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Johnson said he remains committed to keeping the National
Football League club in the city.
“The $600 million debt that’s owed on the old stadium is a
depreciating asset,” the mayor said.
Johnson explained to the City Club of Chicago last week that
billionaires and visitors would pay for the stadium with
Illinois Sports Facilities Authority hotel tax revenue.
“Billionaires and visitors would pay for a stadium, as well as
eliminate the debt from the old stadium, that the city of
Chicago would own,” Johnson proposed.
The Bears have played in Chicago since 1921, when the team, then
called the Staleys, moved from Decatur.
The Bears agreed to a property-tax deal with Arlington Heights
last month but said they remain focused on a new lakefront
stadium in Chicago.
Johnson suggested that Bears ownership could kick in $2 billion.
“If someone has a better plan than eliminating the debt,
building a stadium with visitors and billionaires that the city
of Chicago would own while creating more space and creating jobs
for the young Black men who are signed up at community colleges,
if you have a better plan than that, see my senior adviser,
Jason Lee,” the mayor said.
Reporters questioned Johnson about Lee at the Northside Housing
and Supportive Services ribbon-cutting event on Monday.
Election records show that Jason Lee voted in Texas in last
month’s presidential election, despite a residency requirement
for city of Chicago employees.
The mayor said that the reports involving his senior adviser are
“being looked into.” He said he would respond further once a
“full diagnostic” is done. |
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