Quigley Speaks on Top Ten Reasons Why Chicago is His Kind of Town, With or Without Olympics
WASHINGTON Tonight, Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) will deliver the following homage to the City of Chicago on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Tune into C-SPAN shortly to watch Rep. Quigley read this Top Ten List of why Chicago is his kind of town, with or without the Olympics.
Prepared remarks are as follows. Video will be available on Q-Tube shortly after the speech.
Madam Speaker, George Will once said that, "Chicago Cub fans are ninety percent scar tissue."
"So, as we stand here four days after the city of Chicago and all of the United States were disappointed by the IOC's decision, I can assure you there is no city better-equipped to handle a little disappointment.
And despite the tremendous efforts of President and Mrs. Obama, Mayor Daley, Pat Ryan, and thousands of volunteers, that's exactly what befell my hometown last week: Disappointment.
But the City of Chicago has already shaken it off and is waiting with open arms for the world to come visit.
Because as I said before, Chicago was a world-class city before the Olympic decision and will be a world-class city tomorrow.
My hometown is often referred to as "The Second City."
But most people don't realize that the nickname has nothing to do with our relationship to other cities.
The name refers to a city which was rebuilt in the years following the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
A city where we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, dust off our Big Shoulders, and get back to work.
So with congratulations to Rio, I'd like to offer a list of the Top Ten Reasons the world should still stop by for a slice of deep dish in Chicago, the greatest city in the world.
#10: The Architecture
One of Chicago's great residents, Daniel Burnham, was known for saying, "make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." From the Louis Sullivan buildings downtown to Mies van der Rohe's collection at IIT to the neighborhood bungalows to the Willis Tower that scrapes the sky, Chicago's architecture is distinct and historic.
#9: The Schools
I'm a proud graduate of Roosevelt University, the University of Chicago, and Loyola University, and I've had the honor of teaching young Chicagoans as well. Chicago is a place that inspires great ideas, but the Windy City is also a destination for the world's greatest minds. Close to 90 Nobel laureates have passed through the halls of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Their work, as well as those at DePaul University, North Park University, University of Illinois, IIT, and several other institutions gives me great hope that Chicago will continue to produce leaders who will solve tomorrow's problems.
#8: Green Space
My district is home to one of the country's largest urban parks, Lincoln Park, which is also home to the oldest public zoo in the country.
Want to play sixteen inch softball? You've got 552 parks to choose from. No glove needed.
The forest preserve system is home to 68,000 acres of open space - and I was proud to help keep it that way during my time on the County Board.
#7: The Lake
Chicago has one of the most beautiful shorelines in the world. 26 miles of lakefront, with 15 miles of beaches, and 19 miles of lakefront trail are enjoyed by residents year round. It's a front row seat to one of the largest freshwater sources in the world - and a reminder of our responsibility to conserve it
#6: The Museums
The Art Institute of Chicago displays some of the most famous pieces of previous centuries - and trains artists to produce the finest works of this century. Whether it's exhibits about science, nature, astronomy, history, or culture, our museums all provide perspectives and a first-hand education not available anywhere else on earth.
#5: The Arts
Chicago's music is played all around the world, wherever people love the blues, gospel, jazz, or rock and roll. We're also home to the preeminent Chicago Symphony Orchesta, the Lyric Opera, and several award-winning theaters.
Most of the great comedians on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock came through Chicago too, home of The Second City comedy troupe.
The work of our artists, actors, writers, dancers, and creators not only grace the award-winning stages and halls of Chicago, but have put a lasting stamp on world culture.
#4: The Food
I guarantee you no one in Copenhagen has ever had a proper hot dog or slice of pizza unless they've spent a little time in my kind of town.
From breakfast at Ann Sather's to a chicken dinner at MacArthur's through a midnight snack at the Wiener Circle and all the pierogi, tacos, and steaks in between, it's got to be the finest eating city on earth.
#3: The Sports
All of our teams are among the oldest in their leagues, and all of them play right in the city.
They've all won championships - some more recently than others - but hey, everyone is entitled to a bad century.
#2: The Neighborhoods
Chicago has a beautiful downtown - nothing is more majestic than coming inbound or outbound on Lake Shore Drive.
But it's the diverse neighborhoods that make us world-class. The world doesn't need to come to Chicago - it already has:
From Bowmanville to Bronzeville, Portage Park to Albany Park, Pilsen to Pullman - take the L around Chicago, and you've visited dozens of countries without ever leaving city limits.
Finally, the top reason the world should come to Chicago is the same reason I've never left.
#1: The People
The Second City has always been Second to None.
Why?
Because the people of Chicago look not at what we lost last week in Copenhagen, but at what we now have the opportunity to accomplish.
We know that our organizing efforts were not wasted.
We can build better schools on safer streets.
We can build better transit with greener technology.
And beyond our bid plans, lay big plans for our future.
In the words of the Superdawg, one of Chicago's iconic hot dog stands, I look forward to welcoming you by saying "Hiya, from the bottom of my pure beef heart."
Mr. Speaker I look forward to coming back next summer with the Chicago Stanley Cup."