Election Night Rally in Chicago
It's about to go dizz-own:
City details plans for Obama downtown bash
By Greg Hinz
Oct. 31, 2008
(Crain’s) - If you don’t have tickets for Tuesday night’s Barack Obama party in Grant Park, think twice about coming downtown, because it’s going to be one big mess. That was the message from city officials Friday as they outlined a series of security, transit and other steps they are taking in anticipation of a crowd that some believe could top one million in and near Hutchinson Field at the south end of the park.
The Chicago Transit Authority will be adding extra service election night. Not only will street parking be banned anywhere downtown south of the river but Michigan Avenue, Lake Shore Drive and other thoroughfares will be closed much of the evening.
Officials wouldn’t say exactly how many they will allow to congregate - only about 70,000 tickets have been issued for the Obama event itself - but made it clear there is a limit.
“If Grant Park reaches capacity, people will be turned around,” said Ray Orozco, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. “This is for public safety.”
In particular, people with limited mobility should consider celebrating Mr. Obama’s anticipated election elsewhere, he added.
“Residents will potentially stand outside - and it could get cold that night - for several hours,” he said. “It’s really not a conducive environment for senior citizens to come down, or people with young children.”
Even more blunt was the Rev. Paul Rutgers, executive director of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. “If you don’t have a ticket, do something else,” he advised.
Whatever happens, Mr. Obama and average Chicagoans will be safe, insisted Police Superintendent Jody Weis, whose department caught some flak after assaults near Taste of Chicago in recent years.
“I am extremely certain that we can keep Sen. Obama safe, the neighborhoods safe, the people safe,” he said.
Among steps outlined by officials:
The long-range weather forecast calls for clear skies and a low of a balmy 51 degrees
Guess who got a ticket...
IT'S ME BITCHESSSSS!! © Swizz Beatz
City details plans for Obama downtown bash
By Greg Hinz
Oct. 31, 2008
(Crain’s) - If you don’t have tickets for Tuesday night’s Barack Obama party in Grant Park, think twice about coming downtown, because it’s going to be one big mess. That was the message from city officials Friday as they outlined a series of security, transit and other steps they are taking in anticipation of a crowd that some believe could top one million in and near Hutchinson Field at the south end of the park.
The Chicago Transit Authority will be adding extra service election night. Not only will street parking be banned anywhere downtown south of the river but Michigan Avenue, Lake Shore Drive and other thoroughfares will be closed much of the evening.
Officials wouldn’t say exactly how many they will allow to congregate - only about 70,000 tickets have been issued for the Obama event itself - but made it clear there is a limit.
“If Grant Park reaches capacity, people will be turned around,” said Ray Orozco, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. “This is for public safety.”
In particular, people with limited mobility should consider celebrating Mr. Obama’s anticipated election elsewhere, he added.
“Residents will potentially stand outside - and it could get cold that night - for several hours,” he said. “It’s really not a conducive environment for senior citizens to come down, or people with young children.”
Even more blunt was the Rev. Paul Rutgers, executive director of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. “If you don’t have a ticket, do something else,” he advised.
Whatever happens, Mr. Obama and average Chicagoans will be safe, insisted Police Superintendent Jody Weis, whose department caught some flak after assaults near Taste of Chicago in recent years.
“I am extremely certain that we can keep Sen. Obama safe, the neighborhoods safe, the people safe,” he said.
Among steps outlined by officials:
- On-street parking will be banned between the lake and the Kennedy Expressway, from the river south to Cermak Road (22nd Street) after Tuesday’s rush hour.
- Intermittent “rolling” closures are likely on Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, and sections of Balbo and Columbus drives will be shut as early as Saturday. Buses will not be allowed to drop off passengers on Michigan Avenue.
- Anyone with a ticket to the party should enter on Congress, walk east to Columbus and then south. Anyone else will be turned north on Columbus, until the park reaches capacity.
- Monroe Harbor will be closed, and boaters will not be allowed to observe the festivities from the water.
- The CTA will operate at rush-hour levels starting mid-afternoon on Tuesday through 2 a.m. Wednesday. But with large crowds expected, bicycles will not be allowed on trains between 4 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday. More details of the CTA’s plans are on its Web site: Transitchicago.com
- As previously reported, virtually the entire Chicago Police Department will be on duty, with all days off cancelled. Mr. Weis said other law enforcement agencies will be on call in case they are needed, but he believes the department has adequate staff for the job.
- Metra said it would add extra trains both early in the afternoon for those who want to avoid crowds commuting home, and between 11 a.m. and 1 a.m. for late revelers. Those travelling downtown that evening will get able to get a special $5 round-trip ticket. The rail service also noted that its Electric Line stop at Roosevelt Road will be closed after 10 a.m. Tuesday; riders should use the Van Buren stop.
The long-range weather forecast calls for clear skies and a low of a balmy 51 degrees
Guess who got a ticket...
IT'S ME BITCHESSSSS!! © Swizz Beatz