while he has ideas of withholding support for the Olympics, there's not yet a coalition to do so.

-- Associated Press

Yeah....good idea. How about this. The CHicago area (say north of i-80) offers to not secede and therefore economically devastate your corn-hole region unless you vote for the olympics. If you pursue conceal carry, the chicago metro (in Illinois) promises to actively pursue seccesion from the rest of Illinois, and take our 500+ billion of econmic activity of a state total of 600 billion with us.....and you can keep your roads.....good riddance you good ole' boy

Soaring_Higher

03-13-2009, 11:02 PM

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Chicago to "Let Friendship Shine" with Olympics

By Joshua Boak | Tribune reporter
March 13, 2009

Chicago's efforts to host the 2016 Olympics will no longer "Stir the Soul," after changing its bid tagline Friday to "Let Friendship Shine."

The switch was made after difficulties in translating the original slogan.

"In a couple of different languages, it meant 'Stir Your Insides,' which is not what we intended it to be," said Valerie Barker Waller, director of marketing for Chicago 2016.

By focusing on friendship instead, the slogan reflects the lifelong bonds formed among athletes, and the many ways Chicago would welcome the world for the summer games, Barker Waller said.

The new tagline was selected about a month before members of the International Olympic Committee arrive to evaluate Chicago, which is up against slogans from three other 2016 contenders.

Sun-soaked Rio de Janeiro – home to Carnival, thong bikinis and a 120-foot tall statue of Jesus – invites us to "Live Your Passion." The Rio tagline echoes the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy: "Passion Lives Here."

Tokyo picked "Uniting Our Worlds," a theme meant to focus attention on urbanization, aging populations and environmental stewardship.

And Madrid, which has a Technicolor hand as its logo, wants to be the "Games with the Human Touch...

Read More (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-olympics-slogan-mar13-,0,7686342.story)

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intrepidDesign

03-13-2009, 11:13 PM

Yeah....good idea. How about this. The CHicago area (say north of i-80) offers to not secede and therefore economically devastate your corn-hole region unless you vote for the olympics. If you pursue conceal carry, the chicago metro (in Illinois) promises to actively pursue seccesion from the rest of Illinois, and take our 500+ billion of econmic activity of a state total of 600 billion with us.....and you can keep your roads.....good riddance you good ole' boy

Are you kidding me?? Un-freaking believable, what the hell does Chicago owe to downstate Ill concerning the Olympics? So let me get this right, if we don't allow concealed weapons, Carbondale is going to campaign for Tokyo? :koko:

lawfin

03-14-2009, 12:54 AM

^^^My reply to the article was in mocking derision of that hayseed's hairbrained idea

If they want to seriously play hardball like that, we say ok ....go ahead but we are going to actively pursue secession and thereby leave you in the economic dust, you pathetic prattling pissant

nomarandlee

03-14-2009, 08:57 AM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-metra-14-mar14,0,716182.story

2016 Olympics transportation: Metra looks to beef up system by borrowing locomotives, cars
Equipment would be needed to handle crowds
By Richard Wronski | Tribune reporter
March 14, 2009

Following the lead of cities that have hosted the Olympics, Metra hopes to borrow the extra locomotives and cars it will need to handle demand if Chicago wins the 2016 games, officials said Friday.

The Utah Transit Authority borrowed 29 light rail cars from Dallas during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It also borrowed more than 700 buses.

Doug Arnot, Chicago's bid committee operations chief, briefed Metra's board on the city's plans and urged officials to begin preparations, even though the wining bidder won't be known for months.

Chicago has the best public transit system of the competing cities, but service enhancements are needed, Arnot said. :jester:

The committee is counting on Metra to carry thousands of attendees daily from suburban hotels into the city. Buses will shuttle visitors to Olympic venues..............

..

lawfin

03-14-2009, 02:23 PM

^^^^Clueless hack.....ah Tokyo anyone......bumpkin

rockyi

03-14-2009, 02:39 PM

Yeah....good idea. How about this. The CHicago area (say north of i-80) offers to not secede and therefore economically devastate your corn-hole region unless you vote for the olympics. If you pursue conceal carry, the chicago metro (in Illinois) promises to actively pursue seccesion from the rest of Illinois, and take our 500+ billion of econmic activity of a state total of 600 billion with us.....and you can keep your roads.....good riddance you good ole' boy

Oh please, I know of nobody downstate that thinks this Phelps proposal is a good idea. Believe me 99% of us are behind Chicago on this, now stop your crying.

:haha: You actually use the word "bumpkin". I thought only bumpkins used the word bumpkin.

Soaring_Higher

03-16-2009, 02:10 PM

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2016 Olympics transportation: Metra looks to beef up system by borrowing locomotives, cars

By Richard Wronski | Tribune reporter
March 15, 2009

http://www.photosbystevenjbrown.com/metra/2000/2731_metra416_101603_chicago.jpg

Following the lead of cities that have hosted the Olympics, Metra hopes to borrow the extra locomotives and cars it will need to handle demand if Chicago wins the 2016 games, officials said Friday.

The Utah Transit Authority borrowed 29 light rail cars from Dallas during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It also borrowed more than 700 buses.

Doug Arnot, Chicago's bid committee operations chief, briefed Metra's board on the city's plans and urged officials to begin preparations, even though the wining bidder won't be known for months.

Chicago has the best public transit system of the competing cities, but service enhancements are needed, Arnot said.

The committee is counting on Metra to carry thousands of attendees daily from suburban hotels into the city. Buses will shuttle visitors to Olympic venues. Driving cars to the games will be out of the question, Arnot said.

Metra is running at capacity and seeks to use federal stimulus money to rebuild its fleet of locomotives. Buying new equipment just for the games is impractical, Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano said.

Metra's Electric Line, which serves the South Side immediately adjacent to several proposed venues and the Olympic village, is the first place to beef up train service, said Joseph Schweiterman, a transportation expert at DePaul University.

