Rahmbo wants to limit protesting during the upcoming G-8 and NATO summits

[marmar]

from the Chicago Tribune:



Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants blanket authority to spend money on next spring's G-8 and NATO summits along with new restrictions on protesters sure to flock to the pair of international events.

Time is of the essence, the mayor said. But nearly six months after announcing Chicago had landed the prestigious gatherings of world leaders, Emanuel has yet to offer any estimates of the cost or how much taxpayers might be asked to cover.

In seeking the expanded powers, Emanuel's move echoed steps taken by former Mayor Richard Daley leading up to the city's failed bid for the 2016 Olympics and its successful hosting of the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Like his predecessor, the new mayor dismissed concerns.

"They are a one-time deal, only to deal with G-8 and NATO," Emanuel said, stressing that the world's eyes will be on Chicago when world leaders come to President Barack Obama's hometown in mid-May. "They are not for anything else. It's very specific. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-g8-control-20111215,0,7127378.story

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. Although fictional, Rambo was a man of action. This guy is just a loud mouthed douche. If only he

were just as "ballsy" when it comes to dealing with right wingers.

[Angry Dragon]

2. This country was founded by protesters ....... we call them Patriots

Today a Democratic mayor wants to shut the protesters down
because they make HIM look bad

He says he wants the city to look good
The way to look good is to let the people speak
and not just the rich and powerful
coming to the city to decide what happens to the people of the world..............

[jwirr]

3. Wonderful reminder of our Founding Protesters. As to Rahm if he wants to look good then he needs

to find a way to accommodate protests at these meetings. It is the American way.

[msongs]

4. his role model in the white house can just "disappear" all the protestors for him nt

[frazzled]

5. The horrors: you can only be in the parks or beaches from 6am to 11pm

and loud noise and public assemblies will be limited from 8 am to 10 pm

As a resident of downtown Chicago, I hope these rules (just slightly amended from the normal rules that are in force every day here) are enforced. Actually, I wish these meetings weren't being held here at all. It's a recipe for disaster, imo. People are looking to provoke the police in these situations, and I don't want my city turned into a Seattle. I think it's nuts to have it in the middle of a major city.

Frankly, they haven't said exactly where it will be yet. I'm hoping they move it to a venue that is far removed from the center of town.

[2pooped2pop]

6. In a normal world those restrictions might be all right.

But there is noting normal about this world. Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone. I hope Occupy calls for major protests. I will be there if they do. Sorry, it's your city, but it's our country that is dying. Protesting is really a minor inconvenience compared to the "inconvenience" most of us are going through just trying to survive anymore.

[frazzled]

7. I really wasn't talking about inconvenience

I can stock up on provisions and clear any meetings, etc.

I'm more worried about my city: about our beautiful parks being trampled (and at a time when we can ill-afford to pay for the repairs); about broken windows and damage; about getting a bad name, which took so many years to live down after 1968; about the cost of the mess when this city, like so many others, has inherited a huge budget shortfall.

I am a supporter of the ideas the protesters will be bringing to these meetings. But I'm not a supporter of the tactics most often used. I'm not naive. I know that you don't get on television if you stand around nicely on the sidelines holding placards. We've seen G-8 protests before, and they are often are aimed specifically at provoking police actions and arrests. That's how you get on TV. Unfortunately, your message then gets lost, and support is lost, too. The point should be to win hearts and minds, not just to provide boosterism to the already converted. And the anarchist bent that lies behind all the G-8 protests has neither won hearts and minds of the general public nor really accomplished any goals over the last decade.

OWS has had a pretty successful run here--but precisely because after the first week or two they decided NOT to press to set up encampments in Grant Park, which had an existing close time that the mayor (who met with them) said he was not going to change. A decision was made instead to keep a 24-hour presence in the financial district, and to do teach-ins and community outreach, as well as targeted protests, instead of bumping heads with the cops (who are also part of the 99%). It's worked pretty well here so far. But I fear that with people coming from all over the world, it could get really rough.

If you do come, please tell your fellow protesters to respect the hard work that we 99%ers do here every day to make sure our city provides the best for everyone. We love our concerts in the park, which everybody of every race, class, and economic group attends. We love our public sculpture and our world-class architecture, which helps bring people here from all over and lets many keep their jobs. We sort of love our trains and buses (they could use some help). At any rate, welcome to Chicago ... get the message out and make sure the rest of us don't get stuck with a big bill and a bad rep.

[2pooped2pop]

8. real occupiers are not the ones that will cause any

of these problems. Now the police force, is perhaps another issue.

We don't break things. We don't tear things up. We don't resist, except passively. We even clean up after ourselves. We don't support or promote those that don't respect your city.

It won't be OWS that will be causing any problems. (ok, maybe a little grass trampling with all the people, and all.) Bet they'd pay for the seed and sow it too though.

I do hope I get to come and see your city again. It's been many years, and I do not want to see any damage done to it either.

I don't see any similes to post here but imagine that I posted the smiley who is waving Hi.
and maybe the hug one.