the no games chicago story - occupy midwest
DESCRIPTION
This is the story of No Games Chicago, prepared for the 2012 Occupy Midwest convening. http://www.nogameschicago.com.TRANSCRIPT
As told by Tom Tresser, No Games co-organizer, web master, spokesperson.
The story of the No Games Chicago Campaign
In Chicago, in 2008, it was the 2016 bid all the time.
Everywhere.
Pat Ryan Chairman of the 2016 Bid Committee, retired CEO of AON Insurance.
Mayor Richard M. Daley, who, in 2008 had been office for 18 years and had never lost a vote or a fight.
Lori Healy, President of the 2016 Committee, former Daley Chief of Staff
Governor Rod Blagojevich, elected to second term of office in 2006 in a landslide victory.
No Games Chicago
• Diverse group social justice activists
• North side, south side, west side
• All volunteers• Not funded by anyone or any group
• First event public forum @ UIC Jan 31 attended by 250
Why we opposed the games• They would’ve bankrupted the city
• They would’ve destroyed public parks
• They would’ve displaced poor and working class families from neighborhoods next to venue sites
• They would’ve provided tens of millions of dollar to the Machine’s political coffers. Result: destruction of independent politics.
THE GAMES ALWAYS MAKE MONEY…FOR THE IOC, FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, FOR CONSULTANTS, FOR CORPORATE SPONSORS…
“Financing is the biggest obstacle,” said Jerry Karlik, a principal at Kargil Development, which has done projects in the South Loop and responded to a bid committee request for expressions of interest in the Olympic Village earlier this year. “There’s going to have to be some sort of assistance: guarantees, tax credits or something.
Mr. Karlik, who attended the luncheon, said he figures lenders today won’t finance more than 60% to 70% of a project, compared with 80% to 90% before the recession. “Someone’s going to have to come to the table to fill the void,” he said.” May 13, 2009
THIS WAS GIVEN TO ALDERMEN IN SECRET BRIEFINGS
BUT… WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTING FOR:
• $86 MILLION TO BUY HOSPITAL SITE?
• TENS OF MILLIONS TO CLEAN UP HOSPITAL SITE?
• $100 MILLION T.I.F. FOR VILLAGE
• $35 MILLION FROM PARK DISTRICT FOR 2 VENUES?
• LOST REVENUES FROM LOSS OF 1,600 BOAT SLIPS FOR 3 YEARS+?
• LOST REVENUES SUCKED UP BY 2 DEDICATED T.I.F.s?
• REPLACING SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE DEMOLISHED?
• BILLIONS FOR SECURITY?
Don’t believe their numbers…• Vancouver athlete’s village
cost up to almost $1 billion NOW for 1,100 units
• BUT 2016’s village for 7,000+ units that won’t even break ground until YEARS from now is ALSO budgetedat $1 billion
VANCOUVER’S BOND RATING LOWERED, CITY FACING BANKRUPCY.
Watch the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MlzsyNh6pk
MAYOR CALLS OLYMPIC VILLAGE A
“$1 BILLION BOONDOOGLE THAT VANCOUVER TAXPAYERS ARE STUCK WITH!”
Watch Francesca tell the truth…
WHEN YOU COOK THE BOOKS, HIDE EXPENSES AND INVENT PROFIT, THAT’S CALLED ENRON ACCOUNTING.
January 31, 2009 – University of Illinois, Chicago
Dr. Chris Shaw, leader of Vancouver Olympic Opposition, author of “Five Ring Circus”
SUMMER 2009
THE MAYOR DEMANDS THE 2016 COMMITTEE GO INTO
THE COMMUNITY…
“50 WARDS IN 50 DAYS”
Sept 29 Anti-Bid Rally at City Hall
Watch brief news clip from ABC News Chicago.
NO PRINT COVERAGE OF NO GAMES IN CHICAGO DAILY NEWSPAPERS!
“I’m from the South Side…”
YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHO
MARTIN RAN INTOLAUSANNE IN OUR
HOTEL LOBBY!
USED IN EVENING NEWS THAT NIGHT SEVERAL TIMES!
POST CARD MAILED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE IOC IN SEPTEMBER AND HAND DELIVERED IN COPENHAGEN.
The challenge – to deliver our materials to the IOC directly.
The obstacle – tight security everywhere, including the Danish army, Copenhagen police, the Secret Service and the 2016 Committee’s own private security detail from Chicago!
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OPPOSES
BID – OP ED PUBLISHED SEPT.20
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
D e live re d to
ioc 9/30/09
OH, AND MARTIN MET HIS IDOL, PELE!
PLAY THE SOUND CLIP!
CHICAGO 2016 RAISED ABOUT $90 MILLION.
CHICAGO RECEIVED 18 VOTES.
THAT’S ABOUT $5 MILLION PER VOTE.
EXPENSIVE, EVEN FOR CHICAGO’S MACHINE.
IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD’VE DONE WITH $90 MILLION IN THOSE
HARD TIMES!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-558211/London-2012-cost-20billion--TEN-times-original-budget-ex-Olympics-chief-predicts.html
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
• Smart strategy = target the decision makers, the IOC• It was an election we had to
win• Ignore Chicago City Council
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
• Tight message = “Games wrong project for wrong place, wrong time.”• Recruited, trained diverse
crew of spokespeople• Message discipline
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
• Excellent research to back up message = Book of Evidence
• Bold tactics to deliver message – Go to Switzerland & Denmark
FEBRUARY TRIBUNE POLL SHOWED 67% FOR OLYMPICS.
EIGHT MONTHS LATER – ONLY 47% SUPORT.
NO GAMES WAS THE ONLY SOURCE OF OPPOSITION.
THE MORE PEOPLE FOUND OUT, THE LESS THEY SUPPORTED THE BID.
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
• Mixed tactics = Street protests + community meetings + Internet & social media
• Kept up the heat, exposed lies, gained credibility
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
• Lack of support from traditional nonprofits, elected leaders, academic centers
• Hard to raise $• Personal sacrifice
LESSONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS
YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL
AND WIN.
Lessons Un-learned
• Grassroots vision of local prosperity
• Privatization• Corruption and insider deals• Death of democracy/civic
discourse in Chicago• Who is watching out for us?• Build winning coalition for 2014…
Tom Tresser312-804-3230
[email protected]@tomsee
www.tresser.com
Materials for community organizing online @
http://tinyurl.com/OrganizingResources