Okay, there's a LOT of stuff that has to be sacrificed. Libraries and branch libraries and bookmobiles should NEVER be among those things. I hope that "my" branch will not be "out." I hope that some one or many of you will act to save ALL of the libraries.
I took my grandchildren to Lee St. Beach when we were last on a visit from southern California. I took them on the route I used on my Schwinn Monarch from home to the beach on lazy summer days. I was 10. That library was "mine" until I graduated high school and even long after I had my own child. I wonder how many people would drop off a book and get another one on their way to the beach.
Whatever the library means to YOU, I am sure it is a recollection of happy moments...when your mind and your imagination would take you anywhere the pages of a book might describe; when the best smell in the world was in the quiet corner of the kids' section on a rainy day; when the summer was "official" because the book reading contest had begun. It was a day of great pleasure, even at Summer's end, when my mother and I would go to Chandler's books to get my school books for the upcoming year and then to the library. One book that I found was called "Seatmates." It remains among my favorites. I recently found a copy on e-bay and it sits on my bookshelf, always reminding me of carefree days and smaller worries.
I hope the aldermen will vote against keeping the two branches open [or openning more on the west and south-west side as would be needed for equality]. We do not need these branches which only exist for a small group of people who consider themselves too privileged to have to travel 'all the way downtown' Evanston.
We certainly don't need more taxes to fund these or waste the cities resources in keeping them open.
The branches have adequate public transportation available for people to get downtown. Or is their failure to want to come downtown a condemnaton of the downtown area?
All of the alderpeople said they had to come up with ALL the money, not just most of it.
Plus, let us recall that the LIBRARY FOUNDATION does not even wish to fund operations in the branches. If the library itself doesn't care....it is difficult for me to understand why the taxpayers should be asked for funding. We should close the branches and forward all the money raised to help with the main library operations for the entire community can benefit, not just a couple neighborhoods.
Unless we have a surplus, we need to stop the spending. After all the North Branch is the only one they really want to keep open in order to help the Central Street businesses.
This decision, which I support, does seems to be in conflict with others the council have made. In this case (816-818 Church), we are funding building improvements in order to improve the business prospects of the Behles firm. See this link for more information.
In the case the the Red Door, they are asking for the same consideration as the Behles firm to hopefully generate new business. In the Behles situation, they received capital improvement funding to improve it.
How are these different? What's to prevent a homeowner to apply for funds to improve their facade in order to make their building more attractive to renters or buyers? Where does this stop?
We seem to be on the proverbial slippery slope here.
Very Disappointing...Not much to see and to add insult to injury there were people at each entrance telling the patrons that the suggested "Donation" was $5.00, yet not letting anyone in unless they paid the $5 per person. It took us all of 10 minutes to see the whole thing and there was not much to see. Shame on the City of Evanston. We proceeded to the Arlington Hts., Art Fair and thought it was 10 X's better and FREE!
I would like to compliment Karen Singer, Kathy Slaughter, Julie McBratney and their fellow organizers of the YWCA, Evanston, for a really great race last weekend. The Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate is a fabulously well put together race. It starts nice and early to beat the heat, the vendors have oranges, Starbucks coffee, cake, and other delicious treats for the runners, the goody bags werefilledwith interesting items and really good coupons, the t-shirts - well, I can't praise them enough. They are designed well and actually fit a person who is not a Mens Large!! Polite volunteers and ample porta-potties added to a most enjoyable morning. Okay, so to top this all off, Mrs. Byrdsong herself is there to let us know how appreciative she is for our support. This is a community race in the very best sense. Our Evanston community it out there, showing how committed we are to eradicating racial hatred. If you missed it this time, make a point of supporting the race in whatever way you can next year. You won't be sorry.
The previous poster raises excelent points regarding the Ventura Realty property at 1459-1463 Elmwood which is up for sale and the prospective new owner of the Spa at Sherman Plaza. The city should have guidelines for use of Neighborhood Facade Improvements and TIF fund usages for any property owner who owns or is buying property as being eligible for either program. Owners of property that is up for sale should not be eligible for either programs.
Interesting how tens of thousands turn out to watch NASCAR - huge gas-guzzling engines with faux car bodies going round and round and round...while this race of the future, both in the vehicles and the teams that support them, brings out a few dozen and is about as far from "sports" news as it can be. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
The Robert Crown facility is way past its prime and there is no reason tp perpetuate an annual loss of $200,000 per year on it, let alone spend more money repairing it. A 35 year old rink is energy inefficient and does not serve its purpose well.
