The Chicago Tribune elected to report the award in this manner this morning:
Mayor Richard Daley, whose stealthy midnight raid last year resulted in the surprise shutdown of Meigs Field, accepted a first-place award Wednesday from a Washington-based group for openness in government.The City of Chicago itself announces the award here.The Center for Digital Government cited the portion of the city's Web site that contains contract and vendor payment information, bestowing secondary awards on City Hall for the quality of Chicago's home page and an online database on problem buildings. * * *
Steven Whitney, former president of Friends of Meigs, said he was stunned by the award. "The idea you could close a civic asset in the dead of night without notice and then claim openness in government is astonishing," he said. * * *
Meigs was closed to help ensure downtown security at a time of concerns over terrorism and "on behalf of the lakefront," the mayor said. The airport since has been converted into a park.
Pressed on why there was no announcement in advance and time provided for public debate, Daley replied, "It's called trial lawyers. It's called injunction immediately. ... They would enjoin you immediately in the federal court."
The Federal Aviation Administration announced last week that the city faces a $33,000 fine and as much as $4.5 million in other penalties related to the shutdown.
Daley also was asked why there continue to be city contracting scandals despite the public availability of information about contracts. "Human error and greed," he replied. "You see it every day. It is in the public and private sectors. That is why you have to do everything to make everything transparent."
The 1st place Center for Digital Government award referenced was in the Government-to-citizen category: Contract, Vendor and Payment Search Web Site, Chicago, Ill.
Posted by Marcia Oddi at October 7, 2004 12:45 PM