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Chicago Tribune
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: No, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is not a loss for Chicago
The editorial 'Lucas museum amps up. The LA excitement could have been happening in Chicago.' (July 29) is a disappointing opinion from the editorial board of this fine paper. Nowhere in the editorial is it mentioned that George Lucas and his Chicago-native wife, as if that should make a difference, wanted the museum — 300,000 square feet on 11 acres in Los Angeles — to be built on the lakefront. I would hazard to guess that most Chicagoans will not miss a spaceship-designed cultural attraction housing paintings, comic book art, comic strips, comic book covers and a life-sized Naboo starfighter that takes up open lakefront space and blocks the view of the lake. And is the fact that we don't 'routinely' see Lucas, Guillermo del Toro, Doug Chiang and Queen Latifah strolling down Michigan Avenue supposed to be a negative? If the editorial board is suffering from a lack of star power, go work for the Los Angeles Times. Lucas calling his decadeslong endeavor 'a temple to the people's art' is laughable. It is a temple to his outsize ego. Drop the 'Lucas' moniker, and I will stand corrected. I also doubt that A. Montgomery Ward or Daniel Burnham would consider this a 'colossal missed opportunity.' Lastly, Chicago did not fail to understand what Lucas meant by 'narrative art.' Lucas failed to understand that Chicago's lakefront is not a theme park like Disneyland, which is more aptly suited for his namesake as the Tribune editorial indicates, the loss of the Lucas Museum is incalculable in terms of revenue, philanthropy, tourism, culture and prestige for the city. Thanks to the intransigence of the Friends of the Parks group, George Lucas threw up his hands and left. No matter what compromises Lucas and our farsighted mayor at the time, Rahm Emanuel, offered, there was no compromise from this group. Instead, there were costly, time-consuming lawsuits and roadblock after roadblock.. No understanding of the incredible value to our city and the joy it would bring to its residents. Lucas understood and respected the importance of our parks as a setting for the museum and also that visitors would be in that setting and free to enjoy it before and after museum visits. Clearly, this group is not a friend of the city, and we will never recoup the loss it caused.I couldn't disagree more with the editorial lamenting the loss of the Lucas Museum. The arrogant billionaire wasn't interested in other proposed sites. George Lucas wanted what he wanted — the most prized parcel. The editorial fails to mention that the lakefront was declared 'forever open, clear and free' more than 100 years ago for the benefit of citizens. Had businesses been allowed to build on the lakefront, it would resemble the dismal waterfronts of Boston and New York City, and by now, there wouldn't even have been space for the museum. Good riddance. Chicago dodged a bullet.I could not disagree more with the editorial on losing the Lucas Museum, and I commend those who opposed the monstrosity. Do we really want that on Chicago's beautiful lakefront? I'll take an open parking lot with a view any Weinshel's argument against reducing parking requirements along transit corridors misses the mark and clings to a 20th century urban planning mindset ('Cutting parking requirements while upzoning Broadway will create a crisis,' July 20). It is not utopian to imagine a Chicago where most people do not own cars. Many of us already live that reality. My spouse and I moved to Edgewater because we can live here without a car. We walk, bike and take transit because that is what a city should offer: the freedom to get around without being forced into car ownership. Cars are deceptively expensive. In 2024, AAA estimated the average cost to own and operate a car is $12,297 per year. That figure is likely even higher in Chicago. The cost to build off-street parking is also prohibitively high. According to Elevated Chicago, an underground spot costs $42,000 to build. That cost gets passed on to renters and buyers, whether they own a car. This city cannot be affordable if every household needs to own a car and every car needs its own house. Removing parking mandates is not 'urban planning malpractice' — it is smart policy. Requiring parking increases car ownership and traffic. Each car needs multiple parking spots throughout the day, fueling demand for wasteful surface lots that contribute to flooding and the heat island effect and make neighborhoods less walkable and bikeable. But eliminating parking minimums is just one step. We must invest in walking, biking and public transit to support both future and current residents. The $2.1 billion Red-Purple Line modernization is a great start. We also need protected bike lanes, camera-enforced bus-only lanes and fully funded transit. That is why Springfield must pass the transit reform and funding package already approved by the state Senate as soon as possible. Let's build a more affordable, healthier and sustainable city. More housing, more transit, more bikes and less parking are the future Chicago deserves. Cities all over the world from Paris to Tokyo have done this. Why can't Chicago?The