11-01-2008, 10:01 PM
Chicago Tribune wrote:
Q&A: Grant Park Obama rally
By James Janega
November 2, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama returns home Tuesday for an Election Night rally in Grant Park that has sparked huge civic interest and many questions about how the event will work.
Q Does the city want huge numbers of people coming downtown on Election Night or not?
A "This is a celebration," Mayor Richard Daley said Thursday. "No way I'm going to tell people they should not come down and celebrate." But Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said Friday, "We can't have mischief." City officials aren't discouraging people from coming downtown, but they are encouraging them to look for places in their neighborhoods to watch on TV.
Q When will people arrive at Grant Park on Tuesday?
A It's anyone's guess. The gates at the rally site don't open until 8:30 p.m., but crowds are likely to form many hours before that. A Loop business group urged offices to send workers home at 3 p.m. to avoid the growing crowds.
Q How many people will show up?
A Daley estimated 1 million, a number he said was a guess. The campaign's permit said there would be 65,000 ticketed guests and 7,500 "participants" at the official fenced area. But interest is high and the weather is expected to be excellent, so expect quite a throng outside the official rally site.
Q Where will people congregate outside the official area?
A Presumably, in the rest of Grant Park. But the city has not officially designated areas for the overflow crowd and has not ruled out turning people away if the park seems too crowded.
Q What time will Obama give his victory or concession speech?
A Probably not before the polls close in California at 10 p.m. Chicago time. Perhaps hours later.
Q What happens if the election outcome is in doubt late into the night?
A The permit application said "amplified sound" was planned only until 1 a.m. Officials were mum on whether they would allow the crowd to wait past that hour. At this point, Metra trains are scheduled to end their service at 1 a.m., and the CTA will run "until everyone has gotten home."
Q What will security be like downtown?
A Heavy. The Chicago Police Department has canceled days off for all officers, and Chicago firefighters have been asked to have their personal equipment with them at home. Even the U.S. Coast Guard will patrol in Burnham Harbor and on Lake Michigan.
Q When will people who applied for tickets find out whether they got them? And when will those tickets arrive by e-mail?
A The Obama campaign has not disclosed that information despite repeated requests.
Q Can rally attendees bring a sign or banner?
A Not if they're in the fenced area. Also banned inside the main area are bags, chairs and strollers.
Q Will there be concession stands?
A Pizza and hot dogs will be sold inside the secure area. Alcohol will not. The organizers' permit application said vendors would sell hot chocolate—a beverage chosen when no one could anticipate the current forecast: 64 degrees at the rally's start.