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A check of online booking sites for stays starting Thursday through July 4 shows rooms are widely available. But Michael Jacobson, of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, said that NASCAR, for all the fanfare, was never expected to fill downtown hotels to capacity. “It’s going to be a very strong weekend. And hotel metrics are not the only measure of success for these events.”
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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“He said NASCAR, for all the fanfare, was never expected to fill downtown hotels to capacity.”
C’mere Sooey, let me put some lipstick on you piggie!
Good for the hotel and tourism guys trying to put a positive spin on this. But like several comments before, it used to be that the weekend of the Fourth, plus fireworks and some other festivals, meant sold out hotels. And so add a NASCAR race on top of that? We ought to be oversold by 20%. So sad.
Downtown hotel workers will tell you how dangerous the Loop is — especially at night – even more so on the weekend
Breaking News! 3 NASCAR drivers carjacked during race, tape at 10!
Back in “normal times” hotels would be fully booked for the 4th… like Frisco, Chicago now has a deservedly bad rap amongst travellers…
Years ago wanted to take the wife and kids to Frisco. Started reading up on it and decided against it. Now my first rule when looking is no big city blue state vacation. NASCAR, fireworks etc. July 4th weekend hotels should be booked solid. The fact that they’re not tells you something.
There’s a car race of sorts on tap to see who can drive out of Chicago, Cook County and the State of Illinois the fastest. Just leave any propensity to vote Democratic behind.