EDITORIAL

Misacrony

That is a word we just coined to describe the strong reaction to the proposed height in the draft downtown plan - a dislike of height. It is not acrophobia, a fear of height, nor xenophobia, a fear of those who would move into the tall residences; nor is it adultophobia, a fear of growing up. It is simply a rejection of growing upward. 

The consultants have done a really good job of learning about the topography and geography of the downtown area. And through the community meetings over the summer and the Plan Commission hearings that continue, they are learning about the populace of Evanston.

We doubt that there are many people in Evanston who disagree with increasing the tax base. We could all do with a bit of a break on our skyrocketing property taxes.

But there are other ways than building residential towers to do this. Having just recently traded our research park for entertainment, we may find that attracting businesses is now the way to go.

The downtown planning process has been going on for more than a year, although folks are now becoming more vocal about it.

One of the great things about the review process and community input is that we are being forced to consider our future.

We were asked to do that this summer, and many of us did so, but now, faced with a concrete plan, many may wish to revise or refine their thinking. And the Plan Commission is willing to hear it all.

One striking aspect of the draft downtown plan is that residential spaces dominate the landscape.

Commercial spaces are tucked into the niches, such as the bottom floor of a residential tower, the alley that leads to Bookman's Alley and the Alley Gallery, or  the west side of Benson Avenue.

The philosophy behind this appears to be twofold: We need to grow our own population in order to support businesses, and we can capitalize on our present downtown to attract new residents.

Given that, the consultants have incorporated elements of new urbanism and smart growth into the downtown plan.

As the hearing on the draft plan continues and citizens continue to speak out - at the hearings, in letters to the editor, in casual conversations and in phone calls, at least to this office - it seems clear that many, many residents are not happy about growing in accordance with this plan.

As the Plan Commission deliberates, we hope they will question the consultants' recommended height additions in the core, transitional and traditional areas.

Do they all have to have additional height?

Could there be more provisions for office space, more incentives for providing good office space?

How can we attract more business and commerce?

At the last Plan Commission hearing, one resident commented that Evanston has only so many cubic feet of sky to offer.

We need to consider how much of our sky we are willing to bargain away and how much we need to keep for ourselves.

A Politically Correct Christmas

By Charles Wilkinson

When I recently heard about Lowe's home centers marketing "family” trees instead of "Christmas” trees, I thought, "Someone's got to be kidding!” 

But I did not need to think very far past that to find myself waiting for the annual holiday hullabaloo about the placement of crèches on public property.

Family tree/Christmas tree - I can live with both. Still, Lowes left my feelings about political correctness edgier than usual. 

Then my holiday "Ho! Ho! Ho!” shtick was ruined forever when the P.C. police connected Santa's belly laugh with the Afro-American slang term for "woman.” My gut roiled with outrage. What kind of minds need to complicate a simple caricature with sick oversensitivity and/or a blatantly personal slant?

"Ho! Ho! Ho!” is a belly laugh - simply that - in or out of the context of Christmas. (Oops, I mean the coming holiday.)

Political correctness has its place; so does freedom of speech. But when the intent of either is abused by zealots, the rest of us are abused as well.

My outrage took me to "White Christmas,” and I started humming, "I'm dreaming of a colorless holiday, unlike the ones I used to know. …” and thought about what it might feel like saying "Merry Holiday!” in the weeks ahead. "'Twas the Night before Holiday” came next.  Need I go any further?

What is it about diversity among us that creates such unnecessary noise? Our nation is a patchwork quilt of many colors, fabrics and themes.

Religion, politics, ethnic origins, class - you name it, ours is a multi-mix of values, beliefs, education, abilities, disabilities, etc., which embodies every possibility of the democratic dream - a dream that, to be truly appreciated,  requires large, grateful minds, not small, puckered ones.

But possibilities are just that - possible. If political correctness has a right to any place in our thinking, it should be a place of civility and sensitivity toward - acceptance of - the differences among us. 

