EDITORIALS

Between a Tower and a Hard Place

Few if any citizen volunteers work harder than the members of the City's Plan Commission.

They spend weeks, even months, hearing testimony about plans and proposals, always giving ample time and leeway to anyone who has something to say.

They deliberate openly and disinterestedly, without apparent factions or vested interests. And they make thoughtful recommendations to City Council, always with the understanding that the aldermanic vote trumps their recommendation.

At present the Plan Commission is holding hearings on the draft downtown plan, and it is holding hearings on that plan without allowing comment on the elephant in the living room - the proposed 49-story tower for the Fountain Square block. On a parallel track, the Plan Commission is holding separate hearings on the tower, because City Council voted last spring to exclude the tower from the downtown plan.

The hearings on the proposed tower continue tonight, and the second hearing on the downtown plan is scheduled for Nov. 27.

These parallel tracks could converge as early as December before the Planning and Development Committee. In addition, the six-month moratorium on new construction in the downtown area is set to expire in early December.

These timetables appear ambitious.

We think the Plan Commission members should take all the time they need to hear public comment and to deliberate on the many issues concerning the downtown plan before deciding on and recommending a plan to City Council - and before they render a decision, albeit advisory, on the tower.

We urge the Plan Commission to continue its steady course and avoid an outright race against a theoretical deadline.

We urge the City Council to do the same, once it has received the Plan Commission's recommendations.

While it is important to catch the growth potential in the downtown area, the City's future needs careful and thoughtful attention.

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A Guest Essay By Lionel Carter

Last of the Horse Soldiers

Celebrate Veteran's Day With a WWII Cavalryman and His Favorite Horse, Old Bill.

I grew up riding horses for fun in the small Illinois town of Colfax, which was enough to get me assigned to the 112th Cavalry in early WWII.

On Aug. 11, 1942, we landed in the South Pacific on the strategically located island of New Caledonia. Since the terrain was mountainous and the island had few highways, horses were the only way to quickly reach whichever beach the Japanese might land on.

Of course, we didn't actually have any horses yet - the first boatload had been sunk by an enemy submarine.

When our mounts finally did arrive, they turned out to be wild horses from Australia. These scrawny beasts were supposedly broken for riding, but you'd have a hard time convincing all the troopers they hospitalized with broken bones and cracked heads.

The fear of ending up with a horse I couldn't ride - and hearing about it every day from all the Texas cowboys in the outfit - inspired me to pick a runt of a horse so sickly he could barely hold his head up. He was too small to keep up at a trot, so we had to gallop, which was very tiring for both of us.

Still, he was gentle and willing. I started calling him "Boogie," after a song in a Ginger Rogers movie.

Wild Bill
Meanwhile, a horse known as "Old Bill" went unridden. A Texan named Lovelady had chosen him, but one day he tried to make Bill do something he didn't like. Bill responded by rearing up on his hind legs and flipping over backward. The cowboy was lucky he was not killed. He never rode Bill again.

Neither did anyone else, until they sent in a replacement from Chicago, who'd never ridden in his life. He needed a gentler horse on which to learn. So they offered me the choice of giving up my old deadhead of a horse and taking one that might actually like to see me dead.

That's how I ended up with Old Bill, who, by now, couldn't even be tied with other horses. He'd gotten upset one night, flipped over backward, brought the whole picket line down and scared the other horses half to death.

So after riding him, I had to tie him to a tree, well removed from the other horses. That turned into a real advantage, though, because I could take my time grooming him. I'd talk to him in a low voice, stroke his neck and take care to avoid sudden movements.

He began to relax, and we gradually developed a friendship. One day, showing off for some buddies, I ducked under his belly to get to his other side. I'd have been one dead trooper if he had reared up and stomped me with his front hooves, but Bill did not seem to mind.

Unfortunately, the lieutenant saw me and said, "Carter, get that horse over here and tie him to the picket line." My days of leisurely grooming were over.

