Obama Library way late, and way over budget

Over the last few weeks, the Obama Library has kept popping up in the news, usually for all the wrong reasons. Several weeks ago, there was a report about residents calling it an eyesore and worried about losing their neighborhood.

A report has now broken that the project is far more over budget than had been reported only months ago.

Lawsuits

In January, a report broke about the problems the project was having in regard to numerous lawsuits with contractors.

The was a crushing blow because it was black-owned businesses that Obama was allegedly dragging through the mud.

One case stated, "In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer of record (Thornton Tomasetti) for the construction of The Obama Presidential Center.”

The Obama Foundation claimed that "it is not a party to this lawsuit, nor will it cause any delays in the concrete work, which has already been largely completed."

Monstrosity

Obama chose the location of the library because he said it had a special meaning to him and Michelle, but the residents are terrified they are going to be priced out of the area, not to mention they consider it an eyesore.

Ken Woodward, who grew up here, stated, “It looks like this big piece of rock that just landed here out of nowhere in what used to be a really nice landscape of trees and flowers.

“It’s a monstrosity. It’s over budget, it’s taking way too long to finish and it’s going to drive up prices and bring headaches and problems for everyone who lives here. It feels like a washing away of the neighborhood and culture that used to be here.”

This was commonplace, as well as the thought that developers were going to price out locals who live there now. From the reactions I saw, few people wanted the project in their backyard.

Way over cost

We all knew the project was way over budget already, but it is far more than we had ever realized.

I have seen reports of as much as $500 million, which is just a staggering number.

When all is said and done, this project could have a more than $800 million price tag, as it has already reportedly spent more than $600 million, and it is only about 40% of the way done.

Between the delays, the lawsuits, and costs, this has turned into a nightmare for Obama, but oddly enough, most mainstream media outlets are very quiet about it. Just imagine how many headlines this would be making if it were the Trump Presidential Library.