Kirk: You’re not going to admit that, for the first time in your life, you made a completely emotional decision based on desperation?
Spock: No, sir.
Kirk: Mr Spock, you’re a stubborn man.
Spock: Yes, Sir.
Galileo Seven

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA

Dear President Obama

As you are astutely aware, Mayor Richard Daley has recently reneged on a promise to the citizens of Chicago by unilaterally deciding to sign a contract with the IOC guaranteeing city tax payers to absorb the cost of unpaid Olympic bills.

Sir, we are in the dark abyss of one of the most depressive global economic downturns.  And this is a most desperate hour for the City of Chicago.

No different than other regions of the United States, the midwest has been grossly damaged by this seemingly neverending recession. And although your efforts are heralded by many, questioned by more than a few, and steadfastly opposed by some, by and large the majority of the greatest nation on earth supports your Presidency.

A growing segment of the Chicago tax paying populace is gravely concerned by this recent action of Mayor Daley and his Olympic voice piece Patrick Ryan.  For a city that seemingly cannot maintain the employment of several thousand city workers, by and which include administrators within the public educational system, nor demonstrate a suitable ability to repair street potholes without the unique corporate sponsorship of Kentucky Fried Chicken, it seems rather high handed for Mayor Daley to exercise this declaration of Olympic guarantee payment without in the very least informing the Chicago City Council.  It seems odd for many of us that the Mayor routinely declares the city budget is in perilous shape and yet there is evidently no monetary value deemed overly expensive when such financial matters turn to the Olympic bid.

Mayor Daley does not have $500 million of his own personal funds to cover the cost of the 2016 Olympics should private investors bail on this project.  This commitment of guarantee without the expressed knowledge and consent of the City Council is an unnecessary financial risk and burden for Chicago tax payers. And not for just this generation. Must our kids and their kids be subjected to the risk of repayment for this two week international sports exhibition extravaganza?

Could not happen? Just ask Montreal. Or Atlanta. Maybe perhaps Vancouver? And of course, our political allies in London, England. Even Beijing with Chinese federal funding is struggling during the aftermath of the most spectacular crowd pleasing Olympic Games ever hosted.

Now many of us understand you are very busy. In fact, it is a rather comical understatement considering international fracases with North Korea and Iran, never mind the economic policies and reformation legislation proposed to pull this nation out of its economic slump. But we suspect that if you still find the time for family and leisure, then we sincerely hope it is not overly presumptuous that you would review the ongoing quagmire of the Chicago Olympic bid and address our grievance of unfair public non-disclosure of Olympic bid proceedings.

However, name one responsible leader that a Chicagoan should trust from our home state other than yourself? Mayor Daley? Is this Olympics bid really fused with the best intentions of Chicago or does it simply monetarily feed and reward those that work and operate within our city’s legendary corrupt political machine? How does one trust a Mayor when such a decision of guaranteed commitment is made after assuring the public that no such burden would be risked? Our Governor has been impeached and is facing trial. Our acting Governor is mired in state debt and yet somehow advocates $250 million to the Olympic cause. And please don’t ask us to turn to Senators Durbin and Burris, as our senior Senator is a little preoccupied with providing answers to his recent stock dumping while the other is apparently happily chipping away his most recent accomplishment of dubious evasiveness upon granite marble.

And hence, here we are altogether reviewing this serious matter. A liberal passage from the Chicago Tribune’s David Greising’s excellent column is provided for your reading:

People who recoil at the creeping cost of the Chicago 2016 bid got another reason to be wary Monday. It turns out Ryan had plenty of warning, well in advance of last week’s presentation, that the city would need to sign up taxpayers to back the bid.

Ryan took a secret trip to Switzerland early this month, he disclosed at Monday’s press conference. The trip was necessary because the IOC surprised him by flat out rejecting Chicago’s effort to sign the host city contract with amendments designed to protect taxpayers from runaway costs.

Returning to Chicago, Ryan did not disclose his trip or its stark message. Then he winged back to Switzerland last week and let Daley drop the news, a transcontinental bombshell.

Is this the type of transparency and change that your hometown deserves, Mr. President?

Many of us have all heard the promise of more jobs for Chicagoans if the Olympic bid is won. Where in writing is this guaranteed? Which insurance company will back up this financial guarantee to avoid bankrupting Chicago? And will such a policy definitively not benefit any member of the Daley genealogy? Will the construction of the Olympic sites be mired with controversy in a suspicious cloud akin to the O’Hare Airport expansion? Where is the proof in the pudding?

Yes, we still read newspapers in this town. And we are alarmed when our Mayor makes such statements that federal stimulus money usage cannot be disclosed to our media because it may be criticized. Such concern can only deepen when Olympic monetary guarantees are made after the fact without public knowledge or debate among our representative Aldermen.

We cite a direct quote obtained from the Tribune’s investigative team of Kathy Bergen, David Heinzmann and Hal Dardick:

“We can’t go to the City Council today,” bid team leader Patrick Ryan said at a press briefing Monday. “We’d look like dummies because we don’t have it all complete.”

If financial terms are not completed, then why must Chicago bear the responsibility of a project that is anticipated to go over budget no different than past Olympic projects elsewhere?

Our representatives are Chicago’s Aldermen. And they are being told to wait 2 months for further disclosure of the financial responsibility of these Games. Sir, we do not find that acceptable nor responsible.

We are astutely aware of your support of the Chicago 2016 Olympics bid. Yes, we have reviewed your statements of encouragement and promise of prosperity to Chicago should the bid be won. But in these times Mr. President, we require more than just nice words and feel good sentiment. You must pardon our skepticism and perhaps lack of creative vision. However, it is our money at stake. And real numbers need to be crunched. Full disclosure of potential tax payer responsibility must be shared with Chicago. Such guaranteed backing makes this project no longer in the sole discretionary care of a select group of individuals operating from behind the scenes.

Please do not forget the best interests of your home town. Part of your appeal to the American public is your thoughtfulness. And your seeming ability to think matters over and perhaps change course in a decision making process.

“I’m president of the United States, and I’ll carry out my duties as I think are appropriate. All right?”

Yes indeed sir, you are the President.

Under the current political and economical landscape of Chicago and all of Illinois to be frank, do these Olympic Games satisfy the needs of the many or just the needs of the few?

Olympic Games and international flash in the pan prestige versus affordable health care services, proper public education, better roads and stabilized financial institutions?

We know what really matters in these times. As would Spock.

And we hope with all sincerity, so do you.

Thank you Mr. President for your time and attention to this matter. Your response is most respectfully anticipated.

Regards,

A Gravely Concerned Tax Paying Citizen
Chicago, IL