* Open Letter Jan Schakowsky

Following is an open letter to Jan Schakowsky. Her office telephone number is (773) 506-7100, and her postal mail address is The Honorable Jan Schakowsky , 5533 Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640. Her website doesn't post an
email address (grr) but there's a form here.

Dear Representative Schakowsky:

As my Congressional representative, I hold you responsible to (1) be aware
of federal actions to occur in your district, and (2) notify us, your
constituents of matters of importance so that we may debate, in a timely
fashion, whether we want those actions to occur. I am therefore extremely
disappointed to discover that you have either (1) failed to know, or (2)
failed to timely advise us, of the following likely federal appropriation:

"H.R. 3 this week. ( Report number 109-12 ) "To authorize funds for
Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for
other purposes." Page 306, # 1469: 1 million dollars to conduct a study and
design Chicago North Lakefront expansion project."

To be perfectly frank, I think you knew about this and decided not to raise
a lot of debate about it because you know what we in east Rogers Park think
about LSD expansion - it will kill our neighborhood. Ignorance of this
appropriation is not a way out, nor would it be terribly credible. So let's
just avoid that inane diversion from the start. You were obligated to know
and tell us, and that just didn't happen. You failed, and you now owe us an
apology, as well as immediate and effective work to fix the consequences of
your failure.

As you are aware, we in Rogers Park are vehemently opposed to an expansion
of Lake Shore Drive, and there was even a recent referendum in some parts of
the 49th Ward that overwhelmingly affirmed this position. Expansion of Lake
Shore Drive would divide this economically underserved neighborhood from the
lake, causing property values to decline, neighborhood improvements to be
more difficult to finance, and a diminishment of the quality of life. We
are not here to provide another ghetto for wealthier people in the north
shore suburbs to drive past, although I will note that the people most
directly affected by the proposal will be the lake front properties, i.e.
almost everyone with money in Rogers Park will be cut off by the plan.

To the extent the referendum does not raise concerns for you, I would note
that its phrasing was timid, and more information about Mayor Daley's LSD
expansion plans have come available since that time. Property owners and
residents within a few blocks of the lake may be willing to contemplate an
expansion of the park, but LSD expansion will bring a much stronger and much
broader objection. Nobody who lives here will want to be cut off from the
lake, and will probably be willing to devote a fair amount of resources to
prevent and object to such a plan.

I also anticipate your objection that the bill does not directly say that
Lake Shore Drive will be expanded, to which I say you were obligated to
ensure that it specifically disavowed it, given our clear indications that
LSD is not welcome in our neighborhood. There is just no room for a mistake
here, as you know. What you have done is setting us up to get steamrolled
by the Mayor. Mayor Daley has no doubt promised you political support in
return, but it may be politically more costly than you expect.

I am commencing a process of organizing a campaign to have Rogers Parkers
call, write, and email your offices to say what they think about LSD
expansion, as well as your mishandling of this appropriation. In the mean
time, I strongly suggest that you arrange to have that bill modified to
state: "1 million dollars to conduct a study and design Chicago North
Lakefront expansion project, provided that such plan shall under no
circumstances provide for motor vehicle transportation beyond that needed
for immediate use of a park and other facilities for public recreation to be
developed along the lake, and provided that motor vehicle traffic not
present for immediate use of such park and public recreation facilities
shall be directed away from such development and under no circumstances
through it."

Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters.

Yours,


Thomas J. Westgard
Attorney at Law
7009 North Glenwood Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60626