* This time it's for the WHOLE WARD!

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

* Happy Halloween Part 2

Trick or Treat

OK, no really, trick or treat.

* Have a Happy & Safe Halloween

From the Hell Hole, we hope everyone has fun, but stays safe tonight. This evening at dusk, James and I will be keeping an eye on the east side of Lunt and Glenwood. Stop by and say boo.

This photo was taken at last years Paws4Peace Halloween Trick or Trick party that went trick or treating to various houses in the neighborhood and finished up with a big spooky party at the now defuncted, Cocoabean Cafe.

* Scary Photo of the Month

Un-Supervised Special Service Area Janitor Hides Face

1.) Why doesn't this Special Service Area janitor want his face shown ? Is he a famous star, hiding from his fans?

* DevCorp North Janitor Office Removed From Morse Avenue

Tidbits and little nuggets of information.

DevCorp North didn't last a year. The DevCorp North janitors office on Morse is no more. The new building owner has plans and it doesn't include having a bunch of lazy, unsupervised, food stamp collecting fools peeing in the alley.

Looks like DevCorp North is going to need a new Special Service Area commissioner to replace the token Mary. Will DevCorp North do what they have done in the past and find a rubber stamp puppet to fill the void?

The Special Service Area #24 private security is finished and according to Katy Hogan. " It won't be re-newed". She said Special Service Area #24 taxpayers spent $25,000 dollars for the three month trial rent a cop program. All the hoopla about the greatness this security provides, it turned out to be a joke. A real expensive laugh at the taxpayers expense. DevCorp executives are laughing all the way to the bank on this one. Where is the rest of the money being spent that was budgeted for security? There was $34,000 budgeted last year and $55,000 this year. If they spent $25,000 on three months of ???? Yes, that's right, question marks. What did they really do except drive around and waste gas?

Wanting More Information

Brought up and agreed by Katy Hogan at the bloggers talk yesterday was open information for all. Not a select few. The freedom to view documents such as meeting agendas, meeting minutes and annual budgets from our not-for-profits like DevCorp North and Rogers Park Community Council.... but

....Don't look for this to happen anytime soon. Ms. Bares and Ms. Steinbuck seem very happy keeping the public in the dark on what they do with the government money they receive.

Ms. "Know-it-All Katy Hogan showed up to represent the big wigs who were afraid to go head to head with the Hell Hole. Ms. Hogan sits on every known organizations board ( some we don't know ), so, she is as close as we can get to the truth. The Alderman and DevCorp North are notorious for using little meeting sitters. Katy Hogan is one of them. Call her a note-taker if you will. So, here I linked a few stories with dozens and dozens of questions that haven't been answered over the past year by the Special Service Area executives. Dozens and dozens of questions. You can click here to fill in the some of the blanks Ms. SSA Commissioner. Take your time, Ms. Bares has.

If that's too many questions Ms. SSA Comissioner, we can go step by step, one at a time.

1.) Show the taxpayers what the taxpayers spent for the three month, trial security detail on Morse/Clark and Glenwood. Where is the rest of the money being spent that was budgeted for Special Service Area #24 security? That will be a start.

Show us ALL the rent a cop logs We can talk about the door later.

* Alderman Moore's Aldephi Plan

Last month I brought up the Adelphi Project Alderman Moore and his campaign coffer, developer buddies were showcasing. The Alderman gave us a informercial on the project, claiming ""it wasn't a done deal.

I have to say I was wrong and he was right. It wasn't a done deal. We had Alderman Moore's dog and pony show first.

Here is parts of what the Alderman has to say about the future concrete block, cookie cutter condo project.

"When the developer, Mr. Zuric, first appeared before the committee, his plan was vastly different from the plan I am currently considering. 

The proposed development will be one story taller and contain 11 more housing units than is permitted under the current zoning.

The Adelphi Theater has no historical or architectural value, Alderman Moore added more calling the place a "crumbling eyesore".

Yes, this is what the Alderman said.

Well folks, Alderman Moore stuck it to us again. We bent over and Alderman Moore gave it to us. Alderman Moore wants it one story taller. Alderman Moore wants 11 more high end condo units he couldn't even afford. Our Alderman sounds more like a developer now? But....

Not a word on the extra special service area taxes these new condo owners will be paying.

Any thoughts on why Alderman Moore's puppet zoning committee ok'ed this taller building with-out more public imput?

* Shootings in Rogers Park

Exclusive Cel Phone Photo's

photo's by Margot Hackett
The reports are coming in fast and furious. Actually not really. No one wants to talk about it. Crime in Rogers Park that is. Shootings and stabbings. Kids shooting kids. In this case a couple of shootings occurred. One in Touhy Park on Thursday afternoon/evening. One on Ashland Avenue on Tuesday. There could be more for all we know.

On the Touhy Park shooting . Blood was gushing from the victim everywhere. Bloody foot print after bloody foot print. All the way down Clark Street past Chase to Touhy. By the time the victim got to Touhy and Clark gas station, it looked as if he lost his entire nine pints of blood. The victim was still dripping blood while running through the gas station. The red trail of blood stopped at 1738 W. Touhy Apartment gates. Neighbors couldn't tell what the outcome of the victim was going to be as he was taken away in an ambulance. All they could tell is the victim lost alot of blood.

Margot Hackett version [ A young male in his early 20's was shot yesterday afternoon in Touhy Park. The young man managed to cross Touhy and make it down the back alley between the 1700 block Touhy and Estes leaving a grisly trail of bloody footprints and pools of blood from 1730 W. Touhy through the alley. The young man was taken away in an ambulance before I arrived on the seen. What little information I was able to obtain came from onlookers at the scene and Scott, our CAPS Beat 2423 facilitator. After speaking to witness, the police converged on Touhy Park, seaching for clues. I and a few other citizens, walking their dogs were told we had to leave. I asked the officer who asked us to leave if the shooting occured in the park. He said "yes".
I understand that this is the 2nd shooting in a week. Scott heard this too but hadn't seen the stats to confirm this. He has also heard rumors of several homicides in the 1700 Estes area that he is also trying to get stats on.]

Also, a couple of days ago, a Sullivan High School student was shot in the leg around Ashland and North Shore/Albion area according to a source. The kid went home, hoping to hide the situation instead of going to the hospital right away. When the kid got home his mother was mad and took him to the hospital. The kid knew who the shooter was. Extra police patrols were noticed on Ashland after school yesterday.

* Alderman Moore's Mission Causes Misery for One Downtown Eatery

What's Next, Steaks, Bacon & Chicken?

Photo caption: Cow gets slaughered for meat with a five gallon bucket catching the streaming blood.

Alderman Moore's wild Goose and Duck actvists hunted down Cyrano's Bistrot and Wine Bar at 546 N. Wells between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. When they found the place, they vandalized it. Just a day after speaking out against Alderman Moore's proposed ban on foie gras, the chef, Didier Durand arrived at his River North business Wednesday to a sight usually seen on Morse Avenue! A shattered window, this one covered with fake goose or duck blood. Also found were busted-up flower boxes strewn on the sidewalk. Very much like Howard Street.

Mayor Mocks Joe

Mayor Daley chided the proposed ban, laughing and snickering at Alderman Moore in a news conference. Da Mayor enjoys eating foie gras and said even with a ban, restaurants are likely to find a way to serve foie gras under a different name, say like .... "fatty liver"! Just take a look at how long Alderman Moore has been in office before raising his feathers over this issue. It wasn't until winter of 2005 Alderman Moore knew how to spell foie gras much less know what it was.

* Only THIS Plan Is Shelved

Guest Blogger

I got a call Monday from Angela Caputo with Pioneer Press, who asked if I thought that people came away thinking this marina idea was sunk. I told her that I thought most did, and pointed to Moore's e-mail saying the proposal was "permanently shelved".

She (Caputo) told me, "Well, that's not what he's saying today!"

Same crap, different day.

Meanwhile, the development juggernaut marches on, next to Edgewater. We need to make sure THAT meeting is well attended, too. Especially since Mr. Rejman said they were "looking at maybe moving up the North Side planning process".

According to today's article, Moore said he's "not putting too much stock in blind referendum results as a gauge of popular opinion."

The only thing blind here is Joe Moore. He must have been too blind to see the sign I held up when he spoke at last week's meeting so I'll post it here again. (And remember that Joe loves to trivialize the referendum by reminding us that it was ONLY in 10 precincts!)

3,647 Voters said NO to lakefront development - Only 10 precincts
3,693 Voted for Joe Moore in his last election - 44 total precincts

DO THE MATH JOE!

Anne Sullivan

* Secret Zoning Change at Morse & Greenview

Alderman's Pal Alters Original Plan

Does everyone remember Mr. Coe?

Mr Coe is one of the Alderman's pals.

Mr Coe has 49th ward clout.

