Often when CM Dziedzic speaks, it's anyone's guess as to what he means.
However, I think when you examine this particular statement (included at
post's end), it's abundantly clear what he meant:
The public purpose served by the athletic stadium at De LaSalle "is that
youngsters are gonna benefit."
It's also abundantly clear WHICH youngsters CM Dziedzic is speaking about as
the beneficiaries. The youngsters of the general public? Are you kidding?
"The education that the Christian Brothers . . . or the teachers give the
650 students at DeLaSalle . . . it's a great education. I think that's the
public purpose."
The public/public associations between the Park Board and the public schools
certainly do serve a public purpose. And public/private associations such as
that with the Walker (Sculpture Garden) also serve a public purpose.
However, how do you think the Walker proposal would have flown if they had
proposed that the public had access to the Sculpture Garden ONLY after the
hours in which the Walker members used the Garden -- say every Sunday of the
month during the school year. That's exactly the amount of access De LaSalle
was proposing for public use for nine months out of the year, according to
their web site.
CM Dziedzic is unapologetic in his support for a project that provides a
very one-sided benefit for a religious school. By golly, it's a great
Catholic school and Walt believes in calling a spade a spade.
He speaks out openly and directly because he doesn't see anything wrong with
the Park Board giving De LaSalle this absolutely great benefit.
Some don't think this is such a great deal for the public, yet an analysis
of benefit vs. cost to the public has not been addressed by the Park
Board.
At one time public access was quantified (okay, they were miserably small
numbers for public access*, but at least they were numbers).
Of course, that's just what happened to the volunteer service that De
LaSalle was to provide. Once there were numbers, now there are none.
In both cases De LaSalle promises to provide something to the public are
reduced to vague statements that could never be quantified.
This has the benefit of not putting the Park Board on the spot to evaluate
the real public benefit, and it lets De LaSalle off the hook for any real
future commitment. If there's no real standard, no one can be pinned down.
(I don't admire what they're doing, but, man, these people are good! I guess
that's what you get when you hire Leonard Street and Deinard.)
The public is left with assurances that De LaSalle will provide access "at
reasonable ties that do not interfere with De LaSalle's use of such
facilities." Heckofadeal -- for De LaSalle. The public? Not so much.
Leave it to Walt Dziedzic to strip the proposal of all the subterfuge.
Blessed be the straight talkers, for they shall enlighten us all.
Christine Viken -- Stevens Square/Loring Heights
*These are the "lost" quantifiers:
"In addition, De LaSalle agrees to provide the MPRB with access to other
sports facilities that De LaSalle owns with a minimum of 150 hours in the De
LaSalle Gym and 350 hours on the athletic field." --from an earlier version
of the Reciprocal Agreement
Following are the quotes upon which this post was based.
Elizabeth Wielinski wrote [as notes on the MPRB meeting of 11/2]:
Commissioner Dziedzic states that there is a public purpose and it is
"There is a public purpose and the public purpose is that youngsters are
gonna benefit. Whether it be in the classroom with math, reading,
writing or arithmetic or on the athletic field with the obesity problem
that we have today whether it's gonna be playing football or soccer or
just a regular gym class the kids are gonna benefit. The education that
the Christian Brothers or not too many Christian Brothers left anymore,
or the teachers give the 650 students at DeLaSalle most college bound,
40% minority, it's a great education. I think that's the public
purpose." (this is verbatim from the DVD and do not ask me what he meant
I have no idea)
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