"I was on the Steering Committee and the reason is because we decided to focus on the most blighted areas."
posted by RPneighbor : 7:19 PM
Simple enough for a volunteer member the steering committee who spent time on the Morse Avenue Streetscape picking out types of trees, planters and lights to say. But what about DevCorp North under the paid leadership of Kimberly Bares? Someone who gets paid well to take care of these things. What does Ms. Bares have to say?
Bare is right when it comes to looking for trees in the 1400 of West Morse. For over two years we have had to look at this. Two years! Missing trees, broken trees and cut trees. Clear-cutting on Morse Avenue?
On Broadway where I work and pay into a SSA, when a tree gets damaged, the tree gets replaced with-in weeks.
Why doesn't that happen in this SSA? Where are all those Special Service Area #24 tax hike dollars going to Ms. Bares? Where are you going to string the Christmas lights?
37 comments:
>As always, Craig attempts...
As always, Thomas leads with Craig.
Tom - Given the increasing number of people that post on this blog, I suggest that Craig's political practices as expressed on the blog, such as they are, are becoming increasingly irrelevant.
I doubt people are coming here just to read up on Craig's point of view; they come to read ALL the posts. Don't you think that it is vaugely preposterous to suggest that just because he manages the blog, his word has some kind of special authority? This isn't the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal, for heaven's sake!
This blog is a just catalyst for conversations between neighbors - and for that I will continue to thank Craig, even though I don't always agree with his approach to issues.
And when he's not leading about Craig, it's Craig's blog.
I beleive Craig was trying to start a discussion of DevCorp North's arboreal competence. Maybe this blog is not the best place for you to discuss this blog. Have you forgetten where your blog is? Here is the url as a reminder, in case you forgot:
Method Loci
>If you gave Rogers Park organizations the kind of money an SSA in Lincoln Park could pull together, sure, you'd see some new trees.
Are you claiming the reason DevCorp North is such a miserable failure as the sole service provider for our Special Service Areas is that they are underfunded?
The property tax levies that DevCorp North imposes on Rogers Park to support themselves is much higher than that imposed by the North Halsted Merchants Association:
Howard SSA 1%
Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA 0.6%
North Halsted SSA 0.4%
Norht Halsted also imposes that tax on far more people whose property is worth far more than here.
Also, you must admit that there are many other cultural differences that create obstacles to the process. Empty storefronts, disenfranchised residents, criminals, and bad landlords all add to the problem. Does that mean that DevCorp has always done the best they can do? No. But I do acknowledge that they are dealing with a much bigger problem than you'll see in Lincoln Park. Let's not compare apples and oranges here.
> ... cultural differences that create obstacles
The ever-popular "our miserable little meighborhood, what do you expect?" agument.
Are you claiming the reason DevCorp North is such a miserable failure as the sole service provider for our Special Service Areas is that they are forced to work in Rogers Park?
TRA LA LA...LA LA LA LA!
No. I am saying that they are especially challenged and that comparing this SSA to Lincoln Park is unreasonable.
My yard/street is clean because I clean it. I clean it because I care about how my neighborhood looks. Many people do not care and their yards and streets look like crap. I think that if we could get the people who live in this neighborhood to care about what things look like, we wouldn't need to spend a lot of money on upkeep of planters or bring in janitors through the Earnfare program to begin with.
Maybe one day I will be able to walk my dog and only have to carry the poop bag and not one for poop and one for the never ending supply of Cheetos bags. Until then, I'll be out there trying to be a good example. Maybe I'm naive, but I'm gonna give it a try.
Michael K- you pick up other people's dog poop? I am impressed really. I only pick it up off my lawn. I do pick up trash though on my entire block and I have seen improvement.
Nico's Mom- I agree!
I only pick up other pooch's poop after the spring thaw. I bought a special broom and dust pan for the task. Everyone I assume is familiar with the many treasures the melting ice and snow reveals. Also, if it is on the sidewalk I'll drag the hose out and wash it off. Mostly, I just pick up litter. Luckily there have been a couple of construction dumpsters nearby for me to dispose of all the junk I find.
Maybe I'm naive but I take things more at face value and I don't believe conspiracy theories such as yours Thomas. I just won't go there.
"Nastiness is neither necessary nor desirable"
This I agree with!
>Attacks on DevCorp are something that happens instead of improving the neighborhood, not as a necessary part of it.
I understand DevCorp North fatigue. I get tired of talking about DevCorp North, too. BUT unfortunately the struggle to turn our neighborhood around is exactly equivalent to the struggle to make DevCorp North accountable. DevCorp North makes themselves a big part of our worst problems.
