Olympic Games in Chicago in 2016?

Sorry to drag this one out again, but I had an interesting conversation over the weekend with my wife's bro-in-law. He's a lieutenant in the CPD, and for obvious reasons our city's rescue and safety workers are against bringing the Olympics to Chicago. If the games end up coming here, he said that you will start to see mass retirements from the force. Big deal, hire more, right? The only problem is, their pension fund is only fractionally funded, which means that on top of all the other costs the city is going to incur, they have to find a LOT of money to fund all these pensions. Just a note.

 

Grand Poobah,

You're starting to use $20 words and quoting Martha Stewart; that scares me!!!

Is everything OK with you?

The Emp

 

If I didn't know John, I would assume the same that you did, but I assure you he is nothing of the sort. He's extremely intelligent and in touch with the spirit of the force. He has two degrees and is working towards a third. He is a licensed pilot and on the side he rehabs cars. He has the broadest knowledge base on cars of anyone you'll ever meet. Since being in business I have dealt with many members of the CPD from different districts. It always stuns me every time I throw his name out there on the off chance someone knows him. 100% hit rate, and every one of them immediately says how John remembers where he came from, how he is very fair and he has the full respect of all those around him. Definitely not the typical mold of a Chicago cop, to say the least. The problem with the Games is the duration as well as the breadth of coverage. As much as the citizens of the City enjoy big-time events like sports championships and festivals, cops and firemen hate them, and yes, they are a tremendous source of frustration. To us, it's a 2-week party. To them, it's months of increased tourism and high-profile delegate visits that require tightened protocol and service. Add to all that the understanding that you could get killed on the job any day. Underneath the surface there are a lot of issues that simmer within the force. Besides pensions, there is the poor health coverage they receive, non-stop political maneuvering, promotional tampering on top of the financial strain of mandatory in-district residency. The mindset of the typical patrolman is to get what he can from the force and get out at the soonest turn. To Serve and Protect is their job, and the reason the standard impression of a CPD officer is that of a disgruntled, bitter person is due to the combination of strain of duty and the relatively low compensation. Most of them are forced to work 2nd and 3rd jobs because of it, which compounds the stress.

Why would other cities and states support an Olympic Games in Chicago? They would receive no benefit whatsoever. We never sent help to Park City, Lake Placid or Atlanta, nor did they ask for it. The Mayor's pride wouldn't allow it even if it was needed.

 

2016 is like a lifetime away , i have no idea where ill be.

 

Some in CPD may be unhappy about the games and others are probably excited. For the average cop who wants to do his time and get out with a pension (and do nothing more) this is a pain in the ass. But for others it is an oppurtunity. Surely they will get overtime for the hours spent. Personally, I defend alot of DUI cases, hence the handle, and there is about 20 officers who regularly write DUI's just for the overtime. I know one officer who makes 6 figures based solely on his DUI arrests. I have been told that overtime sitting in court is worth 52/hr to an officer. Considering that most officers are not college educated and make around 50,000 a year, the opportunity to do overtime during the games certainly would seem appealing. Furthermore, most of the officers that work 2nd and 3rd jobs do so in the realm of "security work." Sometimes at the Dominicks, sometimes at the Old Navy and of course sometimes at our local strip clubs. Again, more money to be made as the games will cause in increase of activity everywhere. The games will be a pain in the ass, however, I think they will be a financial benefit to the city both in the short term and the long term. Exposure brings tourism and tourism brings dollars.

If CPD is upset about the games, they are gonna lose it if a casino license gets awarded to Chicago. Frankly, I can hardly wait!

 

The Olympics will be almost as important as the 1893 Worlds Fair was at making Chicago
even more known around the would.
We need to have the worlds media focused on Chicago for a change.This city is
the best kept secret in the USA.Plus it is already helping to drive construction projects downtown.The Waldorf-Chicago(fingers crossed),Chicago Spire and the Teng project Waterview are just a few that were helped along by prospects of a Chicago 2016 Olympics.
Manderin and several other very large hotels will probably be built if this goes ahead.Lets
also consider the Southern Downtown developments and the covering of rail tracks
in southern downtown.This Olympics will speed it all up.I think its worth it to deal with crowds in August 2016 !!

Tom

 

I look forward to attending the Olympic's in 2010 with my family

 

I think the olympics would be great for the city! I hear they are starting to develop south of the loop now...more stores, hotels, condo's! Well we'll find out in 09 but I think its pretty much between Chicago and Rio right now! I hope the waldorf-astoria gets built also! looks like an interesting building.

 

I can only hope we get the Olympics. We have a great city and it would be awesome. Personally, it would benefit my business being in the restaurant and catering business. We are already working on details for feeding all these people coming in. So if we get it and any of you corporate big wigs are sponsoring some client events let me know. We will feed you like never before with a fchat discount.

 

Well, if you guys get your wish and the Games come to Chicago, let's hope that development is conducted on the up and up and is all done properly. That would be a drastic departure for this city--I dare someone to put a deposit down on any of the future residences that will be created from the Athletes' Village

 

Just got an update. Seems like the four remaining candidate cities have pretty equal drawbacks to their selection. But there's an issue with Chicago that could get ugly. Currently, the US receives 20% of revenue from Olympic Games and the rest of the world shares the remaining 80%. That arrangement is being challenged with the upcoming selection being used for leverage--other countries are demanding a more equitable dispersal. Chicago has taken an aggressive stance against the USOC, since the city is spending a lot of money on its bid, and does not want to end up with nothing because of this dispute. Plus going down as a city that lost the bid isn't attractive.

I guess the Chinese have done a thorough job whitewashing the landscape and creating a Western appearance. Biggest issue with their games will probably end up being the pollution, assuming there isn't an 11th hour mass withdrawal out of protest.

 

COME ON CHICAGO!!!!