Joyce Fong
10-31-2008, 06:05 PM
As you’ve probably heard, the Obama Campaign is planning a rally in Grant Park at Hutchinson Field. Details are still being ironed out. As of this moment, the police plan on closing off the park on November 4th to make it as sterile as an environment as possible until the polls close. There will be no lining up for the rally, no camping out, no entry until after 8 PM. Participants will have to go through security. Capacity will be limited. At this time, there are no plans to provide porta-potties or warming buses. People who cannot cope with these conditions should not attend. Taking public transportation is encouraged.
World-wide media and an influx of tourists are expected. Concern has been expressed about the office population exiting the Loop on election day. It is recommended, if possible, companies consider letting their employees leave at 3:00 PM. However, they do not want to keep students out of school, so they are encouraging the educational community to maintain their regular schedules. Retailers and buildings are asked to be alert and move security staff to the front of their establishments.
Expect “unprecedented street closures” and CTA reroutes. The Department of Human Services will be conducting sweeps of Lower Wacker Drive and other areas. Additional command posts will be established and extra cameras added. The medical community has been alerted to be on stand-by for the usual crowd related issues. Most of these preparations are standard operating procedure for the city, like getting ready for a million people coming to the lakefront on the 3rd of July, immigration rallies, Bulls Championships, etc.
World-wide media and an influx of tourists are expected. Concern has been expressed about the office population exiting the Loop on election day. It is recommended, if possible, companies consider letting their employees leave at 3:00 PM. However, they do not want to keep students out of school, so they are encouraging the educational community to maintain their regular schedules. Retailers and buildings are asked to be alert and move security staff to the front of their establishments.
Expect “unprecedented street closures” and CTA reroutes. The Department of Human Services will be conducting sweeps of Lower Wacker Drive and other areas. Additional command posts will be established and extra cameras added. The medical community has been alerted to be on stand-by for the usual crowd related issues. Most of these preparations are standard operating procedure for the city, like getting ready for a million people coming to the lakefront on the 3rd of July, immigration rallies, Bulls Championships, etc.