Más problemas se suman a la lista de problemas de Barack Obama en medio de informes de dificultades matrimoniales -y un posible divorcio- con Michelle.
El último número trata sobre el Centro Presidencial Obama. Una de las principales empresas que construye la primera biblioteca presidencial negra del país está siendo acusada de discriminación racial por uno de los subcontratistas locales del proyecto, propiedad de personas negras
Ha sido un año difícil para Obama, quien estuvo sentado solo en el funeral de estado de Jimmy Carter y en la segunda toma de posesión de Donald Trump después de que su esposa Michelle rompiera con la tradición y se negara a asistir.
Su ausencia reavivó los rumores de que la ex primera pareja se ha separado o se separará, rumores que están tratando de contrarrestar con un frente unido.
Pero ahora el Centro Presidencial Obama, su biblioteca y centro comunitario planeado desde hace tiempo en Chicago , podría enfrentar aún más demoras debido a la demanda federal.
El centro ha sido un desafío para Obama desde el principio. Su biblioteca enfrentó una demanda por su ubicación propuesta, el aumento de los costos y los problemas de construcción, lo que significa que Obama establecerá un récord de tiempo transcurrido entre el final de una presidencia y la inauguración de un museo homónimo.
Barack y Michelle Obama se han enfrentado a rumores de separación, sobre la pareja en la Convención Nacional Demócrata en agosto de 2024.
Robert McGee, propietario de la empresa II in One con sede en South Side, proporcionó servicios de hormigón y varillas de refuerzo para el centro.
Este mes McGee demandó a Thornton Tomasetti, empresa neoyorquina, en un tribunal federal, pidiendo el reembolso de unos 40 millones de dólares en costes de construcción.
Afirma que Thornton Tomasetti cambió repetidamente los estándares del proyecto y sometió a su empresa a “inspecciones excesivamente rigurosas e innecesarias” y a un extenso papeleo que “impactó en la productividad y resultó en millones en pérdidas”, según la demanda.
Y los acusó de “discriminación racial”.
“En un giro de acontecimientos impactante y desalentador, el propietario afroamericano de una empresa de construcción local se encuentra a sí mismo y a su empresa al borde del cierre forzoso debido a la discriminación racial por parte del ingeniero estructural responsable (Thornton Tomasetti) de la construcción del Centro Presidencial Obama”, dice la demanda.
McGee “nunca imaginó que el ingeniero estructural de la Fundación Obama señalaría a un subcontratista propiedad de una minoría para criticarlo injustamente y acusaría falsamente a II in One de carecer de las calificaciones y la experiencia suficientes para realizar su trabajo, mientras que, en la misma carta, afirmaba que los contratistas que no eran propiedad de una minoría estaban suficientemente calificados”, señaló la demanda.
Meanwhile, Thornton Tomasetti denied the allegations, sharing in a memo that the construction costs and delays ‘were all unequivocally driven by the underperformance and inexperience’ of the black-owned subcontractor.
In the February 2024 memo attached to the lawsuit, Thornton Tomasetti shared images of cracked slab and exposed rebar, telling Obama Foundation leadership that the Concrete Collective – which McGee’s company was a part of – submitted hundreds of requests to correct its work in the field.
The firm said it spent ‘hundreds of hours reviewing, analyzing, re-designing and responding to corrective work,’ and that contractors caused ‘a multitude of problems in the field.’
McGee, in the lawsuit, slammed back, saying Thornton Tomasetti’s criticism, the suit said, was ‘unfair’ and falsely accused II in One of ‘lacking sufficient qualifications,’
Obama Foundation spokeswoman Emily Bittner told the Chicago Tribune: ‘If the Foundation believed that any vendor was acting with a racist intent, we would immediately take appropriate action. We have no reason to believe that Thornton Tomasetti acted with racist intent.’
Obama pledged to hire local workers, contractors, and firms owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities to build his five-acre compound, which he envisioned as being a leadership training institute and community center along with a monument to his presidency.
Thornton Tomasetti has been involved in several high-profile public projects including Hudson Yards in Manhattan, New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena, Chicago’s Navy Pier, and the visitor facility at the Washington Monument.
The firm was hired by The Barack Obama Foundation to serve as a structural engineer in the construction of the former president’s center.
II in One has worked on projects like Millennium Park, the residential commons on the north campus of the University of Chicago and Kennedy King College.
Obama Presidential Center is reflected in the West Lagoon in Jackson Park in September 2024
Conceptual model of the Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center has faced many delays.
It faced legal challenges to its plans to build in Jackson Park, an historic public park.
Obama pushed to have his center – which will be more than a traditional presidential library – built in the historic area, finally winning approval.
Ground was broken in September 2021.
Then, in 2022, construction of the library was halted for several days after a noose was found on site.
The center is being built on Chicago’s South Side near the University of Chicago, where Barack Obama taught constitutional law, and just north of the neighborhood where Michelle Obama grew up.
The roughly $700 million campus is expected to include a museum, Obama Foundation offices, a public library and recreational space.
With the delays its budget has ballooned from its proposed $500 million to over $700 million. Obama raised the funds from private donors and his center will be managed by his foundation.
The eventual opening, previously scheduled for 2021 before the challenges arose, is poised to set a modern record for time between a presidency and completion.
Opening is currently scheduled for 2026.
Ronald Reagan’s library opened just over 1,000 days after Reagan’s last day in office. Bill Clinton’s took 1,398 days. Those of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush averaged 1,653 days.
It is likely the Obama center will open more than 3,100 days since he was president.
Former President Barack Obama, second from left, is joined by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, former first lady Michelle Obama, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in September 2021
The last time Barack and Michelle Obama were seen together was in early mid-December, over a month ago, when they stepped out for dinner in Los Angeles (above)
Jennifer Aniston publicly shut down ‘absolutely untrue’ claims by a US gossip magazine that she and Barack were in a relationship.
Meanwhile, Barack and Michelle Obama seem determined to put on a united front in a bid to combat the rumors surrounding their marriage.
The former president made it clear that he and his wife are a team in a newly shared statement regarding the horrific plane crash in Washington, D.C., on Thursday evening.
While sharing a moving message to the people who lost loved ones in the tragedy, Barack, 63, used terms such as ‘our hearts break’ and ‘Michelle and I send our prayers’ – a subtle shut down of the ongoing speculation that they are headed for divorce.
Michelle, 61, re-shared his emotional post to her own account.
It came one day after the couple released another joint statement announcing that The Obama Presidential Center would be honoring Hadiya Pendleton.
Hadiya, an honor roll student, was murdered in 2013 just days after performing with her majorette squad at the second inauguration of Obama. Michelle Obama, then the first lady, attended her funeral.
The last time the pair was seen together was in early mid-December, over a month ago, when they stepped out for dinner in Los Angeles.
Photos from the evening show Michelle smiling at cameras as she headed out of the popular celebrity hotspot Mother Wolf – while her husband trailed behind, with a more serious expression.
En octubre pasado, la actriz Jennifer Aniston desmintió públicamente las afirmaciones “absolutamente falsas” de una revista de chismes que afirmaba que ella y Barack estaban en una relación.
El rumor se agravó cuando los presentadores del popular podcast de cultura pop Who? Weekly afirmaron que los Obama “vivían vidas separadas” mientras que él y Jennifer mantenían una aventura.
La estrella de Friends le contó al presentador del programa nocturno Jimmy Kimmel: “Lo conocí una vez. Conozco a Michelle mejor que a él”.