As long as the McCaskey family owns the Bears, not one cent of taxpayer money should be used for their new stadium. They demonstrate that you can own a football team without knowing football. Given the lack of success, if they had any shame they would sell the team to someone else. I doubt that will happen anytime soon since the Bears are "Mother McCaskey's Employment Agency" for her family. They would be non-entities except for owning the Bears. They were fortunate to have won the genetic lottery and have been born a McCaskey.
Unfortunately, my representative in Congress is Mary E. Miller aka "Little Miss Maga" who never misses a beat when it comes to being a White Christian Nationalist and Trumper. She paradoxically reminds me a bit of my former congressman, Luis Gutierrez, who didn't give two cents for you if you weren't part of his posse. Miller won't even bother to send replies if you disagree with her.
David, I share your pain living in WC IL. Kudos to you about knowing this much about her-I rarely hear a word about her or from her since she was elected. I did look at her FB page one and never went back. Like 45 I have questions about her mental status.
When I see the protests on campus, it reminds me a lot of similar protests on colleges during the war in VietNam. Looking back, many of them were naive tools of the North Vietnamese and when people praise them, I think that the "boat people" might beg to differ. What do they think Hamas would do to the Jews there if Israel vanished?
People constantly forget why Israel even exists. In the 1930s when Hitler came to power and started enforcing his anti-Jewish laws, many Jews saw the coming storm and wanted out. But Jews were unwelcome almost anywhere else. At the height of the pogrom, almost know country would adjust their immigration laws to allow in more Jews. That includes the United States. When World War II was over, there were a lot less Jews to worry about. But there was still an issue of where to go. Antisemitism was not limited to Nazis, especially in Eastern Europe, from where my grandparents came. So what did Jews get? A small sliver of land on the eastern Mediterranean coast, smaller than our smallest state and mostly desert. It was a piece of land where Jews had lived for several thousand years until emigrating or being kicked out. Jews didn't see it as taking land from Palestinians. They saw it as a type of homecoming.. I often wonder how Americans would react if Mexico stated demanding all their territory back that we took. Or what if Russia demanded to take back Alaska and the northwest coast?
Thank you Laurence. Palestine was simply the word the Greeks used in reference to this geographical area, and also the name for the Roman provide there in the 2nd-4th centuries. The name of this area before that? JUDEA, the Israeli Nation state. And this area had always remained home to a Jewish population who lived there.
The underlying reason for the ongoing conflict between Israel and various Arab states and the people in Gaza and the West Bank? The refusal of a large segment of the Arab population to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Israel has attempted to move forward with a two-state solution several times, but on every occasion they have not had an Arab partner who was genuinely willing to make peace with them. Israel previously occupied all of the Sinai Peninsula as well as Gaza, and voluntarily withdrew in 2005, forcibly removing Israeli settlements, as a start to providing people there with the opportunity to have their own country and live in peace with Israel. But what have the people in Gaza done with this land since that time? Despite massive foreign aid from the UN, US and international community, instead of developing a thriving economy they have continued to use it as a base of attacks against Israel.
Sadly, polls that have been done over time reflect that the majority of people in Gaza support the position of Hamas. Schools in Gaza that exist because of UN and US funding propagandize young children that Jews are sub-human and that it is wholly to kill them. Shockingly, a poll taken shortly after the October 7th terrorist attacks reflected a strong majority of people in Gaza supporting those attacks! https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/poll-shows-palestinians-back-oct-7-attack-israel-support-hamas-rises-2023-12-14/
Israel, just like the US, is a very imperfect democracy, but yet they are a democracy that believes in freedom and individual rights as witnessed by the large number of Arab Israeli citizens and Arabs serving as elected members of parliament. Israel has always been a staunch US ally, and we now owe them our full support on both a moral basis and for our own geopolitical interests.
It is incredibly frustrating that the US government is mute on the US citizens who were abducted and continue to be held by Hamas. Where are the demands for their release? Why are the names of these US citizens who were taken not being talked about by our government as well as our own media? Why are our colleges and universities allowing open anti-Semitism on their campuses to the extent that Jewish students have been assaulted and are in fear of going to their own classes? Why isn't our government speaking out more forcefully on this?
