Rezko mansion isn’t up for sale, yet.
New York is where they’d rather be.
So let’s cut to the chase.
Sneed is told by impeccable sources that President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, want to live in New York when they leave the White House.
“They want New York, plain and simple,” said a top Sneed source who asked to remain anonymous — but has a relationship with the Obamas.
“It’s not an unusual decision,” added the source. “The Clintons moved to New York after Bill Clinton left the presidency. It’s a happening place.”
“They love the vibe in New York and don’t plan to have their main residence in Chicago,” a second source said.
“Is Chicago not big enough anymore? I’m told the Obamas feel New York is the right place to be for the next phase of their lives,” the second source added. “I don’t think the emotional tie to Chicago is what it once was. Perhaps not sophisticated enough.”
“I can’t imagine either one of them making their home base here,” a third source added. “New York is what they want. They are both going to be traveling; being on boards; making speeches; earning a lot more than a White House salary. It’s called the presidential gravy train.”
And don’t be surprised if the Obamas spend quality family time in Hawaii, where the president has family roots.[…]
New York, particularly Columbia University, is making a major pitch to grab the library, and Sneed reported last month that New York may have the upper hand because of first lady Michelle Obama’s interest in locating it there.
Sneed also hears the Obamas are tired of trying to raise the money; don’t want to go into retirement doing so and have expressed interest in having some of Chicago’s rich muckety-mucks — Tom Pritzker, John Rogers, and Jim Crown, all University of Chicago trustees — help take up the load.
“It all depends on who comes up with the most money to get the project done the way the Obamas want it done — and how hard the Obamas are willing to work to raise money to get it done,” a top political analyst said.