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White House Olympic event next week By Stacey BacaSeptember 9, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- It appears Chicago's Olympic bid is also on the president's radar.
Mayor Daley says the White House will host an Olympic and paralympic day next week.
The news followed Wednesday's unanimous vote by the City Council to take full financial responsibility if Chicago is awarded the 2016 Games.
President Obama supported Chicago's 2016 bid on camera. Now U.S. Olympic officials want him to meet face to face with the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen.
Story continues belowAdvertisement"There is an expectation level by the voting members of the IOC for the president to be there. And the other heads of state have all committed to be there. So we're hoping President Obama will show up and participate," said Larry Probst, USOC, chairman of the board.
"It would be a big positive if he were there and arguable a bigger negative if he weren't there and all other heads of state did show up," said Dick Pound, IOC member.
Especially since the President is from Chicago, leading the nation with fellow Chicagoans like Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod and Rahm Emmanuel, key sources for Mayor Daley.
"I don't see how they can turn the Mayor down if he wants Obama to go since all of them got their start with the Mayor, "said Prof. Paul Green, Roosevelt University.
On Wednesday, the City Council backed Mayor Daley and the games one by one
"I'm a cheerleader for 2016!" said Alderman Bernard Stone.
"In the end, the alderman unanimously supported an ordinance that allows the mayor to sign the Olympic host city contract. That means the city will be responsible for picking up the tab.
The mayor insists that insurance guarantees will protect taxpayers up to $1.5 billion.
"I understand the public had questions, they should. The marketing wasn't done that well by Chicago 2016. People got confused. Recession is out there. Yes, that had responsible questions and we answered every responsible question," said Mayor Daley.
Chicago taxpayers along the lakefront on Wednesday night were divided.
"I say let's go for it. I'm willing to put myself on the line and pay some extra taxes to bring the Olympics to Chicago. It would be amazing," said Jessica Cappelli, Chicago resident.
"Everybody is going to end up paying in the end, "said Sheyssa Rosado, Chicago resident.
US Olympic officials say, in the past, having the head of a country attend the final process really made a difference. They credit Tony Blair for helping London secure the 2012 Summer Games. Russia's Vladamir Putin also showed up when his country won the 2014 Winter Games.

Injured motocyclist could get $3.25 million after hitting sinkhole
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September 8, 2009

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
A 33-year-old motorcycle rider who suffered multiple spinal fractures after striking a Chicago sinkhole would receive $3.25 million in damages, under a settlement advanced Tuesday by a City Council committee.

Juan Munoz was riding his motorcycle in the 900 block of South Western on Sept. 4, 2000 when he hit a sinkhole that, one neighbor claimed, had grown to 36-inches in diameter.

Months before the accident, Water Department crews had repaired a leaking water main at that address, only to have neighbors complain again about a sunken street.

On Aug. 24, 2000, an inspector from the city’s Department of Transportation concluded that the concrete base of the repair had failed, prompting the street to sink. No repairs were made prior to the accident.

After hitting the sinkhole, Munoz was thrown from his motorcycle and struck a parked car.

He suffered multiple fractures of the cervical spine, a stroke and a cerebral edema. Nine years later, he still cannot move his right arm, nor has he regained vision in his right eye. He also suffers from decreased pulmonary function, weakness in his right leg and spasms in both legs.