Well, that didn't take long...West Town
Shame on me for musing on what next to do. Having been contacted by the owners of West Town, there is plenty to do.
Jonathan Fine and the Preservation Chicago folks, along with a self-appointed neighborhood organization called the East Village Association (acts in a capacity similar to RANCH and SNA) have convinced Manny Flores (1st Ward) that all of West Town needs landmarking. West Town is in the process of gentrification, with teardowns and newer condo buildings going up. Some of their members are engaging in activities which would be comical if not so tragic; people posting signs against landmarking have had them ripped down, been screamed at, been photographed and told that they are being watched. Good grief. As my darling husband says, what a bunch of @$S%--&S. (He says this when the offspring is asleep, don't worry).
And, of course, expect the Alderman to take those who have a major stake in the process to try to start the buyoff process, particularly developers with their permits, to try to make it seem like he has had full support from across the spectrum. (We got a whiff of that with Alderman Daley as well, didn't we???)
Well, at least Alderman Daley had the excuse of not being a lawyer, or at least blaming her confusion in Chuck. Alderman Flores does not.
Regrettably, Alderman Flores seems to not have absorbed his Constitutional Law (don't even get me started on ethics) at George Washington University -- my law school alma mater as well, BTW. (Insider musing - he probably had John Banzhaf for torts (they guy who says sue McDonald's for making you fat), Paul Butler for criminal law (juries should on principle refuse to find people guilty of drug cromes), and one of any number of other left-wing moonbats for professors. But the nuttiness of the Academy is a topic for another day).
Also, it seems that Alderman Flores is being seduced by the cheers of landmarking folks (feel good about using your government power to steal people's private property! (That is a taking, after all, without just compensation)). I've been told that Manny likes media attention, and his is one of the few websites with a photo gallery of the Alderman. (But then again, some of 'em ain't so great to look at, so perhaps we shouldn't judge that too harshly).
Well, maybe when the West Town neighborhood gets landmarked, and the local businesses and property developers flee, they'll stick around to give him an award. But if that is all it takes to get him on your side, I'm always happy to give out the Theiving-Politician-With-A-Smile of the week award.
(I would be willing to give him the Takes Away Your Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness award of the month, but that one, I think, was preempted by Judge Greer down in Florida, who has issued a court order to starve a mentally disabled woman to death. See http://www.nationalreview.com/mccarthy/mccarthy200503170758.asp and http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110006442 and http://www.terrisfight.org/ for the gruesome details)
Anyway, here is the scoop.
West Town is roughly the area bounded by Damen and Ashland to the east and west, and Chicago and Division to the south and north. Its proximity to the city, along with increased development in River West, has led to gentrification in recent years. This ticks off some of the old time locals, who liked things the way they were, and Jonathan Fine, who never met an old building in Chicago that could be improved.
The same myths that were told to get the Lincoln Park landmarking process underway (Landmarking will freeze your property taxes! Landmarking stops tear-downs! Landmarking adds value to your property!) are being regurgitated anew.
Once again, only a decision by Alderman Flores to not landmark the area will prevent it from happening.
I'm going to go back and update a few posts on these topics -- I've been in contact with some people who are leading the West Town anti-landmarking efforts, who will be directing people to this site.
Gotta give Alderman Daley some credit -- she was smart enough to realize that with a bunch of lawyers and sophisticated business professionals in her neighborhood -- not to mention a declared opposition candidate for the next election -- she had to at least give the illusion of a fair process. Alderman Flores isn't even bothering to give his constituents that. Not the most politically brilliant move for a guy who plainly has onwards and upwards on his mind...
posted by The Grants @ 1:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home