Those differences deserve to be celebrated, not policed, at this and any time of year. I for one believe the measure of any great nation should be its ability to recognize, respect and embrace its wealth of diversity.

A politically correct Christmas, like a politically correct Hanukkah and Kwanza, belongs to all of us. They are all part of the quilt. I can think of no better threads to bind us all than Peace and Good Will. Can there ever be anything politically incorrect about either?

Both, within and all about, are my wishes for everyone this and every year to come.

Holiday* Time

By Peggy Tarr

It's that time of year when people are more than aware that it's holiday time. Whether one celebrates the holiday or not, ads and holiday sales, holiday movies, holiday music, holiday colors, holiday plants, holiday foods and toys. Herald in the fact that it's holiday time.  Whether or not one has a day off from work, the mail is delivered, stores are open, public transportation doesn't change, or no one knows the origin of the holiday, it's still holiday time.

Holidays have origins in religion, astrological or astronomical events, politics, individuals of note, historical events, wars, etc. Whatever their origins, holidays were (are?) special days set aside for introspection, with fasting or feasting, praying, singing, gift-giving, lighting candles, attending religious ceremonies, traveling or just relaxing. 

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar (Sept. 13- Oct. 12, 2007), is a period in which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, taking time for "inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control.” 

Hannukah (=Chanukah; Feast of Dedication; Feast of Lights) is a festival celebrated by Jewish people for eight days in December "in commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees,” with a new candle on the menorah lit each night.

Kwanzaa ("first fruits of the harvest”; founded in 1966) is an African American celebration from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, based on seven guiding principles of "traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement (one principle for each day of celebration).” 

Christmas (a contraction of two words 'Christ's Mass'; from Old English Cristes Maesse) is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  It is celebrated on Dec. 25 around the world, but "this birthdate is traditional and not considered his actual date of birth.”

Of course, there are many other holidays taking place throughout the world at this time and throughout the year. 

But many holidays have lost the essence of their origin, which has become obscured by commercialism. But I, as many others, look forward to holidays that offer more time with family, friends and even strangers. 

In keeping with Bing Crosby's song:  "Happy holiday, happy holiday! May the calendar keep bringing happy holidays to you.”

*holiday - holy day, from Old English halig daeg

Letters to the Editor

Kids Benefit When Community Works Together
Editor:

On Dec. 1, I experienced a stunning example of how kids benefit when our community combines private and public resources toward an educational goal.

Understanding our rights and responsibilities as defined in the U.S. Constitution Bill of Rights is surely one of the most important lessons in the seventh-grade social studies curriculum. And for years teachers have struggled with how to bring this topic alive for 12- and 13-year olds.

This year (and hopefully for years to come) we've found a solution in our community, thanks to a partnership between the League of Women Voters, the District 65 administration, seventh-grade social studies teachers, First Bank & Trust of Evanston and ELCon (Evanston Lawyers for the Constitution). It was a contest, of course, with big prize money. Now that piques the interest of seventh -graders.

Called "Your Rights, Your Reasons," the contest encouraged all seventh-graders to submit work showing which Amendment in the Bill of Rights was most important to them and why.

More than 300 kids participated. And the entries, exhibited at the Dec. 1 award ceremony, were outstanding. Music, artwork, rap, essays, poems, performance art ... What a testament to the hard work of the students, their teachers and the League of Women Voters.

Our seventh-grade son will surely never forget the history lessons he learned over the past months. But equally important was the empowerment and satisfaction he felt composing and performing his first song ... about the First Amendment.

Thanks to all who were involved in this project. To me, this is what community is all about.
-- Ceil Miller Bouchet

Evmark Thanks Those Who Supported Tree-Lighting
Editor:

The holiday tree lighting in downtown Evanston was held on Nov. 20 at Fountain Square. On behalf of Evmark, both board and staff, I would like to thank all of those involved in its organization.