Crime on Morse? DevCorp North is hiring rent-a-cops.
No Retail? DevCorp North is working on a plan, another decade should do it.
DevCorp North is making hundreds of thousands of dollars of resources disappear every year that could make a real difference in more responsible hands. You may be tempted to think, let's forget about DevCorp North, let's do our own thing, lets see what we can get done without them, but I don't think so.
> ... by attacking everything and everything except MJH.
everyone gets a turn in the box from what I can tell
> ... Craig's hidden bias ...
No one in the history of Rogers Park has less hidden views than Craig Gernhardt.
>Add to that his loan to the MJH campaign
If you are so bothered by Craig's outstanding loan to Michael's campaign, why don't you pay it off? Do us all a favor
>Actually, by percentage, he has a bigger connection to MJH than any single donor has to Joe. (Since MJH only has, like, twelve donors.)
I understand your preference for discussing percentages rahther than absolute dollars.
>I'm going to keep posting my opinion here...
We're honored.
The maximum tax levy for an SSA is set by City ordinance. The proceedings of our City Council are available at the Harold Washington Library and in the basement of City Hall.
The SSA Craig refered to is the North Halsted SSA.
And last time I visited Moore's ward office I noticed he has a set of the proceedings, too.
Holy Crap! It's getting wild in here today.
>No one in the history of Rogers Park has less hidden views than Craig Gernhardt.
I don't think anyone is questioning Craig's views but rather the impetus behind them. I think it has been proven that Craig has a bias and perhaps has something to gain as publisher of Gay Chicago Magazine by having an openly gay Alderman as a friend. That's fine with me. Politics is all about maneuvering to get what you want and I doubt that will ever change. I just wish for a bit more transparency. Hugh, you ask for transparency from others, why not from Craig and Michael?
Sorry, but both you two are worng. I pay into Special Service Area #8 The East Lakeview SSA.
Our rents increase every year because of this secret tax.
My landlord Mr. O'Neil ( 3115 N. Broadway and no relation to our Kevin O'Neil ) had no clue he was in a SSA until I told him and pointed out the line item on the tax bill.
$12,026 in 2004 SSA taxes alone. Did you get that. 12,026 in taxes for just the SSA line item. I have a copy of the bills. He was stunned. I asked him if he ever got a notice. He said no.
He never heard about a meeting. Nothing. Now he is stuck paying this tax. But as I mentioned my rent increases every year because of the SSA so he just passes on the no good worthless SSA tax.
Now, take a look at Broadway, there are vacant storefronts popping up left and right because of the higher rents for storefronts. I still have to sweep my own storefront everyday because these same SSA janitors who screw off down there too.
Thank you Gina Carusso. She was our Chamber's executive Director before hitting the big time with the SSA.
Sorry about my poor spelling. I meant to say both you two were *wrong*.
Thanks Craig.
Lake View East SSA 0.41%
>I asked him if he ever got a notice. He said no.
That's awful if it is true. You know as well as I do though that these notices are often disregarded as junk mail. Maybe they could be more clearly marked? Also, how could a person be ignorant of a line item on their tax bill that is over $12K?
I am not saying you don't have a legitimate beef with these taxes, Craig. I just can't believe the building owner didn't know about it unless he does not actively take part in the business of managing the building.
Michael hit the nail on the hit and drove this question home.....> "You know as well as I do though that these notices are often disregarded as junk mail."
Michael, I hope you clicked the link to my commercial rental property.
This is a 5 story all commercial building.
Footnote to the property. Four floors are parking spaces rented out by Mid-City Parking company.
That's rent for cars. Do you ever think a person renting a space for a car looks at the lease for a SSA tax?
Also, to give you an example of what my landlord is like, go meet Alan Goldberg. They could be twins.
I know exactly where this is, I used to live a few blocks away and I passed your building on the way to my gym every day. Business is generally thriving on that street. A few store fronts confound me that they are still there like that shoe store that never has anyone in it and sells shoes at Neiman Marcus prices. WTF?
By the way, did they rebuild the Dominick's yet?
Michael is right, Holy Cow, what is going on? Do we have a full moon maybe? Twice today I was baited by Tom the Attorney and Roger Parker.
Boys, ( and I use that term lightly ) settle down and stop trying to get the blogmaster worked up. I'm heading to Vegas tomrrow. You guys are doing your best best to wreck my karma.
Tom said...> "I guess I WILL have to post on my own blog. "
If you need help , here is a simple click to find it.
put a buck on da Bears to go all the way for me
Craig! Congrats! You're a father! Again!
Morose Hellhole
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