Read More (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-metra-14-mar15,0,781719.story)

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bnk

03-16-2009, 11:14 PM

http://cbs2chicago.com/olympics2016/2016.olympics.infrastructure.2.960335.html

Mar 16, 2009 11:43 am US/Central

Promoters: 2016 Olympics May Help Roads, Transit

But Olympic Promoters Don't Want Any White Elephants

For years, Chicago-area highway and transit officials have complained

about the state of its infrastructure. Roads are crumbling, and transit officials say they need billions to put the area's infrastructure into good condition, let alone undertake a series of planned expansions.

Chicago 2016 officials hope the 2016 Summer Olympics can change that.

"Fundamentally, we've got pretty good bones. They're just not in very good shape," said Chicago 2016 Vice President Doug Arnot putting some spin on the status quo.

Arnot said, as was the case with Salt Lake City and Atlanta before it, Chicago stands to see huge investments in infrastructure should Chicago get the 2016 Games.

"We don't want anything for the Games," Arnot said. "We want what's right for the city of chicago for the next 30, to 40, to 50 years."

Arnot said what Chicago 2016 officials do not ant to see built are white elephants. He cited a massive train station built in Sydney, Australia's, Olympic Park for the 2000 Summer Games.

"It was in the billions to build that particular station, and it sits, not idle, but grossly underutilized," he said. "That's not what we want to leave behind. We want to make sure that what we build, that if we go and we ask, we're building for the true needs of the city going forward."

Arnot and transit officials said selection in October would move Chicago to the "front of the line" for funding of many planned projects.

Dozens of city streets would be rebuilt, particularly in the areas closest to Olympic venues. The CTA has proposed extensions to its Red, Orange and Yellow Lines, and Metra has both extensions and two completely new lines on its drawing board, the SouthEast Service to suburban Crete and the STAR Line, a semi-circular route that would extend from O'Hare Airport to Hoffman Estates along I-90 and south from Hoffman Estates along Canadian National Railways' former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. trackage to Joliet.

While every Chicago-area transit agency would buy new equipment to supplement its current fleet with funding that would be forthcoming, officials said they would borrow commuter trains and buses from other cities both for the 2016 Summer Games, and the Paralympics that would follow.

Mass transit is critical to the Chicago plan. Arnot said that motorists would be barred from the areas closest to Olympic venues, except for local residents and businesses, who even then would face severe restrictions.

Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) site selection committee visit Chicago Apr. 2-8 to assess Chicago's venues, transportation facilities and other factors. The IOC will choose the host city for the 2016 Games in October. Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo are the other finalists.

the urban politician

03-17-2009, 01:11 AM

^ Transit improvements should be on the agenda ANYWAY, not just in the context of the Olympics

bnk

03-17-2009, 06:46 PM

Urban NIMBY's :hell:

How did Daley let this pass?

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/03/anti-olympics-protest-set-for-ioc-visit.html

Anti-Olympics protest set for IOC visit

March 17, 2009 9:54 AM |

27 Comments
An anti-Olympics group plans to hold a rally on April 2, as international officials arrive in Chicago to assess its bid for the 2016 Summer Games.

No Games Chicago said it expects 2,000 people to attend the rally at 5 p.m. at Federal Plaza at Dearborn and Adams.

Bob Quellos, an organizer of the recently formed group, said he has obtained a permit for use of the plaza from the U.S. General Services Administration. Quellos said he also plans a protest march from Federal Plaza to the Aon Center, where the Olympics bid team is based, but is waiting for a parade permit from the city.

No Games supporters believe money that would be spent on the Olympics should be used instead for basic needs such as housing and schools, especially during tight economic times. "We think it's the wrong priority for the city with the city crumbling," Quellos said.

The Chicago 2016 bid team said the Olympics will benefit the city by generating new jobs and spending, adding sports facilities to parks and creating a new residential community on the Near South Side, when the athletes' village is converted to private housing and shops after the Games.

"While we respect the right to free speech, we have worked hard to ensure that our Games plan will have broad benefits for the city," said Chicago 2016 President Lori Healey. "Chicago's passion for sport has translated into strong public support for our bid."

An evaluation team from the International Olympic Committee will be in Chicago during the first week of April to tour proposed Games sites and question bid team officials about their proposal. The same team also will visit the other cities that are competing with Chicago to host the Games, Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

The IOC will choose a winner on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen.

--Laurie Cohen and Kathy Bergen

idiotic comments inside link

mcfinley

03-17-2009, 06:57 PM

:previous:

Tour guide: And here we have 2000 differently-abled citizens that may one day qualify for their own brand of special olypmics.

Nowhereman1280

03-17-2009, 07:26 PM

Abner

03-17-2009, 08:25 PM

How did Daley let this pass?

By not violating the First Amendment?

brian_b

03-17-2009, 08:50 PM

^^^ Well if they are going to protest, why don't we just get a counter protest and go down there with 4000 games supporters and drown them out? I'll show up in full 2016 apparel if a counter protest does form.

Or we can just sit at our desks and chat about how great it would be if someone else did all the organizing work.

Nowhereman1280

03-18-2009, 02:25 AM

^^^ Hey I have got no time or resources to organize anything or I would. Sorry, but being a full time student, working a job and an internship, and running 3 student organizations, all while working on starting your own business fills up your schedule. So if anyone hears of any counter protest, I'll gladly make time and attend, so please let us all know if you do.

Soaring_Higher

03-18-2009, 02:35 AM

Their "march" to Aon still has not been approved. I would be surprised if the city allowed them much of a stage to march so close to rush hour.

The IOC is used to protests, so I really don't think this has much baring, unless a "personal attack" like throwing something at Mayor Daley occurs.

Soaring_Higher

03-18-2009, 02:17 PM

Has anyone heard about the city pulling out the stops for the IOC Evaluation Commission that will be in town on April 2nd? I have noticed some new signage here and there, but haven't heard of anything else.

I thought I heard a while back that Hillary Clinton was going to maybe make an appearance before the evaluation commission.

Also...

City finance committee to hold special 2016 Olympics meeting
By: John Pletz
March 17, 2009

(Crain’s) — The City Council’s Finance Committee plans to hold a special meeting March 27 to consider an agreement on jobs, transportation improvements and housing commitments sought by neighborhoods affected by the 2016 Olympics.

