Jane Byrne: "I Do Not Want The Midnight Butchery Of Meigs Field Associated With My Name."

The following appeared in Sunday's edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. Need we say more?

Dear Editor:

In a recent letter to the editor, a Chicagoan graciously suggested that a public park or monument be named in my honor, as a tribute to my achievements as the 41st mayor of Chicago, including, among other things, initiating Taste of Chicago, the Blues, Gospel and Jazz Fests and the neighborhood festivals. The writer further suggested that it be Meigs Field.

I am flattered, but I do not want the midnight butchery of Meigs Field associated with my name. As are most Chicago residents, I am still angry about what happened in the darkness of the early morning hours of March 31.

Primarily, I am appalled at the arrogant disregard of due process by whoever ordered the destruction. Due process of law, the most fundamental, precious constitutional right of all citizens, even Chicagoans, was purposely ignored. I say purposely because a few hours after the destruction, the administration stated that its irrational actions had "prevented the issue from being tied up in the courts." We are a nation governed by laws, not individuals, and no public servant has the right to place personal opinion or convenience before the laws.

Secondly, Chicagoans want the truth. The explanation that the attack on Meigs took place because the City had lost its lease with the Park District is outright deceitful. Surely the administration knew that under the terms of its month-to-month lease, enacted by a City Council ordinance, the lease could not be terminated until the first day of the month following written notice of termination. Meigs was destroyed before its lease was up. There was no valid or legal basis to strand a dozen cardiologists here when their patients may have needed them at home.

 Personally, I was shocked and saddened at the sight of the Chicago police escorting the wrecking crews onto the field and being directed to stand guard as they watched city property being vandalized and destroyed. The official giving that order showed callous disrespect to those officers, whose role it is to protect public property, not to assist in its destruction.

No, I do not want my name associated with the Meigs Field massacre.

I would, however, appreciate it if the mayor would stop treating other public structures, particularly those with my name on them, in the same shabby and sneaky manner as he treated Meigs Field. I offer three examples:

In 1982, my administration placed two fountains in the medians on Wacker Drive, near its intersection with Wabash. Their placement was similar to the concrete flower and shrub planters nowadays so favored by Mayor Daley on many of the boulevards. Wacker is quite wide at the intersection, and the fountains in no way obstructed traffic patterns.

The Vietnam Veterans fountain was dedicated on Veterans Day, 1982. It was the first public memorial in the nation dedicated solely to those who served and died in the Vietnam War. It was a solemn and moving dedication ceremony, held on a cold, gray November day. Cardinal Bernardin blessed the fountain and blessed the list of all those from the Chicago area who died in the war. The list of names and personal letters of gratitude from then-president Reagan and from me on behalf of the people of Chicago were placed in a time capsule imbedded in the fountain. As I looked at the faces of the vets and families who had given their loved ones, who stood shivering in the cold and rain, I could see how they still hurt, and I hoped that the long overdue recognition and appreciation that the fountain symbolized would, in some very small way, help them begin to heal. As taps played and the fountain began to spray its bubbling water, tears began streaming down their faces. I can never forget that moment.

A History Of Callous Disregard?

In 1996 the Daley administration removed the plaque bearing the fountain's name and 1982 dedication date, and replaced it with one dated 1996 bearing Mayor Daley's name. Not coincidentally, the removed 1982 dedication plaque bore my name and my then-title of mayor. The original plaque has been "lost," and the time capsule vanished when the Daley administration yanked the fountain out during the Wacker Drive reconstruction. No public official has the right to wipe out 14 years of history. That fountain belonged to the Vietnam veterans, and its historical significance as the first public tribute to those who gave their lives in that war belongs to the people of Chicago.

The second fountain located on Wacker Drive is the Children's Fountain. It was located at the exact spot where Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago indicated a fountain should be sited. When the City of Chicago's planning department disclosed its plan for the reconstruction of Wacker Drive, there were at first no plans to include either the Vietnam Veterans Fountain or the Children's Fountain. This was rather unusual, since the Planning Department's comprehensive plan for this massive project included relocation instructions for all of the other structures being moved.

After many protests, the planning department said it would find a place for the Vietnam Veterans fountain. A portion of it--minus the time capsule or any indication of whom it honors--has been tucked away and hidden between the beautiful, but massive, Patriots sculpture and the river. It cannot be seen by passersby unless they have specific directions. It has been removed from the "War Memorials" guide on the City's Web site.

The Children's Fountain has now been waiting three years to be relocated, although it could easily have remained where Daniel Burnham wanted it. The children of Chicago are not a voting bloc, but they deserved to see and splash in the fountain named in their honor.

The last of the three disappearing structures is the Water Tower Clock. It was a very valuable cast iron street clock donated to the city by the First National Bank of Chicago. It sat happily and properly in Water Tower Park, harming no one. It was helpful to people rushing by on Michigan Avenue, who might look up at it to check the time. When the Daley administration decided to renovate the park, the first item attacked by the bulldozer was the valuable street clock. It is gone.

In light of all these examples of public property destroyed by this administration, I would again like to thank the writer for suggesting that something be named after me, but I imagine that whatever might be built would not be allowed to last very long. I take great pride in the pleasure that many of my contributions still give to Chicagoans, and that is tribute enough.

Jane M. Byrne

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