The State of the City, the State of the Budget

Two missives came out of City Hall last week, each dealing with the values and the direction of the City.

Mayor Lorraine Morton delivered her State of the City address last Friday, and on Monday, City Council took its final deliberations on the 2007-08 budget.

In pointing out the strengths of the City, Mayor Morton noted the vitality of the downtown business district and other thriving commercial areas in Evanston and the ongoing construction in many parts of the community. She touched on several measures she believes will take the City in a positive direction. We agree with two of these: the youth initiative, aimed at training and educating the disengaged youth of the community; and a commitment to keeping good relations with Northwestern University.

We agree with her on both counts. Losing our youth, whether to gangs, drugs, violence or even dead-end jobs, represents a failing of our community. We owe these youth the means to compete for good jobs and good wages, and the youth engagement initiative, if crafted and executed carefully, can help provide a framework to move these children from the fringe to the mainstream.

We also agree that we must maintain good relations with Northwestern University. A lot of money and time has been spent on ranting and railing and suing. This paper has been among the voices saying the University ought to do more for the City. However, we believe the best way to effect a more cordial relationship and possibly elicit more benefit for the City is through persistent dialogue, not intermittent meetings. Northwestern University is a world-class institution, and having it in our community confers intangible benefits - more than just cachet. After nearly 150 years, everybody should be ready to make nice.

The Mayor reiterated her commitment to affordable housing - an issue of growing complexity in this gentrifying City. She has also said she believes the City Council is committed to affordable housing.

Within the past year, however, Evanstonians have seen City Council reject a proposal for rental housing for very low income persons and families; they have seen the community narrowly vote down a referendum that proposed to fund affordable housing units through an increase in the real estate transfer tax; and they have seen the Mayor veto an ordinance passed by City Council that would have mandated developers of moderate-sized and larger condominium units to build 3 percent of those as on-site, affordable units.

There are many passionate advocates for affordable housing in this community, within the Civic Center and without. We hope the Mayor and the Council find a way to use their skills and creative energy to hammer out a policy that will keep Evanston vital and diverse.

Finally, we come to the budget. There appeared to be less public sturm and drang in this year's budget cycle, but there still seems to have been plenty of private agony. Our taxes are going up and our services are being cut. Staff positions and even whole departments are being eliminated in some areas but additional positions and personnel have been added elsewhere. One particular concern is the decision to outsource the City's clinical health services to the two hospitals and perhaps other local agencies who offer the same or similar services. Doing this has at least two distinct financial advantages: It eliminates the cost to the citizens of Evanston of providing those services and it decreases the space needed in the new Civic Center. We have heard the justification that the City should not be in the business of providing health services.

At the same time, the City has continually cut or maintained - which, in an era of inflation amounts to cutting - the level of social and mental health services it purchases for the vulnerable residents of Evanston.

It appears that the Council and the City Manager distinguish between the basic, traditional City services - police, fire, garbage pick-up - and the enhanced social caring that has been so traditionally Evanston.

We regret this direction, because it seems to drop many of our vulnerable residents into systems that may be difficult for them to navigate and leave others without a safety net. As the City Manager and City staff oversee this transition, we urge them to be particularly mindful of the aged, the frail, the mentally ill, the addicted, the suffering and the fearful; and in considering next year's budget, we urge Council members to do the same.

'Tis the Season

By Charles Wilkinson

One need not live in New Hampshire to realize that the tempo has already begun to pick up. Every four years at just about this time, and getting earlier, the Sirens pick it up and start to sing. For too many politicians there is no escaping their lure. It is as though history says, "Come dance with me and let me whisper sweet everythings in your ear." Who can resist?

I want to believe, and often do, that presidential campaigns bring out the best in our democracy. But I hear myself saying these days, "Here we go again," as if I need to brace myself for the onslaught of rhetoric that has already begun about what is wrong in Washington. "It is time for a change," and "We need to move forward," and "America deserves better leadership" are the too-familiar drumbeats for the march toward the November of every fourth year. Unfortunately, there are always other drumbeats that are less noble.

In the earliest stages of the present campaign, issues of gender, race, religion, personal wealth and motivation are already making headlines in the traditional media as well as on the Internet. That is why some practical guidelines might be helpful to any voter serious about his or her duty. I can offer at least three:

First, think for yourself and do not get caught in the spin of things. Any media agenda is not as important as the nation's agenda.

Second, consider the issues and where you stand with them. This means that a presidential campaign is not so much about person, an important factor to be sure, but about position on the problems we face. No presidential campaign should be a popularity contest. There is too much at stake.