First and foremost, Evmark extends its profound gratitude to the City of Evanston staff. Multiple City departments, including police, fire, public works, facilities management,  parks and forestry, and the City Manager's office, willingly assist Evmark each year with the tree-lighting event. Evmark simply could not organize the event without them.

Mayor Lorraine Morton always agrees to participate and arrive with the guest of honor, and we thank her. Kim Kelly of Evanston agreed at the last minute to serve in the most important of roles. We greatly appreciated his eagerness to assist with the event and his spirit of fun.

Evmark also wishes to thank Timothy Mah, Peg Cleveland and the Music Institute of Chicago Children's Chorus for their participation again.

Each year, those many young voices in the chorus put attendees into the spirit of the season. Finally, Evmark would like to thank the managers and staff at Argo Tea for providing hot beverages to all of those in attendance.

Again, all of this work was invaluable to, and much appreciated by, Evmark staff in organizing the event. These partnerships emphasize downtown's role as the heart of our community. They are just another example of why downtown Evanston remains a truly unique and wonderful place.

-- Diane C. Williams,
Executive Director, EvmarkWe cover what matters

Reassess City Investments and Liabilities
Editor:

Kudos to the Evanston RoundTable for bringing the plight of the firefighters' and police pension funds to our community's attention. 

While many issues were raised in the article, many more questions and issues need to be thoroughly understood before any action is taken.

Before exploring these issues I want to make very clear my full appreciation of the services and extra efforts demonstrated by all current and retired policemen and firemen (and women). Their services are vital to our community. Thank you.

The issue at hand is the state of their pension funds and the ability of our community to ensure that these financial liabilities are paid.

Our community is obligated by contract to pay these pensions. The disconcerting issue is how and why the pension funds became so under-funded (i.e. there's not as much money in the bank to make the pension payments in the future). 

As the RoundTable states, our pension fund is currently under-funded by about $140 mm.  This is a significant amount of money.

In order to address some of the shortfall, the City Manager and Finance Director have recommended issuing Pension Obligation Bonds. While this could be a sensible option, the community must understand that there is "no free lunch."  Issuing bonds in order to make up for our shortfall is investing on margin. 

Assuming we can borrow at a cheap cost of capital and invest appropriately to earn a higher return, part of this funding shortfall can be addressed.

How will the rest of the shortfall be achieved? You guessed it, higher taxes. It's my understanding that in fiscal year ending February 2007 about $8 million of your tax dollars were used to fund the pension obligation, amounting to about 5.4 percent of the $148 million annual budget for our city.  In future years we may have to contribute about $12 million per year. 

Let's return to why we are in this situation:

Longevity assumptions were increased. Given that people are living longer, pension payments will have to be paid for a longer period of time. This makes complete sense, but who took their eye off the ball and missed this one? (Please don't blame the consultants.)

Benefits were increased. When benefits are increased, future impact is magnified.  Compounding interest via the rule of 72 demonstrates the impact. 

A $10 mm pension liability growing at 4 percent annually will double to $20 mm in 18 years. However, if you increase benefits to 6 percent, that same initial liability will grow to $28.5 million in 18 years.  Increasing annuities and shortening the years of service from 35 to 30 years are examples of increasing benefits.

Future benefit changes must be more thoughtfully analyzed. 

Also, should we consider switching to a defined contribution plan for future hires?

This change would not affect current employees and retirees. A defined contribution plan could provide an appropriate pension and limit our community's future liability.

Inadequate investment returns. This issue deserves greater scrutiny and examination.  During a brief analysis I conducted it appears that the historical returns underperformed appropriate benchmarks or standards.

While hindsight is 20/20, and the investment arena is complex and filled with confusing jargon, the inadequacy of historical returns again raises several questions.

As the RoundTable highlights, municipal pension funds are limited to a maximum exposure of 45 percent equities in the portfolio and other limitations. 

