LIL’ BUDDY’S BLOG – Chicago Olympics 2016 – Not Everyone Says “YES”!
LIL’ BUDDY’S BLOG – Chicago Olympics 2016 – Not Everyone Says "YES"!
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
But it is a historic eve. As you know over in Copenhagen a "wonderful girl of a town" in some country called Denmark members of the International Olympic Committee will take a vote in only a few more hours. It’s an important vote for the People – and Canines – of Chicago because it will determine if the 2016 Summer Olympics will be held here.
Much of the competition would occur just south of the Chicago Loop along the Lakefront. Potential Olympic venue sites include a now-closed hospital campus and an up-and-coming South Side of Chicago Neighborhood that will likely get a face lift should the quadrennial games be held here seven years hence.
Competing against Chicago for the games – the cities of Rio De Janeiro Tokyo and Madrid.
Chicago Olympics 2016 Supporters point to the enormous financial benefits to the city. Incredible tourism! International notoriety! Considerable tax and business revenue! And it will put Chicago on the world stage at the same level as larger world cities.
But not everyone agrees!
Many point to the historical fact that Olympic Host Cities rarely make a monetary profit during the games. Others say the long-term benefits are negligible as improvements made in advance of the games rarely translate to permanent gentrification of the impacted neighborhoods.
Some are concerned that Chicago Taxpayers will actually end up footing much of the bill in the form of higher taxes to fund the needed improvements. Or that our cities rough-and-tumble somewhat dicey method of doing things politically will create somewhat of a boondoggle for the politically connected. In other words – the Top Dogs not us Little White Dogs!
Earlier this week a group called No Games Chicago organized to oppose the Chicago Olympics 2016 staged a small but boisterous protest on Daley Plaza in The Chicago Loop. That’s the same plaza where a crowd projected to number in the thousands will celebrate Friday midday if Chicago gets the awarded games.
The concern of this group and other similar groups?
Somewhat predictable according to a story by Oscar D. Avila via the WGN-TV Website. Tax dollars – money we do not have due to a weak economy here in Chicago and elsewhere – will be needed to fund necessary infrastructure improvements and supplement private dollars to build Olympic venues. They point to the public tax money needed to finish Millennium Park downtown – now a beautiful place for a dog to romp but way over budget and four years behind schedule!
Others say we have more important things to spend our time and money on. Health care for example. Or improvement of the Chicago Public Schools. Or dealing with gang violence across our city crumbling roads and bridges public transit or helping those broadsided by unemployment.
Many criticize President Barack Obama for heading to Copenhagen this evening to champion Chicago for the 2016 games. Most of the criticism is partisan wrangling however. From this dog’s perspective if the other guy won last November these same critics would likely pile lavish praise on the President.
As for my opinion as a dog I would kind of like the Olympics played here. Think of the publicity. The civic pride. The positive staging of our city around the world on the Internet and on TV.
Perhaps I can even apply to be a dog-will ambassador for Chicago a few years down the line. In dog years by the time the games would get here in seven years I will be past my Olympic prime you know! And hopefully a new dog park or two will be added as the preparation for the games begin and afterward!
So . . . Bring the Rings! Good Luck Chicago Olympics 2016!
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
