3 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Yeah, I don't get that last line from the article. "Lawyer up" against what? Against the Constitution's Interstate Commerce Clause and a railroad's ability to build on land that has been railroad property for over a century? There isn't even any eminent domain arguments here. This will all be on what is now Union Pacific property.

It reads as Hintz making that part up to add stakes. The politicians against this know they can’t make get their way if this blows up into a legal issue. Mike Quigley even said as much when speaking to residents with Lee, Mendoza, Pappas, and others, something along the lines of, “We will not win this if it goes to the courts,” which is a telling statement. Lawyering up would waste a lot of money and only serve to prolong death.

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

"However, inward-looking, bungalowed Bridgeport never has been interested in such around-the-clock excitement. Local Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th, tells me she’s willing to talk about some development to keep a team that’s called the neighborhood home for more than a century. Growing the 35th Street corridor already is a priority for her, she says. However, she notably adds, “There’s a lot of space between what we have and what the Ricketts have (done) in Wrigleyville.”

Interesting to see Ald. Lee confirming in print what's long been the position of the Bridgeport neighbors: In addition to not wanting the Amtrak facility, they also don't want a major "ballpark village" development. So even if Reinsdorf had wanted to develop the parking lots (or Ishbia tries to pivot to that plan in the future), there would be resistance.

On 9/18/2026 at 2:03 PM, 77 Hitmen said:

In case people missed it, the Sox Machine article has a link to Amtrak's website for this proposed project.

https://mwmaintenancefacility.com/

Most not all Sox fans don't come to throw a party. They come for the game. Cubs don't influence my activities.

10 minutes ago, pcq said:

Most not all Sox fans don't come to throw a party. They come for the game. Cubs don't influence my activities.

It has nothing to do with the Cubs. This is how teams make a shitload of money off the books now. Ballpark villages are a boon for revenue.

"Lee is determined to convince Reinsdorf to stay in Bridgeport at a new stadium on the site of Rate Field."

Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Nicole Lee wants full-fledged environmental review o...

Earlier this week, the Federal Railroad Administration responded to a political firestorm of protests against Amtrak's plans for a maintenance facility in Bridgeport by promising a federal environment

29 minutes ago, kba said:

Interesting to see Ald. Lee confirming in print what's long been the position of the Bridgeport neighbors: In addition to not wanting the Amtrak facility, they also don't want a major "ballpark village" development. So even if Reinsdorf had wanted to develop the parking lots (or Ishbia tries to pivot to that plan in the future), there would be resistance.

I remember that coming up in the past too.

Bridgeport residents protest against Ishbia outside of a "Invest for Kids" conference he was attending. Any Soxtalk members pictured in this article?

Is it a good look to protest outside a conference called "Invest for Kids"?

Block Club Chicago

Amtrak Protesters Vow To ‘Stop Ishbia In His Tracks’ As D...

Protesters rallied outside the Invest for Kids conference Downtown, opposing Amtrak’s proposed $915 million rail maintenance facility in Bridgeport and Chinatown.

1 hour ago, kba said:

Interesting to see Ald. Lee confirming in print what's long been the position of the Bridgeport neighbors: In addition to not wanting the Amtrak facility, they also don't want a major "ballpark village" development. So even if Reinsdorf had wanted to develop the parking lots (or Ishbia tries to pivot to that plan in the future), there would be resistance.

Which is their right, and shows why the Sox have a legitmate reason to leave.

Ald. Lee says the environmental review by the FRA will not be enough. She also wants to convince Reinsdorf that the area around Rate Field could be developed into a year-round entertainment district like what Ricketts has done around Wrigley.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Nicole Lee wants full-fledged environmental review o...

Earlier this week, the Federal Railroad Administration responded to a political firestorm of protests against Amtrak's plans for a maintenance facility in Bridgeport by promising a federal environment

2 hours ago, kba said:

Interesting to see Ald. Lee confirming in print what's long been the position of the Bridgeport neighbors: In addition to not wanting the Amtrak facility, they also don't want a major "ballpark village" development. So even if Reinsdorf had wanted to develop the parking lots (or Ishbia tries to pivot to that plan in the future), there would be resistance.

This, like the “lawyer up” comment, is also posturing by Hintz. There’s no quote from Lee to back up that assertion.

23 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Ald. Lee says the environmental review by the FRA will not be enough. She also wants to convince Reinsdorf that the area around Rate Field could be developed into a year-round entertainment district like what Ricketts has done around Wrigley.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Nicole Lee wants full-fledged environmental review o...

Earlier this week, the Federal Railroad Administration responded to a political firestorm of protests against Amtrak's plans for a maintenance facility in Bridgeport by promising a federal environment

Seems a little too late for this, to say the least.

29 minutes ago, Mouthsider said:

Seems a little too late for this, to say the least.

35 years too late...they're willing to put their own investment $$$ on the line to make it a success, or the easier route of taxpayers'???

59 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Ald. Lee says the environmental review by the FRA will not be enough. She also wants to convince Reinsdorf that the area around Rate Field could be developed into a year-round entertainment district like what Ricketts has done around Wrigley.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Nicole Lee wants full-fledged environmental review o...

Earlier this week, the Federal Railroad Administration responded to a political firestorm of protests against Amtrak's plans for a maintenance facility in Bridgeport by promising a federal environment

This should have started in 1990. But at worst, once Jerry tried to get the 78 built. once Ishbia stepped in and got stuff done, game over.

8 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

This should have started in 1990. But at worst, once Jerry tried to get the 78 built. once Ishbia stepped in and got stuff done, game over.

She really should have brought this up while Jerry was pushing for the 78, right? If there was ever going to be another taxpayer-funded stadium/site for the Sox, it would be a lot easier to pitch it as investing in the existing site rather than building anew on abandoned land in the South Loop. She should have known her time was up when Ishbia put out his commitment to privately funding the new stadium.

Lee continues to demonstrate that she is several steps behind. Which stage of grief is “bargaining”, again?

12 minutes ago, Mouthsider said:

She really should have brought this up while Jerry was pushing for the 78, right? If there was ever going to be another taxpayer-funded stadium/site for the Sox, it would be a lot easier to pitch it as investing in the existing site rather than building anew on abandoned land in the South Loop. She should have known her time was up when Ishbia put out his commitment to privately funding the new stadium.

Lee continues to demonstrate that she is several steps behind. Which stage of grief is “bargaining”, again?

I think it goes back to the Aldermen of Chicago feeling like they decide everything. When Lee figured out they got cut of the process they realized that they might be in trouble if the Sox leave and they get a train depot instead. But the time to negotiate was when the 78 came up for. Instead the Sox got put on ice and instead did it themselves. FAFO as the kids say.