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* Tribune…
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration recently moved forward with plans to place new asylum-seekers in massive tent camps around the city, signing a nearly $30 million contract with a private security firm at the center of controversies related to its handling of asylum-seekers elsewhere in the U.S.
GardaWorld Federal Services, and its subsidiary Aegis Defense Services, quietly sealed the one-year deal with the city on Sept. 12. The city contract calls for GardaWorld to provide “emergency logistics management and operation services that will set up shelter … and other necessary services (also called ‘a base camp’ or ‘solution’)” for the new arrivals.”
The company signed a similar $125 million contract with the state of Illinois late last year, though so far very little has been paid out. Earlier this month, Johnson’s team noted the city’s migrant expenditures could reach $302 million by the end of this year when factoring in costs of the new tent encampment sites. […]
The security company, which says on its website it has “responded to all major U.S. natural disasters, declared emergencies, and military conflicts since 2002,” has also drawn criticism for several immigration-related matters. Those dealings encompass projects and proposals in Denver, Texas, Florida and Canada related to migrants — spurring internal concerns from members of Johnson’s own administration two months earlier.
The contract is here. It was awarded on September 12th, which is eight days ago.
* There’s some chatter online about this item in the contract…
HVAC will be provided for all structures in proper capacities to cool to approximately 72 degrees Fahrenheit from ambient temperatures of 95 degrees and heat to approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit from ambient temperatures of 40 degrees.
It doesn’t say what happens when ambient temps fall below zero.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:20 pm
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Previous Post: Afternoon roundup
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I wonder if CTU is quietly blocking the city using the many empty schools as shelters because of the pipe dream of them being reopened one day.
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:27 pm
===using the many empty schools===
I doubt any are usable by this point.
Also, they’re mostly in Black neighborhoods and that’s a very touchy subject right now.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:31 pm
Whatever happened to all the beds and shades they brought for the emergency hospital at McPier. Couldn’t we drag that from the attic?
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:31 pm
Wouldn’t this amount of money be enough to just put up families in apartments?
Why do we consistently try everything but just housing the homeless or migrants? It’s proven as the most effective AND the cheapest.
We don’t need the migrant crisis to become like the military: a feeding trough for contracting entities.
Comment by Incandenza Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:33 pm
===just put up families in apartments? ===
They haven’t had much buy-in from landlords, but I’m not sure how much effort the city has put into that.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:35 pm
I don’t know this seems like it has the makings of a debacle.
Was there a bid process? Any other bids? Have they said where the tents are going to go yet? Are they doing that quietly until a tent company just shows up and puts it up? How long until the press finds some connection between the city and the tent company? Where are the DSA folks on this?
Comment by Frida's boss Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:35 pm
First step in a massive sh** show.. more to follow.
Comment by NotRich Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:37 pm
Another brainstorm if the McPier Hospital does not work. Apple vacations doing a week in Cancun all inclusive for about $850. $30 million gets about 35,000+ tickets. Snap them up. But make one way unless traveler has a signed apartment lease
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:43 pm
Re: school buildings
Becky Vevea has been tracking these for years.
2018: https://www.wbez.org/stories/vacant-school-buildings-litter-chicago-neighborhoods-after-mass-school-closings/40a00d49-d09d-456a-8ece-938539b8aa45
2023: https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/08/03/chicago-closed-50-schools-10-years-ago-whats-happened-since-then/
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:56 pm
Unfortunately – while established with the benevolent intent of providing free housing and food, as well as prospects for future employment – the Sanctuaries quickly degenerated into inhumane internment camps.
The Bell riots started in the sanctuary encampments in September of 2024.
—
The above words are from the story line of the 1995 episode “Past Tense” of Star Trek, Deep Space 9. It is a powerful episode, and I highly recommend watching it.
I’m not trying to be snarky. Star Trek doesn’t predict our future, it simply reads our past.
My hope is we heed the warnings we have been given. The mayors proposal is not good enough. The ambient temperature is going to be below 40 in 3 weeks.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 3:58 pm
=== be enough to just put up families in apartments? ===
Then they would fall under the RTLO, and there is an entire industry of lawyers who sue property owners for tiny mistakes and rake in thousands of a % of the fines for stuff like using paper clips instead of staples.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 4:05 pm
They couldn’t find a private prison company to do this valuable work?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 4:07 pm
===They couldn’t find a private prison company to do this valuable work? ===
Relax, it’s been almost two decades since employees of this security contractor were caught intentionally targeting unarmed civilians.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 4:17 pm
Quietly.
My goodness. I dunno what this will look like come January
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 4:35 pm
They are peaceful people looking for,asylum.why do they need security?
Comment by Sup Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 4:48 pm
===why do they need security?===
From others towards them?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 4:49 pm
I sympathize with Johnson - he has to take action and doesn’t have time to make the good a hostage to the perfect. I just wish the Dem pols would wake up to the fact that the border is a terrible problem, border states are unfairly impacted (even if that doesn’t justify Abbott’s cruelty), and this is unsustainable absent a quick federal solution. Even if they don’t believe that in their hearts, they’re going to suffer politically if they keep to their current message.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 5:05 pm
Yet another fatal disaster waiting to happen. One would expect a lot more from a city that crows about being a sanctuary. What a fraud.
Comment by Polly Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 5:36 pm
So the same contractor that moved them here wins the contract to build the tents?
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/chicago-awards-contract-migrant-base-camps
Create a problem, sell the solution, indeed.
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Sep 20, 23 @ 5:42 pm