University Of Chicago Faculty Members Want Obama To Move His ‘Socially Regressive’ Presidential Library

Ooooooooh. This is a huge blow to the ol’ ego.

Former President Obama was supposed to have his presidential library go up in his hometown of Chicago. It makes sense to have it go up in a city suffering under crappy progressive policies, right? (Shall we talk about Chicago’s crime rates or nah?)

Just one problem. Over 100 faculty members at the University of Chicago want the Obama Foundation to construct the library elsewhere, because it’s “socially regressive.”

In other words, the Obama Presidential Center will cost millions of dollars and provide precisely ZERO positive economic impact. For a city that needs a serious boost, it’s a waste.

The Obama Presidential Center will not provide the “promised development or economic benefits” to surrounding neighborhoods, the professors write and could cost more than $100 million in state funds.

“We are concerned that these are not the best ways to use public funds to invest in the future of Chicago,” the letter reads.

They’re also worried about the unnecessary traffic nightmare the library would cause. Traffic is ALREADY a nightmare in big cities. This certainly won’t make it any better.

The library will also take over large sections of two historic public parks, Jackson Park and Midway Plaisance, and force the closure of a major South Side thoroughfare, Cornell Avenue. The professors argue it’s a “traffic-jam in the making.”

However, a spokesperson for the Obama Foundation disputes the faculty’s claims, promising that the library will “​strengthen the economic climate in the region” by attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

“While we don’t expect everyone to agree with every element of the plan, we look forward to working with people across the community and the city to make the most of the opportunity to create a global destination that will showcase the South Side to the world​,​”​ the spokesperson said in a statement.​

I take it they’re not planning on backing down.

The proposed Obama Center will sit on the shore of Lake Michigan, next to the Museum of Science and Industry and across the street from the University of Chicago campus.

The project is being financed with private donations but is expected to require as much as $100 million in infrastructure improvements to the surrounding area.

Economic development spurred by the library is limited, the professors write, because “there is no available adjacent land in which to start a new business, set up a new café or restaurant, [or] bring another cultural center to the neighborhood.” The only new jobs created by the library “will be staff to the Obama Center.”

It will also annex 21 acres from Jackson Park, which the professors point out is on the National Register of Historic Places and is “one of the most important urban parks in the nation.”

“At a time of increasing complexity and pressure in urban life, Chicago should be dedicated to preserving our public parks as open areas for relaxation and play for all its citizens,” the letter reads.

The faculty members aren’t totally opposed to the project. They’re willing to reconsider. They just want to make sure that the library has a significant, positive impact on the community. They don’t want another burden, and I don’t blame them. In the circulated letter, they wrote that they would be “pleased to support the Obama Center if the plan genuinely promoted economic development in our neighborhoods and respected our precious public urban parks.” But right now? Right now it’s “socially regressive.”

I love that they’re describing OBAMA’S presidential library in that way. It’s too hilarious.

Twitter’s having a field day.

Obama Center in Chicago will cost $100,000,000. Imagine donating that same amount of money toward ending gang violence.

Obama is ‘socially regressive’. https://t.co/PAPILb6TnJ

— GRANT J. KIDNEY 🇺🇸 (@GrantJKidney) January 10, 2018

I only owe 100,000 on my mortgage. Help me out Obama Center. Humor aside, very regressive.

— Jim (@rethink4good) January 10, 2018

Progressives are Socially Regressive.

— 2018🇺🇸Elections (@sp1r1tharambe) January 10, 2018

Obama’s library being labeled socially regressive is the truest explanation of his entire presidency! All it took was for a $100 million library to want to be built for people to open their eyes about what a big headed self centered asshole obama really is

— Joe Angelo (@j0eangelo) January 10, 2018

Or for the homeless and Veterans. That is a disgraceful waste of money and ongoing insult to those the need it the most.

— PoliticallyIncorrect (@Jbradleymba) January 10, 2018

Maybe its not a good idea to spend 100 million on a library in Chicago, a city plagued with crime.

Obama needs to think about whats best for the city, not his ego.
"Socially regressive" library lol. https://t.co/wQimPrKHBH

— skife (@skife8) January 10, 2018

I guess we’ll see what happens next…

h/t Washington Times