Today, Communities for an Equitable Olympics (CEO) 2016 has the press conference and rally at King drive and 31st street. After rally CEO has a community forum at Olivet Baptist Church.

Mr. Fayez Khozindar, Chair Person of UTCC, speak in front of all of ally and make press conference with Broad casting Companies regarding Taxi Driver’s situation and what we need to Chicago

Communities for an Equitable Olympics (CEO) 2016 is a coalition of community and labor organizations working to create a community benefits agreement for several of the communities that will be most affected by Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. Members include: Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Action Now, American Friends Service Committee, Centers for New Horizons, SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, The Grassroots Collaborative, The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization, Metropolitan Alliance of Congregations, United Taxidrivers Community Council, and Metropolitan Tenants Organization.

The CEO assert that the principal beneficiaries should be the current residents of the neighborhoods, long-term stakeholders that have endured decades of disinvestment and are threatened by gentrification. While CEO does not oppose Chicago’s Bid for the Olympics, we do not believe that the Olympics should come to Chicago without a community-led benefits agreement process. CEO firmly believes that a sound benefits agreement process will yield a legally binding document with provisions that protect residents, while creating new affordable housing, employment, and transportation opportunities for our neighborhoods.

Core Community Benefits

A community based process should create a legally binding benefits agreement, which should be included with Chicago’s Application for the 2016 Olympics. Organizations whose constituencies that will be most affected by the Olympics must be at the forefront of this process.

1. Residents should not be displaced as a result of eminent domain and no-cause evictions;
2. Affordable housing should be constructed at the site of the Olympic Village for families that make less than 50% of the AMI(Specifically for families making $30,000 and less)
3. All tenants of development projects should provide living wage jobs, with 80% of jobs guaranteed to neighborhood residents for entry-level positions. 50% of construction contract must be with Women and Minority owned business and 90% of apprenticeship opportunities should be reserved for local residents;
4. A public safety should be allocated for parks and public space in neighborhoods that will be affected by the construction of Olympic venues;
5. Commitment must be made to retain current levels of affordable housing for seniors. If seniors are forced to relocate, they must be compensated for relocation and provided with new affordable housing;
6. All public subsides involved in the Olympic process shall be documented and open to public inspection, and must be accountable to communities;
7. Integrated Metra lines with Chicago Transit Authority to improve transportation on the south side;
8. Any proposed school policy change or school closing recommendation must go through a local School Council-Driven community engagement process;
9. Taxi drivers shall earn a living wage via biennial review of fares and the economic factors impacting their earnings;
10. Homeless dwellers should not be forcibly removed from communities without receiving assistance towards long term shelter;
11. Community centers particularly for youth should be built in neighborhoods where Olympic venues will be constructed; and
12. City officials should ensure equitable distribution of city resources such as streets and sanitation and infrastructure.


Steve Kim