JOSE CLARK IS OUT?!? Our building was burglarized by Jose Clark twice in one week and the second time he was caught red-handed on premises by a resident at 2 a.m.. He had lock-picking tools on him when he was taken away by EPD- who promptly released him without checking him for warrants- of which he had three outstanding. This is really sad. Watch out for him. He is very good at what he does...

Yes 'mam. But, would you say that precinct 3 was the most dense? Maybe not because it faces Howard and so includes the businesses there. Hmmm, I was not trying to be insulting. Maybe I should have said the most diverse precinct because it has low and high income, apartments, condos and single family homes, and the businesses on Howard. Also, new Bristol apts.

a precinct is different from a census block. There are no low income apts. No matter how I try and no matter how many tours, yours is a common misconception held by people from other neighborhoods.

first col - total votes
2nd col - Obama
3rd col Obama % of total
4th col - Mccain
5th col - Mccain % of total

Thanks for the explanation, Ann. Totally logical -- I remember when the Deep Tunnel was finished and storm sewers still backed up and bubbled into the street. I totally understand your explanation. Certainly the sewer work we had done on our street, combined with the new paved alley and drains, has made a huge difference.

Gotta tell you though, the people with boats in Gillson Harbor weren't happy. When we had that Noah's Ark rain, the sanitary district opened the sanitary canal locks with 10 minutes' advance notice and it swept a whole bunch of boats into the Wilmette breakwater (where they were smashed) and into the lake (lost forever). No, none of the boat owners can sue a public entity. But hey, I didn't have a boat in the harbor and my basement didn't flood. NIMB (Not In My Basement).

Like I say, I hate those big taxes but at least I can see some results.

You know, with a few very selected exceptions, if cities would stick to the old adage that you don't provide or tax for any services or amenities that the average resident can't readily see the benefit of, you'd be well on your way to more efficient government. Responsive police and fire departments, well-kept and inviting parks, some nice recreation programs, sewers that don't belch water in rainstorms, streets without potholes, reliable garbage pickup, a lovely senior center that always seem to be bustling with activity, etc. Yeah, we can see the benefits.

Sure, you can then argue about how well or cost-effectively these services are delivered, but at least you have something tangible to focus on when you're honing a budget. It's all the fuzzy stuff (i.e. I still can't figure out what value Evanston Township or its employees and elected officials provide) that offers the wide-open opportunity for porkbarrel, favoritism and waste. These are all the areas where there is no accountability. Why? Because there is no real way to set expectations!

If my sewer backs up or my garbage goes uncollected for three weeks, I can hold someone accountable. If health and human services guides 10 people a month to seek assistance from Cook County, and it costs the city $50,000 to point someone in the right direction to a service already clearly available, is this a good value to the taxpayers? If the township assessor assesses, or the township clerk clerks, have they justified their salaries and the budget allocated to them? And these fuzzy folks are the least likely to accept any specific deliverables or performance goals because they know they can't deliver. But they are very good at drawing salaries, protecting their jobs and squirreling away budget dollars. This is the marbled fat that plagues the Evanston steak. Have you ever tried to trim the fat out of a chuck roast?

Maybe there are ways to reduce the cost of garbage collection in Evanston. But by golly, every Monday morning the truck comes by, the guys hop out, and my can gets emptied. The parks I jog past are mowed and the kiddie equipment is in good repair. The cops come when called and I assume the fire department will do the same should the need arise. Show me the hard deliverables across the entire budget board, and I'll be halfway to happy.

For those of you who need a beef patty fix, Caribbean-American bakery has opened a temporary location just west of it's original location, which is being renovated. They aren't offering a full menu, but are offering patties.

Sorry again,
Compared to multi-million dollar mansions in North Evanston and on the lakefront, our part of town is considered lower on the income scale. There are some lovely homes/condos/apartments in that little SE corner of Evanston. I'm always impressed when I ride my bike through there.

Ann -"a precinct is different from a census block. There are no low income apts. No matter how I try and no matter how many tours, yours is a common misconception held by people from other neighborhoods."