Third, share your thoughts and feelings with others, not to convince them about your mindset but to get them thinking on their own, to let them know the election before us is about all of us.

The months ahead of every presidential campaign define democracy more than any other time in our growing. The Sirens are singing for all of us, not to dance with history, perhaps, but to claim even our smallest part in its making.

Enough

By Peggy Tarr

It's 2007 and Black History Month,
And one can plainly see
That one's color is still an issue
When it comes to you and me.
In slavery times in the U.S.A.,
White blood in slaves' veins
Could let them work in the big house,
Considered an enviable gain.
Most often the blood of whiteness
Came from the master, a male
Who forced himself on female possessions,
Against which females did rail.
This mingling of genes produced people,
People of various hues,
That were judged by purists and bigots,
Who held to some mighty strange views.
Color was deemed to determine
One's intelligence, beauty and cleanness,
But centuries have passed, and it's apparent,
That bigotry in our country is inherent.
Let's look at all the color drama
Arising now around Barack Obama.
None of us should take any pride in
Comments made by Joseph Biden.
That one "is black," "looks black," or "acts black"
Cannot designate
How a person will think or legislate.
Racism for everyone is rough.
Give it a rest!
Enough is enough.

Remembering Alice

Last month Evanston lost a friend. Alice Kreiman, 71, died Jan. 31, leaving behind a community indebted to her vision, courage and commitment. Everyone knew Alice. Whenever there was something important going on in Evanston, people would say, "Have you talked to Alice? What does Alice think?"

Alice was a friend, a counselor, a committee member, board member and recruiter and advocate - but first of all a devoted wife, mother and grandmother to husband Jerry, son David (Kate), daughters Deborah Talsky (Marvin) and Lisa Gendel and grandchildren Jessie, Charlie and Sydney Kreiman, Naomi Talsky, and Taylor and Jordyn Gendel.

Alice put them first. "She had many connections and outside commitments, yet we never had to compete - family always came first. Each one of us was touched by her in a special and unique way. She was an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother, and was always the center of our lives," these family members recalled.

Alice's involvement in the civic life of Evanston centered on its children, because, she said, "Children have always been the core of my heart."
She served on the boards of the Warren Cherry Scholarship Fund, the Evanston Art Center, Housing Options for the Mentally Ill in Evanston, the McGaw YMCA, Evanston School Children's Clothing Association and Invest.

She was involved in the 1970 election for the District 65 School Board, which became a referendum on then-Superintendent Gregory Coffin, who was hired to redesign Evanston schools as it became the first northern city to voluntarily desegregate its public schools. "We all had so much to learn about the difference between integration and desegregation," Alice said. She was motivated by this experience to run for the District 65 School Board and served as its president for three years.

Chuck Staley, who served with her on the Board, remembered her as a "great Board president. Not only did she have the intelligence, she had compassion and the knowledge of the intricacies and nuances of Evanston to make certain that common sense had a reasonable chance of prevailing. Alice was one of the important reasons that Evanston is such a wonderful place to live."

Mayor Lorraine Morton said, "Alice was always there, consistently active in civil rights. Her death is a great loss to the community."
After her tenure at District 65 she continued her advocacy for education and outreach by supporting many School Board candidates, advising them on issues and campaign strategy.

Jonathan Baum, a current District 65 Board member, said, "Alice was the model of a public citizen, both when she held public office and when she didn't. Her concern for this community of Evanston that she loved so much was never parochial - it was neverlimited to 'my family,' or 'my school,' or 'my neighborhood.' She was an inspiration, a role model, a mentor, a critical friend, and a comfort to so many of us who have tried to even come close to meeting the standard of public service she set."

Alice served on the board of the Evanston Art Center. Jim Hardgrove, who served with her, recalled Alice as a "tireless supporter of the Evanston Art Center. She chaired and ran its chief fund-raising event, the two-week- long Holiday Market, for more than 17 years.Her dynamic energy, friendliness, and ability to inspire the myriad number of volunteers were legendary on the North Shore.Indeed, it was the community's love forAlice that made the volunteers and customers come back year after year."

Not above rolling up her sleeves and working in the trenches, Alice loved her volunteer work in the shoe room at the Evanston School Children's Clothing Association, which provides clothing for school children who need it. Elizabeth Tisdahl, a long-time friend who is now alderman of the Seventh Ward, recalled, "Alice loved kids. She made every child she fitted for shoes at ESCCA feel like the most important and special child in the world."

