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Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff |
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Daley Defends Closing Street for Oprah
Produced by Alex Keefe on Wednesday, September 02, 2009
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(AP/Charles Rex Arbogast) |
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is defending the city's decision to close off part of Michigan Avenue so that Oprah Winfrey can film an episode of her show.
What better way to celebrate The Oprah Winfrey Show's 24th anniversary than to shut down four of the busiest blocks in Chicago for 53 straight hours?
At least, that's how Mayor Daley sees it.
DALEY: This is a great thing we're doing. I wish we could do this every day here in the city of Chicago - how many people will be employed, how much, basically, publicity we will receive throughout the world is unbelievable.
Starting at 12:01 Labor Day morning, the Magnificent Mile will be closed off to vehicles, from Ohio Street to Wacker Drive.
Oprah will start filming her anniversary episode 5 p.m. Tuesday—just in time for rush hour.
That's good news for Oprah fans, but what about drivers?
DALEY: Well, I think they'll understand how important this is.
Daley also points out that The Oprah Winfrey Show—not the city—will foot the bill for the security and the street closure.
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Roberta Yassin, Lake View // Wednesday, September 02, 2009 @ 11:27 AM
This is an inconvenience for Labor Day tourists as well as Chicago residents; a weekend would be acceptable (not during rush hours either). The mayor has proven time and again that "money talks": this it's Oprah's.
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Matt, Clarendon Hills // Wednesday, September 02, 2009 @ 1:35 PM
Don't dare stop in the way of the world's most powerful woman!
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Mary, Indy // Wednesday, September 02, 2009 @ 1:54 PM
I think it's great. Oprah has been broadcasting her show from Chicago for 24 years, and she is paying the cost to make it happen. If she were to move her production company out of Chicago, Would that hurt her or Chicago residents, and economy. I think 24 years-vs-53 hours is a fair trade.
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Maureen // Wednesday, September 02, 2009 @ 8:55 PM
You're kidding, right? What logic says that it's a good idea to shut down one of the busiest areas of the city, thereby making the businesses lose money not only on the local people but tourists that flock there?
But that's okay, because Oprah's massive ego must be fed. What does she care? She's got her BILLIONS of dollars.
Only in Chicago!
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Paul, Logan Square // Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 3:46 PM
"DALEY: Well, I think they'll understand how important this is.
"
Well, I certainly do not. Stoking one person's delusions of grandeur does not seem at all important. And so the ridiculousness continues...
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Ed, Aurora // Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 9:51 AM
Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how many people are going to come downtown for this event? THOUSANDS! You will have more visitors to that part of the city in one day than you would probably see in a month. They are only closing the street to traffic, not closing the businesses! The businesses will not suffer. They will most likely have record sales, especially the restaurants. This is a smart business decision and great publicity for Chicago.
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Anne, West Loop // Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 10:51 AM
Will Oprah compensate the thousands of local commuters that have to leave earlier and find new routes to get to work, appointments and businesses? A good majority of buses route down the Mag Mile and closing it down is a major inconvenience the day after labor day, especially since it's the first day of school for many. Her producers should have done this at Grant Park or in the West Loop by her studio. She and Mayor Daley should be ashamed of themselves for not considering their constituents. Most of us live in the real world--not Oprah's magical wonderland.
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LUNCY HUEBNER, CHICAGO // Saturday, September 19, 2009 @ 3:44 PM
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO PAID THE CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THIS FIASCO THAT SHUT DOWN MICH AVE AND PUT PORTA POTTY OUTSIDE MY DOOR.OPRAH HAS POWER WITH DALEY AND MY TAX DOLLARS
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