35,000 to over 100,000 expected at G-8/NATO summits

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Alexis Passadakis, campaigner for Gerechtigkeit-Jetzt, or Justice Now, speaks into a megaphone at a protest against the G-8 summit to take place the following week in Heiligendamm, Germany, in front of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's office in Berlin, Germany, Friday, June 1, 2007. Police expect as many 100,000 anti-globalization protesters to rally in northern Germany tomorrow against the Group of Eight summit. Organizers say the numbers will be swelled by the heavy-handed tactics of the authorities. Photographer: Adam Berry/Bloomberg News

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Updated: February 19, 2012 8:13AM

The security issue . . .

◆ Hmmm: The official number of protesters expected thus far by Chicago Police at the G-8/NATO summits here this spring: 10,000.

◆ The unofficial number: “Anywhere from 35,000 to 100,000,” according to several Sneed sources familiar with Chicago’s security issues. “We’ve been told to head out of town because 200,000 people are expected,” said a Cook County source.

◆ Buckshot: “The City Council Budget committee was just informed 10,000 protesters were expected due to the amount of permits requested,” said a City Hall source. “But there are complaints preparations for handling protests at the police level thus far are incomplete.”

◆Bazooka shot: “The anarchists are also lining up people from groups all over the country,” said another top source. “Let’s hope we’re prepared for any eventuality.”

Romney file . . .

◆ $$$$: Sneed is told GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who filled his war chest with $56 million in 2011, raised only $2 million in Illinois.

◆ The flipside: It’s the momentum: Sneed hears $1 million was raised within a 10-day period before the end of the year at two fund-raisers tossed by Susan Crown and Reeve Waud.

Romney factoids . . .

The top GOP contender ate Jimmy John’s sandwiches en route to Chicago during
his last visit and signed a wall at Gino’s East restaurant. He typically orders decaffeinated green tea at Starbucks, does not drink cola and regularly drinks chocolate milkshakes on the campaign trail. There ya go.

Coo corner . . .

The magic of Ali: The unexpected relationship between actress Meg Ryan and singer John Mellencamp is still very much on track: Sneed is told Ryan accompanied Mellencamp to Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday bash in Louisville this weekend, where Mellencamp performed. “She [Ryan] was supportive and looked proud,” said a Sneed source. “But she sure is tiny.”

◆ The uber megabash honoring Ali set for Feb. 18 in Las Vegas, which is expected to draw superstar power, is at the MGM Grand hotel, where the cheapest ticket is now $1,500.

Oh oh Oprah!

Where’s Oprah? In case you are wondering where in the world is Oprah Winfrey these days, the answer is: in India interviewing Deepak Chopra . . . and wearing a red sari during a night out in Mumbai with the rich folks.

The royal watch . . .

Giving the press a royal one-up: The latest addition to England’s royal household, which has members of the Brit tabloid press panting at a possible royal pregnancy, is
a . . . dog.

◆ To wit: Prince William gave wife, Kate (nee Middleton), a black Labrador retriever puppy for her 30th birthday this month — which has royal wags wondering if the past royal canine repast will be revisited: poached chicken or liver, or rabbits shot by Princes William and Harry and crumbled baked scones.

The Kardashian watch . . .

◆ Good grief: Did former Olympian Bruce Jenner, the uber vain hubby of mama Kris, the matriarch of the disgusting Kardashian clan, undergo the cosmetic knife again . . . did he get accidentally bopped . . . or is something besides vanity the reason for the huge scar on one side of his face?

◆ Answer: It’s reportedly from surgery to remove an early form of skin cancer.

Sneedlings . . .

Today’s birthdays: Mark Messier, 51, and Kevin Costner, 57.