Obama, Chicago, Protestors, Olympics

Olympics in Chicago: 'Obama's Folly'?

By Dave Zirin

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 corporate greed.

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.]

Update

Update

Please post comments at the link. The Olympic-lovers are on the attack on the comments boards!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/obamas-olympic-error_b_302025.html
Obama’s Olympic Error

UPDATED

By Dave Zirin

President Barack Obama is now en route to Copenhagen in an effort to sell Chicago as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the process, he may be selling Chicago down the river. Obama is joined arm-in-arm with his wife Michelle on one side and Mayor Richard Daley's Chicago political machine on the other. Michelle Obama says, "My father was disabled, and I think what it would have meant for him to see someone in his shoes compete. Kids need to see that and that needs to be celebrated just as much, if not more." This seems more like an argument to support the Paralympics (a tremendous event) but that's beside the point. Michelle Obama should perhaps realize that if the Olympics had come to Chicago when she was a young girl on Chicago's working class south side, her home may have been torn down to make way for an Olympic facility. No word on how being out of house and home would have helped her disabled father.

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. As Sports Illustrated's Michael Fish - an Olympic supporter - has written, "You stage a two-week athletic carnival and, if things go well, pray the local municipality isn't sent into financial ruin."
In fact, the very idea that Chicago could be an appropriate setting for the Olympics might 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, political corruption raised to an art form, and police violence. Bringing the Olympics to this town would be like sending a gift basket filled with bottles of Jim Beam to the Betty Ford Clinic: over-consumption 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 if it costs residents a solitary dime. Even if the games were to go off without a hitch - which would happen only if the setting was lovely Shangri-La - not even half the residents would support hosting the Games.

The Obamas, former Chicago residents, should be standing with their city. Instead, we have the sight of Barack, Michelle, and Oprah trying to outmuscle Pele and Brazil for a place at the Olympic trough. The question is why. Maybe Obama wants the Olympic fairy dust enjoyed by Ronald Reagan at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles or Bill Clinton at the 1996 games in Atlanta. Or perhaps he is returning favor to the developers and other sundry connected people in the Windy City who will make out like bandits once the smoke has cleared. But his intentions are clear: he wants the glitz, glamour, and prestige of the games and he wants it for the Daley machine. What the people of Chicago want doesn't seem to compute.


But we shouldn't be surprised at this point that Obama is tin-eared to the concerns of Chicago residents. As Paul Krugman wrote Sept. 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.

No Games Chicago organizer Alison McKenna said to me, "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."

There is an urgency to building resistance to these kinds of priorities. Right now, 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 big public voice against Obama's trip to Copenhagen has been the repellent RNC chief Michael Steele who believes, and this is hilarious, that "At a time of war and recession" Obama needs to stay home. It shouldn't be a scoundrel like Steele who represents a party of privatization and occupation who delivers that message. Now is the time to build a pole of attraction on the left for people furious at corporate greed amidst a recession. This needs to happen, and not just for the Windy City. It's about building a vibrant protest movement that believes in social justice not the rank divisiveness of the right. Obama likes to say that change comes from "outside Washington." It's time to take him at his word.

[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 .]

Conservatives chime in on global money ills in G-20 precursor

I was there. It was a great event. I've got it on video too. Stay tuned.

Conservatives chime in on global money ills in G-20 precursor - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Conservatives chime in on global money ills in G-20 precursor by By Mike Wereschagin of the Trib

Railing against the G-20: It's not just for liberals anymore.

"You don't have to be a socialist to be concerned about the G-20," said Thomas Woods, one of three speakers at Freedom Conference 2009, a conservative forum billed as a "free-market alternative to the G-20."

The event Tuesday night attracted about 100 people to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Oakland.

"They tell us no one could've predicted" the global economic crisis, said Woods, an author and economist. "There were people who did predict and, by and large, it was free-market economists who predicted it."

Sounding at times like marchers who have been protesting the Group of 20 economic summit since Sunday, speakers and attendees repeatedly blamed "the system" for creating the recession and saving only the wealthy and well-connected.

"We agree on what's wrong. We don't agree on the right way to fix it," said Tom Kawczynski, president of the Republican Assembly of Greater Pittsburgh. One of the organizing groups, the assembly is not part of the official local party structure but touts itself as the "Republican wing of the Republican Party."

