Mayor Daley has the 26 votes he needs to win City Council approval of a new, $100 million Children's Museum in Grant Park, according to influential aldermen, but opponents are threatening a protracted court fight to block construction.A threat to this idea of aldermanic privilege. Something that has either been used wisely or misused (as the Broken Heart seems to suggest in his post). I have no problem with the idea of Aldermen having say over certain projects in their wards. Especially projects that concern government such as streets, parks, or anything else. Private development is another matter though in that case if this was about vacant land that should be utilized then I have no problem with an alderman trying to attract some development to that land.
"Montgomery Ward was in court for 24 or 27 years. Hopefully, it won't be that long," Peggy Figiel, co-founder of Save Grant Park said Wednesday, referring to Ward's 19th-century court battle to keep businesses from building on the lakefront. "We're prepared to do whatever we have to do to keep Grant Park 'forever open, free and clear.' This would set a dangerous precedent. Grant Park would be piece-mealed out to whatever one of Daley's friends wants a part of it."
Residents want hearings on museum plan Vote: Should the museum move to Grant Park?
Jennifer Farrington, president and CEO of the Children's Museum, said she's not afraid of fighting a lawsuit alleging the museum would be an intrusion in Grant Park that would violate legal covenants restricting lakefront construction.
"We believe our plans are consistent with what is allowable in the park . . . Chicago has a great tradition of marrying parks and museums," said Farrington, who put a $100 million price tag on the project, with $40 million raised so far.
The museum plans to submit its application for a "planned development" in 60 to 90 days, triggering a legislative process that will begin with the Plan Commission and end with the City Council.
Influential aldermen predicted this week that Daley has at least 30 votes to approve the project over strenuous opposition from local Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd).
Reilly countered, "By my count, they don't have the votes." But, he also said, "I've been trying to avoid this City Council showdown for months by suggesting alternative sites. My hope is, cooler heads will prevail and they'll agree to seek a more appropriate site."
Now the question here is whether or not Daley is effectively trying to supersede aldermanic privilege in order to secure a home for the Children's museum in a public park which was designed to be forever open and free? Do any of you think this is such a good idea? That is for those of you who go downtown and visit Grant park or any other lakefront park?
We visit the Children's Museum at Navy Pier (the public transportation options are good) as well as the Daley Bi park (not as accessible).
ReplyDeleteWe really like the Daley Bi park as it is... there are lots of wildlife and many other families from all parts of the city walking through there and enjoying the flowers and trees, birds and squirrels, etc.
I'm not sure what would be improved by moving the children's museum to grant park. I guess I would rather not see everything developed up to the gills. Preserve our parks.
Kids, from all parts of the city, can play in Grant Park as it stands today, FOR FREE. They can run around to their hearts desire, FOR FREE. They can enjoy a last piece of precious, open space in our city, FOR FREE.
ReplyDeleteAlderman Reilly is correct. An $8 a head, Children's Museum belongs elsewhere.
The question here really isn't so much about Aldermanic privilege per se, but about recognizing that local aldermen have the best sense
ReplyDeleteand the most information about issues in their ward, how they affect neighborhoods, and how they affect the city.
Unlike the Mayor, Reilly has actually read the four Supreme Court decisions governing Grant Park, and he knows that not only will this boondoggle never pass the smell test with the courts, taxpayers are going to be on the hook for the multi-million dollar legal bill to defend it.
I'd point out that Mayor Daley had no problem deferring to Alderman Tom Tunney on the Wrigley Field issues.
I'd also point out that just two days ago, Mayor Daley argued that if we can build/alter Soldier Field, we should be able to build the Children's Museum.
The only problem with that argument is that SOLDIER FIELD ISN'T IN GRANT PARK, its in the Museum Campus, three blocks south of Grant Park's historically protected open space.
This is one reason why aldermanic prerogative is important.
But there is another reason. Chicago is a big city, and Mayor Daley isn't accountable for neighborhood issues, but Alderman are. So in an indirect way, Aldermanic prerogative gives local organizations a bigger say in what goes on in their neighborhoods.
Why should everyone in the city care? Well, as has been reported recently, the Grant Park land grab is a prelude to land grabs in other parks around the city, as Mayor Daley tries to create various Olympic venues without any community oversight or input. If Grant Park goes down, you might be kissing your local park goodbye as well.