You are very correct Laurence that there is an ongoing history of anti-Semitism in the world, and including the US where FDR shamefully refused to accept Jewish refugees attempting to flee Hitler. But it has truly reared its ugly head very openly today, and we all have a moral obligation to call it out and actively oppose it. Local government resolutions demanding a ceasefire but remaining totally silent without any call for release of innocent civilian hostages, including US citizens being held by terrorists is disgraceful. We all must speak out! 🇮🇱 ✡️ 🙏
You say that “Jews didn’t see it as taking land from the Palestinians.” But isn’t that what happened? From Wikipedia: “During the 1948 Palestine War, the British withdrew from Palestine, Zionist forces conquered territory and established the State of Israel, and over 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled.”
You are absolutely right David. If Hamas laid down their weapons and released the hostages, Israel would stop their offensive immediately. If Israel ever laid down all their weapons, a genocidal slaughter of every Jewish Israeli would follow.
Which is the worst move: Bears associating with Mayor Brandon; or Mayor supporting the Bears. Another bad choice by the Mayor - but overshadowed by a horrible presentation. 1) We have God on our side - although we question if he has ever played football; 2) All of the costs we not truly disclosed; 3) Then hearing the 'rush' is on to get under the wire on the legislation timeline. 4) No questions were asked - parking, true cost, infrastructure needs... I thought Bears were on a path to change and suddenly we have another "Dave McGinnus" debacle. Couldn't we have just gotten in our draft day joy to relish for a moment.
Knowing the Bears, I have no doubt they can hose up Caleb Williams just as they have other rosy prospects in the past. If I'd been in his shoes, I would've made it clear that I'd never play for the Bears as long as they're owned by the McCaskeys.
In regards to that Bears fiasco, forget the money, that thing is absolutely hideous. It looks like an super-sized illuminated turd on the lakefront. You won't see the skyline from the lake anymore. I can't believe they presented that with a straight face. It's a joke. That belongs buried in town like the United Center or put it in Arlington Heights. And mayor, how about the same enthusiasm for reducing crime and attracting business, oh wait, I forgot, this guys no too bright.
The concept of a covered stadium on the lake makes no sense from any standpoint. Currently the TV networks like to have the blimp over Soldier Field so they can show the playing field & the skyline, which won't be possible.
The appallingly stupid McCaskeys paid $200 million for Arlington Park & now realize they'll have to pay real estate taxes there & are so insanely cheap, they want out of that deal.
The city offered to sell them the empty Michael Reese site that the utterly stupid Richie Daley had flattened for his asinine Olympics dream, but they turned that down.
And our utterly clueless & incompetent current mayor is showing us again, why he is a mistake that is out of his depth, in that office!
Absolutely! How can anyone trust the McCaskeys after the crap they've pulled?! They are the Trumps of the sports world. No new stadium on the lakefront!
In today's Tribune, Johnson is extolling the benefis to the community and workers. In usus Johnson style, there were no specifics. But let's examine what he said. His public statements are beginning to fall into the Twilight Zone. He didn't mention how it would be paid for. I don't know about the rest of you, but I consider that an important item. He extolled the creation of jobs. Won't the present hot dog vendors, beer sellers, and parking lot attendants simply transfer to the new stadium? A spokesman of his said the stadium would be free for city residents because guests to the city would pay for it like the present stadium and the Bears would kick in the rest. Excuse me? The amusement tax is not paying for it, money is still owed on the present stadium, and, if you throw in all the infrastructure changes needed, the Bears would be picking up less than half the cost. Also telling is that Johnson allies either oppose it or are remaining silent. So- want to try again, Brandon?
why the rush? the Bears contract with the city doesn't end until 2029(?) Surely even if they needed any extra year the parties could agree to a 1 year extension since that would benefit everyone.
Election fatigue is a thing. Every year there is some type of election somewhere. It gets old. We have been talking about the 2024 Presidential Election since the day Biden was inaugurated, if not before.
Almost every elected official, once elected, spends their time in office working on getting reelected. Sometimes it feels like they only do things meaningful when they are lame ducks or victims of term limits.
