Olympics in Chicago: 'Obama's Folly'?
Recently Barack Obama criticized planned protests at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh because, as he knew from his Chicago days, "focusing on concrete, local, immediate issues that have an impact on people's lives is what really makes a difference and...having protests about abstractions [such] as global capitalism or something, generally, is not really going to make much of a difference."
Well, on September 29 at Chicago's City Hall a protest will take place that will focus on a "concrete, local, immediate issue," putting the protesters across the barricades from Barack and Michelle Obama as well as the all-powerful Democratic political machine of the city. The issue is the 2016 Olympic bid and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's political pact with the Obamas to see the Games come to the Windy City. Mayor Daley, rocking a 35 percent approval rating, says that the Games would be "a huge boost to our economy, raising it to a new level. The Games will help us recover sooner from the recession that still grips our nation and enable us to better compete in the global economy."
There is only one problem with this argument: the history of the Olympic Games almost without exception brands it as a lie.
In fact, the very idea that Chicago could be the setting for the Olympics could have been hatched by Jon Stewart for a four-year supply of comedic fodder. To greater or lesser degrees, the Olympics bring gentrification, graft and police violence wherever they nest. Even without the Olympic Games, Chicago has been ground zero in the past decade for the destruction of public housing (gentrification), political corruption (it ain't just Blagojevich; I can't remember the last Illinois governor who didn't end up behind bars) and police violence (the death row torture scandals). Bringing the Olympics to this town would be like sending a gift basket filled with chardonnay to the Betty Ford Clinic: overconsumption followed by disaster.
It's also difficult for Chicago residents to see how this will help their pocketbooks, given that Daley pledged to the International Olympic Committee that any cost overruns would be covered by taxpayers.
This is why a staggering 84 percent of the city opposes bringing the Games to Chicago.
The Obamas, former Chicago residents, should be standing with their city. Instead, Michelle Obama is preparing a presentation for the International Olympic Committee's decision-making meeting in Copenhagen on October 2. And amid a roiling national debate on healthcare, President Obama may also be there to join his wife in the effort. As No Games Chicago Organizer Tom Tresser said to me, "Why would Obama, who has so far escaped the taint of Chicago politics, connect himself to the mayor's obsession? If we get the Games, and then the scandals start unfolding--they will be 'Obama's Games' and 'Obama's folly' just as much as the mayor will be saddled with the blame.... Why would the president turn his back on 84 percent of the city that gave him his start in civic life?"
But we shouldn't be surprised at this point that Obama is tin-eared to the concerns of Chicago residents. As Paul Krugman wrote September 20 on the banker bonuses, "the administration has suffered more than it seems to realize from the perception that it's giving taxpayers'
hard-earned money away to Wall Street."
Shoveling taxpayers' money into the Olympic maw is no better, especially in these tough times. The people of Chicago are feeling this acutely, and it's why they are going out to protest against the will of a ruthless political machine and a popular president.
No Games Chicago organizer Alison McKenna said, "I oppose the Olympics coming to Chicago because instead of putting money toward what people really need, money will be funneled to real estate developers who will be tearing down Washington Park and other important community resources. I oppose the Olympics coming to Chicago because the nonprofit child-welfare agency that I work for had to sustain budget cuts and layoffs, while Chicago has spent $48.2 million on the 2016 Olympic bid, as of July 2009."
At this point in history, the right wing is shamelessly adopting populist rhetoric and the power of protest to sell an agenda of racism and fear wrapped in taxpayer protection. The left looks immobilized and fears that its man in Washington will be offended if it raises more than a peep (the LGBT community being a welcome exception to this dynamic). The protest on September 29 will be an ideal opportunity to offer a pole of attraction on the left for people furious at corporate greed amid a recession. Glenn Beck and Ron Paul cannot become the loudest voices against big business.
There is nothing "abstract" about what the Olympics will do to Chicago. Obama likes to talk about the political tenacity of the Chicago Way. Olympic opponents will need to bring their version of the "Chicago Way" to City Hall.
