Last week an ordinance was introduced by five aldermen looking to ensure local communities benefit from the Olympics should Chicago be selected to host the 2016 games.
Last week an ordinance was introduced by five aldermen looking to ensure local communities benefit from the Olympics should Chicago be selected to host the 2016 games.
Aldermen Robert Fioretti (2), Pat Dowell, (3), Ton Preckwinkle (4), Leslie Hairston (5) and Willie Cochran (20) are sponsoring the ordinance that was presented to the finance committee Jan. 13. It will be introduced to the full City Council sometime in February.
Among the things the ordinance would require is improvement to public transportation, 50 percent of jobs going to minority Chicago residents, 10 percent of construction work being performed by apprentices, and grants and low-interest loans being made available to businesses who lease space in the Olympic Village. The city would have complete oversight when it comes to making sure compliance is being met, said Alderman Preckwinkle
“My whole purpose for sponsoring this ordinance is to ensure that local communities benefit from the Olympics,” she said “Certain communities will be impacted more than others and so it is important to make sure these communities have a hand in the success of the games.”
She added that she has not spoken to the mayor about the ordinance but plans to.
“It is my hope and prayer that Mayor Daley supports this ordinance,” she said.
The Olympic Village development calls for construction of a maximum of 7,500 permanent units and 1,000 hotel rooms that could be converted into residences. A traditional street grid would also be created.
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