The [Thursday] Papers

By Steve Rhodes

On Chicago Tonight last night, Chicago 2016 CEO Lori Healey said that public support "generally was in the 70 percent range."

Oops.

A Tribune poll out today says just 47 percent of city residents support the Games. That's down from 61 percent in February. And 84 percent "disapprove of using tax revenue to cover any loss."

Pat Ryan refused to comment on the poll.

In other words, he refused to even acknowledge its existence.

Also, in other words, Chicagoans by and large don't seem to want the Olympics here.

As more facts have emerged about the bid - pried from the cold, clammy hands of Chicago 2016 and City Hall - support has dropped.

In fact, you might say that there is a direct correlation between the exposure of facts and support for the bid.

Imagine that.

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"Even a majority of those who favor the Olympics opposed using taxes to cover losses and were against the unlimited guarantee," the Tribune found.

Every Olympic city must sign the host contract, though, which includes the unlimited guarantee.

City Hall has known this from the start. The media should have too.

So Transparent
"With little more than a month until the International Olympics Committee decides whether Chicago will get the 2016 Summer Games, aldermen and the Daley administration are unveiling new ordinances that they say would provide greater oversight should the city's bid prevail," the Tribune reports.

"Ald. Manuel Flores (1st) held a news conference to pitch a measure that would empower the city's inspector general to monitor the Olympic committee if Chicago hosts the Games. Separately, Mayor Richard Daley's administration introduced a plan to let two aldermen sit on the organizing committee if Chicago wins its 2016 bid."

Here's the payoff:

"The mayoral ordinance would see Alds. Edward Burke and Carrie Austin be the City Council's representatives on the organizing committee that will plan and run the Games."

Yes. And they would meet in Pat Ryan's living room.

Editorial Blinders
Like reluctant aldermen falling into line, the Tribune editorial board is feeling re-assured today. Here's why:

"The Civic Federation's independent analysis of the 2016 bid declared that it is sound and reasonable - provided the insurance is in place and the Games have competent management and extensive oversight."

In other words, the bid is sound and reasonable as long as everything goes according to the planned soundness and reasonableness projected by organizers!

My plan to limit my drinking to only two beers this Friday night is sound and reasonable too, but history and common sense tells us that I probably will not behave in a sound and reasonable way.

After all, every plan emanating from City Hall is sound and reasonable - on paper. But those plans presume "competent management and extensive oversight."

You know, like the oversight we can expect from Eddie Burke and Carrie Austin.

Looked Good On Paper
"Nearly 10 years after Chicago began an overhaul of its notorious public housing, a study found the city government failed to responsibly plan for the relocation of thousands of families, provide effective social services and 'rebuild lives,' as Mayor Richard Daley repeatedly promised," the Tribune reports.

"The Chicago Housing Authority also misled residents about the pace of redevelopment, according to the study to be released Thursday by the Chicago-based public housing advocacy group Business and Professional People for the Public Interest."

Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us a zillion times, shame on us.

That's Stella!
"IS IT JUST ME? I happened to be listening to a local Fox news show Wednesday morning and the reporter asked a local congressman about health care legislation and if he had read it," Stella Foster writes this morning. "The congressman mentioned that they (congressmen) really don't read those bills; they have aides to read them and report back.

"Well, isn't that special? Personally, I am tired of hearing that so many of our congressmen are now admitting that they have not taken the time to read those lengthy and important bills that are currently before Congress and can affect our lives for generations to come, such as the health care and cap-and-trade energy bills. Most are saying exactly what he said about the aides reading them."

Is it just me, or should Stella have named the congressman she's talking about?

It was Danny Davis.

The Oprah Effect
"I've seen the most hard-nosed journalists turn to mush when they get within earshot of this media powerhouse," Mary Mitchell writes today.

Do tell!

No, really. Do tell us which hard-nosed journalists turn to mush in the vicinity of Her Oprahness.

We deserve to know.

Grade Inflation
Todd Stroger Gives Himself An A-Plus.

Co-starring Deborah Sims.

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"Stroger's original grade was C-minus, but one of his cousins with a cush CPS job changed it to A-plus," Beachwood reader Matt Farmer tells us.

They Are Not Marshall
"Marshall High School Principal Juan Gardner and his entire administrative team were removed this summer, three years after Gardner took over at the long-failing East Garfield Park school," Catalyst reports.

"There's no official word as to why, but Gardner had two strong marks against him: The school failed to improve, despite extra resources and new curricula; and he was accused of falsifying a document related to a lawsuit against him that cost the district $500,000."

Principal-In-Chief
Suburban angst over Obama's plan to address nation's schoolchildren via Webcast.

Dan Hynes 2.0
Faster, less buggy.

Gentrification Games
Olympic movement already in full swing.

The Political Odds
Stroger vs. Preckwinkle; Chicago vs. Rio.

Beachwood Inn Review
"According to the Internet Pinball Database, Dr. Dude falls under 'Celebrities - Fictional,'" our very own Mike Luce writes. "I would classify the good doctor as 'Relic - Charming' or possibly 'Machinery - Possessed'."

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The Beachwood Tip Line: Mechanically charming.

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