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Obama library, begun with lofty DEI goals, now plagued by $40M racially charged suit, ballooning costs
Fox News ^ | 2/16/25 | Michael Dorgan

Posted on 02/19/2025 2:37:27 AM PST by Libloather

Construction of former President Barack Obama's long-awaited library and museum in Chicago began with ambitious plans for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) but is now plagued by huge cost overruns, delays and a $40.75-million, racially charged lawsuit filed by a minority contractor.

From the outset, the endeavor touted DEI as a key part of enshrining Obama's legacy at the 19.3-acre site, where costs have ballooned from an initial $350 million to $830 million in 2021 based on its previous annual reports, with no publicly available figures available for updated projected costs. The project set out "ambitious goals" for certain construction diversity quotas, with its contracts to be allocated to "diverse suppliers," 35% of which were required to be minority-based enterprises (MBEs).

"With these aggressive goals, the foundation is hoping to set a new precedent for diversity and inclusion in major construction projects in Chicago and beyond," the Obama Foundation wrote in a 2017 press release.

The importance of DEI was cited on several occasions in an explosive lawsuit filed last month by Robert McGee, the Black co-owner of II in One Construction. The firm is a minority-owned business subcontractor that provided concrete and rebar services for the center.

It is not clear what role DEI quotas played in the hiring of II In One as a subcontractor. II In One was one of three firms that made up a joint venture called Concrete Collective. The other firms included another minority firm called Trice Construction Company along with W.E. O’Neil. Together they formed a 51% minority-led joint-venture team.

McGee alleged that he and his firm were racially discriminated against by Thornton Tomasetti, a New York-based company that oversees structural engineering and design services.

In the lawsuit, McGee claims that Thornton Tomasetti changed standards and imposed new rules around rebar spacing...

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Religion; Travel
KEYWORDS: chicago; costs; dei; hussein; library; lol; obama
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Does Hussein have a gubmint credit card? Charge it.
1 posted on 02/19/2025 2:37:27 AM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

That is the ugliest building I have ever seen.I wonder what it will look like when it’s completed.


2 posted on 02/19/2025 2:44:53 AM PST by puppypusher (The world is going to the dogs.)
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To: Libloather

Well, I hope it’s all downhill from here.


3 posted on 02/19/2025 2:53:10 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: puppypusher
> That is the ugliest building I have ever seen. <

I was going to say that exact same thing. It looks like one of the flak (anti-aircraft ) towers the Nazis built during WW2.

It sure looks like the Obama architect stole his plans from some historical archive.
🤔

A typical flak tower:


4 posted on 02/19/2025 2:57:45 AM PST by Leaning Right (It’s morning in America. Again.)
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To: Libloather
As Obama should have said, "Never underestimate Joe's Barry's ability to eff things up."
5 posted on 02/19/2025 3:06:05 AM PST by RoosterRedux ("There's nothing so inert as a closed mind" )
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To: ClearCase_guy
Well, I hope it’s all downhill from here.

Cracks in the foundation aren't good, right?

obama-library-01
6 posted on 02/19/2025 3:17:42 AM PST by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: Libloather

Ugly architecture is hallmark of Marxism, eh.


7 posted on 02/19/2025 3:18:30 AM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: puppypusher
I wonder what it will look like when it’s completed.

It will look like his wife.

8 posted on 02/19/2025 3:21:31 AM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: All

He’s building his private tower of Babel?


9 posted on 02/19/2025 3:23:59 AM PST by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

IF Obama deserves a library at all (which he does not) it should be built with two separate buildings. One in Damascus, Syria and one in Benghazi, Libya. They should consist of mud shacks, with a special room for his Holy Book, a copy of the Koran at each location. That is all. He deserves nothing at all.


10 posted on 02/19/2025 3:31:46 AM PST by Netz ( and looking for a way ti IMPROVE mankind.)
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To: Libloather

Obama has no one but himself to blame for his library fiasco.


11 posted on 02/19/2025 3:33:30 AM PST by Rockingham
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To: jacknhoo

One of my proudest moments as a city councilman was voting to demolish a Brutalist architecture theater that would have been insanely expensive to renovate and maintain. And still would have had significant layout and location shortcomings. And would have still been ugly (see Brutalist architecture).


