Paul Vallas | X
Paul Vallas | X
Paul Vallas, policy advisor for IllinoisPolicy.org, said Chicago residents should not “be swindled by the ‘Bear Stadium Plan’" proposed for the city’s lakeshore.
“22 years ago they were given $1.05B (today’s dollars) to renovate Soldier Field,” Vallas said in a post on X. “And now they want a $1.5B subsidy for a project that is going to deface and corrupt the lakefront. Don’t be swindled by the “Bear Stadium Plan”. Just say NO.”
The Chicago Bears announced their proposed plans for the new stadium on April 24. Plans for the state of the art facility include “a contemporary architectural design which complements the existing architecture featuring an enclosed, fixed roof; spectacular views of Chicago's skyline and lakefront; intimate seating for unparalleled sight lines and open spaces for congregating,” according to the Bears’ press release.
A Chicago Tribune op-ed noted the conflict between the proposed development of the lakeshore and Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, whose Plan of Chicago “established the idea of a city lakefront that would be ‘forever open, clear and free.’”
Burnham’s Plan of Chicago, authored in 1909 as a plan for developing the city, said “the Lakefront by right belongs to the people. Not a foot of its shores should be appropriated to the exclusion of the people.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson showed his support for the announcement, which plans to have the city’s Park District own the lakefront property, and promised residents that they wouldn’t need to raise taxes in order to fund the project.
Governor J.B. Pritzker disapproved of the proposal, particularly the Bears' plan to keep revenue from other events hosted at the stadium, like concerts, calling it a “non-starter.”
Paul Vallas currently serves as a policy advisor for IllinoisPolicy.org. He is a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Before he was appointed to CPS, he served as Chicago city revenue director and Chicago city budget director. He previously ran as a candidate for Chicago mayor, and was defeated by current mayor Brandon Johnson.
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