This legal hindrance is ludicrous in today's world and should be changed. Why isn't the Mayor, City Manager and/or Finance Director showing leadership to get this law changed in Springfield? 

This situation is analogous to a boxing match where one fighter is competing with one arm tied behind his back and he's getting pummeled.

Is this a fair fight? 

Would you keep fighting or would you try to get your arm untied? 

We taxpayers are paying for our leaders' complacency. Get this law changed! Secondly, even with the 45 percent maximum equity exposure, poor asset allocation decisions were made in the past.

Equity exposure was reduced to 26 percent in 2002. Given the very long investment time horizon for our funds, reacting to the bursting of the technology bubble and post-9/11 events still doesn't seem prudent from an investment perspective.

In 2006, 8 out of 10 active equity managers underperformed by almost 4 percent, costing the Fire Pension Fund about $600,000.  Over a three-year period, the Evanston total fund grew 6.09 percent annually, versus its benchmark of 4.72 percent, and, over 5 years compounded at 5.7 percent, versus its benchmark of 4.7 percent.

While this performance "appears" better than average, the benchmark only includes a 30 percent weighting from equities (remember the 45-percent cap).  Even I can dunk on a 6-foot hoop.

Raise the standards and use an appropriate benchmark.

Again, I recognize that hindsight is 20/20, but I question the decision-making framework in place. 

Also, who are the people overseeing the investment decisions and what is their investment expertise?  In Evanston, there is significant investment expertise, including  people at Northwestern University's Endowment, Romano Brothers, Magnetar Capital, Kellogg Business School, and the United Methodist Pension Fund, among others. Are any of these people being consulted? Northwestern's endowment increased 24 percent for their recent fiscal year, compared to only 7.35 percent for the City of Evanston's total pension fund.  Investing prudently with appropriate risk and reward parameters will maximize investment returns and minimize taxpayer contributions.

The pension situation raises other questions, such as the following:

What other looming liabilities does the community have that haven't been appropriately addressed? 

Are we under-investing in other areas that will come back to haunt us in the future? 

Are current assumptions using realistic assumptions, or do we need to be more conservative in other areas? 

Let's use this unfortunate situation as an opportunity to reexamine where we are today, and make the necessary changes so that Evanston will be positioned stronger for the future.
-- Jim Young

Open Letter to Officer Spells, Alderwoman Wollin and
Plan Commission Members:
Editor:

I have written or spoken to Officer Spells, Alderwoman Wollin, and the Plan Commission regarding the continuing problem of bikes on downtown streets.

I took a digital camera with me for a week on my usual daily walks on Church, Sherman, Chicago, and other downtown streets, in order to record how often I see bikes on the sidewalks.

There were between three and five cyclists on the sidewalks on each of my several daily walks. The most worrisome are those who speed down Chicago in front of Whole Foods, or west on Church, as pedestrians cannot see them coming around the corners of cross streets or when the pedestrians themselves are exiting stores.

I wanted to find out the statistics for bike accidents in the City but was unable to do so, as the only way to access accident records is through the Freedom of Information Act, which charges $5 per accident report.

However, even if there have not been many, or any, such accidents, I hope we will not wait until there is one to resolve the problem.

A neighbor of mine had an elderly relative in another city killed by being hit by a bike. I have, myself, nearly been hit exiting a store or coming around a corner. The danger is there for all pedestrians, but our elderly and infirm are even more vulnerable.

I suggest several remedies:  first, better signage on the streets.  You will note how much more visible the new "Bike Lane Ends" signs are on Church Street than the existing small, high, "No Bikes on Sidewalks "signs.

Second, enforce the current ordinance by ticketing offenders. Increase the fine from $25 to $50 as well.  A visiting friend from Oberlin, Ohio, told me they have a $50 fine and it definitely keeps people from riding on the sidewalks.

