Chicago's mayor Daley and city council put tax payers on the hook for 2016 Olympics

The tyrant, Dick Daley in his desperation to promote himself to the World and stroke his ego, has gotten city leaders and the council to vote unanimously, 49-0 in favor of putting Chicago tax payers on the hook for whatever cost over runs the 2016 Olympics would have if Chicago is nominated for the games.

The Olympics committee stated that they would not consider any city that wasn't willing to foot the bill for 100% of all cost over-runs.

Chicago is one of the most if not the most highest taxed cities in the country. From what I hear the city is broke and the state is desperate to get more revenue from them to help keep the state afloat. It wasn't that long ago that the CTA was broke and on the verge of completely shutting down. They would have had Blago not bailed them out with state money to temporarily prop them up.

Does anybody think this was a good idea?

For a while, many people thought Obama himself was going to go to Denmark with Daley to promote Chicago for the games. Now, thankfully, it sounds as though only Michelle will be sent with Mr. Daley. I'm sure taxpayers are on the hook for that trip as well. Official business of course.

I call it a waste of time and resources.

 

It would seem to me a coup for any city to host the Olympics. The revenue wouldl boost the the economy, wouldnt it? I just dont think it should be in Chicago. Its such a dismal city. They dont dererve the honor.

 

You make a good argument here Vess. If it happened and was a total bust the taxpayers certainly shouldn't be burdened anymore. However I don't honestly think it's just the Daley machine and the Obamas that want this.

The state and the city are in a mess are they not? Think people in Indiana and Wisconsin wouldn't just LOVE the Olympics to take place in Chicago as well?
Living in Indiana about 30 miles from Chitown I'd love to see it myself. After all the people flowing in from around the world are going to have to stay somewhere and it surely won't all be in Chicago will it?

People will want to see other things while they're here as well. Hmmm... we have a real nice National Lakeshore here in Indiana known as the Dunes. Bring in people AND their money I say.

Now as for what you said Craig yes, Chicago is not the nicest place in the world but it does have some VERY nice parts. Just gotta know the city like any other city.

If the cards are played right folks it could pump a lot of money into a three state area. How they/we handle it after that is up to us but a nice booster shot certainly wouldn't hurt.

 

I clearly understand that aspect of it. Local businesses would surely get a huge boost whether they be in state or out of state. But while the local businesses would get a 'temporary' boost, what happens if the over-runs are bad? I don't know how bad it could get but apparently these people have no fear of offering a blank check.

What about the millions of people who don't care about the olympics and don't want the hassle of people flooding the area? They don't want another tax burden over this. In fact, I would say an overwhelming majority do not follow the Olympics anymore.

It just seemed like another instance of Daley ruling like a tyrant. The public has no say in anything. There's no way they could put it up to a vote for the people to decide! I can't believe there isn't rioting in the streets every time he wins another rigged election. I just hate the guy. Nothing more than a pompous, arrogant, a-hole.

 

I hear you Vess believe me and will be the first to admit that I would like to see the Olympics in Chicago only for my own selfish reasons.

Now as for Daley being crooked - are you serious? So he managed to make an airport disappear (Meigs field) overnight.
JK - Daley is the machine. I agree.

 

Vess I totaly agree with you, the Olympics has to be one of the bigest mistakes Londoners have made since the baker Thomas Farriner of Pudding Lane,forgot to remove his coals from the oven in 1666 Our tax's have risen dramaticly, our tube system stinks as it is continualy closed so they can work on extending it! the stadium is over budget as are most of the other developments. Ihope for the sake of all those in Chicargo that you dont get it. More trouble than it is worth.
Oh and even though we are paying for it do we get any free tickets? like heck we do

 

I am pretty sure that most cities pay a lot to get the Olympics (gladly pay that is). Why would you say that this is a bad thing?

 

I'll agree, Olympics can really add to a towns coffers......even just a small little World Series in baseball pumped Phoenix's coffers bigtime. Don't sweat it Vess, it will come back in multiples in tax revenue.

Side note, I hear Blago's prosecution main witness was found dead today.....wow. Don;t know much, maybe a seperate thread is in order?

 

Thing is guy's it dont add to the coffers, check out all recent city hosts and what it cost them also if a city wants it why not ask those who will ultimatly have to foot the bill for it, the Tax payers?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/11/boris-johnson-olympic-games

Read the report and see how costs have esculated dramaticly, it is estimated that the Chinese spent $40 billion on the last games!
Now that my friends was in a country that has a massive security service allrady in place, what do you think the security cost for Chicargo would be? I will help you along a bit the estimated cost for security in Athens in 2004 was $1.35 billion
Sydney Olympics 2000 a quote from the Australian Audit office
"It has been estimated that the economic impact of the 2000 Olympics was that $AUD 2.1 billion has been shaved from public consumption"

Back in 1996 the Atlanta games had it's security funded by central goverment but I can just imagine the outcry here and elsewere if President Obama made that offer for Chicargo LOL

 

Why not? The government was about to give Acorn 8.6 billion dollars until an entrepreneur camera man and a woman posing as a prostitute exposed them for how corrupt they are! Another video surfaced tonight and another one gets leaked tomorrow. Can't wait!

And they were going to get a free pass on the voter fraud scandals all over the country with them that helped Obama get elected.

So why not bail them out with federal money? Everybody else gets it?

BTW, you are right DeOrc. I will scream and yell if it happens. But I won't be surprised by it and wouldn't dwell on it for long. Anymore, it's like who cares? It's not real money anyway.

 

DeOrc
You seem to have me there on that coffers point.

I seemed to overlook that many citys build entire infrastructures for an Olympic event. I did not think of that.

When Phoenix had the World Series in 2001, we had the stadium and everything already built........me bad. I can admit when I miss something.

Phoenix cleaned up tax revenue wise........if they had to build, I don't think that would have happened.

 

Best bit our Olympic village etc is been built by outside labour, mainly from eastern europe rather than by Brits!!