What people don't seem to understand is special elections and recalls cost money. I'm not talking about the campaigning, i'm talking about actually setting up a polling place. I would rather use that money to add a few more polling places to underprivileged communities during regular elections than have a special election for a seat that is gonna be open again in less than a year.
The whole idea of this build a stadium nonsense makes my blood boil. I read yesterday that NFL teams rake in on average close to a billion dollars per year. The bears are worth 6.3 billion. So here come the McCaskeys with their hands out and goofy Mayor numbskull (looking for something positive that he can call his own) falls all over them and can't wait to spend taxpayer dollars to have them eat up more of the lakefront. Yeah, I know the renderings show it would be built on current parking lots but where will the parking lots go? Also, the hideous mess they made of soldier field isn't going anywhere because it's a landmark, so with this new playpen we won't be able to see the lake from Solidarity drive to south of McCormick Place. And oh yeah, somehow the pier authority wants to re-do the White Sox deal as part of the package. And let's not forget that we taxpayers are still paying for the current White Sox park and soldier field renovation which everyone knew should have been domed. Let the Bears move to Arlington Heights or Timbuktu or wherever. They stink anyway. And I guarantee that if they did leave the NFL would put a new team here and that team would win a Superbowl before the Bears do.
In regard to the student protests at Columbia and other places: First, what is happening to innocent people due to the Israel-Hamas war is horrific. However, it seems to me that there are protesters with different motives all mixed together. Some may want just an end to this horrible war. Some may want an end to Israel, which is not realistic. Some who want an end to Israel say they are anti-Zionists but not anti-Semitic, and some are just intensely anti-Semitic. Personally, I can’t help wondering how informed many of the protesters are and I would like to see interviews to discover how much of the facts they know, plus how much of the facts they refuse to believe. But it is obvious that a significant number of the protesters see this conflict as totally one-sided.
I think that the Bears deftly crafted a strong negotiating lever. If they were to move to Arlington Heights, they would have no obligation to do anything with respect to the current stadium or parking lots. The necessary maintenance and improvements would fall to the Park District and the city. There would be little or no reason for the state to provide for those costs in any way. By including the Soldier Field renovation in the plan, it is easier for the city, park district, and state to rationalize a package of public funding that would be required if the Bears stay or if they go. The deal also restructures the overhang from the current bonds and spreads them over 40 years. Not even Johnson believes that he will be in office long enough for this to be his problem. In the meantime he can imagine basking in the glory.
Don't misunderstand him, Garry. I didn't get the sense he backed the plan. He was explaining the politics. He was correct. Kicking the can down the road is an ages old habit of politicians. How many of us here today will be around in 40 years? I won't. It's a crummy practice. Who's to say that other things won't arise in the next 40 years that will be more vital to the citizens than a football pleasure palace that most will only see on television? Let's remember that public pensions are way behind. School buidings are crumbling. Let the Bears build and pay for their own pleasure palace. There are more important items that won't be helped by a new stadium. What is the present stadium, not yet paid for, doing for city coffers ?
He totally supports it, because he's desperate for anything he could call a win for himself.
Of course I want both the Bears & the White Sox to pay for their own pleasure palaces. The Bears alone are worth well over $6 billion & could walk into any large bank & get a loan to build it, using the team as collateral. But they won't do it, because these overblown monstrosities never are profitable, as Allan Sanderson of the University of Chicago has been pointing out for decades now!
What's worse is, that both of them got the public to pay for their current places & got exactly what they wanted at that time, but now the Bears claim Soldier Field has too small a capacity & the White Sox, under that fool Reinsdorf hate their generic mall park, because they destroyed all the small businesses that used to surround Comiskey Park. What the Sox want is what the Cubs have, a lively neighborhood that people hang around before & after the games, mainly to eat & get drunker than they got in the ball park.
And the reason the Bears reject the Michael Reese site is they use the bullshit NFL's supposed security perimeter crap & claim it's too small. But in fact what the NFL's security perimeter is all about, is that then the teams control more area & thus make more money for themselves & not the public!
Now they see the much better stadiums that have been built elsewhere, such as what Jerry Jones built for the Cowboys in Dallas & what the Orioles have in Baltimore.
Hopefully, Governor Pritzker will kill off both of their insane dreams.