Finally, if we wish to offer a "safe" environment in our bustling new downtown, we must include pedestrian safety from bicycles in that environment.  And what is the City's liability when someone is injured by a cyclist violating the law by riding on a sidewalk? 
-- Cornelia Maude Spelman 

Restraint and Respect for Heritage - Not Skyscraper - Are Needed
Editor:

With dismay I read the RoundTable's front page article describing the proposed new skyscraper for downtown Evanston, which is surely going to be constructed no matter how much we citizens deplore the idea.

The developers are determined to let nothing stop them. You have quoted the architect as saying, "What is important to me is that we get the most beautiful building." That, indeed, is important to me, too; but the sketch of his stiff edifice does not in any way elicit the word "beautiful" to me. "Pedestrian" is what comes to mind.

Nor, because of its scale, can it "settle in" with any nearby buildings. How could it? The only possible candidate would be that embarrassing hodgepodge of styles known as Sherman Plaza, which outdoes most of the ubiquitous "luxury condominiums" in sheer ugliness.

What is more important to me (and should be to the City planners) is the preservation of the unique character of our fair City.

Evanston has always been a distinctive suburb with a special, charming personality. That we should constantly erode this quality only to replace it with tasteless copies of "Big Sister" Chicago makes no sense whatsoever.

Evanston is not Chicago, nor should it aspire to be. Who in the world is going to inhabit this misplaced 49-story behemoth? Are we not already overloaded with "Space for Rent" signs? Some restraint is surely in order, as well as some respect for our rich heritage.
-- Barbara K. DeCoster

ETHS Needs 'Good Housecleaning'
Editor:

I've noticed so many letters to the editor recently, decrying the problems with the "No Child Left Behind" law, which has resulted in ETHS being deemed a "failing school."

What I haven't noticed much comment about is the failings of the high school to meet the needs of its students. Yes, there are problems with NCLB, no doubt about it. Yes, Evanston is a diverse community with problems of poverty, lack of family involvement, etc., etc.

However, our former superintendent, Allan Alson, made a national name for himself creating the "Close the Gap National Network" to bring educators from schools and communities around the country together to strategize ways to support minority student achievement.

Now he's working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I hope he will be more successful there than he was at our own ETHS, because I don't see many positive results from the many years of all the goals for school improvement at the high school being focused on improving the performance of the lowest-end students at the high school, most of whom, in our community, are minority.

The gap has not closed, has not even narrowed much, yet parents in the community are complaining about the federal law and not demanding to know where all the money we are paying to this high school is going.

I find this very puzzling. ... Niles Township High Schools spend much, much less per pupil than ETHS, as do all but two high schools in the state, yet Niles has the best arts program in the nation. We did not even have a major winter school play last year because of budget cuts.

If you want to understand better why ETHS is "failing," please look beyond simply our demographics. There are inner-city schools in New York City that are succeeding with much less money than ETHS has, inspiring students to meet standards and go on to higher education, through personalized, innovative, visionary programs led by highly trained, highly motivated teachers.

Why can't we do this at ETHS, which back in the 60s was named by Newsweek as one of the best high schools in the country?

The reasons are many, but some of them have to do with the business and management practices at this high school.

Take a close look at practices that have been going on at ETHS for years, and you will see some serious problems, and many opportunities missed.

Why isn't anyone demanding better oversight and better leadership from the School Board and superintendent(s)?

As for criticizing NCLB, I would suggest that people living in glass houses shouldn't really be throwing stones. ... A good housecleaning may be in order first.
-- Nancy Bruski

After Solution to Pensions, Other Issue Is Greater State Funding of Education
Editor:

I am writing in response to Harris Hudson's attack on our police, firefighters and teachers ("A Wake-Up Call on Pensions") in the Nov. 28, 2007, RoundTable. Mr. Hudson's diatribe is mean-spirited and misdirected; calling the police "unsatisfied mercenaries," casting firefighters as "self-seeking," and defaming teachers as "care-less" is thoughtless scapegoating.