Whoa!
As Old Bill settled down, riding him became a dream. A slight nudge of my knees and he'd pick up the gait; a slight tug on the reins and he'd drop back.

He was a dream to ride, that is, except for one Monday after a hard night of R&R in town. I forgot who I was riding and gave him both spurs. Bill took off like a shot. I lost the stirrups and was struggling to get him under control as we raced past the front of the column.

"Where are you going, Carter?" the lieutenant yelled.

"How should I know?" I yelled back. "Ask him."

I never did ride Old Bill into combat. We stopped the Japanese advance at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Army dismounted us, and we fought the rest of the war as infantry.
But Old Bill taught me a lesson I've never forgotten - that a little kindness can change the worst of us, be he man or beast.

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A Guest Essay by Dr. Eric Witherspoon, Superintendent, Evanston Township High School District 202

Restructuring to Help ETHS Students Succeed

We are highly motivated at ETHS to identify challenges facing our students and to be proactive in helping them meet those challenges.

One of the challenges facing some of our students is making sufficient academic progress to meet the increasingly demanding Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined by the federal law, No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Because some groups of students at ETHS are not meeting AYP, our school has been identified as needing to develop a restructuring plan and submit the plan to the state board of education.

Fortunately, we have evidence that ETHS students continue to excel academically. The vast majority of our students demonstrate proficiency on state tests. In fact, our ACT results are the highest they have been in six years. Today, nearly all of our students take the ACT, not just students who rank at the top of their class. With 98 percent of our juniors taking the ACT, competing against the college-bound students at high schools across the nation, ETHS students exceed state and national averages on the ACT.

We are proud of their accomplishments. But there is more to be accomplished.

While we are concerned about the many flaws in NCLB, we are strongly committed to helping all our students succeed in their learning, and we are striving to submit a meaningful plan to the state.

However, restructuring began at ETHS prior to being notified that we need to develop a plan. This year, we implemented a school-wide System of Supports to help all students get the academic grounding they need to be successful learners at ETHS.

There are two major components of System of Supports: (1) A.M. Support, which provides mandatory time for students who are getting Ds or Fs to get individual tutoring from their teachers, and (2) core-area study centers where all students can drop in for help from teachers any period of the day.

We also have study areas, where students make up missed instructional time, an after-school homework center, and peer tutoring available for students each morning before first period.

Our System of Supports, initiated and designed by teachers during the last school year, is a comprehensive approach to supporting all students so they will increase their academic achievement.

Here at ETHS, we care about each student. We feel that failure cannot be an option for our students.

And we want our students to know we will not give up on them, even if they sometimes want to give up on themselves.

We continue to take a very energetic approach to helping all students, while striving to meet increasingly unrealistic state and federal mandates.

But even if there were no mandates, our focus would still be clear. We are focused on students - all students, each student - and we will continue to work collaboratively to raise student achievement, to make sure each student is truly benefiting from the remarkable education that is attainable here at Evanston Township High School.

The Wisdom Years

By Charles Wilkinson

A few years back I spent what could have been a life-changing, autumn weekend in Michigan. A good friend and I drove over in his Miata, knowing we were to share an experience with each other and about 18 strangers that would help us all transition into post middle-age, a more realistic label for the so-called golden years. An intensive two-day workshop on aging, The Wisdom Years weekend sought to help us look at the changing colors in ourselves while surrounded by the changing colors of nature.

Most of what we shared is a blur by now but I remember taking time to go inward, looking back that we might better look ahead, sharing our stories and looking at the years to come. Most spoke of dreams, others fears, all of us concerns about aging.

There were two therapist-facilitators and a team of "alums" from previous weekends. The setting was ideal; the experience demanding; time quickly became a non-factor. For two very intense days, we became vulnerable to ourselves and one another.

Looking back, I realize the entire weekend was all about trusting - and truth. At that time in my life I was strong on the former but not quite ready or able, for many reasons, to name and confront key parts of my self. But the weekend was not a waste.

