After the city has seen record growth in cycling, especially in neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park where families like mine can be seen shuttling around on cargo bikes of all shapes and sizes, Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd, recently coordinated the abrupt removal of the Dickens Greenway Plaza. Despite years of planning, organizing and community input, one of the most critical components of the greenway was sadly removed over motorist complaints.
Cycling activity has exploded in recent years, more than doubling in Chicago over the last four years alone, spurred on by the availability of electric assist options and safer routes. An important part of a safe cycling route is calm, attentive traffic. Many streets like Dickens Avenue are too narrow to support protected bike lanes without removing a lane of parking, so traffic-diverting infrastructure such as the now-former Dickens Greenway Plaza offers a reasonable tradeoff: Cut-through traffic is rerouted so that the remaining car traffic on the street is more local and thus more likely to drive slowly and safely.
This strategy was successful. My family frequently used Dickens precisely because of its lower-stress nature to ride from Lakeview to Oz Park, Lincoln Park restaurants and shops, and The 606 trail. Along the way, we encountered countless other cyclists making similar trips. Families and friends we know in Lincoln Park made daily use of the safety created by the plaza to walk their children to the connected playground and zoo, free from worry about aggressive and inattentive drivers running them over.
Despite the clear value created by this plaza, Knudsen’s office stated the reason for its removal was due to the plaza’s “confusing” nature. I can only imagine the kind of people who find giant “do not enter” signs confusing. Probably the kind of nose-deep-in-a-cellphone drivers the plaza successfully kept off the greenway.
Unfortunately, no effort was made to first attempt reasonable solutions such as better signage or road markings, nor to seek the input of easily reachable 43rd Ward cycling advocates known to Knudsen’s office. Instead, his office’s default reaction was to cave to not-in-my-backyard opposition and in doing so fundamentally degrade one of the few pleasant neighborhood greenways in the city.
Chicago and the cyclists in it are worse off as a result.
— Zach Welden, Chicago
Point of housing ordinance
Regarding the editorial “Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance is a terrible idea” (Oct. 4): This is just a zoning ordinance. Like all zoning ordinances, it does indeed restrict property rights. That is what zoning ordinances are intended to do. Someone wants to build a pig farm next to you? Zoning ordinances prevent that. They are the yin and yang with property rights.
The Tribune Editorial Board’s concern for the people selling and moving out of our neighborhood is touching. But what about the 95% who want to live here and love our neighborhood as it is? What about our property taxes and quality of life? Shouldn’t our elected officials be able to try to help us?
In 2016, we put a referendum on the ballot that said, ““Shall the Alderman of the 32nd Ward (our ward at the time) pursue zoning policies to protect the historic buildings and character of Logan Square?” It got 93% support.
The people of this neighborhood want development controlled. The Northwest Side ordinance tries to do that, but if the editorial board thinks the real estate market in Logan Square will “stagnate,” it does not know much about our wonderful neighborhood.
— Bruce Anderson, Chicago
Leaders must confront mayor
Fifty years ago during the Watergate scandal, Republican leaders advised Richard Nixon that the best solution for him and the country was for him to resign as president. Unfortunately, the same approach must be taken now.
It is evident through Tribune editorials and letters from Chicagoans that the people of Chicago are sick of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s incompetent leadership and outright allegiance to the Chicago Teachers Union. His bad decisions as mayor are putting us in financial jeopardy.
It is up to the aldermen and business, community and religious leaders to approach Johnson and advise him that the city can stand no more: He must resign. In Great Britain, there would be a “no confidence vote,” and he would be forced out. The same must be done now.
We can’t tolerate Johnson’s stance as a demagogue and that as mayor, he can do what he wants. Wrong. He shouldn’t call his opposition racist, nor should he be the tool of the CTU and approve an unaffordable $300 million loan to suit the union. Stopping ShotSpotter has already caused unnecessary deaths.
It is not about Johnson’s campaign promises but facing the realities of what Chicago needs. He has failed, so he must go.
All Chicagoans disgusted with his leadership should say so to their alderman.
— Judy Arkes, Chicago
Closing of Tamayo Elementary
“¿Qué tenemos que hacer?” I had to ask the soft-spoken student to repeat her question a little louder, but this was a major victory. One of my sixth grade science students had just asked what her group needed to do on a project. This student had been at our school for one month and was building her confidence. It was a big step for this student to ask me a question directly instead of depending on her peers.
J had arrived at our school in the middle of the school year with very limited English skills. Thankfully, Tamayo Elementary School had the resources to support students during these difficult transitions. Our front desk clerk was a welcoming and efficient presence helping get her enrolled and communicating her needs to staff. Our bilingual teacher supported her academically by providing translation support and sourcing Spanish language materials. Emotionally, the bilingual teacher connected with her over their shared family traditions and experiences. Her peers were able to clarify teacher directions and provide her with a friendly ear.
I provided the comic relief with my poor attempts to speak Spanish but made academic connections using hands-on science lessons. We were able to have stilted bilingual conversations while observing electric circuits and using scratch programming to make a robot move.
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are open to students via a lottery system. Just like public schools, we enroll students with a variety of educational needs including students with individualized education plans and English language learners. At Acero Schools, that includes providing additional support to students in the Gage Park neighborhood that speak Spanish at home. One of the ways we do that is by being culturally responsive to the needs of our community. We are able to use students’ backgrounds and experiences to enhance their learning.
Tamayo is going to be closed at the end of this year. J and 270 other students will be taken away from their stable, supportive school and close friendships to be moved to other schools. I am heartbroken that students are losing their community. I am heartbroken that students who have grown so much in their confidence and academic skills are put in a position of uncertainty again.
My only hope is that the Acero Schools network will reconsider.
— Shannon Phillips, STEM lead teacher, Acero Charter Schools Rufino Tamayo, Chicago
Mix up the marathon course
On Sunday, the Chicago Marathon ran its course, and in Monday’s papers, I read nothing but kudos for our town for the great handling of such a world-renowned annual event.
But I do find myself pondering: Why is the route, with very little variance, always the same? City leaders are always looking for ways to bring more attention and activities to the “neighborhoods.” Why not route the marathon course through them?
The 26-mile course could loop through Beverly (with actual hills — omigosh), Englewood, then past the Museum of Science & Industry and up and down elegant Garfield Boulevard, out through Logan Boulevard and environs northwest, etc.
Imagine on as beautiful day as Sunday, what a magnificent travelogue for Chicago the televised marathon would present!
I sincerely wish those in charge would look beyond the lakefront districts and open their eyes to all the beauty the city offers.
— Dennis Allen, Wilmette
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