Mr. Hudson appears prompted by his real estate tax bill. He blames these public servants for high real estate taxes and high pension cost. Demonizing innocent people is always easier than addressing the true cause of our problems, but history has taught us it is a dangerous tool.

The truth is that our current pension problem is not caused by greedy, undedicated public servants. The problem exists because our elected state and local officials used the pension funds like a credit card that had no limit and never had to be paid. We all know you can't keep ignoring your obligations without paying a price later.

In the early 1990s our legislators recognized the problem they were causing to the teacher pension funds. They passed a bipartisan agreement to fully fund the teachers' pension funds over 50 years. They stuck to the plan until Rod Blagojevich became governor and the Democrats took control of the legislature. Since then not only have they stopped fully funding the teacher pension funds, but they have taken billions of dollars out of the funds to spend on their pet projects. At the same time, municipalities either failed to fully fund their pension obligations or used smoke-and-mirror accounting to pay less than was required.

The reason our real estate taxes are so high is because Illinois ranks near the bottom, at 48th in the nation, in state funding of education. This leaves local government to pick up the tab.

Property taxes are high not because of greedy police, firefighters and teachers, but because Illinois is among the worst in state funding of education. When you add this mismanagement to the state's misappropriation of teacher pension funds along with their failure to fully fund their pension obligations, you have the problems we now face.

We are all tired of the infighting in Springfield. The Republicans can't get along with the Democrats, the Democrats can't get along with each other, and we all suffer for it. But there is one thing the Democratic leadership can agree on. Last spring, while pensions and schools went unfunded, they voted themselves close to a 10-percent pay raise that also raised their pension benefits.

Where is Mr. Hudson's outrage about this?

Mr. Hudson implies the solution to the problem is to renege on the promises we have made to these public servants. He implies that if they were truly dedicated public servants they would work for less and, perhaps, give up their pensions. It is always easy to say "the other guy" makes too much money, but no one makes millions being a policeman, firefighter or teacher.

As a community, we made promises to these people to induce them to dedicate their lives, risk their lives, and sometimes sacrifice their lives for us. We have all enjoyed the benefits of a safer community. We have all enjoyed the rise in our property values, in no small part due to the quality of our schools. Willard School is ranked as one of the best in the state. To suggest that we now cheat these people rather than make good on our promises is immoral and wrong.

Here is what we do need, Mr. Hudson: We need increased state funding for education. We need consistent and appropriate pension funding on the state and local levels. We need fair-minded solutions to these difficult problems and the will to carry them out.

Here is what we do not need: attacks on the dedicated, hardworking people who protect us, save our lives and teach our children.
-- Steven Samson

Accept Internet's Minuses Along With Its Pluses
Editor:

I would like to respond to the recent Opinion by James K. Genden titled "Online Vehicle-Sticker Purchase Comes With A Price Tag."

As much as you would like to complain about the online payment system the City of Evanston is offering residents, be thankful that you at least have an Internet option for your municipal needs such as ordering and paying for vehicle stickers.

Today, as you may or may not be aware, the use of web-based services to transact payments for goods, services and entries is commonplace, if not dominant in some cases.

Likewise, the presence of a "convenience fee" is also commonplace and routinely accepted without question by consumers. 

The reason? They appreciate the convenience and speed of online entry and payment versus the conventional method of handwriting an application, mailing it with payment and waiting for receipt of the sticker.

Instead of criticizing the City for their efforts to bring us this online capability, why not ask about alternate ways to handle the convenience fee?

For example, in my business, our clients have the option to pay the fee, let the registrant pay the fee or split the fee between them. 

I would almost guarantee that this provision exists with the vendor the City has selected to power this online service. The City needs to ask this question and perform more due diligence.

Would you not agree to this approach, or is your criticism towards the City really just your unwillingness to accept the Internet and web-based processes?
-- Dan Bloedorn