Mr. Coe knows how to play hardball.

Yet, Mr. Coe couldn't keep track of what was going on half the time.

Mr. Coe insults his future new neighbors.

Mr. Coe has poor demolition habits, caught here on the Broken Heart.

A day later, the Censorist, 49th ward zoning member and east/west retail theorist David Fagus added his two cents.

Now Mr. Coe wants to change some building designs. With his track record, we are better off keeping the big hole in the ground.

* Fagus Begins Censorship on 49th Ward Blog

"High Five" to RPNeighbor.....> "Did anyone see David Fagus's recent post about retail in Rogers Park and east/west streets being unworkable? He asked what we think but he removed the comments function off his blog.... No public forum there."

Warning: Commentary Article

It's been nearly a year since I started this blog. One year later an example of why I started one popped up in the comments section. Our very own 49th ward democratic committeeman David Fagus doesn't want to hear your thoughts anymore.

Free Speech No Moore Opps, I mean More.

Mr. Democracy? David Fagus has cut off the pubic's thoughts on his blogs site. Once a free to comment blog, Fagus has turned his site into a one sided propaganda site for Alderman " Save our Web Footed Friends" Moore. Fagus joins the likes of DevCorp North, rogerspark.com, forum49 and Heart of Rogers Park ( Kevin O'Neil's CAPS site ) yahoogroup as freedom-less speech. If you write something they don't like, they remove it. If you continue, they ban you. Like all the community names above, Mr. Democracy removed all my posts. I never once called him a name. I just asked too many tough questions.

Not like my readers do to me. Mine are brutal.

Commenters are important in blogging. Letting people speak their mind. Good or bad. Read back in the thousands of comments on my blog over the last year to see some of the vicious/slanderous/ blah, blah, blah names I have been called by Alderman Moores minions and other freaky types. Again I warn you some comments are brutal. I've been called a racist pig and a drunk. I've been called an idiot, a loser and a asshole neighbor. Just look at some of the names Tom Westgard has called Hugh and I in the last week. 'Fools. Vicious, mindless, destructive, loudmouth fools" was his exact words. Some of those above comments come from the police department too. You got to be tough to be in this business. Name calling is part of the game. I never threatened David Fagus on his blog, I challenged his lame theory.

So are we in the 49th Democratic ward or Alderman Moore's Communist state?

* The James Report

Hi All,

With regards to the tragic incident on Pratt the other day, a desperate effort by neighbors was made at close quarters against a madman with a knife, combat that saved at least one life. The courage it took to stand over two bleeding victims in a confined gangway was incredible. Those people don’t want to be identified but they walk among us, and they were amazing that day. Thank You.


A different kind of victory was achieved at Loyola Park last Thursday. It happened for two reasons. We all stood together, and we got to them before they saw us coming. The importance of a unified statement was huge. The other reason, which I’ll call superior intelligence regarding their strategy, we were fortunate to receive.

The reason we had to fight again was simple. We invited them in by not having a strategy of our own. Though they were beaten last time, and I might add also when Loyola tried the same thing long ago they returned because no singular defeat will ever deter them. The chance for plunder of this magnitude is irresistible, and we must analyze this incident and learn from it.

After the last struggle, it was perhaps understandable that people thought there was time to rest. Like many people I assumed that referendum sent a clear message. But we were all wrong. I’m not criticizing anyone here. But I guarantee the next group that wants a piece of our lake or an LSD extension is watching us right now. We have to recognize that fact if we’re to guard against whatever new schemes might be in the works.

Our weakest point is that we have no committed plan for our lakefront. Sure, a study was done, and suggestions were noted, but that’s where it ended. It shouldn’t have. We were fortunate this time that we caught them and hit them unexpectedly (with this blog, no less) and that Don Gordon and others marshaled old contacts so adroitly. But make no mistake about it: I was in the right place at the right time, and the response of the community was flawless. But we can’t stay reactionary and expect to win every time.

The momentum exists now to make a real plan and secure our lake forever. I have a suggestion for this process. Make it apolitical. A Lakefront Commission should be appointed, and political personalities of any sort should step aside.

This issue is too contentious to be managed fairly by anyone beholden to the next election or development. Certainly their opinions are important but only as suggestions submitted to an independent board of citizens. Its time to place this where it belongs: in the hands of regular people who live here. Not in the hands of this or that civic leader who needs to keep his or her group relevant. Forget the elected officials and aspiring politicians, too. They will see the final plan and can decide if they like it or not then. After the other night they all know better than to come down on the wrong side of this issue.

All caring folks can and should submit ideas. For example, I cannot imagine undertaking a long-range park design without the assistance of Mr. Gordon’s Conservancy or groups like RPCAN. But everyone with a contribution should share it, and we should be as inclusive as possible.

The way to insulate the process from the inevitable conflicts of a neighborhood honeycombed with community organizations and political agendas is to enlist a group of honest brokers to sift through the competing visions and assemble something great, fair, and lasting.

And if no one can seize credit, we all share the success, and the only way we lose is if we fail to complete the work. We’ll all be watching to monitor the ethics of the process.

Please consider this suggestion. If it doesn’t work we will have lost nothing, but it is the surest way to permanently secure the lakefront we all want. If the Lakefront Commission comes up with bad ideas, their plans will be summarily rejected. However I believe in my neighbors and friends and I know the heart of the average Rogers Parker is too good to mess this up. Again, no offense to anyone, but we should rely on that to ensure better results this time.

In using a mechanism that is truly independent, we build an institution that would be almost impervious to corruption by those with other designs, yet we keep the ability to hold them accountable for their recommendations, which would be ratified through a referendum once their work is finished. After we have consensus, we can pressure our elected officials into enacting whatever legislation or funding is needed.

We might then at last be able to fall asleep on a warm day at the beach without worrying about it disappearing around us.

James Ginderske

* Duck - Duck - Goose

The chuckles continue as Great Duck Defender Alderman Moore chats foie gras again.

* 1225 West Farwell News

Jocelyn,

Great job RP-Neighbor! Well done.

* Big Shots Ignore Broken Window on Door

No one noticed. All the big shots walked right past it. Twice. Once to enter, once to exit. Not Katy Hogan, who signed up as a representative Loyola Park Advisory Council ( what's that? ). Not Michael Harrington or Don Gordon of the Rogers Park Conservancy. Not Jennifer Clark with Loyola University. Did anyone of these folks warn an official of this broken door/window? They all have organizations focusing on issues about making the park a better place to play.

Buildings with broken doors and windows are not inviting places to enter.

Yet these kids are forced to enter this site, looking run down. It's no wonder they these kids can't take pride in anything. They see our own officials let their own property look run-down and slum-like.

This makes the neighborhood look blighted.

Not one of the dozen hot shot, high paid, Park District officials either. Did anyone of these big shots care? It sure didn't look like it? They walked right past it with-out saying a thing about it. Did anyone make a note this was broken? Not even our own Alderman " I know the ward like the back of my hand" Moore.

Maybe they did notice and didn't give a ( you fill in the word here ) ?

The broken window/door at Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 West Greenleaf.

Here we have a broken window, "broken since early summer"said Mary Hopkins Loyola Park fieldhouse director.

Early summer and it can't get fixed because of a contract hold-up?

" I put in a request to have it repaired, but the Chicago Park District doesn't have a broken window repair contract yet. said Hopkins. So it remains, well, broken and boarded up. Much like the storefronts on Morse Avenue.

* Loyola/Edgewater Marina Idea Sunk

For all of you who made it out to attend the Chicago Park District's meeting last night on the marina - give yourself a big slap on the back. You all made a difference. You all made the Park District listen up. For those of you unable to make it - the Loyola marina has been sunk to the bottom of Lake Michigan where it will join the Calvary marina - at least for right now.

Early in the meeting it was apparent that the audience (around 300 people) was overwhelmingly against a marina.

Early in the meeting it was apparent that this was not going to be a polite and patient audience.

We were all mad as hell and we weren't going to take it anymore!

Representative Harry Osterman gave one of the first statements and gave what was probably one of his finest speeches. He pulled no punches in challenging the Park District on a number of levels as to why this was simply a dumb idea - getting standing ovations more than once. It was very refreshing to see such unabashed defense of our lakefront - especially from someone in political office, where couching terms, platitudes and fence sitting is much more the norm for other elected officials. He demanded that the Park District work with both the Rogers Park and Edgewater communities to begin a comprehensive community planning process.

