Daley asks Cubs to pay, play nice

By Gary Washburn
Tribune staff reporter

December 17, 2003

The Cubs should upgrade services in the area around Wrigley Field next season--even if the team isn't granted more night games--or risk being labeled a bad neighbor, Mayor Richard Daley said Tuesday.

A day after Daley delayed consideration of an ordinance that would allow the Cubs four additional games under the lights in 2004, he sought to hold the team's feet to the fire if the measure cannot be tweaked fast enough to give Major League Baseball time to put the night games on the schedule.

"I would always be a good neighbor," he advised. "Neighbors have real rights."

The Cubs now are permitted 18 night games a year, and the proposed ordinance would allow that to increase in phases over three years to 30. Team officials have said that the increased revenue from the games would provide funding for a list of neighborhood protections designed to reduce traffic congestion, litter and other game-related problems.

Asked if there would be a price to pay for backing off if the ordinance does not win timely approval, Daley replied, "I think it would be logical ... if [someone is] a bad neighbor and people come out and throw bottles and cans on your lawn and do many other things on your lawn, and break your windows and throw garbage. I would say people would be a little upset."

But some local leaders have faulted the city for jeopardizing new protections by delaying night game approval.

"We have worked very hard to be a good neighbor, and we fully intend to maintain the initiatives we have in place with the community to see that we stay that way," said Cubs President Andy MacPhail. But "it has always been the understanding of the aldermen and community that any expanded and enhanced protections were funded by the additional night games."

MacPhail said the team will work for an agreement "so we can get this on line for 2005."

Daley insisted that an enforcement provision in the ordinance that calls for possible court action if the Cubs fail to live up to their end of the deal is impractical and must be revamped.

He also hinted that money in a proposed $1 million CubFund to address future unforeseen neighborhood problems should be made available at once instead of in increments over the 15-year period spelled out by the ordinance.

Daley expressed hope that a measure can be reworked fast enough to allow the new night games on the schedule. But if that doesn't happen, "they have a day game," he said. "They still sell out, so it doesn't matter."

The Cubs are owned by Tribune Co., which also owns the Chicago Tribune.

Copyright © 2003, The Chicago Tribune