I actually contributed to this article - or tried to... after Lorene and I spoke on the phone I sent her a follow-up e-mail to summarize, doesn't look like she used any of it:
"
Points:
- The meeting was hosted by the New Eastside Association of Residents (NEAR) and Richard Ward presented for those opposing the relocation to Daley Bi Plaza.
- The Children's Museum bussed in hundreds of supporters who filled the meeting room to capacity and shut out residents who had come to hear about the issue in spite of the fact that it was billed as a meeting for neighborhood residents only. (The CCM lawyers were able to get the Park District to open the meeting due to a technicality.)
- I saw a lot of disappointed residents carrying their postcards which were to enable them to attend the meeting leave between 5:45 and 6:30, I think a lot more than people realize. I would estimate one or two times the capacity of the meeting room or about 300 to 600 people were turned away.
- The only modification I heard about which was lowering the roof does not address neighborhood concerns about the proposed site.
- Also, I talked with several of the museum employees outside who were milling around all in the same t-shirts and carrying the same signs about whether they were compelled or paid to be there and they kept evading the question, but I did think it was telling that they all packed up and left at the same time about an hour before the meeting ended.
- Here is some more information: http://blog.new-eastside.com/childrens-museum-deceptive-tactics/ You can see the neighborhood is really getting snowed by the Children's Museum! You should let people know about it."