Last night DevCorp took me back to a place I remember as Kindergarden. The teacher would have us all gather in small groups, give use instructions, a time limit and have us dream big, think the impossible, examples were given, like being a astronaut and going to the moon.
Well, last night's "Adult Kindergarden" class was titled, Rogers Park Full Circle Project.
We were given a question sheet with pin-point instructions ( and answers ) and were told to use our imagination and best ideas to create a "Alice in Wonderland" neighborhood. Or was it Willy Wonka? Either one fits.
I played along with this little Imagination game, after throwing ideas around, we stood up and shared them with the rest of the class. We read our results and they matched what was already printed on the question sheet. This went on for three rounds.
1) Character
2 ) Shopping Mix
3) Safety, Safety, Safety!!!
I started on the Morse group #3 side, and wanted to talk about safety first, second and third. "Character" was listed first, and a neighbor wanted to be follow the set rules. I was told I was a bad boy, and to "go put my nose in the corner"! So I went to the Howard Street group. Anyhow, group #3 on Morse in the end didn't follow the rules or they really liked my idea and picked "Safety" as a "Character" issue? A subliminal message left by my parting example perhaps? Our Howard Street group choice was building a "Community Center in Gale Park" as our "Character" issue. Our group dreamed big!
After these little fun presentations, these little groups in class had grand visions, we all were ready to be astronauts and fly to the moon.
But in the real findings, everyone was in agreement, Morse and Howard are seriously, two scummy looking streets. Too many vacant and boarded up businesses, too many old fliers posted everywhere, too many run down buildings that aren't being taken care of, there is nothing for the children to do or places they can go that are safe, the streets are dirty, they are poorly lit, parking is hard to find, the EL stations are sub-standard and we need more police protection. The grouplist for needs kept going.
Long story short, our community is really screwed up under our current leadership. They feed us loads of "Hot Air" promises, I've heard this same ole stuff last year at a couple of these meetings, and nothing has changed. I heard this stuff a couple more times at meetings this year. Even Harry Osterman loads it on thick. He was bragging about opening his office a year ago. He has visions of giving jobs to 300 local kids this summer! He can't even get the 10 kids to re-join the Morse Avenue Clean Team or help "Paws 4 Peace-Poop Scoop" clean-ups. These "Clean Team" hours help high school students graduate. It was a great program that fell apart, not because of me. I feel a bit used by Harry, as I gave over 12 hours with these young adults last spring, he rarely showed up. Hot Air Harry. I will never vote for him again.
The Open Air Drug Market has gotten worse since Harry moved on Morse. Look at what happened yeaterday in front of his office. I was at a meeting with Harry, Larry ( Suffredin ) and Joe this summer at the 1409 West Morse office, we all were watching the Open Air Drug Market Salesman together, I asked Joe what he was doing about what we were witnessing. It didn't seem to bother him, it didn't seem to bother Harry or Larry? But it bothered me. Did Joe and DevCorp corrupt Hot Air Harry too?
We were better off with a un-manned CAPS office at 1409 W. Morse.
10 comments:
Big suprise!
Craig did not want to follow the evenings "guidelines"
Wanted to talk only about "Safety" on Morse....his table mates shut him down and asked if he would follow the rules and keep focused.(safety was the third issue on the agenda) Craig being the "Independent" guy he is decided to move to Howard St side instead of being a team player.
Grown-up's in Kindergarden
DevCorp treats Adults like 5 Year Olds
DevCorp holds a forum on Howard/Morse-$
80 or so neighbors get involved-$$
Craig acts like a Five year old-PRICELESS
PS Craig, did you have the Park Districts OK to post flyers on every car outside the meeting?
Charlie, I don't think that asking if Craig got permission to put flyers on cars outside the meeting is of any consequent except to try and belittle what he is trying to do which is to make Morse and Howard safer areas. And why would safety be #3 anyway when it seems that there is very little safety in these areas. Shame on you for acting like a Republican!
This get together was a joke, why would neighbors free-think about what bussineeses go where, when they have no choice in the matter, when it is the potential shop keeper who chooses the location, he pays the rent, not the customer.
Charlie, I don't think that asking if Craig got permission to put flyers on cars outside the meeting is of any consequent except to try and belittle what he is trying to do which is to make Morse and Howard safer areas. And why would safety be #3 anyway when it seems that there is very little safety in these areas. Shame on you for acting like a Republican!
# posted by Anonymous : 9:01 AM
It's called SARCASM or SATIRE! Craig knows full well that I respect his motives. Fair for Craig but not fair game for me? Come on.... I had a face to face conversation with him just last night at the meeting. If you can say the same, come on and out youself Anon!
Were all working to better RP.
Without Humor were DEAD
Charlie, please try using spell checker since you're so much wiser than 'sarcastic Craig'.
Good one! I believe it is called spell check. Then again I could give a #%($ Were you unable to catch my drift?
What grade do you teach?
Pity
OK Craig, so you didn't like being separated into small groups. I'm sure the whole thing would have run so much more smoothly if all 50-60 of you guys did your brainstorming in one big group, right? Uh huh....
Do you think Harry is in Joe's pocket too?
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