A $5 million pledge from Nike to fund a new athletic facility as part of the proposed Obama Presidential Center raises both global and local issues, while a federal review of the proposed site is poised to restart.
Globally, the donation could be viewed as part of the corporation’s ongoing effort to rehabilitate its image, badly tarnished in the 1990s by allegations of sweatshop conditions in Asian factories where its shoes are produced. While the corporation recovered after making changes and signing codes of conduct, questions continue to be raised about treatment of workers in its factories. What will possible corporate branding at the Obama center really signify?
Locally, there’s the question of what the athletic center is doing there, located within hailing distance of an aging Jackson Park fieldhouse and across the street from the relatively new South Side YMCA. Though the Obama Foundation says the center “will invite the community to take part in physical activity year round,” it’s not clear what that means, particularly since the facility will be operated by the foundation, not the park district.

curtis black
the chicago reporter 

i wrote a note to curtis:

thanks for the article this morning. i've been watching the events in oakland and wondering what is coming here. then i see the nike 5 mil the same day they announce the cba radius zone has been reduced to 3/5ths of a mile. also i've been documenting the erosion of the lakefront and wondering how the opc is going to get public funds to restructure roadways in looking emergency. (post dat: i meant to say "in the looming emergency" where's my editor!

thanks for watching and reporting.

then i thought of the nike missile bases that once lined the lakefront, one in jackson park. some of the fuel tanks are still buried there, and the fuel seeps up through the lagoon mud. 
you can see the iridescence where the water plants die. 

ironic isn't it, or is it post? obomba bringing back the nike economic missile to the people's park