THE IMBROGLIO IN CHICAGO

(NRA Conventioneer)

  

There are two contenders for the use of Chicago’s hotel space in May 2012.  I will line up the two contestants:

In one corner:

NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CONVENTION

On November 15, 2010, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley proudly proclaimed that the National Restaurant Association (NRA) had signed a five-year agreement to keep its annual convention in Chicago. “One of the most important parts our city’s economy -- historically, in the present and in the future -- is our convention and tourism industry. If it isn't healthy, it costs us jobs, revenue and other economic activity. This is a real victory for Chicago.” The press release issued by the City also said, “The Restaurant Association has held its annual show in Chicago for 61 consecutive years. It brings 66,000 attendees to the City, books 45,000 hotel room nights and generates direct expenditures each year of more than $100 million.”

The worst infraction that the people who attend the NRA convention commit is getting drunk and wearing a paper party hat at Dick’s Last Resort. (But hey…  it’s Chicago, right?  We’re just fun people who encourage that sort of thing...)  The point is, this convention does not need extra security.  It does not need to cost the taxpayers of Chicago anything for its presence.  The event, in the end, means nothing but profit for our city, our hotels and restaurants, cab drivers etc.

In the other corner:

(G8 Riot police and anarchists clashed in Rostock)

NATO and G-8 Summits

For the first time in 34 years (London 1977) these two international summits will meet in the same city at the same time.  According to Greg Hinz in Crain’s Chicago Business, NATO/G8 is “expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors, each with their own security.”  Chicago Mayor Emanuel hopes to get private donors to supplement the city’s security resources because previous summits have brought large-scale protests and violence to the host cities.

Emanuel lobbied President Obama to bring the meeting to Chicago and said, "While there will no doubt be security needs, this is also an opportunity for the city that is unprecedented from an economic standpoint, a job-creation standpoint," Emanuel said. "For us, from a city perspective, this will be an opportunity to showcase what is great about the greatest city in the greatest country."  Mr. Mayor, your sentiment is right on, but your direction could use some guidance counseling.

Already at least 50 anti-war organizations have been scouting locations to hold their demonstrations and protests.  A year-long process of planning for security has already begun. Police Superintendent Gene McCarthy said, “We have to train for mass arrests. We have to train 13,000 police officers in arrest procedures and containment procedures.  At the same time, we will not stop patrolling the city.”  Really?

In every previous occasion, these summits have brought violent clashes between demonstrators and police.  Businesses burned.  People have been killed

The Victors of the Battle:

Currently the NRA has booked hotel rooms in Las Vegas and is considering moving its convention.  Their 61 years of loyalty to the City of Chicago has been totally destroyed by what Emanuel has done.

The losers here are the NRA conventioneers and the citizens of Chicago.

The winner?  Clearly, there is none.