Friday, April 4, 2008

More on the Children's Museum in Grant Park

For these quotes from the Sun-Times yesterday I'm sure people would accuse Daley of using the "race card" to get his way...
Playing the race card once again, Mayor Daley said today he’s not afraid of a protracted court fight over his plan to build a $100 million Children’s Museum in Grant Park because he’s firmly convinced he would win it.

“A 5-year-old child is worth fighting for. . . . I believe that as a parent. I believe that as a grandparent. I believe that as a mayor. . . . It’s very important to have a great children’s museum next to Millennium Park. I’m very passionate about it,” Daley said.

Seven months ago, the mayor took considerable heat for accusing residents of high-rises surrounding Daley Bicentennial Plaza who oppose the project of having racial motives.

But that didn’t stop him from pulling the red-hot card out of his hand again today.

“You [mean to] tell me that children from ... the West Side or South Side ... can’t go to a museum in Grant Park? They're not the gangbangers . . . They're not the dope dealers. These are 5-year-old kids. . . . We can all walk around Millennium Park. That's all right. But the children should not have a museum in that park. Put 'em someplace else, he said.

I'm very proud of the children of Chicago -- black, white, Hispanic and Asian. I want the best museum we can have for our children. . . .I really believe that is the right location.

Peggy Figiel, co-founder of Save Grant Park, called the mayor's remarks outrageous and unfortunate.

This is not about race. It's not about children. It's not even about the Children's Museum. This is about legal precedent. Grant Park has been protected for 172 years. We believe we owe it to future generations to protect that same land for them, Figiel said.
In today's news from the Sun-Times....
The Chicago Park District and the Children's Museum have jointly applied for a zoning change to build a $100 million museum in Grant Park, setting the stage for a Plan Commission vote next month and a City Council showdown in June.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that Mayor Daley has the 26 votes he needs to win City Council approval of the Grant Park plan.

The decision to set the legislative process in motion signals the museum's confidence in that support. It also ends a period of shadow-boxing and moves the fight out into the open.

"We moved ahead because all of our paperwork was ready. We feel really confident in the level of support we have throughout Chicago," said Jennnifer Farrington, president and CEO of the Children's Museum.

"The Children's Museum in Grant Park is very consistent with the true spirt of Montgomery Ward and Daniel Burnham's vision for the lakefront. The center of the city is the heart of Chicago ‹ the heart of cultural life. It serves as a gateway to all Chicago. . . A place in Grant Park adjacent to all Millennium Park and the Art Institute has to offer that can truly serve as that gateway is what our children and families deserve."

Farrington said the application includes "no major changes" to the plan previously unveiled to area residents.

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), who opposes the Grant Park plan, said he'll believe that when he sees it.

"Usually, when a developer is seeking approval from the Plan Commission, they review that application with the lcoal alderman prior to them making the filing. The fact that they didn't says, perhaps, that they're not open to extensive public scrutiny. We'll have to review this application very carefully," Reilly said.

Reilly said the application is a "pretty clear indication" that Daley is hoping for Plan Commission approval in mid-May and a full council vote in June. That gives Reilly two months to turn the tide in his favor, maybe longer if the Department of Planning and Development takes longer to review the application.

"This would be an infringement on the longstanding tradition of deferring to the local alderman on decisions within his or her ward," the alderman said.

"My primary focus is discussing the merits of protecting Grant Park. But the notion of protecting aldermanic perogative is also relevant. Many of my colleagues have grave concerns about the implications this could have on their aldermanic perogative."

Peggy Figiel, co-founder of Save Grant Park, promised to file a lawsuit "immediately" if the City Council approves the mayor's plan.

"Unless Mayor Daley gets to pick the judge, I don't see how four Illinois Supreme Court decisions are going to be overturned. The Supreme Court has ruled that no obstruction that is a building that charges admission and is not for dedicated park purposes can be built in Grant Park," she said.
Well I'll have to slow down these postings about the Chicago Children's Museum's attempt to move into Grant Park, but this is an interesting aspect of city politics right now. Will the mayor trample on aldermanic privilege to get his way? Well I think this could be dangerous for him. I should note this fight has been brewing since last year.

1 comment:

  1. I hope the Mayor beats you on this. I suspect the motives of you and yours, like those of your friends down in Dearborn Park that said they wanted to get rid of the magnet school due to "traffic issues," have nothing to do with protecting Grant Park. There are many more things going on in Grant Park that should get you and your pro bono lawyers into motion that you seem to look past. (did you get your Lollapalooza tickets yet?)

    You are correct about one thing, race is not the issue, but the real thing has more to do with typical NIMBY issues than with any love of the park. I see very (or saw anyway) very few of the vocal voices at any Friends of the Park or other group meetings before the museum was announced.

    Go Mayor Daley, go!

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