Community groups were expecting an agreement to come before the City Council on Wednesday, the last regularly scheduled meeting before an evaluation team from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) visits Chicago April 2-8.

Communities for an Equitable Olympics, an umbrella group that has been pressuring Chicago 2016 and the city for a binding agreement, threatens “unrest” during the IOC visit if such a deal isn’t reached. The group is planning a rally before Wednesday’s council meeting at City Hall because the agreement isn’t on the agenda.

The Chicago 2016 bid committee isn’t expected to complete its proposal for an agreement until later in the week, said Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th), who submitted a proposed benefits plan in January.

Community activists have been seeking assurance that neighborhoods where Olympic venues will be located, such as Washington Park, will benefit from the games if Chicago is chosen as the host city. Among the proposals by Aldermen Preckwinkle and Pat Dowell (3rd) are that 30% of the privately built Olympic Village be reserved for affordable housing after the games and that up to half of the contracts related to hosting the games involve firms primarily owned by women and minorities.

The final agreement will no doubt differ. But if a compromise can be worked out relatively quickly, an ordinance could be passed by the council and signed by Mayor Richard M. Daley before the IOC visit.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33355

RobH

03-18-2009, 06:39 PM

Hi all,

Been reading (lurking around) this thread for the last few weeks and it's interesting to see much of the discussion going on here as it's not too different from the sorts of things that were being talked about when London was bidding.

I obviously don't know about issues local to Chicago but I followed the 2012 bid process from start to finish, still follow London's progress as a host city, and have tried to follow the 2016 goings on; so I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing your thread and posting my thoughts from time to time as decision day draws nearer ;)

Finally, Good luck Chicago for 2016; I think your city would be a great host after what will, I'm certain, be a fantastic games in London.

Rob :tup:

bnk

03-18-2009, 06:58 PM

What is the hell wrong with these greedy me too! gimie a cut groups! They are going to kibosh the whole thing.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/olympics/1483470,olympic-site-protests-daley-031809.article

Protests could mar Olympic site visit
Mayor, City Council heard demands for ‘community benefits’

March 18, 2009
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reproter

International Olympic Committee members making their final site visit to Chicago April 2-8 will face “demonstrations in the streets” unless Mayor Daley and the City Council approve an ironclad contract by then outlining community benefits if Chicago wins the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, activists warned Wednesday.

The benefits they’re demanding include a guarantee that 50 percent of all Olympic construction contracts be awarded to minorities and women and that 30 percent of all units at the $1.1 billion Olympic Village to be built on the site of Michael Reese Hospital be made affordable.

“We’re excited about the prospect of the Olympics coming to Chicago,” said Denise Dixon, executive director of the group Action Now. “We are not excited about being pushed out of the process … If [Daley] doesn’t want to see demonstrations in the street when they get here, then he better come up with something.”

Shannon Bennett, lead organizer for the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization, said it’s “not good enough” for the mayor’s Olympic planners to say they’re still negotiating a community benefits agreement. It has to be passed before the IOC evaluation team gets here, he said.

“For us to think that it means something to say, ‘OK, you’re gonna get something, but it’s after April’ — we know that game,” Bennett said.

Chicago 2016 president Lori Healey, a former chief of staff to the mayor, and Michael Scott, chairman of Chicago 2016’s subcommittee on outreach, could not imediately be reached for comment on the protest threat.

Two months ago, Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) and Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) introduced a community benefits ordinance that includes a 50 percent set-aside for Olympic construction contracts and a 30 percent guarantee of affordable housing units at the Olympic Village. The demands also included: prompt payment of sub-contractors; filling 10 percent of construction hours with union apprentices; a living wage paid by businesses that lease space in the Olympic Village complex; and a host of transportation improvements for the mid-South Side.

Preckwinkle said she expected an agreement to be reached by sometime this month, after intense negotiations with Chicago 2016. She warned that, without a deal, the IOC visit would be marred by protests.

At the time, Scott promised to do whatever needed to be done to avoid protests.

“The Olympics wants to be a great partners with all of the neighborhoods affected by it,” Scott said then. “We will come to a mutually satisfactory understanding as quickly as we can.”

...

bnk

03-18-2009, 07:09 PM

Things seem to be going from bad to worse every damn day.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jW85mF4eEecBA7P8pRotXUKaxb_gD970HJD00

IOC could scrap revenue deal with US Olympic body

By STEPHEN WILSON – 3 hours ago

LONDON (AP) — The International Olympic Committee could end its revenue-sharing deal with the U.S. Olympic body unless the Americans agree to a revised formula and smaller share of the money pie, according to a top official involved in the negotiations.

...

10023

03-18-2009, 07:18 PM

The benefits they’re demanding include a guarantee that 50 percent of all Olympic construction contracts be awarded to minorities and women

I despise this kind of crap. This is why nothing ever gets built in this country. This is why you don't see much needed infrastructure projects in the U.S.

mcfinley

03-18-2009, 09:30 PM

rockyi

03-18-2009, 09:48 PM

spyguy

03-19-2009, 01:03 AM

What is the hell wrong with these greedy me too! gimie a cut groups! They are going to kibosh the whole thing.

It all seems pretty standard to me. Expect protests no matter what happens.

the urban politician

03-19-2009, 01:27 AM

The protestors are idiots. Let them come out and make asses of themselves. The IOC will ignore them.

Of course, I don't know what's more annoying--that, or the fact that Chicago has placed so much damn stake in winning the Olympics that it has actually given these lazy lowlifes leverage. Every little bit of news is followed by, "OH MY GOD! HOW WILL IT AFFECT OUR OLYMPICS BID!" Every single new bit of funding for transit has this attachment at the end: "..in the event that Chicago hosts the 2016 Olymics". After all, the city's existence and upkeep is defined by a 2 week event 7 years from now.

Frankly, I'm gonna come right out and say it. Chicago should just say fuck it and quit. If Daley came right out tommorrow and said "guys, this was a stupid idea, forget the Olympic Games. I'm going to work hard to make this the greatest city it could possibly be and we don't need some 2 week event to justify it" I'll never criticize him again.

simcityaustin

03-19-2009, 04:42 AM

^^^ I would...what a waste of money, foresight, and vision on his part...but I don't believe he is thinking that. Sure the economy is down, but the Olympics is more about the image, $$$, etc.