"This system attracts predators," said author and activist G. Edward Griffin. "They call themselves statesmen, but they are predators."

Others warned that huge debt owed to central banks around the world has created a behind-the-scenes government to which elected leaders are beholden.

"The countries of the world owe the banks 67 percent of their GDP," said Joan Veon, founder of the Women's International Media Group and another speaker. "This is what we call world government."

Tribune-Review columnist Dimitri Vassilaros served as master of ceremonies.

Woods blamed the Federal Reserve and other central financial institutions -- the World Bank and International Monetary Fund among them - for the depth of the recession.

"We can talk about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but that's small potatoes to the Federal Reserve," Woods said.

Disconnecting U.S. currency from the gold standard allowed the congressionally created bank to manipulate interest rates by printing more money whenever it wanted, he said. That kept interest rates too low and ended the post-dot-com recession before the market could correct itself, he said. "The system contributes to this problem."

Melina Brajovic, 42, an attendee from Blawnox, gathered signatures for a petition asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring to the floor a bill, sponsored by Libertarian hero and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, calling for an audit of the Federal Reserve.

"We need to bring our currency back to the gold standard," said Brajovic, who immigrated to the United States in 1985 from Serbia.

Among her signatories was Mike Ott, 48, of Hampton.

"I believe we should audit the Federal Reserve and take back the right to print our own money," Ott said. He called the nation's central banking authority "unconstitutional" and "morally wrong."

The forum was organized by a coalition of conservative groups looking for an excuse to get together. The G-20 summit provided that excuse, Kawczynski said.

"The entire world has come to talk of what will be, and we know we need to be a voice in these discussions," Kawczynski said.

While liberal groups march against the G-20's role in promoting international trade and globalization, the Freedom Conference's problem with the gathering is that world leaders are putting too many restrictions on trade.

"Look at carbon caps," Kawczynski said, referring to proposals being discussed among world leaders to limit countries' carbon emissions. "They're creating a market, putting a price on something you didn't have to pay for before."

Liberals have blamed the bank collapses and home foreclosures on free-market excesses, while the conservatives said the blame lies with government meddling in the market, mostly through its monetary policy.

"It doesn't matter what race you are. It doesn't matter what class you are. Bad monetary policy affects you," said Herman Bauer, 25, of Mt. Oliver Borough.

Bauer worries policies such as the 2008 bank bailouts and 2009 stimulus package required the Federal Reserve to print so much money, the dollar was emptied of its value.

"I definitely think the worst is yet to come," Bauer said. "The dollar is completely devalued."

Bailing out financial firms whose risky behavior led to the global credit crisis last year encourages entrepreneurs who are "crazy, risk-prone drunkards, basically," Woods said.

Distrust of the Fed runs so deep, Bauer insinuated it is responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy, who he said was the "last president that seriously worked to get us off the Federal Reserve."

To do it over again - boys -- be dancers!

Tonight, Tuesday, see you at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in Oakland.

The educational event begins at 7 pm. Arrive earlier to mingle. See FreedomConference2009.com

ONE campaign to hold a panel discussion on Wednesday afternoon. It will be at the University of Pittsburgh and offer a variety of perspectives on the G-20 response to the global economic crisis and the challenges ahead, with a focus on the well-being of the world’s poor. Participants in the panel include current and former senior officials, plus leading experts and advocates for global poverty reduction. Sponsored by the Center for Global Development, the ONE campaign, and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Threat of shark attacks doesn't deter new host Sydney - Universal Sports

Threat of shark attacks doesn't deter new host Sydney - Universal Sports: "'They can't eat us all.'"

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission

Can you canoe? Not here then.

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission: "No person, vessel, article, or thing shall enter into, depart from, or move within the security zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or his authorized representative.

WTF

Monday Morning Quarterbacking the city's leadership.

Permit snafus strike first marches: "At a march for jobs yesterday in the Hill District, police delayed the event at one point, claiming the protesters didn't have a valid permit, even though they did.
The convention center bypass 'isn't private property, it's public property. It's a through street, and they had a permit,' he said.
'The more distressing thing for me is that the first two demonstrations that were the subject of a federal court lawsuit got bungled by the police, and bungled in a way that they tried to restrict activity. It's either sheer incompetence or something more insidious. It's one or the other, and neither is very flattering.'"

