Blognotes: Another e-mail. I couldn't help but use this headline.
Dear Neighbor,
There is an election Tuesday, April 17th between our incumbent alderman and inspiring challenger Don Gordon. Don’s vision for our ward includes a focused, incisive “100 Days in Office” agenda that is long on problem-solving detail and much-needed insight into pressing community issues like affordable housing and intelligent economic development.
If you would like to meet Don, or discuss his views, please join us at our home on Tuesday, April 10 at 8 p.m. for coffee and dessert. If you are unable to make this event, please remember the importance of your vote on April 17th—cast your vote for Don Gordon and a brighter future for the 49th Ward.
Why do I support Don Gordon? Next month, it will be 11 years since we purchased our single family home on Jarvis Avenue and began restoring it. Several of our new neighbors moved into the area at around the same time—motivated by beautiful and affordable housing stock, the benefits of a lakefront community serviced by the Red Line and what promised to be a community in transition—and on the rise.
While the neighborhood has slowly and painstakingly improved during our 11 years here—primarily due to individual entrepreneurial spirit and effort—much of Rogers Park’s potential still goes unrealized. I strongly believe that a depressing lack of ward leadership—reflected in our incumbent alderman’s consistently low standards—is the primary culprit.
Community projects (remember “saving” the Clark Street Mall eyesore instead of building a well-situated and much-needed fire station?) are derailed, never begun, or badly behind schedule because of a lack of aldermanic leadership and frankly, managerial ability and creativity. For example, the 49th Ward received nothing as part of the ancillary $1 billion Chicago public schools funding initiative and has been similarly overlooked to participate in numerous city-sponsored programs, such as recycling efforts.
Our El stations are filthy and dangerous—did you know that in a December 6, 2006 investigatory article, the Red Eye voted the Jarvis El the “smelliest station” on the entire Red Line? The article stated: “The definition of dank is one stop south of Howard on the Red Line. Jarvis is known for an overpowering urine smell and puddles of unknown fluids pooling near the station stairwells.”
The Jarvis El is located in the same block as the 49th Ward Service office, and yet, only with the threat of losing office did our incumbent alderman begin to address the ancient problem of our poorly maintained CTA stations—as if our El stations were just recently identified as sub-standard.
Joe Moore has been in office 16 years—surely, this is ample time to address the numerous challenges our ward faces—and yet, our community continues to struggle. Despite his length of time in the Chicago City Council, he chairs no committees and wields very little influence for his constituents.
The 49th Ward homicide rate is frighteningly high. The current graduation rate at Sullivan High School is less than fifty percent. There is still a plethora of poorly managed, dangerous buildings in our neighborhoods.
As a February 16, 2007 Chicago Tribune editorial stated, “…Alderman Joe Moore…apparently didn't get the message that many people wanted him to focus on his community. He often seems more interested in headline-grabbing efforts like the ban on foie gras, which held Chicago up to national ridicule. Meanwhile, his ward struggles with crime, housing and development issues.”
Yes, exactly. We desperately need a visionary leader who is focused on improving the 49th Ward. That leader is Don Gordon.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Stiles
West Jarvis Avenue
11 comments:
JSLP,
Can I give you some money and you can print up these letters and send them to our neighbors like Kathy did?
hey now craig, i think you infringed on some sort of copyright laws by using my name! i would appreciate some notice beforehand next time. but amen to the email. also here's some food for thought. i can't stand joe moore, but michael harrington annoys equally. i don't know how much of a don gordon fan i can be knowing that michael harrington (failed aldermanic bids the past couple of election cycles--in different wards) will have a major roll in the 49th ward's future.. thought's anyone?
I happen to be a fan of MH. I see the man working tirelessly for RP. No offense, but I find some of the criticisms I've seen on the blogs of him to be pretty petty. I think he's an asset.
I do think Harrington could figure out that Ashland ran through the center of Gale Park and could get the zoning taken care of a little quicker than those currently running the show. He might also have discovered there was an alley that needed to be re-zoned too.
He returns phone calls.
Dear Jarvis,
Point #1: No one (NO ONE) could be worse than "government stooge Joe Moore." I'll take anyone over JM any day of the week.
Point #2: MH is impressing me with his work on the DG campaign. If he is as good in any roll he might play in ward's future, I'd bet a paycheck that he'll shine. He may still annoy but he's a doer -- something we haven't seen in RP in going on decades.
Dr. O,
I'd be more than happy to work with you on personalizing a letter for your neighbors--it would mean more coming from you, however, with your specific neighborhood issues addressed. The offer of postage donation is a big help--I can kick in the stationery, labor, etc. Can do?
Harrington is an asset to the area, and works tirelessly on neighborhood concerns.
Whether or not you find Michael "annoying" is a strictly personal thing on your part. I personally like the guy a great deal.
okay by annoying i mean, not an asset but an ideolouge like joMo. those are just my experiences when i've encountered him. his ego is larger than the 49th ward. don't people know what he did in lakeview?
Please, let's not go there again. Let's live in the present and go forward!
Thorndale smells like pee too.
I used to wash my hands asap after touching anything in that station.
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