RobH

03-19-2009, 11:03 AM

Virtually every Olympic city has protesters at these inspections. The IOC are completely used to it.

If protesters say they are expecting 2000 that's pretty poor to be honest and will probably mean no more than 1000 turning up. That will essentially mean it'll be a ragbag bunch on the fringes which the IOC will no way take as the majority view.

A few days before the Evaluation Commission came to London we saw this:

http://www.sbrewer.demon.co.uk/local/olybarge.jpg

And despite asking for a "critical mass" to protest against the Games during the IOC's visit to show that we apparently don't want the Olympics here, we saw this:

http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2005/02/19/050219_n302.jpg

http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2005/02/19/050219_n353.jpg

In other words, I wouldn't be at all surprised if only a few hundred of that supposed 2000 turn up. Supporters of 2012 were worried about these protests ruining our chances. In the days after the EC visit we were laughing and wondering what we were worried about!

I might be wrong; it might be bigger in Chicago. But seeing the numbers threatened by this protest group doesn't lead me to think they'll cause great problems for you.

Via Chicago

03-19-2009, 01:51 PM

Daley truly has no shame. This is just the beginning....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-olympic-park-19-mar19,0,1057820.story
Chicago's Olympic priorities: City repaves park roads first
Move paves way for IOC's crucial visit to assess the city's suitability for the 2016 Summer Games

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2009-03/45649476.jpg

While commuters dodged potholes on workhorse thoroughfares like Stony Island Avenue and 55th Street on Wednesday, just a few feet away on the less traveled lanes winding through Washington Park, the air was redolent with hot, fresh asphalt.

Dozens of city workers marshaled a parade of trucks and heavy equipment, hustling to repave East Rainey and South Payne Drives, part of what one Chicago Department of Transportation worker on site called "the Olympic plan."

An International Olympic Committee team arrives the beginning of next month to scrutinize Chicago's suitability to host the 2016 Games. When they arrive, the international officials will see smooth, pitch-black pavement ringing the Washington Park ball fields where Mayor Richard Daley wants to build an Olympic stadium.

The work raised questions for some who that fear taxpayers will suffer as the city directs scarce resources toward impressing Olympic officials.

The city workers and contractors were racing to finish this project, even as Chicago is forgoing resurfacing projects on major streets because of funding shortfalls. Just this week, city Transportation Commissioner Thomas Byrne lamented that the city had been forced to patch thousands of potholes rather than resurface streets because of a three-year decline in state funding for paving arterial roads...

Via Chicago

03-19-2009, 01:52 PM

Via Chicago

03-19-2009, 01:55 PM

Urban NIMBY's :hell:
How did Daley let this pass?

Um...because people are entitled to the right of free speech, granted under the constitution? Although Im sure King Richard would put the kibosh on that too if he could.

Soaring_Higher

03-19-2009, 03:03 PM

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Council fails to vote on Chicago 2016 benefits

Thursday, March 19, 2009 | 6:39 AM

By Ben Bradley

There were new threats for disruptive protests during next month's visit by the International Olympic Committee.

They come after the city council failed to vote on community benefits agreement. It would have put in writing long-talked-about promises to people who may be impacted if the Olympics come to town.

Affordable housing, jobs and business opportunities for minority groups - those issues have been the subject of protest in this city many times for many years. Now though, activists believe they may have some new leverage thanks to Chicago's Olympic bid, and they're using it to demand what they see as their fair share.

"We want the city that works to work for us!" said Denise Dixon, Action Now.

There was an ultimatum for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Community activists threatened loud and embarrassing demonstrations during next month's visit by the International Olympic Committee if the city council doesn't sign off on a community benefits agreement between now and then.

"If he wants to air his dirty laundry to the owrld that is entirely up to him," Dixon said.

Some who live near the proposed Olympic Stadium in Washington Park and other venues want guarantees that the Olympics won't be a gravy train only for insiders.

They're demanding a written pledge that 50 percent of Olympic-related contracts go to minority and women-owned businesses and ten percent of all construction hours be filled by apprentices from the community. And they want 30 percent of the proposed Olympic Village to become affordable and Section 8 housing, after the Games.

Shannon Bennett has been a community activist for 15 years and concedes the Olympics provide an opportunity to be heard.

"This is a window and it's closing fast. It's not just for disenfranchised communities for the city to do right," said Bennett, Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization.

"I'm hoping that in the end they'll decide they can get enough of what they want that they can be supportive," said Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, 4th Ward.

"We are aligned on that conceptually every step of the way," said Valerie Waller, Chicago 2016 marketing director...

Read Article and Watch Video (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6716794)

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Soaring_Higher

03-19-2009, 05:41 PM

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High Speed Rail Could Be in Place if Chicago Wins 2016

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/images/news/scenes/rapidtransit.jpg

The president of the Indiana High Speed Rail Initiative says "it would be a challenge, but possible" to have a Midwest high speed rail system in place if Chicago lands the 2016 Summer Olympics. Roger Sims says the Olympic Planning Committee reports national and international visitors will travel as far as six hours for lodging or to watch Olympic-related events. He adds, a passenger rail system could efficiently take visitors to and from attractions in northwest Indiana and Indianapolis. Organizers of the Golden Spike Seminar, set to begin today in Merrillville, will take a critical look at the Olympic Games proposed for Chicago. International officials will also discuss the positive impact rail transportation is having on their nations' economies.

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=34580

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Via Chicago

03-19-2009, 09:52 PM

http://chicagoist.com/2009/03/19/today_in_no_sht_olympic_sites_get_f.php
I work for a company who once a year has our sidewalks power washed before restaurants put up their sidewalk cafes. We just received a call that the company that does this for us would like to start Monday, but that instead of the 4 trucks they usually send they are only able to send 1. The reason is because apparently the mayor has hired nearly every truck in the city to power wash O'Hare, Midway and the entire downtown area from Oak Street to Roosevelt (!) in advance of the IOC meeting here next month.

sentinel

03-19-2009, 10:13 PM

^^Makes sense to me.