The other political cover is that the spending is not being paid by Chicago or Illinois taxpayers, but rather by business and tourist visitors via the hotel tax. Chicago pays when the hotel tax falls short, as it has so far. I expect optimistic math to go along with the low-balled project estimates.
I notice that there hasn't been much reaction from most Chicago politicians yet. Some of them are the ones moaning that too much money is being spent on immigrants when it should be spent on those from Chicago that are homeless. There supposedly is too much being spent on Israel and Ukraine when we should take care of problems here. But they are mostly silent when it is being contemplated to spend a couple of billion on a football palace which offers no guarantees of rich levies for the city or help for those same down on their luck Chicagoans. While we're at it, what is all the noise about this plan offering more green space for people? Who says more is needed? The area has been doing pretty well since Daniel Burnham's original vision. How does one do that when plopping steel and concrete in the middle of it?
There is nothing strange about party lackies wanting the County Clerk's office. The supplicants know that getting the office is effectively a life-time sinecure. Although it is elected, it is never contested and the last two clerks prior to Yarbrough were in the office for 27 and 28 years. Cushy, high paying, high-status party hack. Why wouldn't there be a line of takers?
I liked EZ's position on the situation in Gaza. But I also think that it highlights the sad state of news coverage. The coverage is entirely superficial about who is involved, what is being said, what the consensus or majority of protestors think, etc. There is a similar lack of facts reported regarding the counter protest, claims of antisemitism and hate speech, acts causing fear, etc. And as usual, the coverage of the encampments provide nothing in terms of the actual numbers, the extent of the campus affected, percentage of the student body, numbers of non-students involved, etc. So, the situation is ripe for characterizing those involved in any way that is politically useful for ideologues.
As long as the McCaskey family owns the Bears, not one cent of taxpayer money should be used for their new stadium. They demonstrate that you can own a football team without knowing football. Given the lack of success, if they had any shame they would sell the team to someone else. I doubt that will happen anytime soon since the Bears are "Mother McCaskey's Employment Agency" for her family. They would be non-entities except for owning the Bears. They were fortunate to have won the genetic lottery and have been born a McCaskey.
Unfortunately, my representative in Congress is Mary E. Miller aka "Little Miss Maga" who never misses a beat when it comes to being a White Christian Nationalist and Trumper. She paradoxically reminds me a bit of my former congressman, Luis Gutierrez, who didn't give two cents for you if you weren't part of his posse. Miller won't even bother to send replies if you disagree with her.
David, I share your pain living in WC IL. Kudos to you about knowing this much about her-I rarely hear a word about her or from her since she was elected. I did look at her FB page one and never went back. Like 45 I have questions about her mental status.
When I see the protests on campus, it reminds me a lot of similar protests on colleges during the war in VietNam. Looking back, many of them were naive tools of the North Vietnamese and when people praise them, I think that the "boat people" might beg to differ. What do they think Hamas would do to the Jews there if Israel vanished?
People constantly forget why Israel even exists. In the 1930s when Hitler came to power and started enforcing his anti-Jewish laws, many Jews saw the coming storm and wanted out. But Jews were unwelcome almost anywhere else. At the height of the pogrom, almost know country would adjust their immigration laws to allow in more Jews. That includes the United States. When World War II was over, there were a lot less Jews to worry about. But there was still an issue of where to go. Antisemitism was not limited to Nazis, especially in Eastern Europe, from where my grandparents came. So what did Jews get? A small sliver of land on the eastern Mediterranean coast, smaller than our smallest state and mostly desert. It was a piece of land where Jews had lived for several thousand years until emigrating or being kicked out. Jews didn't see it as taking land from Palestinians. They saw it as a type of homecoming.. I often wonder how Americans would react if Mexico stated demanding all their territory back that we took. Or what if Russia demanded to take back Alaska and the northwest coast?
Thank you Laurence. Palestine was simply the word the Greeks used in reference to this geographical area, and also the name for the Roman provide there in the 2nd-4th centuries. The name of this area before that? JUDEA, the Israeli Nation state. And this area had always remained home to a Jewish population who lived there.