A new, modern facility will be a big plus to Evanston’s image when hosting groups and teams from neighboring communities and will likely increase the general interest in ice related activities.
One item that will need to be addressed is how this proposed private facility will serve the needs of the public youth programs and school related programs that current use the existing rink.
"Schoenberg said he believed it was important to locate the jobs office [IDES] close to where the greatest need for job search services is."
It did not seem to bother them when it was by the post office several blocks from the main library and closer to public transportation.
An article on EvanstonRoundtable says:
Schoenberg said: "As a long-time resident of northwest Evanston whose family uses the library, I could not let that challenge go unmet,"
Once again a statement of 'local' interest [his] not the city or budgets. His family uses the branch so it should stay---case closed. I'd think he is rich enough to be able to spend a couple of dollars for his kids to go to the Main or has he even asked them which library they like better ?
The article says: "Some have speculated that Evanston Plaza, at Dempster Street and Dodge Avenue, might be the choice. The shopping plaza is less than 70 percent occupied, according to City figures. It is not, however, easily accessible by public transportation."
I thought the argument was that we needed local libraries and that LACK of public transportation was a big reason to have branches. Again the west side [local] residents are forgot. Is it because the mayor and senator don't expect they will vote so don't need to take care of them but need the north and south east voters ?
"Emily Guthrie, president of Friends of the Evanston Library, said only Main Street at Chicago Avenue and Davis Street at Benson Avenue are accessible by both CTA and Metra."
Clearly Emily does not know about the 201 bus, CTA station on Central or Metra on Central.
Give me a break. Why should the City pay for a new sign for this spa? Perhaps the spa owners should negotiate (or should have negotiated) new signage with the owners of the building as part of their lease. The owners of that building are the ones desperate for a tenant there.
Did these people really believe something a real estate agent trying to lease the space told them?
I wonder if members of the Evanston Economic Development Committee.is aware that 1459-1463 Elmwood has been up for sale almost six months?
Did Cohn tell the Committee that Ventura Realty also has the property up for sale? Was the Committee aware of this fact?
It looks to me like the taxpayers are helping Ventura Realty sell the building, giving the company $17,500 to improve the property, thanks to the City of Evanston. I'm sure there's a lot of other people in Evanston trying to sell dilipadated properties that would just love city grant money to improve their buildings.
Also, 1459 Elmwood is in downtown Evanston so wouldn't that building be eligible for a TIF fund, too?
Also, tax records indicate Ventura bought the building for $210,000 in January. Now the company is trying to sell it for $495,000. So exactly how dilipidated is it?
The Administration and Public Works Committee tussled with the list of bills for the first time in over a year. … Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, questioned …about FICA payments of more than $10,000… Firefighters hired after … mid-1980s do not pay social security payroll taxes… Nevertheless, the City paid FICA and deducted funds from two individual’s paychecks.
"It just makes you feel that, God, what else are we missing?" said Ald. Rainey.
A cable bill for the Howard Street police outpost that should have been assigned to Mason Park also caught Ald. Rainey’s eye. … A loan to the business "I Dream of Sweets" on Dempster Street so the business could construct a bathroom…Lionel Jean-Baptiste…asked, "How could this happen?"
Sounds like the City/Council is using the same accounting software and auditors that Enron used. Hopefully they would have caught, and we don't have, a Bernie Madoff type problem !
These are the people trying to budget for the city, keep the city solvent and pay our bill [using our taxes of course].
Wake up--So you don't want to do the work of 3 Yes, 3 firefighters laid off. When your not fighting fires what do you do? This is a real gut-check, and seemingly your gut is too big? Pick up the slack.
At least Evanston got some shiny new gas guzzling police cruisers to keep the mundanes in line before the realization "we have too much debt". It will be a big help in harvesting revenue (ie. traffic tickets). But, as we know it is all about safety.
Got to keep the gravy train running for the "privileged" government employees and public unions.
As to why the Republicans didn't field a candidate, I have no idea and certainly voters are the losers because right now they have no choice in the general election. And these are times when choices are greatly needed.
Al, you are just not making sense..as usual.
Voters had a choice. There were three serious candidates ( Gabel, or Keenan-Devlin, or Kelly ) in the race...four if you count Moran, who didn't seem to be trying too hard.
Anyone (including you, Al) could have filed as a Republican. Why didn't anybody? If you are so concerned, Al, why didn't you? Are Republicans just lazy? If the Republican party organization isn't competent enough to field a candidate, why do you think that they are competent enough to run the government?