opposition to sensible housing policy along Broadway reveals an uncomfortable truth about how some view community membership. Opponents tout their credentials as longtime residents and neighborhood saviors. But I must ask: Does living here longer grant them veto power over decisions affecting thousands of current and future residents? These longtime residents deserve credit for their community investments, but I fail to see how seven-story buildings along a busy commercial corridor next to the city's highest-ridership 'L' line will ruin anything. The increasing demand to live in Edgewater and Uptown is testament to the success of these investments. Denying potential residents the ability to benefit from these successes hurts everyone — we're depriving ourselves of economic growth while denying housing to thousands who want to live in these amazing neighborhoods. These opponents are going against broad community support for more housing. Hiring lawyers to block development through technicalities isn't democracy — it's using procedural tricks to override community will. This is provincialism: putting narrow interests over the well-being of not just current residents, but also the entire city. Change is difficult, and protecting one's community from perceived threats feels natural. But upzoning Broadway isn't a threat — it's an opportunity and a long-overdue investment needed to keep our communities affordable and accessible. Who are we to deny others the right to live here simply because you got here first?'Has there ever been a matter of such consequence so hastily rushed through the Chicago City Council than the recent exemption of off-street parking requirements for new housing development? While Jake Sheridan's July 29 story noted that there was broad ideological support for the plan from bike activists and libertarians, conspicuously absent was the lived reality of those countless thousands of us living in Chicago's densest neighborhoods where street parking is already as scarce as hen's teeth. I ride the CTA, bike and walk far more than I drive, but I still own a car for those situations in which I have to transport people or things or go to places otherwise not readily accessible. This is also the situation of many of my neighbors. For the bike advocates who like to point to empty parking spaces in new housing developments, please note that this is not an indicator of how many cars are actually owned by the people living in those buildings. Rather, it shows that many of those tenants are avoiding the $150 or more rental fee for parking and instead competing for the increasingly limited number of street spaces. I have a slew of neighbors who can testify on this matter. As a block club leader, I am now in the midst of trying to negotiate a developer's plan to turn a large church-school complex into as many as 40 units of housing with only four off-street parking spaces. When the developer was asked if he would only rent to people without cars, he chuckled as if I must be joking. I wasn't. Worst are the bike/housing advocates who are pushing for the elimination of parking requirements. When I have asked a number of them at community forums whether they also own cars, they sheepishly acknowledge they do. Talk about the ultimate in 'do as I say and not as I do.' If this City Council is going to push these ever more drastic 'solutions' to Chicago's affordable housing woes, perhaps aldermen should be the first to sign the 'I'm giving up my car' pledge.I applaud the Tribune Editorial Board for its editorial asking Gov. JB Pritzker to veto the unnecessary Tier 2 pension bill ('Pritzker needs to veto this pension bill. Chicago can't afford it.,' July 29). The editorial leaves the impression that the compliance with the Internal Revenue Service Code still needs to be addressed. This matter was definitively addressed for the big state retirement systems in the most recent big budget bill that the governor did sign. Here is what the bill said: 'If, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, any enforceable determination concludes that the benefits for a Tier 2 member or participant under Section 1-160 or 15-111 of the Illinois Pension Code do not provide the minimum retirement benefits required under Internal Revenue Service regulations or other provisions of federal law such that the wages of such member or participant would be subject to tax under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, then moneys in the Tier 2 SSWB Reserve Fund may be used by the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or the State Universities Retirement System to pay the difference between benefits otherwise available and benefits that would constitute minimum retirement benefits under applicable federal law or regulation. This subsection shall constitute a continuing appropriation of all amounts necessary for such purposes.' What is needed is identical wording for the Chicago systems. Much less expensive than the current proposed you have a state congressional map as gerrymandered as ours is in Illinois, it takes a certain amount of audacity for Gov. JB Pritzker to then criticize Texas for gerrymandering. Talk about those in glass houses not throwing stones. What hypocrisy. Our map was drawn by now-convicted felon Michael Madigan as House speaker to benefit the Democrats.
