Mike Doyle writes in the comments section at ChicagoCarless.com - "I'm never paid to blog on Chicago Carless. When I have written about projects I've worked on (7 Days at Minimum Wage, for example), it's gravy for those who've signed me on, not billable time. Not that I really care what others opine of me--my blog is my platform for my opinons, and I'll share them no matter what others think. Which, of course, is what everyone should feel free to do."

CHICAGO CARLESS: New Eastside Elitism Comments Section

It appears Mike Doyle is very selective about what comments are allowed to be posted on his site. I was lucky to have gotten a few comments posted but then I guess he didn't like my most recent comment so I am posting it here.

"Oh sorry yes I do value debate and there is not only one correct side, and I'll admit I made up my mind last year when they were originally thinking about relocating the CCM to Daley Bi Plaza. When the Mayor announced that the CCM would locate further south on Monroe I thought that was an even worse location further in the middle of Grant Park - if it had to be at either location I'd say Daley Bi Fieldhouse is the correct location -- but neither is good. It should not be in Grant Park at all. For O'Neill to argue that it is a one for one building replacement misses the point. I think it's reasonable for a sunken, open to the public fieldhouse to go in Grant Park, I won't second-guess the decision made back in the 70's, but a pay per head ($ museum that is not really a museum and is 10x larger is a drastically different building. 1 for 1 replacement is a gross mis-statement.

Also, regarding deep pockets I'll agree that Lakeshore East developer may have deep wallets -- in fact I just heard this morning, that the Park District handed the LSE Park back to the developer this summer because they didn't have money to maintain it. It remains and always was open to the public as it should be, but I don't know about the semantics of calling it a Private Park, whether it's privately owned land or privately maintained, the purpose of the sign I'm sure was to stress the No Skateboarding because of the damage that was occurring.

However, I'm sure the Lakeshore East is not going to take any stance on the CCM and LSE <> the New Eastside Association of Residents. In fact the two have butted heads many times. (For instance, I heard LSE wanted to rename the neighborhood Lakeshore East from New Eastside for marketing reasons, and NEAR wanted to enforce the covenants requiring a future developer to put in a Pedway along Randolph which is not happening...) The NEAR group has practically no budget or means to do anything except host occasional meetings.

I think where you hear about the CCM having lots of resources you look at the radio spots, the glossy campaign, the telephone poll campaign and troupe of consultants with whom they made presentations to eight or nine area buildings, the slick buttons, signs and t-shirts they handed out to their employees who it has been reported were paid to come hijack the neighborhood meeting on the 10th, etc.

The community activists opposing the CCM relocating to the Daley Bi Fieldhouse have just barely slapped together some hand-written signs and printed flyers. You don't see the community activists running radio ads or paying college students to wander around the neighborhood trying to get residents to sign a petition supporting the CCM's move to Grant Park.

Anyway, here's some more press on the issue from a Sun-Times columnist this [yesterday] morning:

Daley likes easy fights :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Tom McNamee

Eric"