(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Two veterans of Chicago City Hall express skepticism over plans to study the economic impact of the first NASCAR Street Race.
The City's tourism agency, Choose Chicago, has commissioned the study from a Temple University sports research operation.
The city’s former inspector general, Joseph Ferguson, said he's not sure Chicago's chief tourism booster should be the one paying for this.
Meanwhile, veteran political consultant and community advocate Marj Halperin, the former CEO of the League of Chicago Theaters, said the study needs to look at all of the costs as well as the benefits.
Researchers need to have access to all the pertinent information, she stresses.
“While there are a lot of facts you can put in, there is also room to interpret,” said Halperin, who doesn’t have a problem with the Temple University outfit.
Both Ferguson and Halperin say you need trustworthy analysis before city officials can decide whether to move ahead with NASCAR for another year.
Chicago has a three-year deal with NASCAR, but there are escape clauses.
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