"This is the Mayor's Thing"

Ad spots on the radio, on the TV, on bus carrels, on building walls, and the dog, and pony "community forum" traveling shows just weren't enough, it's time to penetrate the Chicago 2016 Olympic vision into the earlobes of every single rider on the CTA #72 North Avenue bus at rush hour.

I'd heard an Olympic athlete testimonial when I attended a forum at DePaul University for residents of the 32nd Ward, hosted by Ald. Scott Waguespack. There was a tanned, hunky guy named Jeff, a kayaker from South Bend, Indiana sitting in a chair at the front of the air conditioned lecture hall. Jeff told us all that the Olympics changed his life, and he has forged lifelong friendships with people from dozens of countries.

Jeff's voice wasn't the last I'd heard from an Olympian, thanks to an undisclosed investment from Chicago 2016 which skirted the CTA's rules about businesses advertising on the CTA's intercoms, and managed to purchase A LOT of dedicated airspace. In-between the canned, automated voice announcing each bus stop, there was the trademarked "Let Friendship Shine" message, and first person testimonials from other athletes. Again, and again, and again. It was a long bus ride, or at least it felt very long.

Does Lori Healey, chair of the 2016 Committee, and a former Daley Chief of Staff whom left her post in 2008 to chair the Chicago 2016 Committee, ride the bus? I doubt it. Perhaps she is too busy helping to get an extra $20 million from the Chicago Park District that was pledged under the radar recently, for the purpose of building a canoe, and kayak slalom course intended to be a white water rafting park to promote tourism when the 17 days in the summer of 2016 are over, a rafting attraction that not even the Friends of the Park wants, or at least in healthier economic times maybe some people would want.

Call me a pessimist, but I have a hard time getting jazzed about what could be happening in our city in 2016 when the generously funded Olympic euphoria is eclipsed by the reality of what is happening right now. An increasing number of suburban, and urban poor cannot afford diapers, and to me this is the story that should be on everyone's mind. Per this Tribune story by writer Georgia Garvey, a pastor in the suburbs was holding an infant for a parishioner as they were at the food bank. The pastor, Jim Swarthout, noticed that the diaper was wet, and the woman replied that she can only afford two diapers each day, and that she wipes them, and puts them back on her infant. To compound matters, most of the people too poor to afford diapers do not have laundry machines, and most laundromats will not allow the washing of soiled cloth diapers. Daycare centers don't allow cloth diapers, either, and they can't be purchased using food stamps. Soiled diapers lead to infections, and skin rashes. Talk about a frightening entry into the world. In America? **

Under the suggestion of somebody whom saw my update on Facebook about being annoyed by the Olympics "messages" (that's how they got around it; it's a message, not an ad- as if there's a difference) I called #311, the city's nonemergency line at 9:23 a.m. this morning.

A very friendly Miss (or Ms.? ) Dabbs answered the call at 311. I introduced myself, and told Miss Dabbs that I am a rider of the CTA, and that I am one of the near 50% of Chicagoans not in support of the Olympic bid, and that I do not wish to hear the ads on the bus. Miss Dabbs told me gaily that she "likes the bus," but that she has not heard any messages. I asked her if she has any opinion on the Olympics. She gave a hearty laugh, and said, "I can't really say!"

Miss Dabbs was very helpful, though, and supplied both the telephone number of the CTA Administrative Offices (312-664-7200) as well as its address (567 West Lake Street)

When I called the CTA's Administrative Line, I spoke with Sherise, a Customer Service Rep working the phones in the CTA's office.

Sherise took down my bus number- #72, North Ave- and noted that they are taking all the complaints. She wouldn't tell me exactly how many complaints she's received, but something about her tone told me I'm definitely not the only one that has called in. There are 14 customer service reps in the office, she said when I inquired.

Like with Miss Dabbs, I asked Sherise if she has an opinion about the 2016 Olympics.

She refused to answer, and laughed it off, saying, "This is the mayor's thing. I don't know. We're taking all the complaints, though."

Do you ride the CTA? I asked Sherise.

"I do, but I have my iPod on," she replied.

(** Diaper drive, now through Dec. 31st. We're (hopefully) going to fill a local company's moving truck with diapers. More on this in next week's Pipeline eNewsletter. If you'd like to subscribe to the 1x weekly eNewsletter, sent via email only for now, with a focus on the Wicker Park Bucktown community, email streetsofwicker@hotmail.com with the message of "subscribe." Thanks)