[Dave Zirin is the author of “A People’s History of Sports in the United States” (The New Press) Receive his column every week by emailing dave@edgeofsports.com. Contact him at edgeofsports@gmail.com.]
26 Reader Comments | Add a comment
This article is great!
Have you ever been to Chicago? Do you honestly believe ever poll you read? I conducted my own poll, of 10,000 people and 88% want the Games in Chicago. It's very easy for you to take a stand against the Olympics, but to take a stand against a city (Chicago) without living there is rather ignorant. What do you know about the gentrification in Chicago, other that what the no games people are telling you. What do you know about the condition of the housing that is being torn down? What do you know about the new homes those residents are moving into? Is Chicago the only city that allows neighborhoods to improve? Have you done any of your own research on the Chicago Bid for the Games? Are a "journalist", or a sensationalist. Go write for the Enquirer, and talk about how Chicago will implode and all could die if they get the games.
You are a hack.
Hi John. Because you asked:
1 - I travel to Chicago because of work and family, about six times a year for the last 15 years.
2 - I once lived in Chicago.
3 - The poll you deride was the cover story of the Chicago Tribune.
I know it's easy to spew ad hominem attacks as a defense mechanism when someone writes something that challenges your world view, but please make a real argument next time.
"What do you know about the condition of the housing that is being torn down?"
I can tell by your concern with the condition of the housing, and not the people within the housing, that you're either a raging capitalist or you just don't get it... maybe both.
Bad news Dave:
Nobody in Chicago cares what you think.
Most people in Chicago are ok with the rougher neighborhoods being reclaimed by tax paying people who contribute to the city. Why on Earth you believe we should just let the 'hood continue to fester is beyond me.
Look, I realize there's yuppie transplants all over the city who are all "ZOMG GENTRIFICATION BAD OLYMPICS" but the reality is: most of them will be breeding back in the burbs by the time the Olympics come.
No Real Estate Developer Left Behind (particularly if you have connections to Da Mayor)
"Why on Earth you believe we should just let the 'hood continue to fester is beyond me. "
Let the hood continue to fester? Whats with the contempt?? Calm down and put your white hood back in the filthy bag it came from.
Wow
how could you say anything about the housing in chicago , yes they are going to tore them and biuld new ones, but the poor people that they are suppose to be for will never get them look at the housing all around the city that was suppose to be for the people that was miss place they are still waiting for them , while Daley nephew was able to get one at 35th and state. this bussiness as the city trun
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Let the hood continue to fester? Whats with the contempt?? Calm down and put your white hood back in the filthy bag it came from.
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Right. You got me. I must be a racist because I believe the recent history of unprecedented violence represents at least strong evidence that a little house cleaning isn't a bad thing.
It's not 'contempt', it's a matter of fact. The only way these neighborhoods get any better is by replacing the current residents with better ones. And it's OK, because better neighborhoods = a better Chicago.
So I suppose, D-Ray, that on your planet all of these neighborhoods are just fine. Hey. How many Chicago public school students ended up getting killed this year because of people like you who think there's no need for a change?
You refer to it as "a little house cleaning," and talk about "stuff" that needs to be gotten rid of. You see, this is all ambiguous language which really means "Get rid of the black people." Why don't you just man up and say what you really feel, bro? You want to kick the black people out of the projects and replace them with white people.
So where exactly do they go after their cribs get gentrified? If these people are so bad, then wouldn't you be doing a disservice to somebody else? They are going to relocate, right? Lots of them will be on the street, right?
Why are you acting like you actually care about the student who was killed? If you had your way, he'd be thrown out of his house or apartment also. Quit the act, we know what you really think.
On my planet, the necessary actions would be taken to get people out of poverty, rather than throwing them out of their homes and putting them down even deeper into the hole.
Yeah. Those neighborhoods are great. Perfect as they are. I'm just a racist.