I'm glad to tell everyone that both Rob Rejman and Chris Gent have agreed to work with the Conservancy in our effort next February to sponsor a series of forums in our community. These forums will be the next phase of taking ideas that we gathered from hundreds of citizens over the past 18 months and begin conceptualizing the Plan of Rogers Park - a vision for our parks and beaches. We look forward to beginning this next phase and once again engaging the entire community of Rogers Park in the process. You'll hear more from us over the next couple months, but in the interim, if you wish to join with us in this effort, please email me and let me know. Our next meeting with Chris Gent will be in a couple weeks and we will begin to formulate the list of the tasks and the timelines for staging these forums.
If you haven't yet had a chance to view the 60+ pages Community Needs Assessment, please visit us online at Rogers Park Consevancy

And most importantly, enjoy the moment! Grassroots community organizing and voicing your opinions, once again defeated a marina. That's two marinas in two years off the planning table - not to mention a referendum sponsored by Save Our Lakefront Coalition that polled our citizens in last November's election and sent a resounding "No lakefront development" message to our politicians. I think this community has a winning streak! We are all true stewards and protectors of our precious natural resources and jewel of a lakefront. We should all be very proud of ourselves.

Donald Gordon
Executive Director, Rogers Park Conservancy

From the Alderman's Office

Dear 49th Ward Neighbor:

I am pleased to report that the Chicago Park District has decided to permanently shelve a proposal to construct a marina on Rogers Park and Edgewater's lakefront. The decision came Thursday night at a packed community meeting at the Loyola Park Field House.

The Rogers Park-Edgewater marina was one of five marinas proposed by consultants hired by the Park District to address a growing demand for boat slips in Park District Harbors. Superintendent Tim Mitchell first brought the proposal to my attention in September. Although the proposal was in concept form only, I immediately requested that the Park District bring the proposal to the 49th Ward for an open public meeting to allow for community input at this early stage.

The 300 people in attendance voiced overwhelming opposition to the marinas construction, and the Park Districts representative, Robert Rejman, announced forty-five minutes into the meeting that the proposal would no longer be considered.

I salute the residents who voiced their concerns, and I thank the Park District for listening to those concerns. Tonight's meeting was a great example of participatory democracy at its best. I join other civic organizations who have called upon the Park District to initiate a broad-based community planning process to address the future of our lakefront, our community's most wonderful natural asset.

Alderman Joe Moore

* White Shoes Crack Smoker

Ever since the trouble moves out story my good zoom lens camera has been in the shop. I borrowed my dads funky little Kodak in the meantime. It doesn't get the up-close clear look with the early evening light, this is as good as I can get it. So, to all those Joe's and Tom's who say this could be any guy sitting for 10 minutes in the alley playing with a rock.... I say OK, it's a guy sitting in the alley playing with a rock...
... a rock of crack .

* Harbor/Marina/Landfill Meeting Tonight

Reprinted

A Harbor/Marina Plan is this evening, October 20th, at Loyola Park at 6:30pm. Expect a full house!

This is a very important meeting and has the potential to impact the shape of our community for generations to come. Please come and voice your opinion and let the Park District hear from you.

The Rogers Park Conservancy fought long and hard in partnership with our Evanston neighbors to stop construction of a marina off the shoreline of Calvary Cemetery last year.

Today, thanks to that effort and a receding waterline, a beautiful and tranquil beach is now forming at that site. We like to think that Mother Nature is thanking us for saving the lakefront from the eyesore of a marina by beginning to restore the once historic Calvary Beach.

Our next efforts are in working to help Mother Nature along to preserve this once grand beach that is forming again.

Likewise, we now intend to save our own lakefront from a marina that will forever mar the shoreline off of Loyola University or anywhere else along the lakeshore from Osterman Beach to Calvary Beach. We see a 3-mile shoreline of beaches along that stretch, reflecting not only our opinion but also echoing voices of those who participated in the numerous forums and monthly meetings that we sponsored last year.

We also heard a resounding voice against shoreline development when the "Save Our Lakefront" coalition put the extension of Lake Shore Drive to a vote in last November's election - a resounding 88% of you said "NO" - an election that included residents at the north end of the Edgewater community along Sheridan Road.

Prior to this Thursday's meeting we are issuing the statement, which is being sent from the Rogers Park Conservancy to Governor Blagojevich, Lt. Governor Quinn, Mayor Daley, Park District Superintendant Tim Mitchell, Director of Lakefront Construction Rob Rejman (who will be giving the presentation on Thursday), Jan Schakowsky, Carol Ronan, Harry Osterman and Alderman Joe Moore.

We are also inviting all of them to attend the meeting and hear the voices of their constituencies.

* SOL

Save Our Lakefront or Shit Outta Luck?

The Rogers Park Conservancy opposes any marina or harbor project in the Rogers Park or Edgewater communities. We also oppose any landfill or islands placed off the Rogers Park shoreline as well as any extension of Lake Shore Drive in the lake north of Hollywood Avenue.

We take these postions recognizing that many citizens in our community are of the same opinion. We verified this in the overwhelming support of the “Save Our Lakefront” referendum in last November’s election as well as at numerous community forums sponsored by the Conservancy.

However, as stewards of our precious open spaces and accessible lakefront here in the City of Chicago, we also must recognize the legacy of those who have preceded us and fought to maintain a lakefront that is “Open, Clear and Free”. The voices of Frederick Law Olmsted, Montgomery Ward and the others that helped plan this great city reverberate with us even today. We take a stand consistent with their legacy and instead of the harbor plan offered, recommend an alternative solution.

We ask that the Park District first consider expansion of Montrose Harbor to add additional boat slips on the north side and only if this is supported by evidence of demand for slips from residents living within this geographic area. We recommend expansion to the south of the current harbor and directly east of the Waveland golf course-shoreline and lakefront that is currently not being utilized by the general public. This will minimize, or eliminate, the need for adding roadways or additional parking and have zero impact on community access to our lakefront.

* Silence = Death

Shrine for Bonnie Jones


No one wants to talk about it. The police department shuts down all discussion at the Beat 2431 CAPS meeting.

Rogers Park Community Council executive Cary Steinbuck gets mad when the subject is brought up and runs out the door.

Alderman Moore has his hands full saving the ducks and geese of the world. He doesn't have time for this small stuff.

It's Domestic Violence. It's the behind closed doors crime. It's the crime you hear through the apartment walls. It's the screams for help you hear through the windows.

In this case this noise was so loud, the son heard the cries for help from New York.

It's the crime the young children in the house fear most. We hear it happen, but we don't talk about it.

The fights start small. Little things like not helping with chores. Or it could be big. The lose of a job.

What do we do, keep quiet like Ms. Steinbuck at Rogers Park Community Council? No, we are not going to do that. Or are we?

This has been around the GLBT community forever, it's time we use this message for domestic violence issues. Maybe our leaders will do something before it too late and this happens again?

I propose we talk about this issue, spread the word or Silence = Death

* Political Puppet Gets Mad

Corrected Version
Rogers Park 2000, a political propaganda publication put out by Cary Steinbuck, a political science major, sent their staff photographer Cary Steinbuck to the political CAPS beat 2431 meeting Monday night. She also poses as the executive director of RPCDC. Her mission on this evening was to secure a few positive outlook photos of Alderman Moore and Kevin O'Neil performing in front of a captive crowd.

When asked if she would be staying to listen to concerns over Domestic Violence in Rogers Park, a subject which she featured in the headline article and six page spread for the Fall 2005 RP2000 political propaganda publication, Ms. Steinbuck replied in a real nasty tone, " Your attitude sucks.... and put that in your blog"!

Then Ms. Steinbuck stormed out the door in a huff.

Domestic Violence is the number two crime listed as a problem in beat 2431.

* Just Shoot Me

Two Dead in Beat 2431!
Two Stabbed, One Shot by Police

Police beat 2431 squad car was one of 26 police cars called to domestic dispute around 2pm Sunday when sixty-six year old Howard Jones apparently snuck into his wife's apartment on Pratt Avenue by the lake and killed her with a knife.

Mr. Jones continued his Sundy knife assault going after their son, who was also stabbed. A neighbor fills Channel 7 in on his version of the knife attack.

Officers reportedly told the woman's husband, who was wielding a knife, to put down the weapon. He reportedly stabbed himself and told the police they'd have to "shoot him!" The officer accepted the request and shot the man after he would not put down the knife. The woman and her knife toting husband both died.

* The James Report

Hi All,

2431 CAPS

Want to remind those who were with us last month that we still need each other to make progress. Anyone else wanting to swing by and contribute is welcome, especially friends who have given up on CAPS because of frustration and lack of accountability. Last month we switched to a problem-solving format, and got decent results. This month we plan to improve on the execution time for implementing the crime triangle model.

We meet at 7:00 pm at 1530 W. Morse, but this month we’re starting at 6:00 pm to apply the problem solving model to the Mindea and Block buildings. The continued activity surrounding these properties is unacceptable and going forward more serious steps are required. Although Mr. Block promised to supply the name of the building owner to the Alderman’s office, he has provided only tax records and building citations that are available to anyone online. He has yet to make a definitive statement identifying the owner of the building.

