Dissapointed in Chicago
Feb 17, 2012 2:39:10 GMT -5
Post by tk826 on Feb 17, 2012 2:39:10 GMT -5
I don't usually post rants, but I had to throw this one out there...
This is one of the few times that I have been disappointed in the city of Chicago.
For those who remember reading my "Chicago City Sticker" thread, over on BBC:
For decades the design of the city sticker has been determined by holding a contest involving kids throughout Chicago.
Each year the winning design is voted on by area residents and the winner receives the honor of having their art work displayed on almost 2 million cars in the city as well as a savings bond to be used to further their education.
When I was drawing the old city stickers, for use on the BluMo, I researched and read a lot about the contests and even spoke to a couple of the past winners. I learned how great a program this is and about the positive impact it has had on the past winners and other contestants alike. For example the two past winners I spoke to are now pursuing degrees and careers in art.
After 18,000 votes were cast, this year the chosen winner, a student at a special needs school for troubled youths, had his prize revoked by the newly elected City Clerk because some ex-police officer blogged on the internet that the artwork was gang related.
The story and the resulting decision is so ridiculous that it made it all the way to CNN..
The City Clerk first announced that they would instead go with the runner-up design... that is until that person declined to have their artwork used, due to the negative publicity.
The new sticker will now be created by the city, "in house", and the clerks office is in fact deciding whether to eliminate the contest altogether.
The statement from the City Clerk, was:
<< I don’t want to put any other child through what our entrants this year have gone through. >>
Funny thing is, it was the city clerk and an ex-police superintendent
(who was forced to step down by the FOP no less)
who caused the grief in the first place.
A great example of a kid growing up in a troubled area, trying to do good and steer his life in a positive direction, and then getting dumped on by the city.
This is one of the few times that I have been disappointed in the city of Chicago.
For those who remember reading my "Chicago City Sticker" thread, over on BBC:
For decades the design of the city sticker has been determined by holding a contest involving kids throughout Chicago.
Each year the winning design is voted on by area residents and the winner receives the honor of having their art work displayed on almost 2 million cars in the city as well as a savings bond to be used to further their education.
When I was drawing the old city stickers, for use on the BluMo, I researched and read a lot about the contests and even spoke to a couple of the past winners. I learned how great a program this is and about the positive impact it has had on the past winners and other contestants alike. For example the two past winners I spoke to are now pursuing degrees and careers in art.
After 18,000 votes were cast, this year the chosen winner, a student at a special needs school for troubled youths, had his prize revoked by the newly elected City Clerk because some ex-police officer blogged on the internet that the artwork was gang related.
The story and the resulting decision is so ridiculous that it made it all the way to CNN..
The City Clerk first announced that they would instead go with the runner-up design... that is until that person declined to have their artwork used, due to the negative publicity.
The new sticker will now be created by the city, "in house", and the clerks office is in fact deciding whether to eliminate the contest altogether.
The statement from the City Clerk, was:
<< I don’t want to put any other child through what our entrants this year have gone through. >>
Funny thing is, it was the city clerk and an ex-police superintendent
(who was forced to step down by the FOP no less)
who caused the grief in the first place.
A great example of a kid growing up in a troubled area, trying to do good and steer his life in a positive direction, and then getting dumped on by the city.