The underlying reason for the ongoing conflict between Israel and various Arab states and the people in Gaza and the West Bank? The refusal of a large segment of the Arab population to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Israel has attempted to move forward with a two-state solution several times, but on every occasion they have not had an Arab partner who was genuinely willing to make peace with them. Israel previously occupied all of the Sinai Peninsula as well as Gaza, and voluntarily withdrew in 2005, forcibly removing Israeli settlements, as a start to providing people there with the opportunity to have their own country and live in peace with Israel. But what have the people in Gaza done with this land since that time? Despite massive foreign aid from the UN, US and international community, instead of developing a thriving economy they have continued to use it as a base of attacks against Israel.
Sadly, polls that have been done over time reflect that the majority of people in Gaza support the position of Hamas. Schools in Gaza that exist because of UN and US funding propagandize young children that Jews are sub-human and that it is wholly to kill them. Shockingly, a poll taken shortly after the October 7th terrorist attacks reflected a strong majority of people in Gaza supporting those attacks! https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/poll-shows-palestinians-back-oct-7-attack-israel-support-hamas-rises-2023-12-14/
Israel, just like the US, is a very imperfect democracy, but yet they are a democracy that believes in freedom and individual rights as witnessed by the large number of Arab Israeli citizens and Arabs serving as elected members of parliament. Israel has always been a staunch US ally, and we now owe them our full support on both a moral basis and for our own geopolitical interests.
It is incredibly frustrating that the US government is mute on the US citizens who were abducted and continue to be held by Hamas. Where are the demands for their release? Why are the names of these US citizens who were taken not being talked about by our government as well as our own media? Why are our colleges and universities allowing open anti-Semitism on their campuses to the extent that Jewish students have been assaulted and are in fear of going to their own classes? Why isn't our government speaking out more forcefully on this?
You are very correct Laurence that there is an ongoing history of anti-Semitism in the world, and including the US where FDR shamefully refused to accept Jewish refugees attempting to flee Hitler. But it has truly reared its ugly head very openly today, and we all have a moral obligation to call it out and actively oppose it. Local government resolutions demanding a ceasefire but remaining totally silent without any call for release of innocent civilian hostages, including US citizens being held by terrorists is disgraceful. We all must speak out! 🇮🇱 ✡️ 🙏
You say that “Jews didn’t see it as taking land from the Palestinians.” But isn’t that what happened? From Wikipedia: “During the 1948 Palestine War, the British withdrew from Palestine, Zionist forces conquered territory and established the State of Israel, and over 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestine_war
You are absolutely right David. If Hamas laid down their weapons and released the hostages, Israel would stop their offensive immediately. If Israel ever laid down all their weapons, a genocidal slaughter of every Jewish Israeli would follow.
Which is the worst move: Bears associating with Mayor Brandon; or Mayor supporting the Bears. Another bad choice by the Mayor - but overshadowed by a horrible presentation. 1) We have God on our side - although we question if he has ever played football; 2) All of the costs we not truly disclosed; 3) Then hearing the 'rush' is on to get under the wire on the legislation timeline. 4) No questions were asked - parking, true cost, infrastructure needs... I thought Bears were on a path to change and suddenly we have another "Dave McGinnus" debacle. Couldn't we have just gotten in our draft day joy to relish for a moment.
Knowing the Bears, I have no doubt they can hose up Caleb Williams just as they have other rosy prospects in the past. If I'd been in his shoes, I would've made it clear that I'd never play for the Bears as long as they're owned by the McCaskeys.
I believe that MSNBC chryon is fake. You might check.
It looks more like a National Enquirer front page headline
In regards to that Bears fiasco, forget the money, that thing is absolutely hideous. It looks like an super-sized illuminated turd on the lakefront. You won't see the skyline from the lake anymore. I can't believe they presented that with a straight face. It's a joke. That belongs buried in town like the United Center or put it in Arlington Heights. And mayor, how about the same enthusiasm for reducing crime and attracting business, oh wait, I forgot, this guys no too bright.
The concept of a covered stadium on the lake makes no sense from any standpoint. Currently the TV networks like to have the blimp over Soldier Field so they can show the playing field & the skyline, which won't be possible.