This is a direct breach of his commitment to supply the Alderman with this information.

The next step available to us is a CAPS - initiated series of inspections by various city departments. The resulting fines from this type of action typically approach $50,000, and that amount is then used as a bargaining chip to exact results-centered change from owners. I sincerely hope not to have to take that step in either of these cases, but a man was severely beaten near the Block building the other night, suspicious activity is still rife at both his and Mindea’s building, and people have to be held accountable for this situation.

“Edgewater” Harbor:

There is so much already said about this. I remain surprised to see it come up so soon after being resolved at the polls. Although the referendum was non-binding, it made clear the intent of those who voted for it. What kind of place is this if a democratic election just doesn’t matter?

I’ve read that in some circles people accuse harbor opponents of a sort of economic pessimism- not proposing anything but opposing all that is laid before them. I think that in this case that is unfair, because this is something that not only was already resolved once but also fundamentally changes our relationship with the lakefront. A decision on this proposal is required, and people who care should be honest about their feelings.

Going through the entire list of specific proposals in the Park District plans, I see 65 steps to improve the structures for boaters and in some cases the public as well, through shared use facilities that are most convenient to boaters and may end up fenced into harbor security zones. There are five for everyone else, with no removal of fencing considered. This despite the Chicago Park District’s stated goal to: “Diminish any perceived barriers separating boaters and non-boaters in the community;”

In most harbor locations, lake access is restricted for other clients. This means that a significant part of the lake front set aside for public use a hundred years ago is now used by a few thousand boat owners. This makes some sense because they too own the parks, but further boating exclusivity is something that should be very carefully weighed with the greater good in mind.

One proposed harbor that should not be built is Navy Pier North. It uses the shore of the Jardin Water Purification Plant, an area with such high security priority that when the tall ships were docked at Navy Pier police boats and jet skis physically prevented boaters from the entering its channel to view the ships. The suggestion is that a manned checkpoint using key cards be constructed. I do not believe that a security guard and a key card are adequate to defeat a terrorist attack on our water supply. On several occasions, the USS Cole for one, terrorists have successfully used small boats for effective assaults. We should be hardening targets, not softening them and this is one harbor we should all oppose.

Next, consider the beach widening strategy that accompanies “Edgewater” Harbor, most of which is in Rogers Park. Pushing the beaches out anywhere from 75 to 200 feet (My estimate based upon CPD drawings), from south of Thorndale to north of Pratt creates an unbroken land strip that could easily be used to extend Lake Shore Drive through Rogers Park.

I realize that isn’t the proposal right now. However, we know it’s been talked about and that powerful people are not opposed to it. This project makes a Miegs Field-style coup possible. The landfill is the key. Without it, there can be no road. Building this harbor makes that throughway a workable option rather than an enormous challenge. Anyone who has operated heavy machinery knows how easy it would be to cut a path through such an area.

The adding of green space argument is challenging both ways because no one knows for sure how much of that pristine green area (about 560,000 square feet) on their map would be needed for marina support and parking facilities. If the access road is thirty feet wide, the approximately 1400 feet of it shown in the drawing eats up 48,000 square feet. Each parking space then adds roughly 120 square feet to that amount. How many spaces would be needed isn’t specified. For the costs associated with landfill, a substitute program to purchase properties on the open market and turn them into parks would be a great way to gradually add park space that is accessible within neighborhoods.

Finally, we have to address the potential for economic advantage. Of course a marina would bring in business to Rogers Park. So would a casino, an ultimate fighting arena, or a nuclear power plant. I could make a sound argument for any of the three if I had to. The question isn’t whether or not we can make money- of course we can. The more important point is that this proposal endangers our way of life. We are connected to the waterfront more intimately than almost any other part of Chicago. That is a unique feature of our neighborhood. Altering it for a boating complex, with a potential legacy of the destruction of that intimacy is simply not worth whatever conjectural economic benefits it might bring us.

As I wrote previously, other places really want these slips. Let’s support them, with the exception of Navy Pier North. Landfill is prohibitively expensive, and Rogers Park Harbor has only 400 of the 2770 – 4000 other spots the CPD wants to add.

It would be great to develop a pedestrian boardwalk along a stretch of our lake front. A place where artist shops, food stands, and some sidewalk performers, no cars whatsoever, and a dog beach could really enhance the lakefront experience for the entire neighborhood. With that as a base, and some additional restaurants and retail close by, some transient docking space would make sense so that people wanting to come here could stop and enjoy our lake with us. But massive landfills and permanent single-use dedication underserves the rest of our community. We can do better and will if given a real chance to help with designs.

And if the Park District really needs to toss some cash our way right now, how about that Gale Park Field House we were promised so many years ago?

James Ginderske

* Morse Avenue... Before Liquor Stores, Thrift Shops & Gangs

The architectural piece pictured above wasn't found in an antique store, rather in a dumpster on Morse Avenue. Amidst the plaster and rubble of what was once Morse Pharmacy, lie pieces of what was obviously an architectural gem in the community.

I grew up in the south and never had the priviledge of seeing this community in it's hayday. I truly wish I could say I witnessed Morse Avenue when it was a bustling commercial area. But bits and bobs like this, now destined for a landfill, tell the tale of what Morse Avenue used to be before liquor stores, thrift shops and gangs.

Without realizing what was behind the facade of the Morse pharmacy, I was against the teardown of the building. First because changing zoning laws in exchange for affordable housing units is playing into the developers hands. Second, because I object to developers speaking to the viability of Morse avenue's rebirth as a thriving commercial district. Third, because I fail to understand why anyone would pay 300,000 for a condo that overlooked a Family Dollar and the Ganster Disciple drug cartel doing business. Fourth, because the retail space provided will also go for a higher lease and there are far to many vacancies on Morse as it is. Seeing what the building really was makes me angry. To what extent are we going to allow our alderman to sell out the neighborhood before we say enough is enough!

I grew up in a small South Carolina town with a population of 60,00 people when I moved. (that was a county, not city figure) I have vague memories of what our downtown looked like when I was very young. There was a movie theater, (where I saw The Sound of Music), lovely womens and mens clothing shops, furniture stores and a three floor department store. By the time I was a teenager, malls had overtaken main street as the place to be. Stores on Main street were rented to dollar stores, thrift stores and cheap clothing chains. Facades were erected to update the buildings and to reduce expenses incurred by regular tuck pointing and power washing. During the evening, the street was a drag area where any horny teen could pick up a willing girl. Prostitutes roamed constantly and crime was out of control.

Finally, the City of Greenville said enough! They decided to revitalize the area as a bustling commercial area once more. They pressed, but also finacially assisted building owners, into restoring their buildings to their original splendor. They made it possible for independant businesses and start ups to open. They actively sought for established businesses who would be interested in space. They sponsored art festivals and music festivals to increase foot traffic. It took a few years, but now when you go downtown it is thriving once more. There are more restaurants than you could sample in a year, galleries, fine antique stores, a performing arts center that is state of the art, coffee shops, clothiers, specialty shops. Everytime I go home, I take a day to walk down main street and stroll the shops.

Point is, they never devalued the area as a potential retail corridor, rather they embraced it while adding upstairs condos to what used to be upstairs storage place. They embraced the character of the existing structures and revitalized them instead of tearing them down. They made sure they were making the area a viable space for new business They actively sought for business owners who would be interested in opening in the area. In the time the Gateway center has been open, they took a flagging, crime ridden downtown area and reformed it into a thriving city center.

It is time that we demand that our city officials take stock and value our commercial corridors instead of allowing developers to have a say in the future or the community. Although they control the purse strings, we have a say in their political future.

After all, they should be representing us.

Margot

* Special Service Area #19 - #24 Scandal

Janitors Raid Church Pancake Breakfast

It's 10:40 am, Saturday October 15th.We're on the third floor of the United Church of Rogers Park. The members are holding a pancake breakfast with sausage links. For the folks who came to enjoy this special treat, the waiting time to be served was 30 plus minutes.

That didn't bother these "on-duty" vest wearing, Special Service Area janitors. According to one not so working worker, "No-one cares what we do, our bosses don't have a clue." So wait they did for the pancakes to cook. All five of them. They had to wait until 11:15am to be served. Yes, I was keeping track.

As they were leaving the church at 11:15, one Special Service Area janitor didn't want to be seen, holding his coffee up, hiding from the camera. With the breakfast food in hand he claimed to be on a lunch break. After waiting 35 minutes for the pancakes to be cooked, they took another 20 minutes eating them. And not with the church group. They left and went to eat on their own.

So let's see, they start work at 9:30 am, have lunch from 10:40 to 11:35. All told, these five workers fooled DevCorp North again. Cheating DevCorp North on services. But that's not to hard when Rene Carmago and Kimberly Bares are in charge. See, they don't care.