Soaring_Higher

03-19-2009, 10:22 PM

A bit of good news for the bid...

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/03/illinois-house-approves-250-million-guarantee-for-chicago-olympics.html

Illinois House approves $250 million guarantee for Chicago Olympics

Posted by Ray Long at 3:45 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD---House lawmakers approved legislation today guaranteeing the state would put up $250 million if a 2016 summer Olympics comes to Chicago and loses money.

The measure, sent to the Senate on a 100-14 vote, comes as Chicago competes with Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo for Games that boostershope could add $22.5 billion to the state economy, including 315,000 jobs.

Backers of the legislation argue the state's financial risk is not very high because it would be unusual for an Olympics held in the United States to operate in the red. They say it's also been decades since any foreign-based Olympics has come up short.

Rep. Will Burns (D-Chicago), whose South Side district would house the Olympic Village and several event venues, said the guarantee is viewed as an important component to have in place by the time an Olympics committee plans to review Chicago in early April.

If the Olympics lost money, the city also would be on the hook for $500 million, making the guarantee worth $750 million between the city and state.

According to the legislation, should the state have to dip into the $250 million guarantee against operating losses, an equivalent amount would be spent outside Cook County on road projects. That's a sweetener to get downstate and suburban lawmakers on board.

The House incorporated a provision, specifically requested by African-American and Hispanic lawmakers, that would set up advisory boards to monitor compliance of equal opportunity regulations, Burns said.

Further, the Olympics effort would have to follow the city's contract goal of giving at 25 percent to minorities and 5 percent to women, Burns said.

The Senate is expected to act as early as next week.

cbotnyse

03-19-2009, 10:39 PM

Daley truly has no shame. This is just the beginning....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-olympic-park-19-mar19,0,1057820.storyno shame? because one or two crews are working on this? The rest of the city's potholes are getting worked on. I don't see the big deal with fixing up WP right now.

Abner

03-19-2009, 11:19 PM

Why would they need to patch the streets when the IOC officials can just tour all the Olympic sites on our amazing and fully adequate transit system?

VivaLFuego

03-20-2009, 02:37 AM

Why would they need to patch the streets when the IOC officials can just tour all the Olympic sites on our amazing and fully adequate transit system?

I doubt that even in Paris, London, New York, or Tokyo would IOC officials tour via public transit.

Nowhereman1280

03-20-2009, 03:00 AM

Soaring_Higher

03-20-2009, 03:51 AM

I doubt that even in Paris, London, New York, or Tokyo would IOC officials tour via public transit.

I fully expect them to be on a CTA hybrid bus at some point.

RobH

03-20-2009, 11:02 AM

I doubt that even in Paris, London, New York, or Tokyo would IOC officials tour via public transit.

Actually, they did go on the Tube between certain venues in London during thier visit, though it was on a train with no members of the public on it :haha:

It would have been in one of these branded trains:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/23327824_607e7d6954.jpg

Furthermore, London managed to turn transport from a weakness into something of a strength during this evaluation. Driving the evaluation commission in 16 Range Rovers through the under-construction high-speed rail tunnel which links central London and the Olympic Park was a great idea...

http://www.jamd.com/image/g/52210199

I think Chicago will need to demonstrate (and by that I mean take the EC on board) its public transport at some point during their visit.

Soaring_Higher

03-20-2009, 01:48 PM

^^^ Though they should give them a ride on the Brown Line from Belmont to Downtown to show off our new and vintage-remodeled stations as well as the phenomenal views from the brown line tracks and loop tracks...

There aren't any venues near the brown line, so it may be a little pointless.

It is highly likely that they will ride on the "L" at some point. Do they have any of the new cars in operation yet?

the urban politician

03-20-2009, 01:48 PM

I think Chicago will need to demonstrate (and by that I mean take the EC on board) its public transport at some point during their visit.

Considering that they will be comparing this system to Madrid and London, that's gonna be scary

ChicagoChicago

03-20-2009, 01:57 PM

http://chicagoist.com/2009/03/19/today_in_no_sht_olympic_sites_get_f.php

I work for a company who once a year has our sidewalks power washed before restaurants put up their sidewalk cafes. We just received a call that the company that does this for us would like to start Monday, but that instead of the 4 trucks they usually send they are only able to send 1. The reason is because apparently the mayor has hired nearly every truck in the city to power wash O'Hare, Midway and the entire downtown area from Oak Street to Roosevelt (!) in advance of the IOC meeting here next month.

I flew into O'Hare on Sunday night. The power washing has already started.

ChicagoChicago

03-20-2009, 02:10 PM

Dowell and Preckwinkle are the epitome of disingenuous politicians. Both of them continue to play these shitty populist games that trade real community improvement for votes, typically by building up villains (Daley, U of C, any investor posing an interest in urban redevelopment) to stand up to.

50% Minority and gender based construction contracts? The worst part of this is that it implicitly creates start-up firms out of a labor pool that doesn't currently exist. What will happen to these people after Olympic construction is finished? Their experience from a single no-bid contract certainly won't prepare them to compete in the open market afterward. :hell: Dowell and Preckwinkle are fucking their own constituents in the long-term. :hell: If they want to help those around Hyde Park, figure out where the existing labor pool has been marginalized, e.g. small business owners, and propose an initiative for those that could sustain business from the legacy projects.I can only speak to the way it works now. But the vast majority of “minority owned” businesses, aka 8-A contractors, operate like this:

They attach themselves to a larger GC for a project. The face of the project is the 8-A contractor, who calls themselves a CM. As a CM, they handle some administrative duties and billings, etc. The groundwork is done by the GC. The CM takes a flat fee, somewhere in the neighborhood of 5%. In most cases, the city allows 8-A contractors to be up to 5% higher than standard contractors and still be awarded the job. This allows them to have higher margins on the job. This allows the standard GC that affiliates with the 8-A contractor to get the job he wants and he’s considered a friend to the minority community. It’s a win/win for the GC and 8-A contractor. The loser is the taxpayer that foots the bill for it.

There are a number of qualified 8-A firms that don’t need to partner with larger firms to handle the work, but they are the exception, not the rule.

