Archive for January, 2012

Protesters Accept New NATO March Route

Organizers of the CANG8 march and the City of Chicago have agreed on a parade route for the May 19th march.  The route for the march will start at Petrillo Music Shell, head west on Jackson to State Street, south to Harrison Street, east to Michigan Avenue
and southward to McCormick Place with a couple more turns along the way.

Key organizers for CANG8 have said that they would agree to the route if it is in writing by Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

For the full article from the Chicago Tribune, please click here.

NATO summit security looks at suspending rail service

The U.S. Secret Service is currently looking into how transportation will be affected during the NATO Summit.  The rail lines running from the South Side into downtown may be shut down during the summits.  By shutting down the rail lines, approximately 25,000 commuters could be disrupted.  This option has been said to be the worst-case scenario.  However, the U.S. Secret Service is still keeping it as an option.

In addition to the rail lines, Lake Shore Drive and the Stevenson Expressway will also be affected.

The U.S. Secret Service will issue a detailed security plan about 2 to 4 weeks prior to the Summit.

For the full article from Crain’s, please click here.

CANG8 Appeals NATO Protest Ruling

Protesters that are a part of the CANG8 group are appealing the City of Chicago’s denial of moving the parade date in court on Tuesday.

The denial of the parade date change is due to the congestion and security concerns from the NATO Summit according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.  Assistant CDOT Commissioner Michael Simon in a statement that “There are not available at the time of the parade a sufficient number of on-duty police officers”.

For the news video from NBC 5, please view below.

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

NATO Staffers to Check Out Chicago

Throughout the week of March 26th, approximately 800 NATO personnel and its 28 member countries will visit Chicago.  Some of the personnel arrived on Sunday while others will be arriving midweek.  The purpose of their visit is to become more familiar with the City of Chicago and McCormick Place.  The visit was announced after a Chicago delegation returned from the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

For the full article from the Chicago Tribune, please click here.

Soldier Field dinner on NATO agenda

On Sunday, May 20th, the NATO delegates will attend a working dinner at Soldier Field.  That same day Michelle Obama will host an outing for the NATO leaders’ spouses.  They will be going to the Gary Comer Youth Center at 7200 South Ingelside.  Officials are still planning the details for the events.

For the full article from the Chicago Tribune, please click here.

Chicago officials deny permit for May 20 NATO protest march

The City of Chicago has denied the date change for the NATO protest from May 19 to May 20.  The city has said that a lack of police officers as well as other security and logistical complications are the reason for the denial of the date change.

Additionally, the city is working to change the parade route by moving the starting point from Daley Plaza to Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park.  The protest committee has rejected the alternative parade route and has mentioned that they will continue to meet with city officials in hopes of working out a mutually agreed upon route.

For the full article from the Chicago Tribune, please click here.

Protesters Reschedule March For Start Of NATO Summit

Protesters with CANG8 have announced that they will move their march from May 19 to May 20 due to the G8 Summit being moved to Camp David.  Joe Iosbaker, with the CANG8 committee, has said that they want to welcome the NATO ministers to Chicago that day.

At the present time, organizers for the protests do not know how many protesters will be showing up to Chicago in May.

For the full article from CBS, please click here.

Most downtown river, lake traffic to be shut for 8 days around NATO

The U.S. Coast Guard is taking steps to restrict boat traffic on both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan near downtown Chicago between May 16 and May 24.

The restrictions that the Coast Guard would like to implement include:

  • Keep all boats and people at least a mile away from Burnham Harbor and the nearby shoreline of Lake Michigan
  • Shut down boat traffic on a four-mile stretch of the Chicago River
  • Shut down boat traffic within a 2,000-yard radius of the Chicago Lock

The Coast Guard may allow boats to enter the restricted zones if they receive permission from the Coast Guard official in charge of Lake Michigan.  Also, the zones may change as it becomes closer to the NATO Summit.

For the full article from Crain’s Chicago, please click here.

Obama on G8 Summit Move

President Obama held a press conference on Tuesday, March 6th.  During the press conference, he was asked by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet about the G8 location change from Chicago to Camp David.

Regarding the change of location, Obama said:
“This was an idea that was brought to me after the initial organizing of the NATO summit. Someone pointed out to me that I haven’t had any of my counterparts that I’ve worked with for three years up to Camp David.  G8 tends to be a more informal setting in which we talk about a wide range of issues in a pretty intimate way, and the thinking was people would enjoy being in a more casual back drop. I think the weather will be good that time of year. It will give me a chance to spend time with Mr. Putin, the new Russian president. And from there, we will fly to Chicago.”

To view the video clip of the press conference from Fox Chicago, please view below.

G8 Location Changed

The White House has released a statement that the G8 Summit will be held at Camp David and not Chicago.  The G8 Summit will take place there May 18-19 while the NATO Summit will take place in Chicago May 20-21.

For the news release from the Chicago Tribune, please click here.

STATEMENT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
“In May, the United States looks forward to hosting the G-8 and NATO Summits. To facilitate a free-flowing discussion with our close G-8 partners, the President is inviting his fellow G-8 leaders to Camp David on May 18-19 for the G-8 Summit, which will address a broad range of economic, political and security issues. The President will then welcome NATO allies and partners to his hometown of Chicago for the NATO Summit on May 20-21, which will be the premier opportunity this year for the President to continue his efforts to strengthen NATO in order to ensure that the Atlantic Alliance remains the most successful  alliance in history, while charting the way forward in Afghanistan. “

STATEMENT FROM CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL:
“We wish President Obama and the other leaders well at the G8 meeting at Camp David and look forward to hosting the NATO Summit in Chicago. Hosting the NATO Summit is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Chicago to the world and the world to Chicago and we are proud to host the 50 heads of state, foreign and defense ministers from the NATO and ISAF countries in our great city May 19-21.”

STATEMENT FROM LORI HEALEY:
“We are honored to be the first major American city to host a NATO summit and look forward to showcasing Chicago to the world. Hosting the NATO Summit is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on Chicago as a global city and an unparalleled destination for travel, tourism, and business.”

NATO Official Not Worried About Potential Disruptions At Chicago Summit

Ivo Daaler, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, spoke to Chicago Council of Global Affairs on Thursday, March 1, 2012.  He told the crowd that the United States is planning to have the security for all those who are invited to the Summits.  Daaler is confident that there will be very little to be concerned about during the meetings.

The City of Chicago is still in the process of developing their security plan for the Summits.

For the full article from NBC, please click here.

City looking to buy ‘blast resistant’ trash cans

Chicago is looking into purchasing 56 blast resistant trash containers.  These containers will aide in reducing the number of fatalities, injuries, and any structural damages.  Contractors who are interested in bidding on these services must provide evidence of testing of explosive devices.

Deputy mayoral press secretary Jennifer Hoyle has said that these are replacements for blast resistant trash cans that the city already owns and will be placed in high risk areas around the city.

The City of Chicago’s plan to keep the trash containers in place is a different approach than New York City’s.  New York City removes all trash containers during major events such as New Year’s Eve.

For the full article from the Chicago Sun-Times, please click here.

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