* Carnival Brought To An Abrupt Halt

This is in response to Dan2's request for a community carnival: Rogers Park had carnivals from 1969 to 1982 and it was a great idea and a lot of fun (I was the chairman for 11 of those years). We did everything he suggests and had a fabulous time, as did the entire community. Some old-time residents may still remember playing "carnie" or ticket seller. It was staffed by local folks.

Dan's comment follows : "While we have different jazz and arts festivals, I think it would be great to have some sort of Rogers Park carnival -- not circus) once a year that brings together ALL segments of the community in a celebration of Rogers Park. That means Latinos, African-Americans, Ango-Saxons, etc. Bring all segments in on the event. Shut down some roadways or block of some of the beach for the event, and bring the bands, food vendors, businesses and everyone together for a weekend of celebration. Hell, we have the lake, why not throw some sort of yearly shindig at the beach? That could be some good PR and tons of fun."

Please read my column - "When the Carnival Came to Town". The carnival brought out the whole communty until the political powers that were prevailing, for their own particular/peculiar reasons, brought it to an abrupt halt.

Best Regards, Sandy

* Mysterious Death and Robbery in Beat 2431

While Alderman Moore is in Galesburg talking about after-life rights, another Rogers Park resident lost his life.

Spooky stuff is happening.

According to the Sun-Times a thief, ignoring a posted police warning not to enter the apartment, walked into the residence in the 6900 block of North Sheridan, took a bag and fled. A source close to the investigation said the dwelling may be a "drug house."

Shocking... Another drug house in Rogers Park. Is this what Alderman Moore means by too much retail? As Alderman Moore recently said, "I know this ward like the back of my hand!

* Beat 2431 Big Bird

A gang murder covered on the Howard Hell Hole has gone off the charts. The family made a statement and all of a sudden big bird appears. Seems big bird thinks he runs the Open Air Drug Market of Morse Avenue. What do you guys think?

* CAPS Beat 2431 Meeting

...."Boaters Are Concerned That The Public NOT Get Access".....

After our victory in last year's election, where over 88.3% of the 49th Ward's lakefront voters said NO to marinas, lakefront landfill, roads, and commercial development, this message is a hard one to write because it is now screamingly apparent that our elected officials JUST DON'T CARE what WE want. The Chicago Park District has announced a public meeting to unveil plans for LANDFILL, ACCESS ROADS and a MARINA adjacent to Loyola University!
 
Look on page 15 for the "Edgewater Harbor" design (though I think we should call it what it is, which is the LOYOLA MARINA!).
  
 CPD Meeting
Thursday, October 20, 6:30pm
Loyola Park Field House
1230 W. Greenleaf Ave
6:30pm
 
So despite Jan Schakowsky's posturing that we were being paranoid and her lies that "There are no plans", here we are. Some other lies that will be told at this meeting:
 
** This will bring needed revenue to the city. (The truth-Not in our lifetimes.  This project is likely to be funded by bonds.  Every cent of profit will go toward paying those bonds off for the next 20 or 30 years.)
 
** This will add green space to the community.  (The truth-their map has a nice reassuring green space, but how much of that space will actually be blacktop and cement? There will be "support facilities" for boaters, washrooms, showers and snack bars.  There will also be parking for boaters.  How much of that green space will be eaten up for parking for 400 boaters and their boat trailers?
 
** This will be a resource the community can enjoy.  (The truth-just visit the redesigned Belmont Harbor.  Not only are "the Rocks" gone, which was a popular place with local residents-albeit not likely yachters-chain-link fences now enclose the area.  You can't get near the marina unless you have a boat there.)
 
** Public participation has been a part of the planning process.  (The truth-carefully chosen members of the public have been part of the planning.  Attendees of the 'working group' meeting in August were not from our community.  In fact, according to their notes "the majority of which indicated an affiliation with a boater's organization or a yacht club."  NOT the residents adjacent to the project, not the voters who voiced their opinion last year. YACHT CLUBS!  

The notes also say that, "boaters are concerned that the public not get access to their slips and boats."
 
This marina and landfill are not needed by this community.  The traffic problems on an already nightmarish Sheridan Road do not need the additional tie-ups of boaters with their trailers trying to turn into the access roads on what are now residential streets.  The swimmers in this community don't need the polluted waters produced by motor boats.

Again, quoting the CPS's notes, environmental concerns were voiced, "including PCB levels and any needed environmental clean-up costs within Monroe and other existing harbors, and concerns over oil leakage and some boaters' dumping pollutants within the harbors. Trash and other floating debris within the harbors were also mentioned."  Children playing at Berger Park don't need a dangerous access road circling their playground.
  
What is needed from the Park District in this community is the LONG PROMISED park at Gale School.  What is needed from the Park District in this community is improved local park facilities.  What is needed from the Park District in this community is after school programs in the local parks.
 
But when we ask for these things the Park District cries poor-they can't afford it.  Well, IF YOU CAN'T PAY THE RENT, YOU DON'T BUY A PRADA BAG!  This project is a Prada bag, a perk for the North Shore boaters who can't get a slip downtown.  This project is another LAND GRAB by Loyola (flush with all that new-found TIF money) who tried unsuccessfully to get a landfill on the same spot years ago.
 
It's essential that the voters who've been ignored come to this meeting to be heard.  Come early.  Bring signs.  SAY NO to the LOYOLA MARINA! Sorry for the length of this missive.  It's a big issue but our ultimate response is simple.  NO.
 
Anne Sullivan        

* DevCorp North Front for Moore Political Organization

Working with DevCorp North is not possible. No one gets a seat at the table in planning the future of our neighborhood based on a decade of lies, backroom deals with real estate developers, and fraud.

Where on DevCorp North's website do they admit to being part owners of one of the most valuable parcels of commercial property in our neighborhood, the same web site that solicits money from me and my neighbors, neighbors who have far fewer resources than DevCorp North?

Where on the signage of Gateway Mall does it say, "Brought to you by DevCorp North?"

Most importantly, where is Gateway Mall in DevCorp North's public financial disclosures, public disclosures used by DevCorp North to secure grants?

DevCorp North is nothing more than the not-for-profit, tax-exempt front for Moore's ward organization.

At times DevCorp North pretends to be a chamber of commerce and at other times pretends to be a community group.

DevCorp North serves Moore by supplying testimony and letters of support. DevCorp North goes downtown and speaks for us. They are not us.

Clean up your act before you stump for new members. Start by re-filing your financial disclosures from 1996 on. No more back-room deals. No more off-the-books partnerships with real estate developers.

Be honest with who and what you are and stop trying to deceive me and my neighbors. We've had enough.

by Hugh

* Death on Morse Avenue

Alderman Moore and DevCorp North raised taxes for business retention. But it didn't work, Or shall I say it doesn't work and here are two examples why. Here is one small business that had a "not so sweet occasion" and packed it up.

Example # 1
Poor Sweet Occasions on Morse Avenue. Scary as a cemetery on Halloween. Dead. No customers. In fact, the reflections of the ghosty looking people in the window said the place hasn't been open in awhile. It couldn't survive.

A candy store next to three schools and three churches. How can that be? Kids love sweets, right? So.......Why?

Was this the wrong type of candy for shoppers on Morse Avenue? Or, was it something else? Did Alderman Moore, who jerked the owner around on zoning issues help? Was DevCorp North, who jerked them around on promotional help the fault?

Anyhow now the doors are closed on Morse Avenue, but open on another.

Example #2
Sweet Occasion on Clark Street in Andersonville. It's a lively and active crowd for a Sunday October night. Customers are coming and going, buying sweets ( not the candy they sell on Morse ) and really enjoying the neighborhood, violence free. Not a crack dealer in site. A business location a owner would be proud to advertise. A street that is inviting. A place the owner could say, "hey come to my shop, enjoy!" People spending MONEY in a LOCAL business and enjoying life.

Andersonville or Rogers Park. Andersonville does this... Rogers Park does that. Which is better? Do you ever see Andersonville brag about their TIF's or SSA's? Who's neighborhood chamber of commerce's promote's small business? You decide. This business did.

* Illegally Using Public Money to Finance Political Operations

49th Ward Organization, led by Alderman Joe Moore and 49th Ward Committeeman David Fagus will face open hearings on October 17th before the Illinois Board of Elections.

The pre-hearings were conducted by hearing officer Philip Krasny who concluded that "based upon the evidence presented, it is the Hearing Officer's finding that there is justifiable grounds for proceeding to an Open Preliminary Hearing."

Despite the defense's best efforts to explain away thousands of dollars of unpaid rent, the facts prevailed. 49th Democratic Ward Organizations have failed to pay the city for use of their political offices.

They have further failed to report any in-kind contributions on their D-2 tax forms that could explain the free use of office space.

Cook County Republican Party Chairman Gary Skoien responded to the news by saying, "the days of arrogant democrat free-loading are numbered."

