Alderman calls Mayor Daley’s comments on children’s museum unconscionable

A South Side alderman blasted Mayor Daley’s comments about the controversial Chicago Children’s Museum move, saying the comments were “unconscionable.”

Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) compared Daley’s reaction to when she was fighting in City Council to pass a living wage ordinance. Daley is “wrong for trying to impose his will” upon Ald. Brendan Reilly (48th) and his constituents who oppose the move, she said.

The Navy Pier museum has been the center of a heated discussion since September when it was reported that Daley suggested race was a factor for residents’ opposition toward the plans to build at Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park.

“I was in support of the living wage ordinance and what he did to that is the same thing he did here, which is to accuse the people of being racists,” Preckwinle said. “So, this is old news as far as I’m concerned.”

Preckwinkle said the dispute is actually more about aldermen being able to decide what’s best for their constituents than about the proposed site for the Children’s Museum. She said she has spoken with Ald. Reilly about the museum and supports his efforts.

“I’m prepared to support my colleague and his evaluation for what’s good for his constituents and his community,” Preckwinkle said. “I think the problem is [if] the Mayor can decide what gets done in people’s wards over their objections, we’re all in trouble.”

Bob O’Neill, president of Grant Park Conservancy, a group that supports the museum’s move, said misinformation and overreaction are scare tactics being used by some area residents.

“This has been turned into a very controversial issue because of one reason,” O’Neill said. “The Mayor is taking on an alderman and whether or not he [Mayor] can get that vote through City Council.”

Betsy Vandercook, chief of staff for Ald. Joe Moore (49th), said what she has been hearing through “the grapevine” is that the conflict between Ald. Reilly and Mayor Daley “really comes down to aldermen having the last say in what happens in their ward.”

Vandercook, speaking on her own behalf, said aldermen are concerned with continuing to have “the privilege” to decide what goes on in their ward. And if they were to lose that, then “we’re screwed.”

“You can’t let the mayor run roughshod over the neighborhood,” said Vandercook.

Other Aldermanic Views

Ald. Manuel “Manny” Flores (1st) said the mayor’s concern is a fair one and it is about making sure “we have a city that’s open to everyone.” He said aldermen are “sympathetic” to Reilly dealing with such an issue.

Ald. Ed Smith (28th) said the issue is not about race but about people’s wishes and Reilly trying to represent his constituents.

“I was elected to follow the wishes of my people,” Smith said. “And I think he(Reilly)’s doing the same thing. We’re all entitled to that.”

Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) said in an e-mail that City Council “will have a lot to weigh when deliberating on this matter” since the 42nd ward is considered one of “significance” and race “should have never entered this discussion.” Judgments about the museum issue should be based on “the merits” of the museum’s plan, said Jackson.

Dick Simpson, former 44th Ward alderman and political science professor at UIC, said if he were in council today he would push to choose another site. He said the impact of the museum’s move should also be under consideration.

Residents Unifying

Residents in the area voiced concerns about increased traffic the museum could bring and a possible violation of legal statutes that have kept Grant Park free and clear of buildings.

The museum at Navy Pier occupies 57,000 square feet and draws 500,000 visitors annually. The museum wants to move to Daley Bicentennial Plaza and nearly double its space, with nearly 100% of the building below upper Randolph Street, according to Natalie Keiger spokeswoman for the museum.

Keiger would not comment on efforts the museum has been taking to gain aldermanic support for their plans to move to Grant Park.

Richard Ward, president of New Eastside Association of residents, believes Mayor Daley is leaning on aldermen to pass an ordinance allowing the museum to move. Ward has been lending support, too but said Reilly fears his “aldermanic prerogative” won’t be respected this time.

Reilly has been strategizing with aldermen and constituents to fend off the plan to build in Daley Bicentennial. He handed out Lois Wille’s “Open, Free and Clear,” a novel detailing the legal battles to keep Grant Park and the lakefront preserved, at a recent council meeting. Wille is publicly supporting the mayor according to media reports.

Reilly has had a number of conversations with other aldermen to find out whether they will support the proposal or his efforts to block it since passing out the book, according to Reilly’s chief of staff, Jeff Riley. He has an open meeting offer to Mayor Daley.

“We’re sort of in a holding pattern right now to see if or when the museum plans to introduce something,” Riley said.

Calls to the Mayor’s office to discuss Preckwinkle’s comments were not returned. Whether or not Reilly will have ‘aldermanic prerogative’ remains to be seen.