The appallingly stupid McCaskeys paid $200 million for Arlington Park & now realize they'll have to pay real estate taxes there & are so insanely cheap, they want out of that deal.
The city offered to sell them the empty Michael Reese site that the utterly stupid Richie Daley had flattened for his asinine Olympics dream, but they turned that down.
And our utterly clueless & incompetent current mayor is showing us again, why he is a mistake that is out of his depth, in that office!
My favorite part is where it says "STADIUM" in that garish Bears typeface from every angle. Classy.
Haha.....they should have put a big "LAKE" sign in Lake Michigan.
21 years ago, the McCaskeys McFucked the taxpayers over Soldier Field & now they want to McFuck us again!
Never!
Lawrence Holmes was 100% correct about that disgusting money grubbing pastor who gave thanks for that rotten to the core family!
Absolutely! How can anyone trust the McCaskeys after the crap they've pulled?! They are the Trumps of the sports world. No new stadium on the lakefront!
In today's Tribune, Johnson is extolling the benefis to the community and workers. In usus Johnson style, there were no specifics. But let's examine what he said. His public statements are beginning to fall into the Twilight Zone. He didn't mention how it would be paid for. I don't know about the rest of you, but I consider that an important item. He extolled the creation of jobs. Won't the present hot dog vendors, beer sellers, and parking lot attendants simply transfer to the new stadium? A spokesman of his said the stadium would be free for city residents because guests to the city would pay for it like the present stadium and the Bears would kick in the rest. Excuse me? The amusement tax is not paying for it, money is still owed on the present stadium, and, if you throw in all the infrastructure changes needed, the Bears would be picking up less than half the cost. Also telling is that Johnson allies either oppose it or are remaining silent. So- want to try again, Brandon?
why the rush? the Bears contract with the city doesn't end until 2029(?) Surely even if they needed any extra year the parties could agree to a 1 year extension since that would benefit everyone.
Election fatigue is a thing. Every year there is some type of election somewhere. It gets old. We have been talking about the 2024 Presidential Election since the day Biden was inaugurated, if not before.
Almost every elected official, once elected, spends their time in office working on getting reelected. Sometimes it feels like they only do things meaningful when they are lame ducks or victims of term limits.
What people don't seem to understand is special elections and recalls cost money. I'm not talking about the campaigning, i'm talking about actually setting up a polling place. I would rather use that money to add a few more polling places to underprivileged communities during regular elections than have a special election for a seat that is gonna be open again in less than a year.
and yes, I'm paining with broad strokes here.
Laurence Holmes on 670 am The Score is my favorite radio personality. His show is on from 10a to 2p.
The whole idea of this build a stadium nonsense makes my blood boil. I read yesterday that NFL teams rake in on average close to a billion dollars per year. The bears are worth 6.3 billion. So here come the McCaskeys with their hands out and goofy Mayor numbskull (looking for something positive that he can call his own) falls all over them and can't wait to spend taxpayer dollars to have them eat up more of the lakefront. Yeah, I know the renderings show it would be built on current parking lots but where will the parking lots go? Also, the hideous mess they made of soldier field isn't going anywhere because it's a landmark, so with this new playpen we won't be able to see the lake from Solidarity drive to south of McCormick Place. And oh yeah, somehow the pier authority wants to re-do the White Sox deal as part of the package. And let's not forget that we taxpayers are still paying for the current White Sox park and soldier field renovation which everyone knew should have been domed. Let the Bears move to Arlington Heights or Timbuktu or wherever. They stink anyway. And I guarantee that if they did leave the NFL would put a new team here and that team would win a Superbowl before the Bears do.
In regard to the student protests at Columbia and other places: First, what is happening to innocent people due to the Israel-Hamas war is horrific. However, it seems to me that there are protesters with different motives all mixed together. Some may want just an end to this horrible war. Some may want an end to Israel, which is not realistic. Some who want an end to Israel say they are anti-Zionists but not anti-Semitic, and some are just intensely anti-Semitic. Personally, I can’t help wondering how informed many of the protesters are and I would like to see interviews to discover how much of the facts they know, plus how much of the facts they refuse to believe. But it is obvious that a significant number of the protesters see this conflict as totally one-sided.