The guys in robes make rules that the guys in blue need to know about and obey. Otherwise, people get disjointed in their actions. This is big trouble for the mayor and county executive. The buck stops there with them.

Working with Citiparks on Summer Dreamers, or not

	9/17/09
to Duane

To Director of Citiparks:

Hi Director,

I saw that Mike R. was in the court room. Eeeks. Hope you all are not
snowed under too too bad.

I'd love to strike up a conversation with you about the Pgh Public
Schools RFP for summer 2010 enrichment.

The deadline for those RFPs / proposals is Oct 2. And, there is still
a good deal of red tape for me to navigate.

I'd like to see if it is possible to get some cooperation in the grant
/ proposal requests.

For instance, for the 5 weeks of the camp, July 12 to Aug 13, 2010,
we'd love to have a group of up to 25 kids use the Schenley Ice Rink
building as a possible classroom -- mainly in case of rain, from the
hours of 12:30 to 3:30. They would also run at the track and use the
park.

By all means, there are funds to pay for this but they have to be in
the budget. Federal stimulus funds are being spent.

I'd also like to see if we could deploy in our plans:

-- Bike Oval at Highland Park / Washington Road
-- Swim pool visits with a Lifeguard camp
-- Sports movies in an outdoor setting -- perhaps at a school / i.e.,
Movies in the parks
-- Market House for some special events
-- Sand volleyball courts at Highland Park Pool

Ashley, Duane	9/18/09
to me

Mark...I already have staff pulling together a proposal of sorts based
on our past involvement with the School District.  However, a two
pronged approached might not be a bad idea........However, I sincerely
think that they already know who they will fund...and it won't be us.

Mark Rauterkus	9/18/09
to Duane

Hi,

I do not know what proposals and providers the PPS will fund and who
they will not fund????  But, it seems to me that PPS is just new to
this range of activities and are grabbing for a lot at first blush --
up to 2,500 kids or so. Wow. That's huge. If that is the case, then
they'll need everyone's help.

If possible, I'd love to meet with Citiparks staffers who are working
on the PPS summer 2010 enrichment opportunities / RFP. Who is pulling
this together for you?

Furthermore, I know that the main new employees of the PPS had a
meeting with the folks at Phillips Elem as to what they've done in
cooperation with Citiparks in the past years. There is a great success
story with Citiparks and PPS at Phillips with Mr. Netchi the principal
there and your staffers. Well done. That is a large part of the model.

But, my questions still remain about me organizing a camp experience
and trying to deploy some Citiparks spaces for the activities.

Bob Traupman, RIP

Dad, sports fan, friend of kids, caring, businessman, barber.

This is shocking news.

Bob was a new neighbor to the South Side, in a sense. He opened a business on East Carson. He was the one who generally cuts my hair.



The last time I went into the shop he told me a story of walking to a dog owner, stricking up a conversation and then he made it clear that the shit from his animal needed to be pulled off the ground, without question. His kid plays here and for some time, (weeks / years), his habits haven't been appreciated.

He was direct. No nonsense.

Bob is going to be missed, greatly.

Sounds as if he had a massive heart attack. The day before his hands and feet had some swelling. He didn't feel as if he needed to go to see a doctor.

PG obit:

Robert J. Traupman Sr.

TRAUPMAN ROBERT J., SR.
Loving husband, father, son, brother and Barber, unexpectedly on Monday, September 14, 2009. Beloved husband of Julia (Geiger) Traupman; loving father of Gemma C. and Robert J. Traupman, Jr.; son of Ronald D. Traupman, Sr. and Roberta "Bert" (Huber) (Charles) Rodger; brother of Ronald D. (Shelly) Traupman, Jr.; survived also by nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call Thursday 2-4 and 6-8pm at O'BRIEN'S, 3724 California at Cooper Aves., N.S. Funeral Service in St. Michael and All Angels Evangelical Lutheran Church Friday, 11am.
www.obriensfh.com

Published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from September 16 to September 17, 2009. Guestbook.

The video above was from March 2009 when Patrick Dowd was putting price tags on garbage cans.

Got some ink in local paper from email blast: Along with casino and closed schools for G-20

Got some ink in a local edition of a newspaper.

