Members of Communities for an Equitable Olympics 2016 (CEO 2016) -- a coalition of community and labor organizations from around Chicago -- had hoped to have a community benefits agreement (CBA) all tied up before the International Olympic Committee arrived in the city this week. But at the eleventh hour, City Hall officials decided against approving a legally-binding agreement that would reserve a certain amount of jobs, housing, and minority contracts for neighborhood residents. Instead, the City Council advanced an ordinance expressing their "support" for a "memorandum of understanding" struck between the mayorally-appointed bid committee (Chicago 2016) and the mayorally-appointed community outreach committee, which included a committment to various set-asides. As a result, Mayor Daley will have another demonstration on his hands this weekend.

At a press conference today,  Action Now director Denise Dixon explained today why she isn't willing to take city officials at their word that they will enforce the memorandum's provisions.  Citing Mayor Daley's ongoing habit of hawking public assets and launching unwieldy projects at taxpayers' expense, Dixon described him as "out of control" and wondered out loud: "Is he going to sell out the people of Chicago in the communities where the venues are to be held?" Watch it:

Judging from a poll commissioned by CEO 2016, these organizers aren't the only ones who fear getting burned.

The survey found that 81 percent of registered voters living in the footprint of several proposed Olympic facilities think the city ought to "make public all records relating to public money being spent for the Olympics." In all, Lake Research Partners poll asked 600 people living in Douglas (proposed site of the Olympic village), Washington Park (proposed site of the Olympic stadium), and North Lawndale (proposed site of the cycling venues) about public accountability and community benefits between March 21 and 23.

It's important to note that members of CEO 2016 don't oppose the Olympics. Had City Hall agreed to add its name to the memorandum -- thereby, legally requiring them to enforce the set-asides agreed to by Chicago 2016 -- these organizers would be standing with the mayor, rather than trying to embarrass him in front of the high profile IOC guests. And if Chicago 2016's Lori Healey was genuine in her testimony at a recent Finance Committee -- that prior to the negotiations, she already supported some of the concessions -- the question remains: Is it transparency or public input that the mayor is fighting?  (Neither rationale would be surprising.)

Regardless, members of CEO 2016 aren't giving up the fight for a legally-binding agreement. We'll continue following their campaign, including the upcoming demonstration.