Taft

03-20-2009, 02:32 PM

Considering that they will be comparing this system to Madrid and London, that's gonna be scary

Well, I don't know about that. Chicago's transit system (especially rail) is small beans compared to those cities...but IMO if you stay within the confines of where el lines are, the CTA looks pretty great to outsiders. Someone mentioned riding the brown line through the north side and I think that is a great idea. Put branding on a car, clean it thoroughly and let them take in the city on a train cutting through the heart of chicago above ground.

RobH

03-20-2009, 02:49 PM

Considering that they will be comparing this system to Madrid and London, that's gonna be scary

I don't suppose they'll be comparing it to London so much, but Madrid is a competitor so yes, Chicago will be compared to them.

You're not going to come out on top in public transport. Tokyo will certainly top that, no question. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't show off what you've got. Not doing so will only lead to suspicions that the bid officials are a little embarrassed about that aspect of the bid.

Do what London did; show them the best bits on the smoothest lines with the best stations and get them their own train. ;)

ChicagoChicago

03-20-2009, 02:52 PM

Well, I don't know about that. Chicago's transit system (especially rail) is small beans compared to those cities...but IMO if you stay within the confines of where el lines are, the CTA looks pretty great to outsiders. Someone mentioned riding the brown line through the north side and I think that is a great idea. Put branding on a car, clean it thoroughly and let them take in the city on a train cutting through the heart of chicago above ground.Pwer washing O'Hare is great and all, but the trains are filthy from the winter. I'd rather see them cleaned.

Rilestone75

03-20-2009, 03:04 PM

I don't suppose they'll be comparing it to London so much, but Madrid is a competitor so yes, Chicago will be compared to them.

You're not going to come out on top in public transport. Tokyo will certainly top that, no question. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't show off what you've got. Not doing so will only lead to suspicions that the bid officials are a little embarrassed about that aspect of the bid.

Do what London did; show them the best bits on the smoothest lines with the best stations and get them their own train. ;)

I can see it now, in Tokyo, the IOC would be "pushed" ever so gently into the completely overcrowed railcar.... If you have never seen the "pushers" in Japan, you'll love them. Absolutely funny:haha: :haha: :haha:

check them out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKOEQVgONh0

Soaring_Higher

03-20-2009, 04:34 PM

I can see it now, in Tokyo, the IOC would be "pushed" ever so gently into the completely overcrowed railcar.... If you have never seen the "pushers" in Japan, you'll love them. Absolutely funny:haha: :haha: :haha:

check them out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKOEQVgONh0

I would probably die on that train.

Dr. Taco

03-20-2009, 10:28 PM

"We want the city that works to work for us!" said Denise Dixon, Action Now.

what a POS

and RobH, thanks so much for your informed comments :)

Soaring_Higher

03-21-2009, 01:32 PM

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Chicago 2016 Olympic promotional films spark backlash from local industry
Leo Burnett criticized for using some Hollywood, New York hires

By Wailin Wong | Tribune reporter
March 21, 2009

The goal was to portray Chicago in the best possible light in promotional films that will be shown to International Olympic Committee members when they visit next month to scrutinize the city's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games.

For the final round of filming that took place in February and March, the bid committee put local advertising giant Leo Burnett in charge of five shoots.

Now, some members of Chicago's film community are voicing concerns that they were passed over for key assignments in favor of out-of-towners from Hollywood and New York, reflecting a long-standing frustration that they don't get the same recognition as their bi-coastal competitors.

Meanwhile, the 2016 committee and Leo Burnett are just as frustrated that their efforts to showcase local talent have been subsumed by anger over a minority of outside hires.

The additional significance of the Olympic bid, intertwined with civic pride and expectations for potential economic development, seems to have given the debate a higher profile.

"This was another example of rubbing salt into a very old wound," said Wayne Kubacki of Essanay Studio and Lighting Co., a Chicago rental company that supplied lighting equipment for three of the bid's film projects. The "old wound," as he explained it, is a decades-old sense that the city's major advertising agencies have turned away from local production companies.

"Given the tenor of the economic times right now, people are particularly sensitive about these things," Kubacki said.

The dust-up started at ReelChicago.com, a site that tracks the local film industry. On Monday, editor Ruth Ratny posted an article that criticized the hiring of directors from Los Angeles and New York. Some of the out-of-town production companies brought a handful of crew members that supplanted local talent, while Chicago vendors also were prodded into working for low rates, Ratny said.

In a response posted Friday, Leo Burnett spokeswoman Abby Lovett said that of the 123 crew members hired for five recent shoots overseen by Leo Burnett producers, 15 were non-local. In addition, three directors from Chicago worked on the shoots. Much of the production work was done pro bono, with companies waiving directors' fees and Chicago hotels donating rooms to visiting crew...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat-olympics-bid-film-0321-mar21,0,1854675.story

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Chicago Shawn

03-22-2009, 06:04 AM

Daley truly has no shame. This is just the beginning....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-olympic-park-19-mar19,0,1057820.story

First off, the park roads are used by a couple thousand vehicles every day traveling between South Side neighborhoods and Lake Shore Drive. This resurfacing is a benefit to everyone, and would need to be done sometime in the future anyway.

Second of all, have you seen the conditions of the pathways in Washington Park? They are terrible. That was the point I made a few pages back, that our inland parks need some upgrades, which are now being prioritized.

Third, would any other city not clean up the area around the stadium site?

Chicago Shawn

03-22-2009, 06:06 AM

I can only speak to the way it works now. But the vast majority of “minority owned” businesses, aka 8-A contractors, operate like this:

They attach themselves to a larger GC for a project. The face of the project is the 8-A contractor, who calls themselves a CM. As a CM, they handle some administrative duties and billings, etc. The groundwork is done by the GC. The CM takes a flat fee, somewhere in the neighborhood of 5%. In most cases, the city allows 8-A contractors to be up to 5% higher than standard contractors and still be awarded the job. This allows them to have higher margins on the job. This allows the standard GC that affiliates with the 8-A contractor to get the job he wants and he’s considered a friend to the minority community. It’s a win/win for the GC and 8-A contractor. The loser is the taxpayer that foots the bill for it.