Steel Valley joins schools that will close during G-20 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Mark Rauterkus, a past Libertarian nominee for various Pittsburgh offices, said the conference 'is worthy of everyone's time and attention.'
Organizers are charging an admission of $25, $10 for students, to cover rental of the hall and expenses for speakers. The Web site freedomconference2009.com has more details.
PennDOT said its driver's license and photo center in the Pittsburgh State Office Building will be closed for three days beginning Wednesday.
In a promotion, Rivers Casino said it will raise the flags of the G-20 nations today and fly them through the summit.

Bad signs in mayoral race - Blogs - Slag Heap - Pittsburgh City Paper

Bad signs in mayoral race - Blogs - Slag Heap - Pittsburgh City Paper: "Bad signs in mayoral race"

My $.02:

Teamwork matters. Running mates matter. If these two played off of each other, then we'd have something to watch and think about -- and talk about too. That would get Luke's attention.

Dok and Kevin should be doing join things every day. Sure, they've got to do their own actions, but once or more a day their paths should cross and cross with some gusto.

It takes two to tango.

The two can and should be in a dance at the expense of the current administration. But, teamwork is necessary.

Sadly, the conventional wisdow from the Acklin / DeSantis realm is mostly devoid of teamwork.

The photo above was from a skating event hosted by Bill Peduto, a long time ago.

Help with tickets for friend to Jean-Michael Cousteau on Oct 14

A grad school friend wants two tickets to Jean-Michael Cousteau on Oct. 14. She is trying to get tickets. Got em? Advice and leads welcomed. HELP!

[412-public-news] Fwd: G20 - Freedom Conference 2009, Tuesday Sept 22, 7:00pm at Soldiers and Salors Hall

[412-public-news] Fwd: G20 - Freedom Conference 2009, Tuesday Sept 22, 7:00pm at Soldiers and Salors Hall: "Freedom Conference 2009, Tuesday Sept 22, 7:00pm at Soldiers and Salors Hall"

ESPN: The local leader in sports?

ESPN: The local leader in sports?: "ESPN: The local leader in sports?"

Cue Sheet for a great adventure -- That Dam Ride

Some of the best times of my life. 

That Dam Ride -- here we come!

From NZ bike

Erik, Grant and I are on a trip this weekend. We're biking 140 miles. Half on Saturday. Back on Sunday. The night in the middle is in a tent. We'll be starting in Boston, just past McKeesport. We'll head up the trail to the dam. Snacks, lunches, evening meal is provided.

It takes us 7 hours if we go 10 miles per hour. If we go 20 mph, we'll wrap up in under 4 hours. We'll be somewhere in the middle.

BS no meeting was document back in September 2009

I lived with this administrative silliness and incompetence for nearly a decade.

After much struggle, we did get in a game with South Park. We also got the okay to play in a middle-school tournament at Chartiers Valley with a co-ed team while using some 9th grade rookie players. 

 These kids signed up to play water polo. They went to Schenley High School, that would then become Obama.

“Why Don’t Students Like School?” Well, Duhhhh… | Psychology Today

Interesting parenting / teaching post.

“Why Don’t Students Like School?” Well, Duhhhh… | Psychology Today: "Ask any schoolchild why they don't like school and they'll tell you. 'School is prison.' They may not use those words, because they're too polite, or maybe they've already been brainwashed to believe that school is for their own good and therefore it can't be prison. But decipher their words and the translation generally is, 'School is prison.'

Swimming was CUMPULSORY

Swimming was CUMPULSORY

Free food for kids in the evenings

Wednesday, September 02, 2009
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Kids from kindergartners to 18-year-olds can get free meals from 5 to 7 p.m. at 10 city of Pittsburgh community centers starting on Tuesday, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration announced today.

Meatloaf and potatoes, hot dogs and beans, spaghetti and other meals -- plus fresh fruit -- will be served. The meals will be prepared by Nutrition, Inc., and the program is federally funded.

Allegheny County has been feeding kids through the program since 2000, but it's new to the city community centers including Ammon, Arlington, Brookline, Jefferson, Magee, Paulson, Phillips, Ormsby, Warrington and West Penn.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/09245/994941-100.stm#ixzz0PxuVmUFS