I think that the Bears deftly crafted a strong negotiating lever. If they were to move to Arlington Heights, they would have no obligation to do anything with respect to the current stadium or parking lots. The necessary maintenance and improvements would fall to the Park District and the city. There would be little or no reason for the state to provide for those costs in any way. By including the Soldier Field renovation in the plan, it is easier for the city, park district, and state to rationalize a package of public funding that would be required if the Bears stay or if they go. The deal also restructures the overhang from the current bonds and spreads them over 40 years. Not even Johnson believes that he will be in office long enough for this to be his problem. In the meantime he can imagine basking in the glory.
You must drink lots & lots of Kool-Aid!
Don't misunderstand him, Garry. I didn't get the sense he backed the plan. He was explaining the politics. He was correct. Kicking the can down the road is an ages old habit of politicians. How many of us here today will be around in 40 years? I won't. It's a crummy practice. Who's to say that other things won't arise in the next 40 years that will be more vital to the citizens than a football pleasure palace that most will only see on television? Let's remember that public pensions are way behind. School buidings are crumbling. Let the Bears build and pay for their own pleasure palace. There are more important items that won't be helped by a new stadium. What is the present stadium, not yet paid for, doing for city coffers ?
He totally supports it, because he's desperate for anything he could call a win for himself.
Of course I want both the Bears & the White Sox to pay for their own pleasure palaces. The Bears alone are worth well over $6 billion & could walk into any large bank & get a loan to build it, using the team as collateral. But they won't do it, because these overblown monstrosities never are profitable, as Allan Sanderson of the University of Chicago has been pointing out for decades now!
What's worse is, that both of them got the public to pay for their current places & got exactly what they wanted at that time, but now the Bears claim Soldier Field has too small a capacity & the White Sox, under that fool Reinsdorf hate their generic mall park, because they destroyed all the small businesses that used to surround Comiskey Park. What the Sox want is what the Cubs have, a lively neighborhood that people hang around before & after the games, mainly to eat & get drunker than they got in the ball park.
And the reason the Bears reject the Michael Reese site is they use the bullshit NFL's supposed security perimeter crap & claim it's too small. But in fact what the NFL's security perimeter is all about, is that then the teams control more area & thus make more money for themselves & not the public!
Now they see the much better stadiums that have been built elsewhere, such as what Jerry Jones built for the Cowboys in Dallas & what the Orioles have in Baltimore.
Hopefully, Governor Pritzker will kill off both of their insane dreams.
The other political cover is that the spending is not being paid by Chicago or Illinois taxpayers, but rather by business and tourist visitors via the hotel tax. Chicago pays when the hotel tax falls short, as it has so far. I expect optimistic math to go along with the low-balled project estimates.
I notice that there hasn't been much reaction from most Chicago politicians yet. Some of them are the ones moaning that too much money is being spent on immigrants when it should be spent on those from Chicago that are homeless. There supposedly is too much being spent on Israel and Ukraine when we should take care of problems here. But they are mostly silent when it is being contemplated to spend a couple of billion on a football palace which offers no guarantees of rich levies for the city or help for those same down on their luck Chicagoans. While we're at it, what is all the noise about this plan offering more green space for people? Who says more is needed? The area has been doing pretty well since Daniel Burnham's original vision. How does one do that when plopping steel and concrete in the middle of it?
There is nothing strange about party lackies wanting the County Clerk's office. The supplicants know that getting the office is effectively a life-time sinecure. Although it is elected, it is never contested and the last two clerks prior to Yarbrough were in the office for 27 and 28 years. Cushy, high paying, high-status party hack. Why wouldn't there be a line of takers?
I liked EZ's position on the situation in Gaza. But I also think that it highlights the sad state of news coverage. The coverage is entirely superficial about who is involved, what is being said, what the consensus or majority of protestors think, etc. There is a similar lack of facts reported regarding the counter protest, claims of antisemitism and hate speech, acts causing fear, etc. And as usual, the coverage of the encampments provide nothing in terms of the actual numbers, the extent of the campus affected, percentage of the student body, numbers of non-students involved, etc. So, the situation is ripe for characterizing those involved in any way that is politically useful for ideologues.