HR0352

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, On February 18, 2009, the Executive Committee of 
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the Art Institute of Chicago voted to increase the general 
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admission fees at the Art Institute of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On March 11, 2009, the Chicago Park District 
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Committee on Programs and Recreation voted to recommend that 
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the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners enter an order 
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authorizing a change in the general admission fees at the Art 
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Institute of Chicago, effective May 23, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On March 11, 2009, as required under Illinois law, 
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the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners entered an 
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order authorizing a fifty percent (50%) increase of the adult 
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general admission fee, from $12 to $18; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners also authorized a 
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seventy-one percent (71%) increase of the senior and student 
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general admission fee, from $7 to $12; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Less than three years ago, admission to the Art 
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Institute of Chicago was free, as the Art Institute merely 
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"suggested" that visitors make a donation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Currently, a family of four, with two student 
 


 






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children over twelve years of age, would pay $38 for admission 
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to the Art Institute of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On May 23, 2009, after the general admission fee 
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increase becomes effective, it will cost $60 for that same 
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family to gain admission to the Art Institute of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Unlike the Museum of Science and Industry, the 
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Field Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium, the 
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Art Institute of Chicago does not offer a reduced general 
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admission fee for Chicago residents; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Art Institute of Chicago, which, in 2008, 
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received $6.7 million in funding from the Chicago Park 
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District, is directly subsidized by City of Chicago taxpayers; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council seeks to ensure that all 
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Chicago residents, including those on modest budgets, have the 
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ability to access one of America's premier art museums; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The residents of the City of Chicago, who 
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subsidize the Art Institute of Chicago through the payment of 
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property taxes, should have their support acknowledged and 
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rewarded with a reduced resident admission fee; therefore, be 
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it

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners to repeal 
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the increase of the general admission fees approved on March 
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11, 2009; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we further urge the Chicago Park District 
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Board of Commissioners to order the Art Institute of Chicago to 
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implement a reduced general admission fee for Chicago 
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residents; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Gery J. Chico, President of the Chicago Park 
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District Board of Commissioners.