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"GRANT PARK | Daley implies opposition to kids museum is racial
September 18, 2007
BY FRAN SPIELMAN AND ANDREW HERRMANN Staff reporters
Mayor Daley suggested Monday there are racial undertones to opposition of a new Chicago Children's Museum in Grant Park, and vowed to put the matter before the City Council despite opposition from rookie Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd).
"You mean you don't want children from the city in Grant Park? Why? Are they black? Are they white? Are they Hispanic? Are they poor? ... Why not? Wouldn't you want children there?" Daley responded when asked about the vigorous campaign against plans to build the new museum in Reilly's ward just east of Millennium Park.
Asked point-blank whether he believes high-rise residents near Grant Park are trying to keep buses filled with inner-city school children out of their neighborhood, he said: "Well, I hope not. Because if it is, that's wrong. . .. That is a disgrace."
Daley's remarks angered Reilly, who called them "totally ridiculous" and "irresponsible." A neighborhood opposition leader said she was "shocked" and "disgusted" by Daley.

Some fear more traffic
Some neighbors say they are against the museum because they fear increased traffic, and others, like Reilly, believe it would violate historical precedent of keeping lakefront parks clear of buildings.
Daley is so determined to place the museum at Daley Bicentennial Plaza near Millennium Park that he will push for the matter to be decided by all 50 aldermen, violating the long-standing City Council tradition of abiding by the wishes of the local alderman on zoning and development issues.
Daley has also been pressed recently by Jean "GiGi" Pritzker, the chair of the museum board whose family donated millions for the construction of Millennium Park. The park's Pritzker Pavilion would be linked to the grounds of the new children's museum by the snake-like BP Bridge.
Daley's race remarks may have been prompted by the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of the predominantly black St. Sabina Catholic Church. Pfleger said he recently discussed with the mayor an incident he says occurred last week at a New East Side neighborhood meeting over the museum project.
According to Pfleger, one woman asked him why the museum wasn't being built in a black neighborhood and another suggested it be moved to Foster Park at 83rd and Loomis.
"I said, 'Foster Park is in the black community. What are you trying to say?'" Pfleger said in an interview. "I said, 'That is a racial comment. Our conversation is over. Please walk away from me.'
"When I hear comments like that, I interpret that as racial. I don't know how else to interpret it," said Pfleger.

Reilly wants park 'open, clear'
Peggy Figiel, a leader in the group Friends of Daley Bi, which opposes the move to Grant Park, said Daley's remarks were "insulting and an act of desperation on the part of the children's museum."
"This is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city," said Figiel. At the playground in Grant Park that serves the nearby high-rises, Figiel said, there are "no less than eight different languages being spoken there."
Said Reilly, "I've been to nine community meetings on this issue. Never once has there been any racial overtone raised."
At Navy Pier, the Chicago Children's Museum draws 500,000 people annually and wants to expand with a new $40 million museum in Grant Park on Randolph Street just east of Michigan Avenue. The 100,000-square-foot project would be built largely below ground and has been redesigned to lower its profile in Grant Park.
Reilly said Grant Park "should remain forever open, clear and free. ... This is about the future of Grant Park and whether we should abandon 171 years of history that has preserved this open space as a park for all the people of Chicago."
Reilly vowed to lobby every one of his 49 colleagues, if need be, to uphold his treasured aldermanic prerogative.
A statement released by the museum said that the institution is "encouraged by Mayor Daley's support" and that "we hope to have the support of the entire city council that represents all children and families of Chicago."

Daley implies opposition to kids museum is racial :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State