The Illinois State Board of Elections will decide on the hearing officers recommendations for the 49th wards on Oct. 17th at 11AM in the Bilandic Center.

Stay tuned to the "Broken Heart" of Rogers Park for updates. I'll let the Alderman hang himself this time.

* Sunday School

From Carol Goldman comes this history lesson....

For those who are begging for some historical background, I recommend the following news story, written in the Fall of 2003 by three journalism students from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern U. There are some minor errors; Mrs. Kupcinet was a supporter of Wisdom Bridge Theater, not the Howard Theater for instance, but the substance of the story is accurate.

The Street of Streets

The past, present and future of the Entertainment Strip of the North Shore
By Jonathan Love, Nicole Matuska and Susan Ru

Looking East down Howard Street from atop the “El” platform, most people would have to use their imaginations to envision the lively entertainment strip and hoards of Sunday afternoon shoppers that once defined the area. Where bars and nightclubs used to dominate the landscape, now a mixture of dilapidated storefronts and small family shops line empty sidewalks.

Ethnic communities and traditions are deep and rich on Howard Street:

The ethnic and religious makeup of the community has also seen change, while politics and a shaky economy have transformed a once thriving shopping district into a community struggling for some positive attention. This shift in the neighborhood’s physical, social and economic foundation took place around the 1970s, when residents in the area started to feel the gradual change of not only a street but of a country.

Changes in Entertainment and Lifestyle:

The early 20th century ushered in a largely successful, if brief, period of American prosperity and optimism. The 1920s, nicknamed the “Roaring Twenties,” was the decade of the Model T, the $5 work day and the movie. Howard Street became a place to get a beer, catch a movie or listen to jazz.

John Fitzgerald, the associate director at the Howard Area Community Center, was born north of Howard and has lived in the area for 60 years. He too remembers the lifestyle of the Howard community growing up.

“It was kind of the way you see the old television sitcom view of urban America,” said Fitzgerald. “It was wonderful. You could walk and ride with safety; there were stores, shops, people enjoying themselves, having fun. I could ride my bike and put it next to a parking meter and not lock it and an hour later it would still be there. I used to usher at the Howard Theatre when I was in high school, and that was a wonderful thing too- we had movie theaters up and down. But that was America in the ‘50s.”

“Remember,” Sandy Goldman, former president of the Rogers Park City Council, wrote in his column, The Rogers Park Community Curmudgeon of the time, “we were 18 years old, seniors at Lake View High School. We had I.D.s that said we were 23 years old. We went to Howard Street for fun times and we found them.”

One of the earliest buildings constructed on Howard Street was the Howard Theatre. Constructed in 1918, it would become one of Chicago’s premier movie houses. Along with the restaurants, shops, and numerous other entertainment venues lining the street, there is little wonder why Howard Street was known as the Entertainment Strip of the North Shore.

“It was a place where you could go for great dinner, entertainment, and jazz,” recalled Goldman. “One of the earliest benefactors of the area was Irv Kupcinet, who was Mr. Chicago. His wife was a major supporter of the Howard Theatre. There was top-level entertainment all around. There were first class restaurants: Villa Girgenti, Papa Milano’s, the Unique Restaurant and Lounge. Talbott’s BBQ had the longest bar in Chicago.”

Mary Jo Doyle, director of the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, has done extensive research preserving the history of a street that used to be the center of entertainment.

“In the 1930s and 1940s,” wrote Doyle in An Illustrated History of Rogers Park and West Ridge, “jazz clubs were very popular on Howard Street. During World War II, men and women from the military would take the Elevated, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroads, the North Shore Electric to visit the bars, restaurants, and jazz clubs.”

The temperance movement started to gain strength in the early 1900s and as America embraced prohibition in 1920s, Howard became one of the first places where one could buy alcohol en route to Chicago.

“The North Shore, being essentially dry, particularly Evanston, where the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was based, Chicago was the first wet place they [young kids] could come to,” said Fitzgerald. “They’d stop right here at Howard Street and look for the bars and places that might entertain young sailors. And they found them, and that was a very large part of this community.”

“They would come by the busloads,” recalled Goldman, “on trains, from Fort Sheridan, the Great Lakes [Naval Training Station near Waukegan], and they would all be dropped off at Howard. During the war all of the North Shore was dry, and this was the only place that was wet. I remember as a little kid watching them, seeing the sailors and young boys trying to emulate the older men.”

Howard also became a place for family fun and shopping.

“I spent my whole life on Howard Street,” said Doyle. “It [Howard Street] was really really nice through the ‘40s and ‘50s and even into the ‘60s. Of course, if I had it my way it would be back to the way it was. That was my favorite time on Howard Street.”

Mary Doyle is one of the founders of the historical society, which came into existence July 1973. Her father was from south Evanston; her mother, from Howard Street. Although Doyle grew up on the west side of Ridge, just north of Touhy Avenue, she always considered Howard Street her own home.

“When we first started this historical society, I gave a talk to the Howard District Chamber of Commerce,” said Doyle. “This is in 1976. I had prepared my speech just by going along Howard and thinking of all the things I did on that street for 40 years. So I am giving this talk and the tears are just running down my cheeks and these people are looking at me and asking, ‘What’s wrong with this goofy person?’”

Doyle’s attachment to Rogers Park spawned from a childhood spent riding her bike to and from the lake, buying candy from local gift stores and hanging out at the numerous teenage establishments Howard had to offer.

“There used to be the Howard Street Theatre, just east of the El,” said Doyle. “The North Shore Theater was west of the El. I also bowled at the Howard Bowl for 30 years. My dentist has been on Howard for 30 years and the North Shore National Bank was there. My godmother opened an account there for me when I was eight years old.”

Howard Street also became the place to dine. Fitzgerald remembers the appeal of the shops and restaurants that lined clean, crowded sidewalks.

“I remember restaurants and shops, and I frankly didn’t care that much about shopping, but my mother would tell you that it was a nice street to shop on. There were more middle-class stores and restaurants when I was a kid here. I don’t know what it was like in the ‘20s, I never quite asked my dad that, but that’s when it was first built up and Howard Street was much more upscale than it is now.”

“There used to be this restaurant called Las Chosa Restaurant, right on Paulina,” recalled Carmen Lara, owner of the NCJW Council Thrift Shop. “People would get in line to get into the restaurant. The line would wrap around the block. They would all be carrying their own six packs too because the restaurant didn’t sell any alcohol.”

Carmen Lara, who has been managing her thrift shop on Howard Street for 30 years, reminisces about days when closing on Sundays was not an option.

“About 15-20 years ago, there were crowds of people on the streets because of all the stores that used to line Howard Street. We used to stay open on Sundays because there were so many people out but now we don’t because it is dead, nothing is open on Sundays.”

Howard Street Demographics: A Reflection of American Culture

Changes on Howard Street began subtly in the mid-1900s. At the time, the Civil Rights Movement had the nation in a stronghold, with leaders like Martin Luther King and the Black Panthers at the helm. Changes to Howard and its surrounding community reflected this nation-wide revolution in American culture.

“One thing for me growing up in the neighborhood, it was all white,” said Fitzgerald. “There were no black people here. This was a very segregated community. It was only in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s that integration happened in terms of black and white.”

“It was probably 98 percent Caucasian,” agreed Goldman. “High income, high class. I don’t think there was ever an effort to keep minorities out, though. They never came because the housing was just too expensive. That, of course, changed when Martin Luther King came.”

And change it did. Passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 made segregation in public facilities and discrimination in employment illegal. Desegregation would bring both positive and negative consequences for the residents of Howard Street.

“When we first moved to Howard Street, it was the perfect example of a fine community,” noted Goldman. “The area north of Howard Street had big apartments, pretty high rent for that period and time. Then CHA began steering certain types of low income communities into certain housing areas. The judge said that we had to put a certain number of whites in black communities and vice versa. The area north of Howard was the perfect place for the CHA. It began to reach a lower level. The buildings began to deteriorate.”

“People who were in gangs on the south side and west side of Chicago moved to the north side,” explained Goldman. “Many landlords in the Rogers Park area accepted vouchers and with them they brought their gangs and recruited. Schools became places for gangs to recruit. We started having gang wars. Then the Hispanics began creating their gangs and began fighting for their turf. It’s not as bad as the south side, but we do have drug dealing and prostitution.”

What Rogers Park also had was an increasing diverse community. The Jewish population had always been dominant in Rogers Park, but the late 1960s brought a decline in their numbers. This decrease is often attributed to a general westward shift in search for home ownership.

“Morse Avenue now is a hell hole. It wasn’t always a hell hole. In the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, it was a fine street. They had a big Jewish deli that sold the best Jewish food. There were some of the best shops in the city. There was a men’s store called Manny’s, where they sold $300 suits. There was a women’s store called Sarah’s, which was a top-drawer ladies’ shop. The street was vibrant. Then the Jewish population moved. I think they were just looking for better places. People are always looking for better stuff.”

