Olympics 2016 - Let's all exhale!

I saw the writing on the wall when I read that Chicago’s plea for the Olympics 2016 bid was a little flat. Although Chicago had front-runner status, the political landscape did not favor Chicago or the U.S. for that matter.

The best thing about knowing is, well, knowing. We can finally exhale. Chicagoans have been living on the edge of anticipation for a couple of years and now we can finally relax. I know a lot of people are disappointed, but there are some who never wanted the Olympics, particularly the disenfranchised Chicagoans on the south side whose existence would have been disrupted or dismantled completely as Daley bulldozed his way into Washington Park.

As a Chicagoan who grew up in Woodlawn and in walking distance from Washington Park, I just couldn’t imagine something as grand as the Summer Olympics being housed in the congested Washington Park area. Washington Park is one of the largest parks in Chicago, but it is flanked on all sides by apartment buildings and the University of Chicago. Where would everyone park? The University of Chicago sporting and parking facilities would have helped, but it can only offer so much.

Well, whatever. We lost (ouch!)… in the first round (ouch! ouch!). What a hit to the Chicago-Obama ego. Even the magnetic, charismatic, and hugely popular Obama couldn’t pull it off for us. If Obama and Oprah couldn’t reel it in for us, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Meanwhile….

I walked over to the Daley Plaza and took a few pictures of the city hoopla. Large flat-screen viewing monitors and a media broadcasting stage with lights and cameras and dozens of reporters were set up as Chicago covered the Olympics 2016 decision today. At about 10:45am, disappointed city dwellers were already walking away from the Plaza with orange Olympics 2016 t-shirts on and signs and banners swinging from their hands.

Just as one of them was informing me that Chicago lost the 2016 bid in the first round my cell phone was buzzing from various text messages stating the same thing. Since I still didn’t know which country did win the Olympics bid, I continued to walk over to Daley Plaza.

Hundreds of people were crowded inside Daley Plaza, meandering about with a lost “what do we do now?” expression. Reporters with media tags on and steno notebooks in hand were randomly interviewing onlookers on how they felt now that Chicago was out of the running.

I liked all of the energy. But, unfortunately, it was short-lived. And after seeing how Rio de Janeiro with over 50,000 people gathered on the beach celebrated in typical Brazilian style, I think they deserve to finally get the Olympics. 2016 is going to be a fun year.
See you in Brazil!

Buying Black Has its Benefits (BBB)

I just read the Ebony Experiment webpage about an African-American professional couple in the Chicagoland area who have pledged to buy only from Black-owned businesses beginning January 1, 2009 throughout the entire year.

Interestingly, as I renovate a recent investment property, I have done the same thing. So far, all of the people I have worked with have been Black and somehow affiliated with my church too.

• My real estate agent, Betty Clayton, is Black.
• My real estate attorney, Lynette Lewis, was Black.
• Ted Billings, who installed my wrought iron fence was Black.
• My current contractor, Tony Carter, is Black.
• My home insurance is from, Charles Cathey, Jr., a Black franchisee of State Farm Insurance.

They all either attend my church are affiliated with them and although, I have had my issues with them, like any other service contractor, I would not do it differently.

Why? I trust them. Since they all know me and are affiliated with me in some way, they will look out for me. It turns out that that my fiancee, who knows everyone in Chicago, was good friends with Ted Billing's son. I found out about him from a neighbor and he did good work for me.

I could have gone with a Mexican contractor for the fence work but it turned out that after viewing both guy's work, I liked Billing's work better and he had 17 years experience. He helped me think through some logistical issues.

Understand that I also thought about the fact that MY MONEY, large amount of cash was going to one group and here was an opportunity where I could choose where it would go. It could go to the Mexican family or the Black family and I chose to send it to the Black family. It was truly conscious.

With my contractor, I was torn between a Polish contractor and a Black contractor who attends my church. I am happy that I picked who I picked although we got into some arguments a few times. At critical points, I realize that he was looking out for me. He is my choir director at church and also has a radio show on 106.3FM every Sunday. He has had to do some additional critical work that I appreciate and I like that my money is going to support his three children who also attend my church. It feels good.

My real estate agent is the same way. She tends to use Black services too.

Unfortunately, I did not use a Black bank to finance this deal. In retrospect, I should have searched one out and in the next deal, I think I will do exactly that because this is not my last real estate venture.

I like using Black businesses because I have seen that they actually do know what they are doing when given a chance. Their business may not be the most organized, but their work reflects expertise. But more importantly, I can talk frankly and casually with them and work with them better.

Not all Black businesses are scrupulous as my fiancee found out, but neither are all businesses from many other ethnic groups. American is already a witness to the finance crimes of Bernard Madoff who swindled billions of dollars from over 150 people. We have watched our government give $700 billion dollars to the banks that have caused our financial crisis which I mentioned in a previous post.

But I digress. The point is that the least we can do is take a chance on our own people who really overall want to please and contribute to their community than work with strangers who don't care what happens to you nor will ever put money back into the Black community.