A serious candidate would have no problem getting on the ballot - even if signatures are challenged. And more importantly, Al , you need to stop blaming Democrats for all of the ills of the world. Right wingers are always talking about personal responsibility and pulling yourself up and all that Horatio Alger stuff - but they never seem to practice it. Stop blaming others and the government for your problems, Al. You need to work harder and think outside the box and give 110%, because the early bird gets the worm and there is no 'I' in TEAM and a winner never quits and a quitter never wins.
I am very proud of you and your accomplishments. Christian you represent Kennedy-King College in a positive way. Continued sucess in all of your endeavors.
I just got an email from Steve Funk who said a General Assembly Democrat House staff member Tuesday morning requested a copy of his petitions for review.
Also, Mr. Funk is asking for pro bono legal help to meet the expected challenge from the Democrat party machine, which has a vast amount of resources. Steve Funk and volunteers went out every day for the past three months to collect signatures.
BTW-Gabel was appointed to sit in the 18th District seat she is running for after the current 18th District Rep. Julie Hamos stepped down to take a $100,000 state government job. Hamos lost a primary election for a seat once held by Mark Kirk and decided not to finish out the term as the 18th District Representative.
So Gabel running for the seat was picked to sit in it. How convenient.
Almost immediately Gabel announced she supports a tax increase for businesses and individuals. It's pretty easy to campaign for a tax hike when you have no opponents.
As to why the Republicans didn't field a candidate, I have no idea and certainly voters are the losers because right now they have no choice in the general election. And these are times when choices are greatly needed.
I think I understand your logic. If the prescription does not cure the disease, the answer is to administer more of the same medicine!
This recession is akin to a heroin addict suffering from withdrawal symptoms after he runs out of junk. It is a painful process, but a necessary one to cure the patient of his addiction and ultimately save his life. In our country's case, the drug was excessive credit and reckless spending made possibly by overaccomodative Fed funds rates, irresponsible lenders and borrowers, and misguided government policy. Now the drug has been taken away and we are all suffering from the withdrawal symptoms as our economy struggles to find a new way to function. We will continue to struggle until we find a way to add value to the world other than building houses and flipping them for profit.
But your solution, and that of the Keynesians, seems to be to have the Government administer more Heroin to the patient. Your solution to the burst bubble is to try to reflate it. But each increase in the dosage yields a less satisfying high. The Keynesians will prescribe more Heroin until the patient dies of an overdose.
In our case, that means default at the local, state, and Federal level.
Elections cost taxpayer money? Hah! That's about the only time I've heard a liberal complain about government spending. Actually, there was another event in recent history. When the liberals successfully killed the Illinois constitutional convention, the official excuse was that it was a waste of taxpayer money. Funny how liberals are only concerned about the expenditure of taxpayer money when it comes to the exercise of our constitutional rights and democratic processes. I'm sure Comrade Stalin or Chairman Mao would have agreed that elections are a waste of the People's money and time.
Congratulations Christian! From the moment I met you at Dawson Technical I knew that you would make a positive impact in the lives of others, no matter what your field of endeavor. Thank you for being who you are!
Okay, there's a LOT of stuff that has to be sacrificed. Libraries and branch libraries and bookmobiles should NEVER be among those things. I hope that "my" branch will not be "out." I hope that some one or many of you will act to save ALL of the libraries.
I took my grandchildren to Lee St. Beach when we were last on a visit from southern California. I took them on the route I used on my Schwinn Monarch from home to the beach on lazy summer days. I was 10. That library was "mine" until I graduated high school and even long after I had my own child. I wonder how many people would drop off a book and get another one on their way to the beach.
Whatever the library means to YOU, I am sure it is a recollection of happy moments...when your mind and your imagination would take you anywhere the pages of a book might describe; when the best smell in the world was in the quiet corner of the kids' section on a rainy day; when the summer was "official" because the book reading contest had begun. It was a day of great pleasure, even at Summer's end, when my mother and I would go to Chandler's books to get my school books for the upcoming year and then to the library. One book that I found was called "Seatmates." It remains among my favorites. I recently found a copy on e-bay and it sits on my bookshelf, always reminding me of carefree days and smaller worries.
God bless those libraries, all of them!
There should be no vote.
All of the alderpeople said they had to come up with ALL the money, not just most of it.
