A coup in the making?
CPS's potential shrewdness
11/18/2009
One of the most interesting moments at Saturday's public hearing about the new admissions system proposed for Chicago Public School’s test-in and magnet institutions had to do with private schools.
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Too risky to run
There is immense political pressure on the "electeds" to help keep fellow incumbents in office
11/11/2009
Political jockeying begins each campaign season long before most people
know who is running. Petitions are floated for a variety of offices.
Many of us sign, indicating that we believe said person should have
access to the ballot. It’s all quite democratic. But behind closed
doors, deals are being made about who will really run.
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Tantalizing
The next Northerly Island, off and running
11/11/2009
The Chicago Park District's planning process for Northerly Island is off to a good start. They've assembled a design team studded with stars - including Jeanne Gang, of Studio Gang Architects, especially - and seem committed to taking public input seriously. Read more...
Orr's TIF tool
11/11/2009
This week, the Web site Progress Illinois reported that 92 percent of the property taxes Mayor Daley paid last year are routed into the Near South tax increment financing district. Read more...
What the scores mean
A stark reminder of our divided society
11/04/2009
When the Illinois State Board of Education releases the results of the annual tests administered to elementary students starting in the third grade and to juniors in high school, there is a tendency to rush to the numbers, to calculate the increases and declines, to determine the best and the worst. Read more...
The lore of Library Tower's park
In the end, there are a number of winners. And the only thing lost was a little parking.
10/28/2009
A lot of people might be wondering why the residents of Library Tower are giving up that convenient guest parking lot they had at State and Harrison in favor of yet - yawn - another one of those under-used landscaped parks with paving bricks and shrubs that seem to be springing up across the South Loop. Read More...
How to deaden a block
Build a data storage center!
10/28/2009
Chicago’s a fine place to store data. We have few hurricanes here, not so many earthquakes and tornados. There is a flood every now and then, but it is usually small and we manage. Sinkholes and rocket attacks are rare. Read more...
The TIF tell
The 2nd Ward budget offers a glimpse into a series of projects the city expects to undertake
10/28/2009
In poker, a tell occurs when a player tips his hand, and competitors
around the table know whether to, as the saying goes, hold 'em or fold
'em. A big tell came last week for residents of the Near South and Near West
sides courtesy of Chicago Reader investigative reporters Mick Dumke and
Ben Joravsky.
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Time to think small
Chicago should forego the temptation to work on an Olympian scale
10/21/2009
Since the Second City limped in fourth in the Olympic race, pundits have called for Chicago to dedicate itself to another large scale project to replace the catalyzing power of a Games. There has been no shortage of ideas — making Chicago the safest city in America by 2016, reforming the educational system, rebuilding our infrastructure, and even hosting an international cultural festival. Read more...
Park board needs to grow up
Curbing public comments? Are you kidding?
10/21/2009
In 2008, park district board meetings were often stormy, filled with residents angry about the board’s footsie with private organizations (Latin School, the Children’s Museum) that wanted to occupy public land. Many people filed downtown to make their opinions heard. They did it, time and again. Read more...