More than a year has passed since 49th Ward alderman Joe Moore edged out challenger Don Gordon by just 251 votes in last April’s aldermanic runoff. But in Rogers Park, political battles never really end—they just move on to other fronts. Right now the warring factions are fighting over the Park District’s Gale Community Center, a recently completed facility at Howard and Marshfield.
In March 2007 construction finally began—just in time for an election-eve photo op of yet another ground-breaking. The center was completed a year later. Originally budgeted at $5 million back in the 90s, it ended up costing twice that in state and city funds and charitable donations, Moore says. The 18,325-square-foot facility contains a gym, a fitness room, locker rooms, two meeting rooms, and offices.
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Moore says he brought the idea to Park District superintendent Tim Mitchell’s attention. “Tim loved the idea,” says Moore. “How can you be against the Boys & Girls Club? They do a great job.”
McCann says Moore and the Park District should have been up front about wanting a private group to operate the center. “The Park District shouldn’t fall into the habit of awarding contracts behind the advisory council’s back,” she says.
The union’s not about to drop its opposition—not with good union jobs at stake. As they see it, there’s an important precedent here: if Mitchell can get away with farming out operations at Gale Park, he’ll start doing it at other parks.
It seems Moore is looking for a face-saving way out of the dilemma. On Friday he sent out an e-mail assailing the McCann faction for distorting the issue and assuring his constituents that the Park District would staff the center. Saying they don’t trust Moore, McCann and her allies held a protest rally Saturday, brandishing signs that said “Parks for the People” and “No to Joe.”
