But when he came back to town the mayor vowed to look out for taxpayers and make sure any final Olympic agreement would ensure they’re not left with the tab.
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Who’s going to provide billions of dollars worth of insurance and funding, and how will the mayor and his bid committee get them to do it at no cost to the public?
Under city ordinance, Hoffman’s office has wide power to “promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness and integrity in the administration of the programs and operations of the city government by reviewing programs, identifying any inefficiencies, waste and potential for misconduct therein, and recommending to the mayor and the city council policies and methods for the elimination of inefficiencies and waste, and the prevention of misconduct.”
All this is happening when most aldermen hadn’t even finished shaking off the blows they received for signing off on the parking meter mess. Some are already pissed the mayor’s trying to push them around again; they’re not going to enjoy being squeezed additionally by somebody who calls himself the inspector general.
In the past Mayor Daley has always survived his tough spots by letting his critics lose their nerve, get distracted, or simply self-destruct. The difference this time is that there are a whole lot more of them, and each day thousands are reminded of why they’re pissed off when they pull into a public parking space.
