CHICAGO (CBS) –  It’s taken me a while to think this, and I’m still not for sure, but I’m coming around to the idea that Mayor Emanuel is right. The NATO summit will be good for Chicago, bringing in tourists and dollars to help balance his budget.

The inconveniences downtown are temporary. The city the reporters are seeing is gorgeous. The painting and pruning are sparkling. The police are polite, the protesters are calm.

The feelings in the surveys are up. Fifty-nine percent say we favor the summit; 60 percent say we’ll improve our image, from Al Capone and bully politicians to the city our president is from, hosting premiers and prime ministers from around the world who will make decisions and sign agreements at our McCormick Place, to be known around the world as the Chicago Accords.

I say give the mayor his due. And good for you, Rahmbo.