12 posted on 02/19/2025 3:35:23 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Right_Wing_Madman

I suggest that II in one construction go hire their own Certified/Licensed DEI Structural Engineer and challenge the experience of a firm whose partner is TOMASETTI. Good luck with that!!!

On the surface, and in personal experience, a name like Tomasetti would “suggest” they know a bit more about concrete than a few DEI grunt contractors. Oh nooose, I’m being racist. Yes, it looks like a Nazi Flak Tower


13 posted on 02/19/2025 3:36:32 AM PST by OHPatriot (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: Libloather

Who did the inspections? If the rebar installation was wrong, why did they allow concrete to be poured?

You don’t allow subcontractors to run willy nilly on the project.


14 posted on 02/19/2025 3:45:54 AM PST by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: puppypusher

It is awful. I looked at Carter reagan and Clinton libraries. They are vertical. Maybe limited space created the need for the tower.

He should have gone with Hawaii. He could have a beautiful library setting


15 posted on 02/19/2025 3:47:47 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: All
fox news.com

Obama’s library, which is being financed by his billion dollar foundation, began with lofty DEI goals, but now some say it may never be built. Construction of ex-President Obama’s “Presidential Center” and museum in a coveted location in his hometown of Chicago began with ambitious plans for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). It is now plagued by huge cost overruns, delays, a $40 million racially charged lawsuit filed by a minority contractor and questions about its financing. Read More at link

=========================================

Official portrait-----Biden US Treasury hire, Nigerian Wally Adeyemo .

Biden Treasury hire, Nigerian Wally Adeyemo abruptly quit Treasury when Trump came in. Ademeyo refused to handover documents chronicling his Treasury activities wrt $4.7 trillion in unidentified Treasury payments.

Earlier, the Nigerian headed “Obama’s Foundation” which soon made Obama “a billionaire.”

Is this why Obama said he won’t discuss his Foundation finances?

16 posted on 02/19/2025 3:49:44 AM PST by Liz
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To: Libloather
The Obama library is the perfect exmplar of the DEI approach in action.
17 posted on 02/19/2025 4:04:07 AM PST by rdcbn1 (TV )
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To: FreedomPoster

“(see Brutalist architecture).”

_______________________________

It figures the FBI headquarters is a Brutalist design. Along with Boston City Hall, too. Ugly art.

What Is Brutalist Architecture, and Why Is It So Controversial?
By Alex Greenberger
January 14, 2025

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/what-is-brutalism-brutalist-architecture-art-1234730107/

Excerpt:

“What was the point of Brutalist architecture?

For many designers involved in the movement, Brutalist architecture was not meant as a provocation. Quite the opposite—the style was meant to hold nothing back from the public, showing laypeople that modernist architecture was in fact compatible with daily life. In that way, Brutalism aspired to bring the world toward a utopian ideal, a tendency that became particularly obvious as the style traveled beyond Western Europe.

In the former Yugoslavia, for example, Brutalist architects created residential blocks and hotels, among other structures, with an eye toward bringing society onto equal ground. While many hotels across Europe laid bare divisions, with ritzier ones meant for vacationing members of the elite, the Brutalist hotels in Yugoslavia were intended for just about everyone, regardless of ethnicity or class. The sameness of the facades was a reflection of the movement’s aspirations of egalitarianism.”

______________________

Egalitarianism...i.e. Communism/Socialism/Marxism, etc.


18 posted on 02/19/2025 4:04:46 AM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: Libloather

Obama library looks like a giant outhouse.

It would be appropriate if they put a stack of homosexual books and magazines next to the toilet paper roll.

The New York Stonewall Inn has nothing on this Obama dump.


19 posted on 02/19/2025 4:05:10 AM PST by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: All

Biden Treasury hire, Nigerian Wally Adeyemo, abruptly quit Treasury when Trump came in. Ademeyo refused to handover documents chronicling his Treasury activities wrt $4.7 trillion in unidentified Treasury payments.

20 posted on 02/19/2025 4:06:59 AM PST by Liz
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