There are a number of qualified 8-A firms that don’t need to partner with larger firms to handle the work, but they are the exception, not the rule.

Or, the boss man of a GC names his wife the new CEO, and wallah, we have a female "owned" business.

Nowhereman1280

03-22-2009, 06:05 PM

^^^ I actually know people who do that! Husband and Wife who run and own a firm together, it doesn't really matter to them who the president is, so they make the wife the president so they can get in on the affirmative action racket...

Dr. Taco

03-22-2009, 06:54 PM

my best friend's company is him and his mom as partners. his mom doesn't do much of anything, but he still has access to all the "female contracts" or whatever

simcityaustin

03-23-2009, 02:17 AM

I doubt the legality of this AA...sounds like a quota system to me, which would be against the law...can someone clarify how this works? If it's so clear to us the system is abused, why don't alderman and city gov't officials recognize it...sounds like a lose-lose situation for everyone.

Soaring_Higher

03-23-2009, 03:15 AM

Blurb from Trib article I thought would interest people a little more than just hearing about protests...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-olympics-protests-23-mar23,0,5409909.story

In the coming months, Chicago faces continued pressure on other fronts as well, much of it from groups that feel specific aspects of the plan could harm the city's architecture and parks.

Preservation Chicago is fighting to save several historic buildings it feels are threatened by Olympics plans. It's concerned that the construction of sports venues on Northerly Island could lead to the demolition of the Meigs Field Terminal, an example of postwar modern- ism.

The group also would like to see the preservation of postwar buildings on the Michael Reese campus, whose planners included legendary architect Walter Gropius.

Chicago 2016 said it's considering using the Meigs terminal building as a spectator welcome center and has not made final plans for the Michael Reese site.

Friends of the Parks, a watchdog group, plans to unveil concerns during a forum April 9. Plans for Washington Park on the South Side are among those that rankle the group because they would permanently alter the historic park.

"We're not opposed to the Olympics—sports are appropriate for parks," said Erma Tranter, the group's president. "Our goal is to make sure they're creating facilities in appropriate parks and not doing harm to parks."

Soaring_Higher

03-23-2009, 04:20 AM

bnk

03-23-2009, 05:19 AM

Gamesbds.com just released their updated bid index. The race is really tight, but Chicago slipped to last place.

http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/bidindex/1216134215.html

Basically they said it was too close to call, but Chicago's bid has definitely weakened a bit in the last couple of months compared to the other bids.

I would follow Irish voting websites paddypower and US political voting sites for they are rather accurate.

Intrade was really accurate for both the primary and the general election.

http://www.intrade.com/

The first number is Bid the Second number is Ask.

2016.OLYMPICS.NTH.AMERICA
Venue in North America to host the 2016 Summer Olympics M Trade 32.0 40.0 32.0 5079 0
2016.OLYMPICS.STH.AMERICA
Venue in South America to host the 2016 Summer Olympics M Trade 25.0 40.0 36.0 4338 0
2016.OLYMPICS.ASIA
Venue in Asia to host the 2016 Summer Olympics M Trade 7.0 16.1 7.0 4490 0
2016.OLYMPICS.EUROPE
Venue in Europe to host the 2016 Summer Olympics M Trade 10.0 13.0 10.0 3731 0

Mar 23 - 5:16AM GMT

Chicago is still the favorite, even though I know being a favorite is not the best thing but we are literally only months away from the final decision.

I hope the weather is clear and bright on 4-2 to 4-3-09. This visit really will make or break it for the last of the 4 cities.

At Intrade Chicago is still the leading candidate and I have never seen Intrade lose major bets before.

Still the smart money is on Chicago for no more other reason that Obama earned his political wings there and he still calls it home after the WH.

Nowhereman1280

03-23-2009, 05:20 AM

Intrade has Chicago second and Rio First. Madrid is third and, oddly, Tokyo is wayyy behind. Chicago is 32, Rio is at 36, Madrid is 10, and Tokyo is 7. Seems like Chicago has certainly fallen from the favorite spot on the prediction markets. Whether or not that is relevant is a whole different story. I think that we'll see a more accurate picture once the IOC reps visit the cities this spring.

Edit: BNK just beat me to the punch with the intrade numbers...

ginsan2

03-23-2009, 05:27 AM

I went to the Pan Olympics in Rio to support a friend, and it was an absolute nightmare. I mean, lovely city (the nice parts) and all, but it does not have the infrastructure to support a large venue.

nomarandlee

03-23-2009, 06:26 AM

Abner

03-23-2009, 06:52 AM

Much more legitimate concerns and some which I share as well.

I think the potential damage done to the parks should give anybody pause. For example I'm still not clear on what Washington Park is going to do with a giant amphitheater most of the year. I sort of resent the idea that the city has had no problem with appropriating so much land in our already scarce parks for projects whose lasting value to the neighborhoods they are in is dubious at best. Regardless of whether you think the games are worth it, the way the city has gone about this is very distasteful.

RobH

03-23-2009, 11:17 AM

Soaring_Higher

03-23-2009, 02:16 PM

I wouldn't read too much into Chicago being last. The only thing you can really take from this index is that it's so close this time around!

For comparison, 16 points seperated the top bid and the bottom bid at this stage in the 2012 race (Nov 04 - http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/bidindex/1100230501.html) but this time around we've got a spread of barely 3 points according to the index.

Oh, I am not reading too much into it. I know basically it is too close to call, but I wanted to show people that by no means is Chicago a shoe in, and this could very well be a horse race down to the final vote.

I actually agree with their assessment. Chicago bid has been battered a little bit. While it seems like some of the others (especially Tokyo) have strengthened their bid.

the urban politician

03-24-2009, 02:28 PM

Obama pencils in visit to boost Chicago 2016 bid (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33426)
March 23, 2009
(AP) — The committee hoping to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago has an early commitment from President Barack Obama to be in Copenhagen for its final presentation and the International Olympic Committee vote.

the urban politician

03-24-2009, 02:29 PM

^ Chicago's Ace card, basically.

Hope it's enough..

Duffstuff129

03-24-2009, 07:36 PM

^ Chicago's Ace card, basically.