Ann - what is the meaning of a "low income apt"? - could have several - a renter who uses section 8 is in the apartment - thus it is a subsidize apartment. An building with large numbers of individuals living below the median income. Such as people living in a basement in little cut up rooms with no cooking facilities and sharing a bath. Something people want to call the city in to correct.

It is hard to understand how people on modest to low income live here - given the high taxes and high rents. But the last time I looked 7,000 individuals here were living in poverty.

One would suspect given the potential for the ecomony to go from a recession to a depression, many more individuals here will soon be in poverty. ( possible throughout the community )

The definition of low income housing is public housing where all residents are government subsidized because of their low or no income. Low income housing is not a building owned by Mr Investor that has 6 or 7 HACC vouchers. Low income housing is not 329 Custer where the owner had a bunch of guys stuffed in the basement at the rate of $1000 per month per person.

Low income housing is not housing on a street on the south end of town that has a lot of multi family buildings.

Those running for alderman - and mayor need to educate themselves before they start defining neighborhoods in our ward.

Anyone notice the mileage Evanston Now is getting out of my simple question, "Should taxpayers' money be used to fund a holiday party for city employees this year?"

Here is good question: I am interested in the branch libraries and what you think. These are expensive and I just read that Aurora, who gets casino taxes, is having a pension funding problem - they are underfunded at about $125 Million. They have a main and 2 branch libraries. Their Pension Funding Blue ribbon committee's first recommendation is that they close the 2 branches.

What do you think? Should we keep the 2 open, close 1 or both? Tell me what you think.

Junad - I know what you think.

Close the branch libraries. A tough decision but in tough economic times, and with the reasonable transportation available, the enhanced main branch will do. As busy as the branches are, they still only serve a small segment of their neighborhoods.

Which brings to mind the recent news story about hiring a consultant to look at remodeling / whatever at the south branch.

Well, it didn't take long. The first hole has been dug in the new pavement on Ridge Ave. Near the NW corner of Cleveland and Ridge it appears the water department have a hole opened. I hope the replacement of the blacktop will match but no repair is ever as good as the original pavement.

Mike,

This town resists facing up to reality.

The Blue Ribbon Report was an exercise in the past exonerative.

There should be a realistic budget target, then rank order the various budget items with no exceptions.

Brutal? Yes.

Effective? Yes.

Will it happen? Not in the People's Republic of Evanston.

Regardless, I want to know what my constituents think on the branch library matter.

If we were to do an analysis I am certain that branches would be on the cut list. They are an ongoing expense, every service provided is also provided at the main library, they require capital dollars for improvement and on and on. I am not saying they should be cut, I am saying if the public service that is provided is wanted by the public, then the public should pay. If the taxpayers prefer not to have the branches, then they should be closed and removed from the city budget.

I very rarely go to the south Branch library, usually only to return materials when I'm already running errands in the area. The collection is sparse, and the space is uninviting. The south branch is really not very convenient unless you live in the immediate vicinity. If you have to drive there, especially since parking is a bear, you might just as well keep going to the main library. I'm sure that it has it's devoted fans, but I'm not one.

I go to the main library around twice a week. With the parking lot in the basement and another across the alley, it's easy to stop by. And I'm much more likely to find what I'm looking for.

I've been to the north branch about as often as the south branch. It seems more inviting and better stocked. It appears to be used more by foot traffic. It's location is more in the center of a thriving shopping area surrounded by family housing. I can understand it's popularity more, but I still don't see a burning need for it.

I would rather see funds from closing the branches split between savings and the collection at the main building.

Vito and Junad - please read Diane's post.

Her explanation provides very helpful information. I know exactly how she is thinking on this matter.

I agree that the branches should be closed, with the South Blvd branch going first. I have, however, heard the other side of the argument from parents at our school: they like having a library walking distance from their homes, and plan to use it as a reading room where they can enjoy a newspaper. I don't get the impression that they actually use it on a regular basis, though.

It seems like a lot of expense for a reading room. The times I've been to the South branch, it doesn't seem to me to be used differently than a bookstore/coffee shop - I think we could put our money to better use attracting a bookstore to the area.