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
Remembering the life and legacy of George Wendt, 'Cheers' star who died at age 76
David Muir reports on the life of actor George Wendt, a Chicago-native, known to millions as Norm Peterson on the long-running sitcom "Cheers."
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Pope Leo XIV: Chicago native sparks debate on whether he believes Michael Jordan is the GOAT
Image via Vatican Pool, Mitchell Layton/ Getty Images On Thursday, May 8, when Cardinal Robert Prevost stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and introduced himself as Pope Leo XIV , the world witnessed a historic first—the election of a U.S.-born pope. But it didn't take long for fans of a different kind of devotion to take notice. As word of the Chicago-native pope spread, so did chatter about another Windy City legend: Michael Jordan . Operation Sindoor PM Modi meets NSA, chiefs of armed forces amid spike in tensions with Pak India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan Several airports in India to be closed till May 15 - check list The coincidence sparked playful debates online, blending the sacred and the sporty in ways no one expected. Is the new Pope team Michael Jordan? The viral debate that ties faith to basketball Elected as the 267th pope on May 8 in Vatican City , Pope Leo XIV is not only the first American to lead the Catholic Church but also a proud Chicago native. Greeting the crowd at St. Peter's Basilica that evening, the 69-year-old offered blessings of peace, while back home, Chicago sports fans began connecting the newest pope to the city's most iconic athlete. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III added fuel to the fun with a viral post on X: 'The new Pope is from Chicago. He definitely believes Michael Jordan is the GOAT.' The post resonated widely, injecting the age-old Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate with a holy twist. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glicemia alta? Pingue isso na água antes de dormir Saúde Melhor Idade Veja agora Undo The pope spent much of the 1980s living and working in Chicago, just as Michael Jordan began his meteoric rise with the Chicago Bulls . Although Pope Leo XIV relocated to Peru during the 1990s, as Jordan led the team through two historic three-peats, he remained closely tied to the city that raised both a basketball legend and a pope. The Windy City connection took an amusing turn the next day when a post went viral claiming that a stained-glass window had been added to St. Peter's Basilica—one depicting Michael Jordan mid-dunk. Though entirely fake, the image spread like wildfire, with many fans simply amused by the idea, given the Pope's strong Chicago roots. Naturally, there is no such window. Vatican decor remains devoted to sacred tradition, not slam dunks. Still, the hoax captured the joy and whimsy sparked by the election of a pope with such a familiar and relatable origin story. Also Read: Media Fixates on Marcus Jordan's Arrest While Michael Jordan's Fourth Free Clinic for the Underprivileged Goes Unnoticed Pope Leo XIV's ascent marks a new chapter for the Catholic Church, but for Chicago natives and basketball fans, it's also a nostalgic nod to the golden era of the Bulls. Whether or not he ever shares his thoughts on the Bulls, Michael Jordan, or the infamous MJ vs. LeBron debate, the new pope has already left a cultural imprint, one that bridges faith and fandom. In the city that gave the world both Michael Jordan and now a pope, greatness clearly takes many forms.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Pope's Older Brother: Leo XIV Watched Movie ‘Conclave' Just Before Entering Real Conclave
One of the new pope's brothers has given an interview to a Chicago TV station, shedding light on how Cardinal Robert Prevost prepared for the Vatican conclave that elected him pontiff. Turns out the prelate boned up with help from an Oscar-nominated film. John Prevost, the middle of three Prevost brothers (Louis is the eldest and Robert – now Pope Leo XIV — is the youngest) told Chicago's NBC affiliate WMAQ-TV that he talked with Robert a day before the conclave began. More from Deadline First U.S.