I wish to add my perspective to Forrest Claypool’s op-ed on Chicago’s renaissance under Mayor Richard M. Daley (“Chicago’s renaissance under Richard M. Daley is at risk,” Aug. 6).
My wife and I moved to Chicago in 1975. We attended the fireworks at Chicago Avenue and the lakefront to celebrate the bicentennial in 1976. On walking back to our car, we passed by Grand Avenue and State Street. The buildings were so dilapidated and rundown, I wondered about the future of Chicago.
However, after the death of Richard J. Daley later that year, Michael Bilandic was elected mayor. He instituted ChicagoFest at Navy Pier, the first Chicago Marathon (in which he ran) and then the Third of July concert in Grant Park. which included the “1812 Overture” accompanied by live cannons and church bells ringing, followed by fireworks over the lake. In my opinion, these were all huge successes. They let suburbanites and tourists know that the city was safe to enjoy.
Jane Byrne, blown in by a blizzard to become mayor, continued Bilandic’s accomplishments and added the Taste of Chicago and neighborhood fests. When Harold Washington became mayor, he canceled ChicagoFest for political reasons but continued and expanded on the others.
Following Washington’s sudden death, Richard M. Daley was elected mayor. Although he had made some bad decisions that continue to affect us today (pensions, the sale of the Skyway, parking lots, parking meters, possibly hiding city debts and other shenanigans), he continued his predecessors’ work to make Chicago beautiful, active, attractive, a nice place to live and visit, and a good place to do business, along with the creation of Millennium Park and the numerous other successes cited by Claypool.
In essence, Chicago’s renaissance was not all due to Daley’s doings, but he built upon the actions, work and vision laid out by his predecessors.
However, also in agreement with Claypool, I wonder about the future of our city.
— Mario Caruso, Chicago
Redefine the Drive plan
The Aug. 2 op-ed “DuSable Lake Shore Drive vision undermines Chicago’s climate goals” advocates halting the planning for reconstructing North Dusable Lake Shore Drive because it “undermines Chicago’s climate goals.” The proposed plan does eliminate a lane for a portion of the road and eliminates the congestion-causing at-grade intersection at Chicago Avenue, as well as smooths out the dangerous curve at Oak Street.
The drive is the lifeline to downtown for many of us North Siders. As a resident of the Edgewater neighborhood for 50 years, I certainly made ample use of the CTA during my working years, but the drive was a critical part of my access as well. My job, as well as those of many others, often required traveling by car to meetings and so on during the workday, making the availability of a car essential. And now that I am beyond my working years, the drive is the route to my medical appointments, theater, restaurants and other events downtown.
Active transportation is already well served with the Lakefront Trail providing dedicated facilities for bicycles and pedestrians along the entire corridor, so that is not an issue. So it comes down to “climate goals.”
Eliminating one or more lanes on the drive and providing a bus lane is not going to move the needle on climate change. What it will do is add a little more misery for the 150,000 daily commuters trying to get to work, school, doctors and shopping. How will vehicles sitting in traffic jams reduce emissions? And when traffic on the major thoroughfares of the city become congested, the result is diversion of traffic to local neighborhood streets.
Finally, let’s address the future of traffic impacts on climate change. Most of the drive has been there for 90 years, and the next version will be too. What will vehicle emissions look like during that 90-year period? The Union of Concerned Scientists projects that “50 percent of US passenger car sales could very well be electric by 2030. If that happens, (electric vehicles) could make up 60 to 70 percent of the cars on US roads by 2050.” That would get the desired 62% carbon emissions reduction right there — so mission accomplished!
Edgewater residents and other drive users would have to suffer with any disastrous roadway design for generations. Stick with the current plan!
— Christopher Krueger, Chicago
Portable toilets at show
It’s a bird! It’s a bomber! It’s a … crowded public beach with no bathroom. What?
Big thanks to the city for another fantastic Air and Water Show! Spectators could not have asked for better weather to enjoy the breathtaking Blue Angels zooming in and out of the skyscrapers, among other delights. My family’s only complaint — learning the bathrooms we always use at Ohio Street beach are actually owned by the cafe there, which was closed for a private event.
So I missed a good 45 minutes of prime air show time trekking two small kids, who really had to go, to the closest bathrooms at Navy Pier.
Portable toilets would be a welcome addition to this awesome family event!
— Debbie Perticara, LaGrange Park
Bankruptcy move unlikely
In Charles Kinzer’s letter (“CPS should admit it’s bankrupt,” Aug. 9), he asserts that Chicago Public Schools has little choice but to declare bankruptcy and seek protection from creditors under Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Although I agree with his premise, the state of Illinois does not have enabling legislation in place to file for Chapter 9.
Given the historical relationship between the unions and our elected representatives, the White Sox winning the pennant this year enjoys a higher chance of success than politicians in Springfield doing the right thing.
— Rich Baird, Palatine
Walgreens’ needless waste
Recent Tribune articles have related various dilemmas facing Walgreens. I cannot comment on corporate strategy but can point out an opportunity for cutting costs at the most basic level: packaging of prescriptions.
Recently, I had 90-day supplies of three medications renewed. Two came in bottles measuring approximately 3 1/2 by 2 inches, even though the pills filled only a fourth of one bottle and the other about three-fourths. Each bottle was in a tall plastic bag. The third medication completely filled its bottle and was in a small paper bag.
This was not the first time my meds have been overpackaged. Imagine this kind of waste multiplied thousands of times a day. Surely, Walgreens could save money by consistent use of appropriately sized containers and do the environment a favor by replacing plastic bags with paper ones.
— Mary McMichael Ritzlin, Highland Park
A lesson in commitment
As every amateur competitive athlete knows, training is ill suited for fitting in with a paying job and/or school studies schedule. You have to want very badly to make it fit, and the higher you go on the competitive ladder, the harder it gets. But it can be done through a series of sacrifices, often incorporating diabolically clever time management and supportive friends or family.
Nowhere is this spelled out better for the lay public than in the great front-page article about Olympic rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas and her Lithuanian immigrant parents (“‘An answered prayer,’” Aug. 9). Because I am a former competitive athlete and a descendant of four Lithuanian immigrants, the story spoke loudly to me personally on both counts.
I’m sure the active athletes as well as the proud Lithuanian Americans in the Tribune audience got the message too. But my hope is that other readers will be inspired by reporter Stacy St. Clair’s piece, think about their own time-intensive aspiration and say, “Why not me?” That possibility addresses an even larger crowd.
— Tom Gregg, Niles
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