McHenry County Blog

When I wrote my articles on the Gay Games having paid their bills in full to the Village of Lakewood and the City of Crystal Lake, even though took calls to get the complete amount, I didn’t realize that the Chicago Tribune would write a story Thursday entitled,

Gay Games plan last event to break even.

The event is a garage sale.

Down to one paid employee, the Gay Games spokesman there is “a $200,000 budget shortfall.”

So, donors are being contacted and the Tribune was kind enough to provide a Metro Section front pagead, complete with rainbow-colored bar above what others could not buy:

WAREHOUSE SALE
Gay Games will sell items from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 21 and 22 at two Brown Elephant resale shops:

· 3651 N. Halstead St. and
· 5404 N. Clark St., Chicago

Probably will be some interesting parties after the sales are over.

Of course, corporate sponsors could make big brownie points with further contributions.

The last four Gay Games have ended up not having enough money to pay their bills without government and/or businesses kicking in further subsidies, the Tribune says.

McHenry County Blog makes no apology for its series of articles tracking the slow payment scheduled to McHenry County municipalities.

The Chicago Park District is not as well managed as the Crystal Lake Park District. Crystal Lake officials told the Gay Games that there would not be a regatta unless its fee was paid up front. Chicago’s park district is still owed $30,000, after accepting $17,000 of in-kind equipment contributions.

The Tribune reports there was a deliberate strategy of asking for bills to be lowered or be forgiven.