Comes a time in most everyone's life to stop and go inward, to look at one's story - all of it - and own and embrace it, realizing that what lies ahead will emerge from it. The lessons of one's past when explored and learned from can provide wisdom for the years ahead. Though I was unable to admit it at the time, I have come to know my past contains all of me, the truth of me, and that what lies ahead will reveal the rest of me.

Aging, I am learning, is not the end of anything, or the beginning of an end. It is another part of a journey toward...whatever. Within the colors that surrounded us that weekend was a life force that goes relentlessly forward, through another winter toward another spring.

George Bernard Shaw said, "Youth is wasted on the young." I sometimes feel a truth in his words but am coming to realize that aging should not be wasted on the rest of us, especially those on the short end of time.

Growing old is not an event; it is a process during which one needs all the wisdom to be had to sense the fullness of a life. The autumn, sunset years ahead should be about harvest and gratitude and the turning of a journey toward even new discoveries.
I know now, far more clearly than I could that weekend, that the Wisdom Years experience widened my eyes that eventually I could begin to see the meanings of the past and the promise of the years ahead.

National American Indian Heritage Month

By Peggy Tarr

November is National American Indian Heritage Month, a time "to honor and recognize the original peoples of this land." The first "American Indian Day" was declared by New York State in 1916.

President George H.W. Bush declared the first National American Indian Heritage Month in 1990, based on legislation presented by Senator Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Congressional Delegate Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa). For four years prior to this, "American Indian Heritage Week" had been enacted. (National American Indian Heritage Month Proclamation*, William J. Clinton)

There used to be a TV commercial encouraging (American) people to take care of the earth by showing a tear rolling down the cheek of a Native American in response to the abuse of the land.

The proclamation quoted above states: "Tribal America has brought to this great country certain values and ideas that have become ingrained in the American spirit: the knowledge that humans can thrive and prosper without destroying the natural environment..."

I'm not sure how much of Tribal America's respect for the natural environment was heeded. The ill effects of abusing (our?) land, water and air are alarming.

This same proclamation makes reference to "the injustices that have been suffered by American Indian people" and makes note that "even today, few (American Indian people) enjoy the full bounty of America's prosperity."

This is an understatement.

Many, many, many, many American Indian people are poverty stricken. They were (are) herded into reservations on lands that produce very little if any crops.

They do not have equal access to education, jobs or economic opportunities. Alcoholism is prevalent. (I can't imagine why.) And when Native Americans et al protested against a sports team using a Native American as a mascot, too many people proclaimed this (mascot) as "tradition" and saw nothing wrong with it.

Clinton's proclamation also states: "...people from very different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions can come together to build a great country; and...diversity can be a source of strength rather than division." Amen to that!

Native American tribes traditionally smoked a "peace pipe" as a token of peace. Peace! Now there's a thought!

*National American Indian Heritage Month Proclamations by each president can be found online.

Letters to the Editor

Thanks To United Way and Others
Editor:

We at the North Shore Senior Center would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Evanston United Way chapter.

The funding from United Way helps us provide needed services to Evanston seniors and their caregivers.

Some seniors in our midst are struggling on very limited incomes.

They make ends meet by buying food instead of their medications. Others are lonely and depressed because families are scattered or estranged.

Most older persons have less energy and diminished strength. They turn to our Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services office, which serves Evanston and Niles Townships for practical help and emotional support.

We help them obtain home-delivered meals, housekeeper services, adult day services, assistance with housing, transportation, medical and dental care, and more.

We offer supportive counseling for those struggling with loss or wanting to mend strained relationships.

We are able to offer our services to more than 2000 Evanston residents each year because of the support of the Evanston United Way, the Evanston Mental Health Board, and Community Development Block Grant program, and many other funders.
When you support the United Way, you help us help seniors in need, you help their families, you help keep the community strong.
We thank you and encourage you to be generous in your donations.
--Sandi Johnson, LCSW
Executive Director

Democratic Procedures Downplayed in Downtown Planning Process
Editor:

We are very concerned about the lack of democratic procedures surrounding the draft Downtown Plan. Because the plan will set standards that will have major impacts on City finances, demands on City services, traffic densities throughout Evanston, and the quality of life for all residents of our City, it needs to be informed by thorough citizen input. We write this letter as Evanston residents of 30 years and as social scientists with experience in studying urban development.