-Born Pontiff Elected: Meet Pope Leo XIV Of Peru-Via-Chicago White Smoke Above The Vatican: A New Pope Elected By Conclave No Pope Yet: Vatican Conclave Blows Black Smoke On 1st Day Of Vote For New Pontiff 'I said, 'Are you ready for this? Did you watch the movie Conclave, so you know how to behave?' And he had just finished watching the movie,' Prevost laughed, 'so he knew how to behave.' Prevost explained, 'I wanted to take his mind off of it [the real conclave], you know, laugh about something because this is now an awesome responsibility.' The drama-thriller directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, and Carlos Diehz, presents a fictional story of intrigue over the selection of a new pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church. After numerous ballots, a surprise candidate becomes the Vicar of Christ. In the real conclave that ended Thursday, Cardinal Prevost was also considered by many observers to be an unlikely choice given that no American had ever been named pope. Even the Chicago-native Prevost apparently doubted his odds of being chosen. 'He didn't think so,' John Prevost said. 'I didn't believe it and Rob didn't believe it – I should say Pope Leo didn't believe it at all, because there's not going to be an American pope was the attitude.' On the other hand, Prevost did think his brother was under serious consideration. 'What I was reading and what I was hearing was that there were three outstanding candidates that were in first, second and third place,' he noted, 'the cardinal from the Philippines, the [Vatican] secretary of state, and him [Robert].' Pope Leo XIV, who succeeds Pope Francis after the previous pontiff's death at the age of 88, may not have a lot of time to watch movies now that he will be shepherding the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. However, John Prevost offered some insight into how his younger likes to take a break from weighty ecclesiastical issues when the two get a chance to talk. 'First we do Wordle, because this is a regular thing, okay,' he explained. 'We do Words with Friends. It's something to keep his mind off life in the real world.' On a somewhat more sober note, Prevost talked about the family reaction to the stunning news of Cardinal Prevost's elevation to become only the 267th pope in history. 'It's totally unreal, it's totally surreal,' he said. 'It's a tremendous thing to take in, but it's something to be very proud of.' Best of Deadline All The Songs In Netflix's 'Forever': From Tyler The Creator To SZA 'Poker Face' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Arrive On Peacock? Everything We Know About Celine Song's 'Materialists' So Far
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Chicago Cubs fan?
As Chicago-native Robert Francis Prevost walked out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, sports fans in unison had one question. Does the American Pope root for the Chicago Cubs or the Chicago White Sox? Robert Francis Prevost was selected by the conclave on Thursday evening as Pope Francis' successor. The new pontiff, who chose the name Leo XIV, grew up in a southern suburb and attended a Catholic church and school on Chicago's South Side. Just over a week out from the MLB's inaugural Rivalry Weekend, naturally, there was an important fact to clear up for locals: where Leo's allegiances lie. John Prevost, Leo's older brother, had the answer – and the plume of White smoke from the Sistine Chapel's chimney might have been telling. 'He was never, ever a Cubs fan,' the elder Prevost told local news station WGN. 'So I don't know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan.' Father Gregory Sakowicz, rector of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, told reporters that the sun beamed down on the city when the new pope was announced. Sakowicz, too, wondered where the new pontiff would throw his support in the face of a Crosstown Classic. 'I heard he's a Cubs fan,' he said, mistakenly, before chuckling: 'Well, God bless him.' The Cubs tried to claim Pope Leo as one of their own, posting on their X account: 'Hey, Chicago. He's a Cubs fan!' 'Not only would we welcome Pope Leo XIV to Wrigley Field,' Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. 'He could sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame.'' After the pope's brother spoke out, the White Sox released a statement celebrating their most distinguished fan. 'Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV's lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields,' the club said in a statement. 'Some things are bigger than baseball, and in this case, we're glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican.' The team said that a pinstriped White Sox jersey with Leo's name on it and a hat were already en route to Rome and welcomed him to Rate Field any time. The new pope follows in the footsteps of another world leader who was a White Sox fan, former President Barack Obama, even though the 44th president could never escape allegations that he was a 'fake baseball fan.'
