Noting the legal notices

People like me are probably making a big mistake not going to zoning committee meetings, where the decisions get made.

05/26/2010 10:00 PM

BONNIE McGRATH

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Ever get one of those zoning change notices from a lawyer named John George?

He always sends the notice on his personal stationary, as thought he’s just some little old solo lawyer sitting in his lonely little Clark Street office slaving away for some little builder who wants to build some little building somewhere near little old you.

What George wants to hide is that he is really part of a law partnership called Daley and George, Ltd. And yes, the Daley is Michael, brother of the mayor. I’m sure there is law firm stationary available. But George doesn’t use it.

So I figure, why get involved in zoning battles? The fix is in.

Which all goes to explain why I never pay attention to those zoning variances we neighbors are required to be told about.

In 16 years at Roosevelt and State, I’ve received a lot of zoning notices. Some builder wants to build some monstrosity and needs a variance, before which he needs to alert those of us who will have to look at the result. There have been so many monstrosities constructed around me, they should have a special zoning variance called “Monstrosity construction.”

In any case, I feel like most people are like me. They ignore the notices they get from whatever jurisdiction is regulating whatever it is that requires alerting the neighbors.

Although I must admit, my neighbors often come out in droves when community organizations host the builders. They yell and insult and the builders obsequiously answer their questions. But in the end, it always seems to me the building gets built pretty close to the way they really want it to be built.

Perhaps exactly the way they really wanted it to be built. But to trick us, they ask for too much height, too much glass or not enough detail in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. Then they can add and subtract and everyone’s happy.

But I don’t see many of my neighbors confronting the true powers that be — those who could do something official under zoning, preservation and architectural rules.

One of my ex-husbands (calm down, I only have two), who was chief of staff and deputy mayor during the heyday of Jane Byrne, says he agrees and that it’s been that way for a while.

He thinks people care more about movies and TV and the internet. They don’t care about public participation on a truly meaningful scale. “They don’t exactly get their friends together and suggest stopping off for some popcorn on the way to an outing at the zoning board,” he says.

In spite of the pitchforks and the compromises I have seen vis-a-vis the community organizations, people like me are probably making a big mistake not going to zoning committee meetings, where the decisions get made.

It just never occurred to me to do it. I think of the Daley and George situation and figure what’s the use? In spite of having an opinion on just about everything, I too often ignore opportunities to express my feelings where it can do the most good — right to the powers that be right on their own legal turf.

Many of us are probably making a huge mistake by not taking advantage of the fact that the politicians are “really wusses,” says my ex. They probably would respond if our numbers, along with a loud voice gave them a reason to.

“People have gotten crazy,” says my ex. “They have this good opportunity to respond to the notices. But they seem to care about too many other things today, like whether or not Britney Spears is wearing underpants.”

So maybe I will turn over a new leaf. Recently, I got a notice about Walgreens. They want to start selling alcohol and if I object — being a resident within 250 feet of their location at State and Roosevelt — I am required to call Norma Reyes and voice my objections.

Reyes, the commissioner in charge of business affairs and consumer protection at the city, used to be my boss when I was a prosecutor for the city. So I do feel like I could call her and talk turkey. At least Wild Turkey. (“Norma, if they sell it, make sure it’s the 101 proof and not the cheap stuff.”)

Maybe if I yell loud enough, she would be willing to regulate the store’s choice of booze, by exerting her clout. (“Norma, make sure they sell pinot noir from California — like in the movie Sideways — and not the usual stuff from Oregon.”)

In any case, I vow to pay closer attention to all notices in the future. They are being sent for a reason. And I should go for a reason: to fight the monstrosities.


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