Zoning Committee to review CCM's request on Thursday!

http://www.windychat.com/chicago-zon...tee-18028.html (Chicago Zoning Committee)

From the Chicago Tribune - "His act is getting old. A few months ago, Pfleger suggested that opponents of placing the Chicago Children's Museum in Grant Park didn't want black children in their neighborhood. Take what position you want on the museum, but it's divisive and destructive to claim that racism is the motivation for opposition."

See article at:
Pfleger's vile sermon

Ann Gerber writes in Skyline --

RIDDLE: WHAT IS EVEN LESS popular than rabies, Paris Hilton, President Bush? Answer: Putting the Children's Museum in Grant Park.

Richard Ward writes:

Zoning Committee on CCM, Thursday, City Council Chambers, 10am

'We realize that the Zoning Committee meeting at 10am tomorrow morning (Thursday,June 5th) is not designed to be convenient to anyone other than aldermen and staff members. However, please try to make an effort to join over a dozen concerned city-wide and Illinois organizations that oppose the land grab by the politically connected CCM board leadership. We expect the meeting will last no more than 90 minutes. Alderman Reilly and the CCM consultants will give short presentations, and you will be allowed 2 to 3 minutes to share your opinion. There are all senior alderman on the committee (appointed by the mayor), so it will probably pass.

It is amazing that the Plan Commission and the Zoning Committee encourage detailed presentations from the applicant (CCM), but carefully restrict opposing or correcting testimony from established city-wide organizations. I had prepared a detailed 20-minute presentation, and will be restricted to 2-3 minutes as your representative.

The CCM has presented 5 designs, and each time they have assured everyone that it was totally legal. Therefore, they were not being honest to all of Chicago for the past two years. From a close examination of the latest proposal, it remains an illegal public land grab for a private (non-profit, except for CCM executives)corporation, of land that has been specially protected for 172 years. There has NEVER been an exception to the dedication restrictions that has survived in a court challenge, and CCM will certainly not be the first in the history of Chicago. Both the Art Institute and the Harris/Pritzker buildings are "non-challenged" exceptions. The Art Institute has grown 700% since approved in 1891, under the lesser "Charter Protections" of 1863.

Please join us at 10am tomorrow to show your continued determination.

Thank you, Richard

Richard F. Ward, President, NEAR
155 N. Harbor Dr. #5101
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 938-0884
http://neweastside.org"

Michael Sneed writes in the Chicago Sun-Times --

Is Gov. Blago next? :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Michael Sneed

Tipsville . . .
A history note: Mayor Daley is so intent on bringing the Chicago Children's Museum to Grant Park, he is doing something he rarely does.
• To wit: Sneed hears his honor has called in the aldermen one by one requesting them to support legislation placing the museum on sacrosanct property.
• The upshot: The rezoning of the area will be addressed in a zoning committee meeting today and is expected to be voted on at the full City Council meeting next week.
• The backshot: Rarely, if ever, does the mayor place his full weight on such an issue.

Is Gov. Blago next? :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Michael Sneed

"One of the major stories in Chicago is the proposed move of the Chicago Children's Museum from the perfectly good location where it is now, Navy Pier, to Grant Park, which is downtown Chicago's front yard. This story has been on my radar, but I've withheld blogging about it for reasons that will be quite clear at the end of this post."

Read on...
Marathon Pundit: Exclusive details: Lawsuit filed on Chicago Children's Museum in Grant Park

Chicago Public Radio audio clip, 43 seconds:

"The controversial move has the backing of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who says Grant Park is the best location for an expanded museum. Opponents say building in Grant Park would violate longstanding laws and court orders protecting open space. "

Download and listen:
City Council Showdown Nears for Kids' Museum

Very good AP article on the topic.

"Unlike the old days at City Hall, Daley has fewer ways to punish those who challenge him because the political patronage aldermen historically depended on is less blatant than when his late father, Mayor Richard J. Daley, ran the city, political consultant Don Rose said."

"So the current Mayor Daley is "less scary than the old man used to be," Rose said."

Chicago to vote on moving museum to lakefront park