Dec 19, 2007 10:37 pm US/Central
Mayor Daley Gives Hospital Emotional Endorsement
Daley's Late Son Treated At Children's Memorial Hospital Prior To His Death In 1981
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Mayor Daley spoke out in favor of a new Children's Memorial Hospital helipad in the Streeterville neighborhood.
CBS
Mayor Richard M. Daley on Wednesday threw his very personal support behind the helipad proposal for the new Children's Memorial Hospital Streeterville location.
As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, it's an issue that hits particularly close to home for the mayor. The hospital won a place in his heart decades ago for treating his late son Kevin, who died there at age 2 from spina bifida. That's one reason his voice started to crack at an event there Wednesday.
"I want to thank them for their commitment not only to the present patients but to all the patients they had in the history of this wonderful hospital," Daley said.
And it's also why those trying to block the hospital's new 22-story high heliport got a tongue-lashing.
"America is getting very selfish," Daley said. "Selfish about material possessions and things that we want in our home. So once in a while we have a helicopter landing. Why? To save your child."
The Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, a citizens group, is concerned about the heliport amidst the skyscrapers between Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue where choppers would swoop in from the lake and right onto the rooftop platform.
"There's 140-something heliports in the state of Illinois and there's never been an incident at any of them," said Bruce Komiske, the project's design and construction chief.
Childrens' current helipad at Clark Street and Fullerton Avenue has operated accident-free for 20 years, handling about 75 patients a year.
The local alderman says the new helipad needs more study.
"If a proper study that is… sound concludes that this would be safe, that would satisfy my concerns," said 43rd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly.
The mayor's emotional defense of the hospital comes a day after showing the same kind of emotion when talking about his other son, Patrick, who's caught in a city contract controversy.
"I hope people understand that Patrick is a very good son," Daley said Tuesday. "Maggie and I love him and we're very proud of him."
Wednesday also marked the day before the anniversary of his father's death.
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