Most Chicago residents informally surveyed in Albany Park on Friday do not want the city to host the Olympic Games in 2016, citing fears about higher taxes and congestion.
In a time of economic uncertainty, many are wary of betting so much on a gamble of Olympic proportions. About 10 out of 14 people surveyed are opposed to inviting the world to the city.
“I'm one hundred percent against it,” said neighborhood resident Carol Connolly. “I think the city doesn't have any money to pay their employees. I think the streets are all torn up and they can't seem to fix them. I think there are bigger things to worry about.”
The Chicago Olympic committee, “Chicago 2016,” is holding meetings in every neighborhood throughout the summer to inform Chicago residents about the benefits of the bid.
“I'd ask them to vote ‘no’ against Daley and his ridiculous idea of bringing the Olympics here,” added Connolly.
Several others, such as Albany Park shop owner Bob Murphy, said he was concerned about funding. “I'd like to know how they're going to pay for these Olympics if they're going to get here. How are they going to pay for all the infrastructure improvements and how are they going to pay for all the event locations that are going to be created?” Murphy also said he wondered if the new facilities would be lasting structures for the use of the city.
There are a few, however, who are excited about the opportunities the games might bring. Percy Suggs, the head track coach at North Lawndale College Prep, is enthusiastic about the new facilities the Olympics might provide for the youth of the city,
“We don't have any indoor facilities inside the city that are available to the public high school students. We have to go all over the state and the suburbs to find meets and they're charging us $100 to $200.” Suggs added that he is excited about the possibility of the Olympics bringing jobs to the city.
Others conceded that they would be more open to their city hosting the games if they were assured that revenue, jobs and civic improvements, especially to neighborhoods with great need, would result from the effort.
Some sentiments were simpler, “We haven't had much action for a while, so I guess they'd be good,” said Luis Acosta, 16.
For information about the neighborhood Olympic meetings, visit the Chicago 2016 website to learn more. The meeting for the 39th and 40th wards will be in North Park University's Hamming Hall, 3225 W. Foster Ave., on Monday, July 13, at 5:30 pm. the games to the city.
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Notes:
This was an exercise for Medill Methods. It may have not been published, but the assignment was to pick a location and a relevant question, interview at least 12 people on the street and have it written and edited by the end of the day. Which I did.
