Summoned
a worthwhile chat with Alderman Fioretti
04/09/2012 11:17 AM
"The budget's tight," said 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti in his service office at 1319 S. State last week, a water bottle by his side due to the persistent dryness in his throat from his tonsil cancer treatment. He felt bad that he hasn't been able to upgrade the street lights in Dearborn Park 1 the way he has in Dearborn Park 2, he said between sips. But the older section on the north side of Roosevelt needs massive rewiring in order to enjoy the same new lights--and it's way expensive, like $60-80,000 per block, he lamented.
And then there's the rest of the 2nd Ward he has to worry about.
Some parts of the West Side, he says, haven't had their infrastructure upgraded since 1968, the year of the riots and the fires.
And then he went down a list. Actually, he had sheets from the City powers-that-be that spelled out all the things he could spend his menu money on--a measly 1.2 million dollars per year. He had sheets with pictures and prices--like a contracting business that's trying to sell the customer on upgrades, a customer who really needs it--but who's really short of cash. "It's almost like they're discouraging improvements," he said. "Because a lot of the improvements start to increase in price the more you do. I've got alleys, garbage cans, lightbulbs, things that haven't been fixed in 100 years; and I'd like to do the branding program."
He went through, sheet by sheet until I couldn't take it anymore. A speed bump will cost an alderman $1400. In rubber. A concrete "apron" runs $10,000. A block of sidewalk (on one side) costs $65,500; add curbs and gutters and you add $68,000.
It's $65,000 if an alderman wants to install diagonal parking. And $25,000 for a cul-de-sac. For a turn-around it runs $11,000. A cool $20,000 for an LED traffic light. And $12,000 for a countdown on a traffic light.
You want a left-turn arrow signal? It costs the aldermen $70,000. And $164,000 for ornamental lighting per block. Although pole painting only runs $300. On the other hand, every time a pole has to be replaced a different style ends up getting installed and that drives up the cost of repair, too, explained Fioretti. There are 37 different styles, he said.
If the alderman wants to paint everything in an intersection, the alderman has to cough up $3500. For a light bulb upgrade, it's $400, as is a floodlight. Viaduct lighting is $1500 per fixture. And a controversial police camera? A cool $22,500.
You want a permeable green alley, the kind that absorbs water and cuts down on waste and flooding and that sort of thing? Per alley they run $200,000. And in the 2nd ward there are 247 alleys to be dealt with. Not to mention 513 garbage pick-ups. (Why can't we have the grid system? wondered the 2nd Ward alderman.)
"If you put in five green alleys, you're almost out of money," said Fioretti. "Do the math."
I did. And he's right.
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By Constructively from Almost land
Posted: 04/12/2012 1:55 PM
Thats a cop-out Bonnie. True, you are not an investigate reporter. However, saying that it\'s ok because you are just a blogger is abandoning all commitment to the truth. There\'s already enough bs out there without you reprinting everything you hear. Do you not feel at all embarrassed by the fact that the alderman knew he could \"summon\" you to his office and could count on you spreading his bs? Have a little more pride in yourself and check the occasional fact do you aren\'t used as a pawn
By Bonnie McGrath from South Loop
Posted: 04/09/2012 10:19 PM
The beauty of most blogs (and I am strictly a blogger on this site, not an investigative reporter) is to write short and get a conversation going. It\'s a different form of journalism. Blogs are popular because people can immediately react, provide new information (which you have done here), agree, disagree, the whole gamut. I have provided readers with information from our alderman. You have other information to provide. Perhaps others will add more information. And so on.
By Lynnette from The 10%'ers
Posted: 04/09/2012 7:46 PM
Respectfully, here seems to be the problem with your report. Your writing seems to lack verification, facts, or any investigative journalism. It seems from your writing, you asked no questions. A simple journalistic review of the Chicago Aldermanic Menu Expenditures reports would have lead to obvious question: "Why does the West Loop get 80% of Menu funds, and the area between Roosevelt and Cermak get 10%?" http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/obm/provdrs/cap_improve.htm