Daley mum on Cubs' night games

November 20, 2003

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

A long-stalled agreement allowing the Cubs to phase in 12 more night games over the next three years finally was introduced at the City Council meeting Wednesday. But there's another snag: Mayor Daley still is sitting on the sideline.

''I didn't say I was for or against it. ... I have not taken a position on it,'' Daley said. ''The community must be heard. ... As I understand it, there are more community meetings. The last one was quite contentious.''

The mayor's arms-folded stance is curious considering his own police department set the stage for Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) to introduce the 15-year deal by agreeing to dramatically increase police presence in a broad area around Wrigley Field.

Daley's characterization of the community meeting Monday at Lemoyne School was equally surprising to those in attendance.

''This country is a democracy,'' Cubs president Andy MacPhail said. ''If you have 60 or 70 percent of the vote, it's determined to be a landslide. Our margin was probably in that area, if not beyond. I was pleased with the results.''

Jim Ludwig, president of the LakeView Citizens Council, called the meeting ''surprisingly harmonious. There are definitely some in the neighborhood who will never want any night games. But there's a huge other group of people who want to make this work and realize there are necessary compromises.''

As for the mayor's comments, Ludwig said, ''It's curious and disconcerting. ... If he has more questions, we can talk about it. There's a tremendous amount of work that's gone into this. For it all to fall apart for his lack of support would be unfair for all of us who have worked so hard.''

Tunney can only hope Daley's comments don't signal another delay in a negotiating process that already has dragged for 2-1/2 years.

''The Cubs have made substantial improvements to the quality of life in our community,'' Tunney said. ''To help fund that, they're asking for additional games. Without additional games, the Cubs are not obliged to provide any neighborhood protections for next year. The agreement expired last year. They've been acting on good faith.''

The agreement introduced at the council meeting Wednesday would allow the Cubs to play 30 night games by 2006 -- up from 18. They would be added in four-game increments, beginning next season.

The ordinance includes promises the team has made to the community in exchange for its support: a $1 million fund to address neighborhood concerns; at least one year of free remote parking and extending shuttle bus service to weekend games; a $100,000 contribution toward an engineering study on a permanent Addison Street entrance ramp to Lake Shore Drive; and elimination of 2:20 p.m. Friday games.

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