Alice was also a founding board member of the Warren Cherry Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships to students who do not take the direct path from high school to college. Patty Reece, Mr. Cherry's sister, said Alice's contributions to the fund were "extraordinary. Alice's commitment, knowledge, and love of Evanston and her beliefs in educational excellence for all in Evanston's diverse community will be greatly missed by the Cherry Fund and the entire Evanston community."

Larry Gavin, one of the founding members of Housing Options said, "I think of Alice as being the heart and soul of Evanston. So many good things in this community had her special touch." He said she recruited many board members for Housing Options long before she herself served on the board.

Carol Mullins, another Housing Options board member, said, "Alice had one hand on the telescope and the other on the microscope. She lived her passions with great integrity. Naming Kreiman House for Alice was an honor and a logical step for this wonder-woman, who cared so much and worked so hard to make things happen in our community."

Alice was buried in a private graveside ceremony and remembered at a service at Temple Beth Israel in Skokie.
-- Nicki Pearson and Mary Helt Gavin

Brave New Evanston

A Guest Essay By Katy Compere Pendleton

"Jeff's Story" is a photograph on canvas by Jill Norton, one of the artists in the art exhibit "Visions of Homelessness, Visions of Home," sponsored by Connections for the Homeless. This photo taken by Nora Good.

Is it true that "the homeless are just like you and me?" After several years as an overnight shelter volunteer, board member of Connections for the Homeless and member of Lake Street Church of Evanston, I think the answer is a cautious, "Yes, but. . ."

Yes, homeless people are like all of us: children of God who want decent shelter, a job, appropriate clothes, financial stability and positive personal relationships. During my volunteer overnights at Connection's Hilda's Place shelter I met a former high school classmate, watched as a young man carefully ironed a shirt and pants to wear to a job interview, and heard a resident describe a wonderful Thanksgiving visit with his family.

But individuals become homeless because they face many challenges, usually two or three at once: substance abuse, mental illness, unemployment, financial insecurity, lack of health care, lack of education. They have great difficulty finding affordable housing accompanied by the supportive services they may need.

In addition, homeless individuals are usually alienated from the family and friends who might assist them in many ways. These are formidable obstacles to overcome without a true commitment on the part of the individual to make positive changes in lifestyle.

Yes, other people face life challenges without losing their homes.

But they rarely have to deal with more than two catastrophes at the same time, and they frequently have family and other helpful connections.

On my routine walk along the Evanston lakefront one day, I saw what looked like a pile of black rags lying on a park bench. The third day I saw the same pile of black rags, I suspected it might be a person who was not just resting on the bench and enjoying the park. The staff at Connection's EntryPoint program told me this was a woman with severe mental health problems. They were trying to encourage her to come into Hilda's Place for a meal and a shower. If a positive relationship developed, perhaps she would agree to talk to the case workers and have a mental health evaluation. That might be the beginning of positive changes in her life.

Yes, her mental illness and other problems had overwhelmed her, but I hope she found beauty and comfort by Lake Michigan, just as I do.

Letters to the Editor

Support Theatre, Support Evanston
Editor:

As we focus on the contributions and history of African-Americans during Black History Month, Evanstonians need to take advantage of experiencing at least one performance of the four plays being presented by the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, under the direction of Ebony Joy.

Ebony is a product of our schools and our "resident director" of community theatre, FJT.

The recent premiere of her contemporary version of "A Raisin in the Sun," by Lorraine Hansberry, is just as moving as the original. The last performances are Feb. 10 -11.

This play will be followed by the "Taming of the Shrew" in April, "Sarafina" in July and "The James Baldwin Story" in October.

What makes theatre have meaning for every person is the message. Ebony has done so. Her original play, "Mule Train," performed last year, was a very moving and intimate insight into the "mule train riders" who completed Dr. Martin Luther King's last planned march that he was unable to make, due to his assassination.

Ebony Joy has brought together a group of community actors/actresses and crew members who are dedicated and committed to community theatre. Each play brings "home" the struggles of life, family, relationships and the world.

The arts are always the first to go when there is a budget crisis. Support community theatre programs, support the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre ... be a patron of a play directed by one of our own.
--Judith Treadway

Tiger Times Only Student Newspaper Taking Ads
Editor:

A letter in the Feb. 7 RoundTable takes issue with an assertion made in the Jan. 24 article "Dewey School Newspaper To Begin Selling Ads."

