Innocent bystander Derrion Albert killed

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by OTW

On the CBS Early Morning Show, the lead story was President Obama going to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago to host the 2016 Olympics.

And then they move on to the Derrion Albert story. WTF?

They can spend billions of dollars to bring the Olympics to Chicago but they can't help the people struggling on the South Side?

I heard about this earlier. I don't know why Obama is involved in this (hell, let this be a Michelle project).

Maybe they think the spillover benefits from the games will give the city some money to help those that are struggling? I don't know.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I heard about this earlier. I don't know why Obama is involved in this (hell, let this be a Michelle project).

Maybe they think the spillover benefits from the games will give the city some money to help those that are struggling? I don't know.

I don't think so, but you can call me a pessimist.

In some instances, it's going to push neighborhoods out and into other neighborhoods (when they build the various stadiums/housing for athletes/etc.) and that's going to cause more problems.

This is just my opinion, but these low income neighborhoods aren't going to be lifted up, they're going to be moved over, and then the city will ignore the same people, just in a different geographical area.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by agzg

I don't think so, but you can call me a pessimist.

In some instances, it's going to push neighborhoods out and into other neighborhoods (when they build the various stadiums/housing for athletes/etc.) and that's going to cause more problems.

This is just my opinion, but these low income neighborhoods aren't going to be lifted up, they're going to be moved over, and then the city will ignore the same people, just in a different geographical area.

I agree, and even if the area is left untouched for the Olympics, do you really think the city is gonna use it's revenues to help the South Side? I seriously doubt they would.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by agzg

I don't think so, but you can call me a pessimist.

In some instances, it's going to push neighborhoods out and into other neighborhoods (when they build the various stadiums/housing for athletes/etc.) and that's going to cause more problems.

This is just my opinion, but these low income neighborhoods aren't going to be lifted up, they're going to be moved over, and then the city will ignore the same people, just in a different geographical area.

I won't call you a pessiment, because it's likely going to be the case.

All of the development will probably lead to (more) gentrification in the city, pushing the lower-class citizens farther out. I'm willing to bet money, though, that city leaders will use the argument to bring the games to the city.

[DrPhil]

If the 1996 Summer Olympics can be in ATL then the 2010 Olympics can be in Chicago.

Both are urban centers with booming economies in some regards. Both have a large impoverished population. The government will just cover up the high levels of deprivation for the Olympics and then leave Chicago exactly the way they found it (the money made from the Olympics is just a bandaid on the poverty in these areas).

[jojapeach]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

All of the development will probably lead to (more) gentrification in the city, pushing the lower-class citizens farther out. I'm willing to bet money, though, that city leaders will use the argument to bring the games to the city.

Pretty much. There's been a LOT of gentrification in Atlanta since the '96 Olympics. There's only a handful of housing projects left, but most outlying cities did not experience a great deal of improvement IMO. In the end, a lot of the projects were closed, and a lot of those residents got vouchers to move elsewhere. Clayton Co has gone from a tranquil place I dreamed of living in one day to a place with increasing violence and crime. Thanks, Olympics!

@ drphil: I liked the bandaid reference. *nodding*

RIP Derrion. I hope his death will not be in vain.

[DrPhil]

LOL @ "agreement is good"

[agzg]

Originally Posted by epchick

I agree, and even if the area is left untouched for the Olympics, do you really think the city is gonna use it's revenues to help the South Side? I seriously doubt they would.

Exactly. Although I can look forward to my rent going up if we get the bid, because people will be willing to pay more to live in my (almost completely gentrified) neighborhood. I really feel bad for the older couples on my street that have been here forever. Unless they own their houses (and I'm not sure that they do), the likelihood of their rent raises forcing them out of the houses they've lived in for years and years is great, especially considering that many of them are retired and living on fixed incomes.

I really hope it never happens - they're all so sweet. I can't walk down my street without feeling like my arm is going to fall off from all the waving I do because they call out to you.

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I won't call you a pessiment, because it's likely going to be the case.

All of the development will probably lead to (more) gentrification in the city, pushing the lower-class citizens farther out. I'm willing to bet money, though, that city leaders will use the argument to bring the games to the city.

I worry about the type of turmoil it's going to cause... if we have "neighborhood" fights like this... I don't even want to think about it.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

If the 1996 Summer Olympics can be in ATL then the 2010 Olympics can be in Chicago.

Both are urban centers with booming economies in some regards. Both have a large impoverished population. The government will just cover up the high levels of deprivation for the Olympics and then leave Chicago exactly the way they found it (the money made from the Olympics is just a bandaid on the poverty in these areas).

I think the likelihood that we'll get the bid is pretty good. However, the city's having trouble raising the funds necessary. Mayor Daley is promising that the city can raise it, and it probably will if they do get the bid, but there's also a likelihood that the bill will just be tacked on to our (already rising) taxes.

I got the easy end of the deal, I don't own my house.

Originally Posted by jojapeach

Pretty much. There's been a LOT of gentrification in Atlanta since the '96 Olympics. There's only a handful of housing projects left, but most outlying cities did not experience a great deal of improvement IMO. In the end, a lot of the projects were closed, and a lot of those residents got vouchers to move elsewhere. Clayton Co has gone from a tranquil place I dreamed of living in one day to a place with increasing violence and crime. Thanks, Olympics!

That's what I worry about here.

Oh and the fact that there will basically be a two week period where I won't be able to get to work. Hopefully they finish the upgrades on the L by the time the Olympics roll around (although they've been working on a few particular spots on the blue line for over a year now), and hopefully they can handle the traffic demands, but I'm just really skeptical.