Hope it's enough..

Yeah, hopefully the world loves Obama enough to give Chicago that final little push.

I think if they sold the "It's his hometown" (most people around the world wouldn't know this) mumbo jumbo, Chicago could probably get those last few votes.

(Maybe Obama could talk about it a bit in the next press conference?)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will push the Spire forward.

nomarandlee

03-24-2009, 09:07 PM

He should say something like he hopes to walk from his house to the stadium for the opening ceremonies or something corny like that.

Obama pencils in visit to boost Chicago 2016 bid (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33426)
March 23, 2009
(AP) — The committee hoping to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago has an early commitment from President Barack Obama to be in Copenhagen for its final presentation and the International Olympic Committee vote.

That is cool but I would have waited till a week or two before in order for the speculation to whirl on if he would or wouldn't go. Then if he decides to go it would make it look like he is making a special effort. Anyway, hopefully MJ will get off his arsse and do some hand shaking for the bid especially if the Brazilians get Pele.

nomarandlee

03-25-2009, 11:55 AM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicago-olympic-visit-25-mar25,0,2200869.story

Chicago's Olympics team prepares for its big pitch
2016 group to try to entice IOC with all-out effort
By David Heinzmann | Tribune reporter
March 25, 2009

........The team of 16 evaluators starts its work here on April 3—a short week of mostly private meetings, parties and tours. Over the course of the visit, which concludes April 7, the bid committee will make 17 presentations to the visitors, said Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky.

After an April 2 travel day, the evaluators will meet with Chicago officials for a private reception and meeting on April 3. The bid team will take the officials on a winding tour of proposed venues on the morning of April 5. The route is likely to include stops at the proposed Olympic Village site at the Michael Reese Hospital campus on the South Side, the proposed Olympic stadium site in Washington Park, Lincoln Park on the North Side and Douglas Park on the West Side.......
..

bnk

03-25-2009, 11:02 PM

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/foxvalleysun/news/1495565,Napervillians-express-winning-support-.article#

Napervillians express winning support for Chicago 2016

March 25, 2009

By M.B. SUTHERLAND For The Sun

The Chicago 2016 Committee held a meeting Tuesday evening to educate residents about the ongoing bid to win the 2016 Olympics for Chicago and what that might mean for the surrounding suburbs.

More than 100 attendees from children to senior citizens attended the event, which gathered commitments from 80 people who agreed to volunteer to help the Chicago 2016 Committee in their quest to host the Olympics.

Naperville's Donna Kearney attended the meeting, saying, "We support the bid and want to know how we can help." Her husband, Brian, added that he came to learn more. "I'm part of a local running, biking, and (cross-country) skiing community, so we're interested in athletics."

Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel began the meeting with a speech telling the audience, "I am here to tell you, Naperville backs the bid." Attendees responded with enthusiastic applause.

...

. Murnane says that the International Olympic Committee requires a potential host city to have 45,000 hotel rooms available within a 31 mile radius of the proposed Olympic Village.

Chicago 2016 has found 101,000 existing hotel rooms in that area for which the hotels have agreed that the rooms will be available at what Murnane calls a reasonable, "no-gouging" price. "People will stay as close to the Olympic Village as possible and then move out (into Chicagoland) from there," he said. With an estimated 2.5 million spectators expected at the games, Murnane suggests that may translate into a lot more hotel rooms to be rented across Chicagoland, and potentially in Naperville.

...

Murnane agreed with that assessment saying that teams would start coming to the area in the year prior to the Olympics. According to Murnane, 202 countries competed in Beijing and he expects that the countries coming to the 2016 games will be looking for practice, training and meeting facilities to use — many of which will be outside of Chicago.

...

Another potential benefits for the Chicagoland area might come in the form of federal money to help with upgrades to transportation systems. Murnane reports that Chicago 2016 is working with Amtrak and Metra to look at transportation to Chicago from the suburbs, and said that "any upgrades would be done with what is best (for Chicagoland) in the coming 20 to 30 years in mind. Having the games expedites needed upgrades."

...

bnk

03-25-2009, 11:30 PM

And some bad news.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/sports/olympics/26olympic.html?ref=sports

March 26, 2009

Olympic Leaders Lash Out at U.S.O.C. Revenue Deal

By JULIET MACUR

Pressure on the United States Olympic Committee to renegotiate its existing revenue-sharing agreement with the International Olympic Committee rose to another level when an angry group of Olympic leaders voted to terminate the contract and renegotiate a new one.

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations passed a non-binding resolution on Tuesday to end the U.S.O.C.’s current open-ended contract that agreement gives the United States 20 percent of the I.O.C.’s global sponsorship revenue – the same amount as all the other Olympic committees, combined -- and 12.75 percent of the television revenue.

“The greed of this organization is unlimited. Totally unlimited,” Hein Verbruggen, the former chief of the International Cycling Union and an honorary I.O.C. member, said to the Associated Press. “It infuriates everybody and especially me.”

The international federations are meeting this week in Denver at a gathering called Sportaccord. Verbruggen is its chairman.“The way they treat us, there’s no respect, no respect at all,” Verbruggen said. “It’s infuriating. I have no other words.”

The U.S.O.C., however, has emphasized that the United States generates a big chunk of the I.O.C. revenuesand that U.S.-based companies provide most of the sponsorship money. The United States television contract is also far more lucrative than in any other country. To televise last year’s Beijing Games, NBC paid about $894 million. The European Broadcasting Union paid about $443.5 million. Chinese television networks paid about $7 million.

“We’re looking for a long-term solution, and it’s probably not best to do it in an emotional or pressure environment,” Bob Ctvrtlik, the U.S.O.C.’s vice chairman for international relations, told the Associated Press. “It’s not easy. It is complicated. I think we need to do that in a nice, calm manner.”

The impassioned debate comes at a delicate time for the U.S.O.C., with the bid to bring the Olympics to Chicago in 2016 ramping up. The vote on which city will host those Games is scheduled for October.

...

Even so, Verbruggen said: “I like the guys in Chicago. I really like Pat Ryan. I’d think they might be embarrassed with this whole thing.”