Wednesday, December 20, 2006

* Beyond Terrible Parking

Gapers Block is predicting races. No, not horse races, races as in who's going to win and who's going to lose the 49th ward aldermanic competition. They got it all figured out. The predictors name is Richard Carnahan and his bio proudly claims he's a "south Side Sox fan who has played a bit part in Chicago politics more than once over the years." And we're sure he has. Our 49th ward master soothsayer Richard said....

.... "Joe Moore bravely took on Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe's and Home Depot by introducing the Big Box Living Wage Ordinance and as a result he may face a bruising race. Just as labor and reformers view Mitts as a symbol, big business and the Chamber of Commerce see defeating Moore, or at least beating him up a bit, as the perfect way to discourage any such legislation in the future. The big target on Moore's back is more worrisome because he was only able to manage 54 percent in 2003, in a traditionally low-turnout ward (some 7,000 total votes cast).

The 49th Ward suffers from very lopsided development, beyond terrible parking situation, constant traffic snarls, and serious crime and drug problems.

Moore cannot be said to have done a great job "managing" development in the ward, and ultimately that may hurt him more than the money his challengers will be able to raise from business. However, the fact that development is such a major issue means that any candidate in big business' pocket will lose significant credibility in the eyes of this ward's very liberal voters. Tellingly, of Moore's current challengers, two Don Gordon and Chris Adams are campaigning to the left of Moore. The other, Jim Ginderske, looks to be the most likely "business" candidate, but even Ginderske is hardly a free-market firebrand. Ultimately, this race is Moore's to lose and it isn't likely that he'll be ousted he's still quite popular there and his brave and dogged opposition to the Mayor has made him a hero of sorts to the politically aware, and that is who votes in municipal elections. But just like Mitts, the fact that this campaign is so symbolic makes it Tier Two, despite Moore's likely victory.'


Blognotes: Wow, what a stinger of a prediction on the 49th ward horse race, I mean 49th ward circus. And what's the deal putting us in the Tier Two class?

Are we two-bit in Rogers Park 'Richard the Predictor?'

I'll again ask the candidates, what's your parking plan guys? Do we rely on DevCorp North and the Special Service Area tax money with their famous lip service - telling us they'll "look into it," as in - do nothing and let the problem get worse and worse?

Here's a real life situation. Would any of the candidates allow a 400 person theatre to open without parking for one single car? The Alderman's given his answer. Come on candidates, Richard Carnahan says this is a beyond terrible problem. Let's hear what you think. The forum is now open for discussion.

8 comments:

Kheris said...

Why the lack of interest in emphasizing public transportation, and taxis, in lieu of parking structures? Are you that fond of traffic congestion that you would inflict it on Morse in lieu of other alternatives?

Toni said...

There's no 'plan' to this helter skelter zoning, building plans, meetings, tear downs that sit barren for months. It's like a bunch of kids playing games, hey, that's a good idea, we'll build a treehouse, and 5 years later there's a ladder leaning on a tree, and the kids are in high school cruising in cars.

Is there Attention Deficit Disorder plaguing Ward 49?

Whatsamaddayou said...

The fact is that there are more cars than places to put them in this neighborhood. The only real solution is multilevel off street parking which is cost prohibitive, especially in light of rising property values.

Pamela said...

"brave and dogged opposition to the mayor"???? ROTFLMAO. You mean where he has approved, without discussion, every single one of the mayor's budgets? That's our braveheart Joe.

Toto said...

Creating more parking is like creating more more roads to ease traffic congestion. It doesn't work in California and it doesn't work in Chicago. The more roads you build the more traffic you get.

As with parking the more parking you make available, the more you enable people to use cars. What you should be doing is promoting mass transit, walkability and biking.

What should be done is make parking more inconvenient or add a tax on parking. In come cities you have to get a permit to park on the street. Imagine if cars (that for the most time sit and do nothing for most of the day) were taxed more. People may give up their cars. Maybe some of those old fashioned mom and pop stores that used to be on every corner would come back into fashion. Tax cars to fix the Red Line for god's sake.

Toni said...

Give non-car owners a special tax break! We've contributed to the CTA all along. That might be real work for Club 50 and the rest of the lawmakers. Some of us haven't been congesting or polluting or enabling the oilmasters for years.

Jocelyn said...

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that finds this Richard guy's analysis to be (to put it politely) a bit off the mark.

What I am looking for in an Alderman is someone who is "on fire" about our Ward, meaning they have the drive to improve quality of life issues like parking, crime, development etc...

The more I read the blogs and discussions online including people from all sides debating who is "king of the mountain," the more discouraged I get.

Whoever can mobilize the most people to vote will win- not who wins arguments on blogs. I hope that's what anyone who is challenging Joe is focused on, because I think he knows how to get his voters out.

As far as the Big Box, I don't think it's a bad thing to pay people a living wage, but I want an Alderman that focuses on our Ward and not these national type issues. Until we a better quality of life in the Ward, saving the world should be left to the officials we elected to do that work. I think our Alderman should be focused on the nitty gritty in our ward and improve the quality of life here. I don't get the impression Joe Moore finds that very interesting. He'd rather keep the Alderman job so he can continue to crusade for "bigger" causes. Do it on someone else's dime Joe, not ours.

Abe said...

There are ways to create more parking. The problem with the parking situation in Rogers Park is the number of large apartment buildings. These properties turn into 12 - 2 bedroom condo buildings, where each of the usually two adults living there own a car. That is 24 cars on the street.

Other part of the city do not have this problem b/c they do not have that many big buildings. Their small buildings get torn down, and with new construction, there is mandatory parking.

One way to create more parking is to require parking for condo conversions - lets say .5 spaces per unit. That would allieve some of the congestion.

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