As the Dewey Tiger Times parent editor-in-chief, I want to squash the rumor that this letter was planted in a shameless attempt to publicize the fact that Tiger Times staffers are soliciting ads from local businesses. If that were so, wouldn't the writer have encouraged potential advertisers - located within walking distance of the school at 1551 Wesley Avenue - to contact Lisa Koch ( lkoch@comcast.net) for more information?

Instead, King Lab parent Cynthia Greising noted Tiger Times is operating under the false assumption that it is District 65's only student newspaper. King Lab students publish the Mustonian and, as we have also learned, Orrington kids publish the Orringtonian.

Sorry everybody. We based our claim on year-old information obtained at the PTA Council - an organization with great unrealized promise. On the third Thursday evening of each month, interested parents and teachers meet at District 65 headquarters. The aim is to build a more effective communication channel for school community leaders.

It's good to know that District 65 children can now develop their reporting skills through newspaper clubs at three elementary schools. It should be good news for local businesses to know that there's still time to buy an ad in the March 9 issue of Tiger Times.
--Bob Heuer

Report Loud Car Stereos? Okay

Open letter to Alderman Lionel Jean Baptiste:

We were very surprised to read your remarks from the City Council in the the RoundTable yesterday. We had no idea that we should be reporting loud car stereos to you. If we called you each time every summer evening that our home reverberates with the sounds from loud car stereos as they wait at the Dempster-Dodge light, you would need to change your number or have someone on staff just to take and count those calls.

Even in the nice weather of spring and fall we can not leave our windows open because the volume can interrupt a conversation.

During the school year, just after school lets out each day, it is nearly impossible to concentrate with the loud music.

By the time the police are called, let alone arrive, the kids are long gone and we have been told by the police that the most they usually give is a warning, if they catch them at all. We have witnessed a car, drivingbehind us, his bass booming loud enough to physically move our car. The driver noticed a police car coming the other direction, turned down the music, and, as soon as the police car was out of sight, the volume went up louder than ever.

It is difficult to believe that you have only recieved one complaint. If you would like us to contact you every time we hear excessive music and encourage our neighbors to do the same, we would be glad to do so.Living on Dempster and Dodge is not a quiet neighborhood. If I am not mistaken this has been raised as an issue at more than one neighborhood meeting.
--Meg McClaskey and Gordon Zerkel

No Reason to Give Up Central Street Commercial Space
Editor:

Those residents who have not been following the controversy over the redevelopment of the Evanston Theatre site may not realize what violence this development does to the basic scheme embodied in the City's comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance.The purpose of the B2 districts along Central Street is pedestrian-friendly retail use on the ground floor (at least), with modest mixed-use development above, as isseen on almost all the existing one- and two-story businesses along Central Street. Residential use (on upper floors) or any other single use is restricted to a maximum of 20,000 square feet as of right.

The theatre site development will have more than 82,000 square feet of residential use on the upper floors and less than 25 percent of the ground area devoted to retail use.All but a small part of the retail space is only36 to 39 feet deep along the front rather than the usual 50-60 feet deep and with no rear access to the commercial space for waste handling, customer access from the parking, or loading. Instead, almost all the ground floor is used for parking for the residences, rather than putting most of the parking underground as has been required and found economically feasible with all the new developments in the west Central business district, less attractive sites due to the greater distance from the Metra station and a less vibrant commercial area. There is no reason not to require the developers of the theatre sites to similarly put parking underground in order to have more viable retail space and greater setbacks, especially on upper floors.
--RichardWright

Thanks from Art for Life
Editor:

I had another wonderful New Year's Eve working at First Night Evanston.

Thank you to Corinne M.Pierog; Festival Manager, to the First Night Evanston Board of Directors, to Mary Kelly and the Staff of Alice Millar Chapel (my program was held in Parkes Hall, adjacent to the Chapel), and to my team of volunteers including Evanston residents Terry Beem, Ruth Fankhauser, Marion and Carol Rudy, Shirlee Taraki, and Molly Waite, who all helped me before, during, and after my Art for Life program in making this night a wonderful celebration.

I would like to thank the Evanstonians and Evanston businesses that supported and donated materials for my program. Thank you to the participants: the children, youth, adults and families who created puppets (andshared their family stories), memory necklaces and journals, and planted the seeds for artful wish gardens.

A big thank you to Whole Foods Evanston and Wild Oats Markets, Inc. for donating containers and bags to carry the art projects home in, and to Good's of Evanston and Tom Thumb Arts and Crafts for donating art supplies.

My program was one small part of a large festival celebrating and including all different art forms.