Plus, let us recall that the LIBRARY FOUNDATION does not even wish to fund operations in the branches. If the library itself doesn't care....it is difficult for me to understand why the taxpayers should be asked for funding. We should close the branches and forward all the money raised to help with the main library operations for the entire community can benefit, not just a couple neighborhoods.
Unless we have a surplus, we need to stop the spending. After all the North Branch is the only one they really want to keep open in order to help the Central Street businesses.
That is just how Star Chambers work.
This decision, which I support, does seems to be in conflict with others the council have made. In this case (816-818 Church), we are funding building improvements in order to improve the business prospects of the Behles firm. See this link for more information.
In the case the the Red Door, they are asking for the same consideration as the Behles firm to hopefully generate new business. In the Behles situation, they received capital improvement funding to improve it.
How are these different? What's to prevent a homeowner to apply for funds to improve their facade in order to make their building more attractive to renters or buyers? Where does this stop?
We seem to be on the proverbial slippery slope here.
Very Disappointing...Not much to see and to add insult to injury there were people at each entrance telling the patrons that the suggested "Donation" was $5.00, yet not letting anyone in unless they paid the $5 per person. It took us all of 10 minutes to see the whole thing and there was not much to see. Shame on the City of Evanston. We proceeded to the Arlington Hts., Art Fair and thought it was 10 X's better and FREE!
I would like to compliment Karen Singer, Kathy Slaughter, Julie McBratney and their fellow organizers of the YWCA, Evanston, for a really great race last weekend. The Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate is a fabulously well put together race. It starts nice and early to beat the heat, the vendors have oranges, Starbucks coffee, cake, and other delicious treats for the runners, the goody bags were filled with interesting items and really good coupons, the t-shirts - well, I can't praise them enough. They are designed well and actually fit a person who is not a Mens Large!! Polite volunteers and ample porta-potties added to a most enjoyable morning. Okay, so to top this all off, Mrs. Byrdsong herself is there to let us know how appreciative she is for our support. This is a community race in the very best sense. Our Evanston community it out there, showing how committed we are to eradicating racial hatred. If you missed it this time, make a point of supporting the race in whatever way you can next year. You won't be sorry.
Thanks, YWCA, I'll be there again next year!
-Sue Petersen
Migon wasn't notified? The owner of Bill's Blues said the same thing when the city had a hearing to suspend his license.
The previous poster raises excelent points regarding the Ventura Realty property at 1459-1463 Elmwood which is up for sale and the prospective new owner of the Spa at Sherman Plaza. The city should have guidelines for use of Neighborhood Facade Improvements and TIF fund usages for any property owner who owns or is buying property as being eligible for either program. Owners of property that is up for sale should not be eligible for either programs.
Interesting how tens of thousands turn out to watch NASCAR - huge gas-guzzling engines with faux car bodies going round and round and round...while this race of the future, both in the vehicles and the teams that support them, brings out a few dozen and is about as far from "sports" news as it can be. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
GO NU
I hope no steroids are found in the solar cells!
You have a wonderful, modern facility in the heart of downtown Evanston - the main library.
It is not that far, and may require a nice walk, or a short car trip - not too much to ask.
Close all the branches.
Use what exists - our main library.
Stop the special and local interest.
Get your heads out of your "you know what" and face the economic reality.
Great idea!
The Robert Crown facility is way past its prime and there is no reason tp perpetuate an annual loss of $200,000 per year on it, let alone spend more money repairing it. A 35 year old rink is energy inefficient and does not serve its purpose well.
A new, modern facility will be a big plus toEvanston
One item that will need to be addressed is how this proposed private facility will serve the needs of the public youth programs and school related programs that current use the existing rink.
Give me a break. Why should the City pay for a new sign for this spa? Perhaps the spa owners should negotiate (or should have negotiated) new signage with the owners of the building as part of their lease. The owners of that building are the ones desperate for a tenant there.
Did these people really believe something a real estate agent trying to lease the space told them?
I wonder if members of the Evanston Economic Development Committee.is aware that 1459-1463 Elmwood has been up for sale almost six months?
Did Cohn tell the Committee that Ventura Realty also has the property up for sale? Was the Committee aware of this fact?
It looks to me like the taxpayers are helping Ventura Realty sell the building, giving the company $17,500 to improve the property, thanks to the City of Evanston. I'm sure there's a lot of other people in Evanston trying to sell dilipadated properties that would just love city grant money to improve their buildings.
Also, 1459 Elmwood is in downtown Evanston so wouldn't that building be eligible for a TIF fund, too?