The largest demographic change, however, occurred among the African American population. According to Gail Welter, in her book The Rogers Park Community, the number of black individuals living in Rogers Park increased from 57 individuals to 758 between 1960 and 1970. The area North of Howard held the highest concentration of blacks in the neighborhood.

“Thirty years ago,” explained Fitzgerald, “people like me led the integration movement here. We sought open housing for blacks to move in, and when they did, white people fled. It’s a racist reaction, frankly.”

Thus, with a change in neighborhood demographics and rising tensions between old and new communities, Howard Street entered a period of deterioration in the ‘70s. Controversies over subsidized housing and the role of the Community Council polarized residents, with the line often being drawn between blacks and whites. Although desegregation was high on the national agenda, the actual practice changed little in preconceived notions of race.

“It’s a very racist city even today,” said Anthony Peters, a resident of Howard Street for 30 years, “and we’ve had to learn how to deal with it. Most of the policemen are white guys, who come from Iowa or Ohio, and they hear about the things they’ll encounter on the streets, and they’re scared. They start to stereotype people, they have no time to get to know the people, they don’t care if they lock up the wrong people. On average, the people here hate the police and the police hate them.”

A negative image of Rogers Park grew for the latter part of the century. According to Welter in The Rogers Park Community, a 1974 survey of Rogers Park residents found that “lack of personal safety” was the most important community problem. However, most people indicated they had no personal experience with crime.

“I’ve lived and worked here for 60 years,” stated Fitzgerald. “I’ve never been a crime victim in this neighborhood. Never. We have a staff of 117 people here, and in the 36 years that we have been here, we have only had one instance of a staff member being involved in physical violence and that was his own choice.”

“The neighborhood was never unsafe,” said Goldman, “It was as safe as any other community along the North Shore. But the perception was that it was unsafe. And this was because the some of the white class had this perception going in of what gangs were like. They would see groups of black men hanging out on the corners.”

The reputation, unfortunately, has continued today.

“People still say that they are afraid to go there, but I think that’s unfounded,” stated Doyle. “The 24th Police District happens to be in Rogers Park, but it not only covers Rogers Park, it covers a majority of West Ridge and North Edgewater. So if there’s a crime anywhere, poor Rogers Park gets blamed for it because that’s where the police station happens to be.”


The Business and Politics of Howard Street Through the Years

The business community was likewise not immune to change. While the demographics of Howard Street evolved and postwar culture rose, retail declined.

“There were middle class shops in those days,” said Fitzgerald. “You could get clothes and food and all those kinds of things. And right now-- I mean, you can go to the bag and wig shop, but it’s not so attractive. There’s a lot of junky stuff here now.”

“There was somewhat of an upsurge when Wisdom Bridge Theatre was there, and there were several wonderful Caribbean restaurants there, and the Fritzreuter Violin Shop was there in the Wisdom Bridge building, and there was a great hardware store east of Howard Street, and a good shoe store, and all those things. And then, it’s just deteriorated,” said Sister Patricia Crowley, former teacher at St. Scholastica Academy and longtime resident of Rogers Park.

What Howard Street once was is what the suburban mall is now a place to stroll from store to store, to browse through a variety of retail options, and come home with all your household needs fulfilled for the week. Unlike today’s suburban malls, Howard also had residential properties.

Several factors led to the decline of Howard as a shopping summit.

“We used to have people just looking in the windows or just coming in browsing and that would end up turning into regular customers and so that part has changed. Hopefully with condos people will be more apt to maybe walk around a little bit more when the area gets a little bit safer,” said Ron Lopez, the owner of Sun Garden Florist.

The automobile led to a restructuring of American life after World War II, and Howard Street was but one of thousands of locales impacted by the change. People could now travel to air conditioned, suburban mega malls for one-stop shopping year-round-- if they had not moved to the suburbs already. Migration to the suburbs dealt a devastating blow for the Howard shopping district.

“For the holidays, we used to have just lines of cars and people, from the stories I’ve been told by previous owners and customers. The Evanston Police used to have to direct traffic. I kind of miss that!” Lopez added with a laugh.

The situation is beginning to change. New residential and commercial construction is replacing older buildings in the area. National chains are helping to revitalize the retail face of Howard Street-- the same national chains that make up the suburban malls and shopping centers. While these changes and chains are well-received in the community, some people do see negative aspects to their presence.

“The only thing that hurts us is… Dominick’s, because they do have their own floral department, and they can buy things much cheaper than I can buy them for, and that’s the whole problem with the grocery stores,” said Lopez.

While one municipal government may be slow in remaking a neighborhood, two governments can add an element of inconsistency. Until the recent repaving project, the two sides of Howard west of the “El” had different styles of lighting, clearly marking the street as a border between two cities. This is attributed to the sluggishness of government in Evanston.

“Evanston bites its own tail,” said Lopez. “It takes forever to get anything done here in Evanston. I mean, for me myself, when we had our sign done up, it took, probably like a few months to have a sign [approved].”

Chicago city government, on the other hand, has a tendency to move quickly on neighborhood reform-- too fast in some cases.

“I know there have been development plans,” said Crowley, “when I was on the Howard Area Board a few years ago, Alderman Joe Moore made an agreement with some developers to at least show a plan for redeveloping Paulina Street into a cul-de-sac that would be town homes and get rid of Good News and the Howard Area. There was a big uproar about that, I mean, he claims he was jus sort of thinking, but, you know, thinking becomes reality sometimes when it’s connected to the political machine.”

Reflecting on the vicissitudes of Howard Street’s social, cultural and economical history, it is important to acknowledge the impact this small street has had on the North Shore and the city of Chicago. Some residents realize the street’s significance and look toward a future where plans will transform the street to mirror its past.

“It has a bright future because the marketplace will push it,” said Goldman. “This regentrification has been rolling in from Chicago, and it will bring people looking for better housing. They’re going to come to Rogers Park and increase the income level. It’s rolling with the changes.”

* The James Report

Hi All,

First off, the official version of the Loyola..opps.. I mean Edgewater Harbor Proposal/Plan is now available online at the Park District website.

The meeting remains scheduled for October 20th at Loyola Park at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Stealth Condo's

For months now, I’ve heard rumors that the building I reside in was to be sold and changed to condominiums. I lost patience with unreturned phone calls and the suspicious denials of clerks and went in and demanded answers. The person that emerged from the back of the office in Evanston was very helpful and explained that the building was sold, hadn’t yet closed, and that most likely would become a condo- conversion.

Fair enough. It is their building. I hold a one year lease (though I’ve been in this apartment for five), and I support their right to manage their property as they see fit. I can’t stand whiners, but I’m troubled when I consider the big picture.

This will be the third such conversion in a roughly one-square block area in the last month. That is three complete buildings, roughly 140 units that are removed from the rental stock of the neighborhood. Although other rentals are certainly available, this is a significant number.

According to the RPCC website, in 2000 there were 22,670 rental units in Rogers Park, with 1821 vacancies. That’s 8.03% unoccupied. So out of 140 apartments, that means about 128 are occupied. This is anecdotal, and doesn’t include the rest of Rogers Park, nor does it mean that all these people suddenly become homeless.

At these rates, however we are losing approximately 1680 units per year, and displacing about 1536 families annually.

Before I get sniped for shoddy science, let me say that I’m not trying to precisely quantify the loss of rental stock in Rogers Park. However, it’s apparent that over time this trend will fundamentally change the composition of the neighborhood.

If we eliminate rental housing at the rate of 1680 units annually, the vacancies listed in 2000 will be gone in thirteen months. Eliminating half that number would consume them in just over two years. I’d guess that has already happened in the last five years. So now we’re talking about a supply shortage that can ratchet up prices on the remaining demand, which most renters have already noticed at renewal time. Some are leaving Rogers Park completely.

Moving involves major upheaval for the families concerned. Relocating for a single person is often hard, but influences like unstable environments and changing schools can be brutal for children. I don’t think it’s alright to dismiss these issues by saying: “Well that’s what happens” or “market forces”.

These are working families, many of whom have no health insurance. Many of whom work at jobs to make other’s lives easier, and many that policies like the draconian parking fines in Chicago victimize the most.

Don’t get me wrong, I vigorously support property rights. But if we ignore this crisis, we deserve to become a racially homogenous, upper middle- class community whose only diversity is “the help”.

James Ginderske

Blogmaster notes; This week the comments section drew a dozen Hell Hole readers to the Farwell Pier for a pow wow. The group of "Broken Heart" readers met and chatted on helping change the ward for the better.

My question... did this pow-wow work? Where is the report on this meeting?