To new and returning First Night Evanston attendees: Don't miss Evanston's multi-art, multi-generational art extravaganza next year.

Thank you to the Evanston RoundTable staff for your consistently informative articles and wonderful listings of notable events around Evanston.
--Sharon Hyson, Art for Life Founder

Cut Clinic Waiting Time
Editor:

I have heard that one of the proposed cuts to the City budget is to move the health clinic's responsibilities to Evanston Hospital's clinic. This seems like a good idea, but only if Evanston Hospital can agree to cut waiting times. For example, if one calls the Evanston Health clinic for services now, appointments are readily available.

Service is fast and friendly, with few roadblocks. On the contrary, if one calls Evanston Hospital's clinic for an appointment, as a new client, it can take two months to get an appointment just to discuss the financial arrangements. I don't know how long after that it takes to actually see a doctor, as my friend with the appointment is still waiting. (She called in November.)

If the new, consolidated clinic had walk-in hours and could see people when they were actually sick, then consolidation makes sense.
--Anne Parkinson

King Lab Has Newspaper
Editor:

On January 24, I read an article in the RoundTable that stuck out at me. It was a article about Dewey's newspaper and one comment struck me. We think that Dewey having a newspaper is great. But we have a student run newspaper here at King Lab and it's called "The Mustonian."

There are 11 kids who run the paper. Along with two faculty sponsors, and two parent sponsors. The Mustonian is lucky that one of the adult sponsors is a professional journalist. Our staff consists of 6th through 8th graders who create stories that are happening in our school, with our alumni, in our neighborhoods, and the world around us.

Some of our contributors consist of a cartoonist, school photographers, advice columnist, movie critic, sports and general assignment reporters and editors. We published four times last year, and this year we are adding an on-line edition. I happen to be the on-line editor.

King Lab newspapers have been around before. In the past, both of my sisters were contributing writers. One of them is now in college.

For each edition, we print 700 copies for the school. It's exciting the day the paper comes out. Students volunteer to distribute the paper to homeroom classes and faculty and staff can been seen all day with their nose pressed to the print.

Our next issue should be really big. We will be reporting on Black History Month, a new student created mural in our school, our Fine heARTS fundraiser, the Student Talent Show, and our Knowledge Fair. We plan to launch our on-line edition, with exclusive new stories, next Tuesday morning.

I hope you will publish this letter so that people know about King Lab's Newspaper. You can check out a copy of our current issue at http://kinglab.district65.net.
--Ben Nidenberg, 7th grade
Mustonian on-line editor,
King Lab School

Lack of Balance in Stories
Editor:

There are two cases of lack of fairness/balance, in your Feb 24 issue.
In the first case, "Mayor Vetoes Affordable Housing Ordinance," you specify that the ordinance passed by a 5-4 margin, to be later vetoed by the Mayor.

Yet you only voiced the opinions of Council members who voted in favor, not those who voted against. Why? We need to know both sides of every issue.

Also, it would be helpful to know what developers think about it; what overtaxed residents who pay most of each City bill, think about it; maybe even what realtors think, as a way to measure how any decisions of that kind would affect Evanston's desirability, so we make sure that many more prospective home buyers will come to keep funding affordable housing.

The second case deals with "No Child Left Behind Questioned," where you voice only the opinions of opponents of the Act, including those of School District officials.

The Center on Education Policy, "a national, independent advocate for public education and for more effective public schools" has some findings people should read about.

As a long-time school activist, my issues have always revolved around minorities' lack of achievement and the infamous "gap."

But what upset me more was that, when it came to evaluation of schools' performance, those who were not doing well were excluded from the statistics. In the past ways were always found to "hide" the bad statistics so as to not upset the good name of Evanston's schools.

Through the years there were mechanisms to hide poor achievers such as "alternative schools," "evening schools," "special education," even "can't-speak-enough-English students," who were kept safely away from statistical scrutiny.

When there are no ways to enforce accountability the students most in need suffer terrible consequences. In the past hundreds of kids graduated from our schools unprepared for life, without Evanston seeming to care. I have been agonizing about this for a long time, especially as I watched my four kids do so well in the same K-12 school system where so many others failed quietly and invisibly.

I am not saying that everything about the NCLB Act is good, but for the first time and thanks to Bush's No Child Left Behind, the schools are forced to account for each individual student, or else. And according to this year's Districts 65 and 202 statistics, for the first time a huge improvement was recorded among those students who were previously lagging behind.

-- Margarita Matlis