Chicago No Longer Seems a Lock to Host Obama’s Library

[Little Star]

Chicago residents at a meeting on Tuesday to discuss proposals to build President Obama’s library in the city. New York City and Hawaii are also vying for the library.

People who live in Chicago know a few things to be true about their city. Winters are brutal. The architecture is first-rate. The Cubs will lose.

In the last few years, they have confidently added another: The Barack Obama Presidential Library will be built here, Mr. Obama’s adopted hometown.

But as the Obamas and their foundation near a decision on the location of the library — after narrowing the options down to Hawaii, Chicago and New York City — someone in their camp recently let it slip that they are not so pleased with Chicago’s bids.

A person close to the Barack Obama Foundation, which is overseeing plans for the library, anonymously told local reporters last month that foundation officials had “major concerns” with proposals from the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Foundation officials were said to be alarmed that the University of Chicago does not yet control the land where the university wants to build the library.

To the shock and horror of residents here, that left Columbia University in New York, where Mr. Obama received his undergraduate degree, as the apparent front-runner. And suddenly a fait accompli has become an open question.

“Can you imagine if he chose to go to New York?” John J. Cullerton, the president of the Illinois Senate, said in an interview. “The president probably wouldn’t be spending a lot of time in Illinois after that. He probably wouldn’t even want to fly into O’Hare.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/us/obamas-library-no-longer-a-lock-for-chicago-and-many-are-alarmed.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Personally, I hope they chose Chicago where the Obamas had made their home.

[MohRokTah]

1. I suspect the Obamas will move to Hawaii after he's completed his term.

Chicago is a brutal city to retire in.

[Little Star]

3. If I had to guess I'd agree with you.....

But I still hope they put his library in Chicago.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Michelle's ties to Chicago go much deeper than Barack's. That could wind up being key.

[Little Star]

4. Both daughters were born at...

University of Chicago Medical Center.

The family has some pretty deep roots in that city.

[JI7]

5. it should be Hawaii

[mahina]

6. hellooo

We're here too...

[tritsofme]

7. I've never expected to spend his post-presidency in Chicago.

It would hurt if he went to New York though.

[Little Star]

8. I don't think he has to live where his library is....

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

9. This sounds like the NFL

and Hawaii is the Los Angeles Coliseum.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[elleng]

11. 'But at least one local elected official

is already looking for a place to lay blame if New York wins out.

“I think it would be Rahm’s fault if Chicago loses the library,” said Bob Fioretti, an alderman who is challenging Mr. Emanuel in his re-election bid in February. “No doubt about it.”

Mr. Fioretti said Chicago’s inability to rally around a single bid, as New York has done, had hurt its chances — an opinion shared by some people who watched the public hearings in the city last week.

Robert D. Blackwell Sr., the president and chief executive of the DuSable Museum of African American History, warned that if Chicagoans kept fighting among themselves, the library could slip away.

“New York City has the land,” he said. “New York City has the money. And if we aren’t careful, we’re going to be sitting around here and New York City will win this thing. And now my question is, how many of you would be happy if New York City won?”'

[global1]

12. I Happen To Agree That It Would Be Rahm's Fault...

Rahm should be offering up some land in the city for the library. He's gone out of his way to land the George Lucas museum. You would think that he would be a big cheerleader to get the library here in Chicago. It would be a great attraction. I don't know why he hasn't come out stronger for it being here.

I would lay the blame at his feet if it winds up anywhere but Chicago.

[elleng]

13. Not familiar with the ins and outs of Chicago politics anymore

(lived in Hyde Park for 10 years,) but was hoping it would be somewhere in Chicago, identifiable with the Obamas.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Bunch of North Siders are doing the usual "lakeside greenspace" shuffle to kill the Library

Meanwhile, they don't seem to mind all manner of structures in even Lincoln Park.

The whole thing's become a gigantic joke.

[elleng]

15. Damn!

Last apartment I lived in was at the lake in Hyde Park, nice park, would be a very nice site but would ruin the view for others on my street!