Mayor Rahm Emanuel hasn’t changed his mind on plan to revamp Wrigley
By Fran Spielman City Hall Reporter fpsielman@suntimes.com November 2, 2011 10:30PM
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces New Trade Show commits to McCormick Place and many existing Trade Shows renew contracts following Labor settlement, Friday, October 28, 2011 . | John H. White~Sun-Times.
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Updated: December 4, 2011 11:15AM
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday he shares the excitement of Cubs fans about the arrival of Theo Epstein, but that won’t change his mind about a taxpayer-financed plan to renovate Wrigley Field.
Emanuel wants to find a way to save Wrigley without forfeiting 35 years’ worth of amusement-tax growth. The mayor has called that plan a “non-starter.”
Epstein’s arrival is expected to breathe new life into that stalled plan and failed efforts to relax the ballpark’s landmark status.
The mayor was asked whether Epstein’s arrival makes him any more willing to sign onto the Wrigley plan or modify the landmarking restrictions that have tied the Cubs’ hands.
“Do you think that by choosing a guy called Theo Epstein that this mayor, Rahm Israel Emanuel, would be more sensitive to their needs? Is that what you were asking?” Chicago’s first Jewish mayor said.
“I’m excited that the Cubs have made this decision and wish him the best. But I am not changing my perspective from the taxpayers just because people are excited. I will still evaluate anything I do as it relates to Wrigley Field based on the interests of the taxpayers. That’s who I’m negotiating for,” he said.
