Obama plans to be engaged in urban affairs/"White House Office on Urban Policy" (Chicago: 2010, to rent)

[oakparkdude]

I really recommend to everyone to just put Lubin on your ignore list. He's an outright racist that has very little of intelligence to add to the discussion. Responding to his rants just sidetracks the thread.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

I really recommend to everyone to just put Lubin on your ignore list. He's an outright racist that has very little of intelligence to add to the discussion. Responding to his rants just sidetracks the thread.

I ignore all ideal idealogues, racist or not, prefer someone whose opinions I can't predict 100% of the time apriori.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Again in today's Tribune, an article about transit funding and local government dysfunction. It may be more than even President Obama can overcome.

While others act on transit, city and state officials talk and the CTA waits -- chicagotribune.com

By Jon Hilkevitch - Tribune transportation reporter

November 10, 2008

Chicago officials talk—and so far it's mostly a lot of talk—about the need to shape up the CTA in time for the city to possibly host the 2016 Olympics.

On the state level, elected officials who repeatedly shirked their responsibility to replace crumbling transportation infrastructure in Illinois are now talking, too—perhaps over-optimistically—that the Barack Obama presidency will do much of the heavy lifting.

oh there's enormous hurdles to cross, but i think there's definitely a better chance of getting something done with Obama, rather than with McCain.

it's going to take an entirely new way of thinking. i went to a presentation on high speed rail on Saturday and someone on the panel put it this way - transit in Chicago (and, i'm guessing, the rest of the country) has always been viewed as a business, while people have always viewed the highway system as something that needed help so it was "ok" to subsidize.

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

oh there's enormous hurdles to cross, but i think there's definitely a better chance of getting something done with Obama, rather than with McCain.

it's going to take an entirely new way of thinking. i went to a presentation on high speed rail on Saturday and someone on the panel put it this way - transit in Chicago (and, i'm guessing, the rest of the country) has always been viewed as a business, while people have always viewed the highway system as something that needed help so it was "ok" to subsidize.

That thought line mystifies me. Highways are OK to pour money into like the black holes that they are, but public transit is supposed to earn a profit?

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Having an urban-minded president is a HUGE asset to Chicago and other metropolitan cities.

I agree, It is good to finally have a president that is from the urban city and understands those needs, versus a president that is from a ranch or farm like our current one.

[yinduffy]

If the question is put "What will an Obama Presidency mean for Chicago residents?" I would have to say "A lot."
I have studied past Presidencies for the last 48 years and can say that whatever part of the Country the president comes from will get a lot of Federal funding in projects, business contracts and general improvements. For Example, The Johnson Space Center from LBJ, Ca. military spending was fantastic during he Nixon years, Carter saw the "Sun belt" boom with Atlanta as a hub of development, Reagan from Ca. helped the West coast a lot. George Bush helped Texas again the Under Clinton Arkansas based businesses did fantastic. Obama will help his (and his wife's old political buddies and you can bet there will be big changes in the next four years in Southern Illinois!
I live here in New Hampshire and was a volunteer for Romney mostly to get some help out here in the Northeast where we have been hung out to dry for so long!

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

The OP is talking about Chicago here, and most of your posts have gotten off-topic. Relate it back to Chicago or this will be closed and you can take it to P&OC.

I was wondering when this topic would get back on track, some of these bloggers have their own agendas and make the topics go the direction they want them to go.

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

I posted this in another thread that got sidetracked into racist rants.

Here's what I'm hoping for, specifically related to Chicago, in the upcoming Obama administration.

1. Regarding transportation, the Obama administration can change the guidelines that bias Federal funding towards roads and highways so there is more equitable funding for mass transit programs.

One of the most important agendas in my book, people should be able to get around without using a car all the time. I should be able to walk to my local train station, connect to the train station that connects to Amtrak and go to any major city in the US I want. If I want to go from Chi to Sea...it should be strait shots. I shouldn't have to go to New Orleans to go to Seattle, know what I mean. Makes traveling a hassle unless you use planes.

[PokerPlayer1]

Originally Posted by coolyfett

I should be able to walk to my local train station, connect to the train station that connects to Amtrak and go to any major city in the US I want. If I want to go from Chi to Sea...it should be strait shots. I shouldn't have to go to New Orleans to go to Seattle, know what I mean. Makes traveling a hassle unless you use planes.

That's childishly unrealistic.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1

That's childishly unrealistic.

god forbid some of us don't want to fly or drive everywhere.