A group of us is planning another referendum for the March '06 primary. There are over 15,000 registered voters in this ward. 88% of that is over 13,000 voters--and a daunting goal--but I believe that the majority of voters in this ward care as much as we do about preserving the lakefront as it is.
We'd rather see our tax dollars fund improved public transportation, schools, local parks and housing instead of dumping BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS INTO THE LAKE to shorten the commute of suburban drivers or build playgrounds for rich boaters.
If you'd like to help organize this effort we will be meeting on Saturday, November 5th at 10am. We'll need folks to circulate petitions and work church, school and community events over the holidays.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Please be prepared to leave organizational agendas at the door because this effort will need to be a true coalition effort to succeed.
We can do this. E-mail me or give me a call if you can help.
Anne Sullivan
saveourlakefront@aol.com
7 comments:
> ... plan that doesn't even exist.
From the City of Chicago web site
Lakefront Expansion
The Park District is seeking funding to support Phase I studies for a project to complete a continuous lakefront park system from the northern City limit to the southern City limit. Most of Chicago’s 29-mile lakefront is already parkland, but two gaps remain: the North Zone, which begins at Hollywood Avenue and extends three miles to the Chicago-Evanston border, and the South Zone, which begins at 67th Street and extends south to the southern City limit. Completion of the lakefront park system will provide all neighborhoods along and near the lake with local access to parkland, beaches and the many recreational opportunities available at other areas of the lakefront. The Phase I studies will generate conceptual plans and consider all pertinent areas of feasibility, including technical, environmental, regulatory, legal, budgetary and schedule. The study will also address needs related to access, open space, recreation, transportation and shoreline protection.
* Objective: Seek $7 million for Phase I studies ($2 million for the South Zone Phase I study and $5 million for the North Zone Phase I study).
I believe he is referring to the allusion to LSD expansion "shorten the commute of suburban drivers or build playgrounds for rich boaters." This statement is a great example of a common political tactic to make it seem as if there is a plan to squash the little guy and create an us against them campaign. Call me selfish, but I want the bike path and park system that the rest of the city already enjoys. Please drop all this LSD talk.
Anne states, "I believe that the majority of voters in this ward care as much as we do about preserving the lakefront as it is."
After the laundry list of improvements and ammenities that people listed when speaking about alternatives to the marina plan, I can't imagine where she got the idea that people don't want change. The leave it as it is approach to our lakefront is extreme and shouting about LSD expansion in order to serve the interests of a special interest group is irresponsible.
I don't know who the founder is. I looked on the site in the above posting and at urbsinhorto.org but didn't find anything. According to the SOL website it is "spearheaded" by RPCAN. Don't know if that helps.
Michael K said.....>"I don't know who the founder is.
That's correct, you don't. You blame Don Gordon, but you don't know who started this.
Little history lesson Michael K, it was Charlotte Goldberg who first brought this cause to our attention.
I don't blame Don Gordon for starting anything. I blame Don Gordon for making comments in a Reader article that makes Rogers Park residents look silly. Spreading paranoia is shady politics.
That said, thank you for the link it is an interesting bit of history about the RPCC. Charlotte sounds like she was a real assett to her community. Still I cannot see as how this has anything to do with the current fight against something that does not exist.
I have mentioned before that I would love a bike path and a larger park on the lake. That is what I want. The RPCAN and SOL do not want any landfill in the lake and that is in conflict with my desires. Noone will argue that because both websites mention it. My problem is that rather than develop a solid case for why bulding more park space on the lake is bad and trying to sell that to the public, they tie any talk of development on the lake with expansion of Lake Shore Drive. It's cheap and it insults the public it is supposed to serve.
-What do you think happens when Ed Burke & Co. down in City Hall cast their eyes on a particular prize?
More paranoid blather. Show me Ed Burke & Co.'s plans for LSD expansion before you start insulting people.
In answer to your other question, I lived in RP from 92-96 and then moved away for a few years. I have been back in the city since 2001 and recently moved back to RP. Is that good enough or do I have to have lived here my whole life to know anything about what is going on? I understand that my rather non-bohemian point of view isn't always so popular around here but when you've got a lot of people asking for improvements to the community but don't want to sacrifice anything to get it my eyes roll up into the back of my head.
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