Look man, I could give a shit if the people are black, brown, white or purple. The fact is, these neighborhoods are a blight on the city, not to mention a substantial embarrassment. Rather than hiding behind race, why not just acknowledge that dispersing these folks elsewhere might not be a bad thing?
No really. It has dick to do with race. I live in Rogers Park, without a doubt one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city. I don't want it to change, but at the same time, if my neighborhood were to replace some of the less desirable element with some tax payers, I'd think that was a good thing.
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On my planet, the necessary actions would be taken to get people out of poverty,
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Tell us. What are these 'necessary actions' and do they include trying to burn down the Picasso?
Now I'm curious. Seeing as BO is obviously behind the Olympics ---does that make him a racist too? Obviously, he doesn't seem to think there's much of a problem with some urban renewal, right?
Tell 'em dan I. You're not racist. You live in a diverse neighborhood, some of your best friends are black and Michael Jordan is your favorite celebrity! It's just "those people" that live in public and low-income housing that bother you. Herd 'em up, send 'em to concentration camps, reservations, where ever! Just get 'em out of the sight of hard working taxpayers like yourself.
"the right wing is shamelessly adopting populist rhetoric and the power of protest to sell an agenda of racism and fear wrapped in taxpayer protection."
If you can't see yourself in this statement, then you're even dumber than you sound.
My ass.
Look kids, if you really believe that the Olympics, are just some bizarre targeted racism, than you're a self-absorbed, ill educated twit.
Again folks: Urban renewal is a good thing.
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Herd 'em up, send 'em to concentration camps, reservations, where ever!
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Ummmm....Godwins Law?
So again, I ask: With Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey actively supporting the Olympics, are they racists too?
Great article, Dave. President Obama is making a big mistake to go to Copenhagen to boost the Chicago Olympic bid instead of taking care of business at home. Besides, Rio should have the Olympics since it already has the infrastructure in place. Chicago doesn't need the Olympics to world exposure and I don't want this beautiful city to suffer financially like Montreal after hosting the 1976 games.
Still waiting to hear about how it is that I'm a racist because I support the Olympics, but the Obamas and Oprah are not racist despite the fact that they're over there selling it right now.
So there's 3 possibilities:
1. Barry, Michelle, and Oprah are all racist bigots.
2. The three of them are just being pimped out by King Richard II so that he can line his pockets ZOMG TIFS CORRUPTION
3. The three of them just aren't nearly as smart as the people there and they think the Olympics are a-ok. Which is pretty reasonable, because clearly, given how you anti-olympic types tried to burn down the Picasso last night, it's pretty obvious that you folks are out of your friggen minds.
The comments on this page are a good place to start! So, of course yaulll are all kindof right: the olympics do help some people: the better off sorts, and hurt other: the poor. Its just a question of whether or not you care about or even see the plight of the less fortunate. If you dont, its a lot easier to enjoy the olympics. Like remember that olympics commercial when jimmy johnson picked up emmit in a convertable and was like, "lets go kick butt at the olympics!". That was sweet!
PS Happy B-Day Ghandi!
The olympics DO NOT stimulate an economy. On the contrary, they drain resources from every other department in order to make up for incredible cost overruns that the Olympic Committee itself is not liable for. It states in the contract with every host city that any and all cost overruns that occur via the Olympic committee, construction contracts etc are to be made up in whole by the host city/state or province. And when somebody stands to profit handsomely from governement contracts, they have no motivation to stay within their budget, when it is entered into their contract that the city or state will make-up the extra costs. Here in Vancouver, thanks to enormous cost overruns (now surpassing hundreds of millions and now over one billion) health, education and all manner of public services have been slashed and in many cases canceled altogether. All because of the outrageous costs of a two week event. A great transfer of wealth. taxes, public dollars into the hands of real estate constructors.
Dan, you obviously don't know the first thing about institutionalized racism. I suggest you pick up a book by Tim Wise and read it.