Also, tax records indicate Ventura bought the building for $210,000 in January. Now the company is trying to sell it for $495,000. So exactly how dilipidated is it?
Maybe there's more to this story?
Wake up--So you don't want to do the work of 3 Yes, 3 firefighters laid off. When your not fighting fires what do you do? This is a real gut-check, and seemingly your gut is too big? Pick up the slack.
At least Evanston got some shiny new gas guzzling police cruisers to keep the mundanes in line before the realization "we have too much debt". It will be a big help in harvesting revenue (ie. traffic tickets). But, as we know it is all about safety.
Got to keep the gravy train running for the "privileged" government employees and public unions.
rumor has is that Fresh Market Books is moving into the old Uncle Dan's...or opening an additional location? we need more rumors to corroborate.
Al, you are just not making sense..as usual.
Voters had a choice. There were three serious candidates ( Gabel, or Keenan-Devlin, or Kelly ) in the race...four if you count Moran, who didn't seem to be trying too hard.
Anyone (including you, Al) could have filed as a Republican. Why didn't anybody? If you are so concerned, Al, why didn't you? Are Republicans just lazy? If the Republican party organization isn't competent enough to field a candidate, why do you think that they are competent enough to run the government?
A serious candidate would have no problem getting on the ballot - even if signatures are challenged. And more importantly, Al , you need to stop blaming Democrats for all of the ills of the world. Right wingers are always talking about personal responsibility and pulling yourself up and all that Horatio Alger stuff - but they never seem to practice it. Stop blaming others and the government for your problems, Al. You need to work harder and think outside the box and give 110%, because the early bird gets the worm and there is no 'I' in TEAM and a winner never quits and a quitter never wins.
Congratulations Christian!
I am very proud of you and your accomplishments. Christian you represent Kennedy-King College in a positive way. Continued sucess in all of your endeavors.
I just got an email from Steve Funk who said a General Assembly Democrat House staff member Tuesday morning requested a copy of his petitions for review.
Also, Mr. Funk is asking for pro bono legal help to meet the expected challenge from the Democrat party machine, which has a vast amount of resources. Steve Funk and volunteers went out every day for the past three months to collect signatures.
BTW-Gabel was appointed to sit in the 18th District seat she is running for after the current 18th District Rep. Julie Hamos stepped down to take a $100,000 state government job. Hamos lost a primary election for a seat once held by Mark Kirk and decided not to finish out the term as the 18th District Representative.
So Gabel running for the seat was picked to sit in it. How convenient.
Almost immediately Gabel announced she supports a tax increase for businesses and individuals. It's pretty easy to campaign for a tax hike when you have no opponents.
As to why the Republicans didn't field a candidate, I have no idea and certainly voters are the losers because right now they have no choice in the general election. And these are times when choices are greatly needed.
Obama's Stimulus wasn't big enough? Outstanding!
I think I understand your logic. If the prescription does not cure the disease, the answer is to administer more of the same medicine!
This recession is akin to a heroin addict suffering from withdrawal symptoms after he runs out of junk. It is a painful process, but a necessary one to cure the patient of his addiction and ultimately save his life. In our country's case, the drug was excessive credit and reckless spending made possibly by overaccomodative Fed funds rates, irresponsible lenders and borrowers, and misguided government policy. Now the drug has been taken away and we are all suffering from the withdrawal symptoms as our economy struggles to find a new way to function. We will continue to struggle until we find a way to add value to the world other than building houses and flipping them for profit.
But your solution, and that of the Keynesians, seems to be to have the Government administer more Heroin to the patient. Your solution to the burst bubble is to try to reflate it. But each increase in the dosage yields a less satisfying high. The Keynesians will prescribe more Heroin until the patient dies of an overdose.
In our case, that means default at the local, state, and Federal level.
Elections cost taxpayer money? Hah! That's about the only time I've heard a liberal complain about government spending. Actually, there was another event in recent history. When the liberals successfully killed the Illinois constitutional convention, the official excuse was that it was a waste of taxpayer money. Funny how liberals are only concerned about the expenditure of taxpayer money when it comes to the exercise of our constitutional rights and democratic processes. I'm sure Comrade Stalin or Chairman Mao would have agreed that elections are a waste of the People's money and time.
Congratulations Christian! From the moment I met you at Dawson Technical I knew that you would make a positive impact in the lives of others, no matter what your field of endeavor. Thank you for being who you are!