The City should not rush to make a decision on the draft plan. Considerably more resident response needs to be provided beyond what is currently scheduled. The draft plan contains oversights and does not address the impact of increased downtown density on currently over-taxed roads, overall City tax revenues and overall quality of life.

Although there was an elaborate multi-meeting process for resident input in the early stages in developing the draft plan, there is now only limited opportunity provided for citizen reaction to this document.
If the City is truly concerned that it has a document that reflects all resident concerns, stands up to the scrutiny of the diverse population of Evanston, and is something that will guide Evanston in decades to come, a thorough process of citizen comment should be welcomed by City officials.

There are significant shortcomings in the draft plan that are either a product of the consultants' oversights or the result of tunnel vision in the original City charge to the consultants. At citizen-input meetings last summer there were clear concerns about the impact that further downtown development might have on traffic downtown and outside of downtown. Requests for more precise data on how development would affect residential tax burdens were also made. These concerns have been ignored or glossed over by the consultants. The narrow focus on downtown development without careful consideration of its broader consequences for the entire City is a major shortcoming of the draft plan.

For example, the impact of increased resident and shopper traffic is not carefully analyzed. Other than a reference to the Emerson and Ridge intersection, there is no discussion of the impact on major arteries-Dempster, Emerson (west of Ridge), Central, Ridge and Sheridan, among others. Residents attending the citizen-input meetings for the Downtown Plan expressed alarm at the more frequent multi-block back-ups on these roads. Curiously, the consultants did not take the time to update their 1990 data on modes of transportation used by Evanstonians in traveling to work. Had they looked at more recent 2000 Census data, they would have seen an increased use of cars and a 15 percent decline in the proportion of residents using public transportation between 1990 and 2000.

The draft report also states that, "Downtown should continue as the economic engine of Evanston," and "continue as the major source of sales and property tax revenues in order to help mitigate the tax burdens on Evanston homeowners" (p. 4).

However downtown Evanston businesses are not "the major source" of sales taxes. Had the consultants taken the time to look at "Economic Trends in Evanston," a November 2005 presentation created by the City of Evanston, Evmark, Evanston Inventure, and the Evanston Chamber of Commerce (a report that is linked to the City's own website), they would have seen that almost 80 percent of retail sales in Evanston occur outside of downtown (http://www.evchamber.com/pdfs/ev_economic_trends.pdf). Before we irreversibly alter the density of downtown Evanston in the name of economic development, we may want to more carefully weigh an alternative approach that looks at enhancement of Evanston's real economic engine outside of downtown. For example, additional retail development along vacant or underutilized non-residential property on Evanston's western edge may represent a stronger development strategy. This area is also served by larger-capacity roads such as McCormick Boulevard.Compared to downtown development, retail enhancement of this area may produce higher sales tax yields with less negative impact on traffic and congestion.

Simply put, we should not rush to a decision on the basis of what may be faulty data and assumptions. In our recent conversations with various aldermen, they have expressed an urgent need to bring new downtown, tax revenue-enhancing developments to help cover a major shortfall in police and fire pension plans.

The fact that the pension crisis was created by poor information from financial advisors and a poorly thought-out City decision-making process should give pause to our elected officials as they seek to solve budget shortfalls with what may very well be another poorly informed and away-from-the-public's-eyes decision-making process.

In an environment where more and more citizens are feeling that City staff and aldermen spend more time listening to money-dangling developers and businesses, elected officials should be particularly sensitive to maintaining democratic processes and thorough citizen input.