Now, as far as the Obamas go, no, they're not racist, but they are most certainly pawns of the rich, white people who run things.
Stop putting words in people's mouths. None of us ever once said that our solution to the problem of the ghetto would be to sit by idly.
But before I answer your questions, you still never responded to a few things that I asked you, such as --- Where are the people going to go after you kick them out? Are you not transferring your oh so terrible burden onto some other white middle class guy who will then have to deal with them? Are they not going to add to the homeless population? Answer these questions.
I will repeat one more thing - you claimed to be concerned about the death of Derrion Albert. You used his death to support your argument that these areas should be gentrified. But, the same child that was murdered, if you had your way, would be thrown out of his house. What do you have to say to that? Do you not understand your contradiction? Its so blatantly obvious that your morals are out of wack.
Stop playing dumb... at least I hope you're playing.
"Most people in Chicago are ok with the rougher neighborhoods being reclaimed by tax paying people who contribute to the city. Why on Earth you believe we should just let the 'hood continue to fester is beyond me."
-dan I
It's not necessarily racist to support the Olympics. Statements like yours reveal contempt for low income and minority people. The argument is being made that the Olympics will provide employment opportunities for these and other communities. Whether that's true or not is debatable, but I'm sure the Obamas support this argument. People like you, who want to use the Olympics to anihilate and replace existing communities (that oh, just happen to be non-white) rather than uplift them, are the racists.
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Whether that's true or not is debatable, but I'm sure the Obamas support this argument.
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Somebody is playing dumb and it sure as shit isn't me.
Urban renewal is obviously a core goal of the Olympic plan. If you think that the Obama's are too stupid to understand that, than you're even more nearsighted than I thought.
But what do you want from me? You want me to tell you that these neighborhoods don't require any work? They're just fine with the way they are?
How many CPS students have been killed this year? I'm suggesting we give them a route out of these dangerous places. You're the one trying to keep them in the same rut all under the veil that anybody who suggests they go some place safer is 'racist'.
dan i, when recently-unemployed (daresay, "white") suburbanite father kills his entire family, it's an unexpected tragedy.
when a minority child is killed, it is the neighborhood's fault.
when something embarrassing/unfortunate happens to you and your neighbors, it is essentially ignored and passed over
when something embarrassing happens to the poor, it is worth levying the whole of your political resources to punish everyone around them
i do not know if i can make it any more clear
" How many CPS students have been killed this year? I'm suggesting we give them a route out of these dangerous places. "----- by kicking them out of their own homes?
In the first round of voting I might add and the games have been award to Rio De Janeiro has won. I wonder how long before Obama and Oprah start getting blamed for not getting Olympics to Chicago.
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by kicking them out of their own homes?
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Forcing them out into the burbs certainly is a pollution.
It's not like the communities out there spend any time trying to improve their own neighborhoods. Talk to any cop who works in those areas: the folks out there never see anything. The organizers/leaders out there are more satisfied blaming everybody but those who are most responsible.
So yeah. You move them out into nicer areas---Orland Park, Naperville, where ever. If you disburse some of the high density poverty to other places, you'll end up giving kids better opportunities to go to better schools and be outside of violence prone areas.
It's win/win. The people of Chicago get to see those neighborhoods which are blights on the urban landscape improve.
The good news is, i suppose even sans the Olympics (Now I really have to come up with a way to get into the blackmarket organ business in Rio), many of these renewal projects will still go through.
hey dave zirin not everything is about race, blount sucker punched someone wether you are black white brown or yellow a sucker punch is a sucker punch and lets not forget what happens when players go after fans in the stands(pistons/pacers) and also shut your damn mouth about the native americans its none of your buisness you are not a native american therefore you should not be telling a seminole chief how to run his tribe or anything regarding sports you are nothing but a giant number 2 bottom feeder who thinks everything is racist DAVE ZIRIN QUIT BUSTING OUT THE RACE CARD
Nolan, get back on your meds.
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