* Responding to Michael K's Sad Response From DevCorp North

Here is one of the 79 comments ( as of today ) made on this topic.

Everyone I know was stunned to see that Gateway ushered in a major national Halloween merchandise chain to compete directly with Lost Eras. With two kids in our family, we shop at that great and quirky store on Howard every Halloween, and drop in sometimes to look for newly acquired green glass items which my partner collects.

Think short-sighted vision. Think lost opportunity in commercial development, again and again in Rogers Park. I continue to be stumped by DevCorp North, our very own chamber of commerce and city-funded economic development organization.

DevCorp has a 5% ownership interest in Gateway. Someone from DevCorp at some meeting there should be evaluating business outreach and recruitment work on a weekly basis. Giving a 3-month contract to the Gateway Halloween vendor would have won an immediate veto from me.

And, it should have prompted the question, "What have we done lately to support Lost Eras and the many other good community-based businesses in our neighborhood?" Yes, community-based. The owner of Lost Eras lives a few blocks from me, in one of those great Rogers Park homes we hope stay around for a few more years.

While I'm at it, I recall that 3 years ago the owner of Gethsemane Garden Store talked with shock about what happened when they tried to secure a storefront at Gateway mall. You know Gethsemane? It's an eye-popping jewel of a plant and and landscaping business on Clark Street in Edgewater. They are an attraction magnet, a huge shopper destination, and also a major employer of communty residents. Ranked as a pre-eminent business operation on Chicago's north side, most communities would sell somebody's child if that's what it took to get them to open a new shop!

Well, one of the Gethesemane owners was at a meting of my Sherwin/Chase block club (yep, the Gethsemane husband-wife owners also live here in the 49th ward). She talked about trying to get a call-back from Gateway management. When she finally did get someone, she was stunned when they quoted her the per sqaure foot cost of a storefront. Get this - Gateway's rents were significantly HIGHER than the cost of similar retail space in Wicker and Lincoln Park. Suffice it to say, we "lost" a chance at having a new Gathesemane Outlet store in Rogers Park. This issue of the cost of renting at Gateway comes up regularly.

The deals that were made, the million$ of city dollar$ leveraged to build it, and the political donation$ that helped pave the way for pouring all that concrete clearly haven't served us. Now, I do believe we absolutely needed the Dominick's store. But did we have to swallow the rest of that TIF area boondoggle for it?

Some good neighbors on this blog have pointed, as we all do, to the continued over-the-top success of Andersonville and Edgewater in nurturing entrepreneurship. They seek out and encourage the community-focused businesses which provide the goods and services that we all expect to be available to us in Rogers Park. There are practical strategies that the united political and community leadership in those commuinties have used to GET WHAT THEY WANT.

What's needed in our local leadership, from top to bottom, is an aggressive approach business recruitment and retention. We have to work at it.

We also have to tackle the issues of crime and public safety, and stop pretending that those factors have no effect on shoppers or businesses interested in taking a gamble on Rogers Park. We must support and promote our good businesses, and even help them sharpen their goods, services, and skills if need be. We have to honor and celebrate the creative spirits and assets we already have. While some DevCorp activities are aimed at that, clearly there's far too much other stuff happening in the wrong direction.

Finally, we have to ask who is in charge here? What the heck are the powers-that-be doing with the responsibility and authority we've allowed them to have?

# posted by Michael J. Harrington : 1:28 PM

* Police Respond @ Morse & Glenwood

All Drive Away Empty Handed

Thursday, October 6th around 12:50 pm, 3 marked cars and a undercover car converged on the corner of Morse Avenue and Glenwood searching for a man with a "alleged" gun. No officers I asked would comment. But a store owner who asked "not to be idenified" said he overheard two men bickering... the bickering turned to yelling... the yelling turned to threats of shooting each other... yadda, yadda, yadda. Pressed if these men were bickering over drugs, mugging, robbing or any other general criminal activity, the store owner said "No Comment" then asked me, "please don't put my name on the Hell Hole like you did my neighbor the Gyros guy".

* Special Service Area #19-24 Scandal

See this help wanted ad. Had DevCorp North followed the rules at the start of SSA #24 and hired two directors of maintenance instead of giving Mark Semon both director of maintence positions, DevCorp North wouldn't be in the mess they are in. See, that's what they should have done in the very beginning. Hired a separate maintenance director's, one for each Special Service Area. One for #19 and one for #24! That would have been the right way to do it. But that wouldn't be the DevCorp way. Doing things the right way the first time isn't on the mission statement.

Now... see in the above photo the gang tag markings that haven't been removed from this pole in front of DevCorp North's own janitors office on Morse Avenue. This de-faced pole has been this way for more two weeks. Everyday SSA janitors and Mr. Semon pass this graffiti ridden pole. I have. I walked by every day for two weeks wondering if anyone in charge would notice this. They should if they are doing their job, right? This is where they enter and leave work everyday. This pole is on the SSA route. They tout themselves as the neighborhood pole painters, maybe they did this?

Another example of leadership asleep at the wheel. Clearly in the year since DevCorp North duped the taxpayers on poor services with the Special Service Area tax program #24, they need to fix the problem. But guess what? Hiring a part time schmuck to help a full time schmuck isn't going to fix the problem of dirty streets and flowerless planters anytime soon. If anything, DevCorp North needs to hire a new executive director.

* The James Report

The importance of planning.

Hi All,

A fact of life in real estate is secrecy. The best way to get things done is to stay on the down low. Once a transaction is completed, the private property rights that form the basis of this nation’s economic system prevent most kinds of interference.

Others can protest, appeal, or beg, but once the deal is done they're at a huge disadvantage.

It is said the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn’t exist. In the same vein, I’ve heard dismissed as silly the notion there could be plans that are beyond the public awareness. And yet, things happen around us and we are continually surprised.

Put yourself in the broker’s shoes for a moment. If you want to execute a real estate deal, whom do you tell? Who would you share information with, knowing that each step of the conversations would be filtered through the agendas of others whose interests might be completely at odds with yours? That is why Hillary’s health care committee tried to meet in secret, and why Cheney’s Energy Task Force did so. Both understood their vulnerability in an open forum.

Things are happening right now that will determine the future of Rogers Park. Events like large-scale re-zoning and lakefront changes are a part of that. I hope I wasn’t too hard on the Alderman last week? But my point was that if you know something, say something. Don’t procrastinate or say people probably won’t care anyway. I don’t know what to conclude about the harbor proposal. I haven’t seen much of it, and I’m frankly more concerned about other plans that might appear once it is completed. But I’m certain there is nothing for the people living here to gain by keeping such proposals quiet.

Now I know that people often say: “Oh, we told you- you just didn’t care to look or pay attention.” But the question is this: Who actually knows about the issues? Because if people who care are unaware, it’s not adequately publicized. Its one thing for people not to come to a CAPS meeting; it’s quite another for them to say they care about crime yet not know that the program exists.

Going forward, I hope that we can consider all the plans for our future, without a confidentiality that only hurts the process of open deliberation. I trust my neighbor’s judgment when it comes to most things about our neighborhood. I believe in us to decide what kind of Rogers Park makes the most sense for us. And for us to be truly inclusive, we need to know what’s in the works.

What’s at stake here are events like the Artfest this past weekend. Force out all the artists, you have no Artfest. That’s happened in much of the city, and I think we must find a balance that yields long-needed investments along with affordable housing. That is planning, and is the only way to ensure that the diversity we all pay lip service to doesn’t become just a fleeting economic accident.

James Ginderske

* Alderman Moore and the After-life

Do you ever wonder what Alderman Moore is thinking? What really matters to him? Well I found this today.

Knox College presents a symposium called "The Right to Die and Other Ethical Issues at the End of Life," with a panel of four so called experts, at 4 p.m., Friday, October 14, in Kresge Hall, Ford Center for the Fine Arts, on the Knox campus in Galesburg, Illinois.

As you can see by the credentials of one of these experts, stretching the truth is easy when the crowd's average age is 19 years old and geographically separated by some 200 miles.

Here is Alderman Moores submitted bio.

Alderman Joseph A. Moore represents Chicago's 49th Ward. He graduated from Knox in 1980 and prior to his election to the Chicago city council in 1991, he worked as an attorney in the City of Chicago's Department of Law. Among his legislative priorities are community policing and urban revitalization. Since Moore's election, the crime rate in his ward has fallen by 40 percent and the neighborhood has seen the construction of retail centers, a library, and a 2.5-acre park, and improvements to a theatre renovation and rental properties. He also sponsored a Whistle-blower Ordinance that gives taxpayers the right to recover damages on behalf of the city against corrupt city contractors.

Parks? Rentals? Crime down 40%? What does parks, rentals and crime reduction have to do with the right to die and other ethical issues at the end of life? Here is where you need to quack about the banning of foie gras issue on the resume.