The recent defense by some officials of private meetings with developers-at best highly questionable and at worst illegal-is further evidence of a shameless subversion of democracy. We find the move away from transparent government and responsible citizen oversight highly problematic. It represents a radical turn from the past political participatory culture of this City.
--Gwen Nyden, Professor of Sociology
Oakton Community College and Phil Nyden, Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for Urban Research and Learning Loyola University Chicago

Concern About Spice House's Loss of Lease
Editor:

I was dismayed to read in your last issue that the Spice House on Central Street has lost its lease as of 2011. In my opinion, this store is one of the most unique shops in town.

I hope that the City planners continue to work hard to keep strict zoning requirements on Central Street to keep out large-scale developments.

As it currently stands, Central Street is a gem. Work to keep the North Branch Library, the Spice House, and all the other wonderful family-run businesses that make this part of town a real neighborhood.
--Jen Preschern

New Urbanism in Downtown Charrette
Editor:

In the 1980ss the City of Evanston in a joint venture with Northwestern University developed the Research Park using a type of urban planning called new urbanism, at that time a new and untested concept.

The City of Evanston and some aldermen have called this type of planning a complete failure and went to PUDs to develop 1881 Oak and 1890 Maple (both in the research park).

So if the New Urbanism Research Park is an acknowledged failure, why is New Urbanism driving the new Evanston downtown plan?
Why are the citizens being asked to pick up a bill for $250,000 for a plan that has already failed as a test case?

The problem with all this top-down planning is the people promoting these plans are playing god assuming they can pick land use winners.

They are not risking their money or ruining their communities if their plans end up an economic failure.

Unfortunately, the taxpayers will end up picking up the pieces both in the character of our community and our pocket books.

More than 50 years ago, the taxpayer funded high rise public housing projects situated in "parks" in city centers throughout the U.S. were the product of the then latest city planning fashion.

For all kinds of mostly common sense reasons these projects failed spectacularly and are now being gradually torn down.

Now we have a new breed of urban planners, the new urbanists assuring us that we should trust their visions because this time they really know what they are doing.

We as a community have choices. We can follow new urbanism and let outsiders decide the future of our City, or we can innovate and "allow growth to occur while enhancing the community's special character, as stated in the Evanston Comprehensive General Plan adopted on May 8, 2000.

New Urbanism, on paper, sounds like a great concept but after practical application in the Research Park.

It does not deliver.

Time has also shown the major criticism to New Urbanism is a loss of diversity and gentrification going against Evanston's unique character. We have lessons to learn before we move forward. Let us make the choices that are best for the community and not a select few.

"For a full half century Evanston has had a character. People have thought of it as a place distinct, somehow, from other suburbs of Chicago..." --1917, Plan of Evanston, Evanston Plan Committee, Daniel H. Burnham, Jr., Chairman
-- Dr. Stamata Blanas

Tower Will Symbolize Evanston's Past and Future
Editor:

Let us not waste this opportunity.

A tall slender tower rising in the center of our City, with a fine old building restored and a grand new plaza with a magnificent fountain - what better way to symbolize our growing form an historic past toward a promising future?

I've been a tenant in the Han Building for 32 years and have witnessed downtown rising form the dead.

It has become a bustling residential city after years of decay. The huge building in the block east of the Davis Street el stop is most functional, but it is not a suitable inspirational emblem for our city.
The needs of those displaced, of whom we are all fond, can be accommodated within the plan.

Much of downtown and most of our town shines forth with the loveliness of the old, affectionately preserved and improved.
Downtown has been transformed. Our citizens deserve a center to celebrate this new day.

If we are to best preserve the wonderful old, we must have a bold, thriving beautiful, forward-looking center of which we can all be proud.
It is where we will gather.
-- Art Diers

Let The Professionals Test
Editor:

As a retired Dist. 65 teacher I remember that in the 1960s Dist.65's annual standardized norm-based tests were given by impartial test coordinators who came into the various classrooms to administer the tests. No one, including the classroom teacher, had a previous view of the test. The coordinators proctored the tests and took them with them when they left. If more testing was needed they returned and repeated the process.

Isn't this the correct professional way to handle testing? So much emphasis is placed on test results that it seems administering them deserves proper attention.
-- Lois Norris