Hmmm...kind of disappointed to see Schulter as the bully in this meeting. He's a guy I generally like, but I guess he is just as involved in this crap as the other aldermen.
This says it best:
"Politics is politics, you know?" Hanna said. "Nice meeting you."
I don't feel the Architect can be blamed in this situation. The government is what is supposed to maintain the interests of the people. The developer should follow the rules and ordnances required. However the professionals aren't driving the project. I mean, if Hanna wouldn't design the building, the developer would find someone who would. Everyone know that money greases the wheels in a capitalist society. That is certainly nothing new...
Capitalism: an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
-Dictionary.com
um, do ya get it NOW? besides, no political system follows its definition precisely. Every government has an operational basis which resembles some text book definition but reality sets in and rules change. Usually, change arrives in ways that are most convenient and/or financially beneficial to those in power.
for someone who prides themselves in syntax, sometimes you miss the target.
Thanks for posting this story but it is sad to me to think that similar issues with zoning that we know all to well in the 46th Ward are taking place all over the City. However, I think our community is pushing to the front in dealing with some of these issues. Our neighbors have volunteered a tremendous amount of their time to address the planning of the Stop Labor Ready and Fix Wilson Yard websites and organizing fundraisers for these events. Please consider how import these issues are to our neighborhood and what kind of message will be sent to all politicians in Chicago if both are successful. Please if you have not done so already consider donations to these movements. Unfortunately, just as it appears to take money to get a zoning change made from the Alderman it will take money to hold public servants accountable to the rest of the community.
That is what makes me so angry about the whole thing, uptown vegetarian. Between "Stop labor Ready" and "Fix Wilson Yard" it looks like our neighborhood will be raising somewhere in the realm of $75,000 this year. To sue the city for not following due process...which we as taxpayers pay them to do...and also pay for them to defend not doing... I guess this is where the libertarian in me comes out, uptown dad!!!
And, windycityeagle, Chicago has CRONY CAPITALISM. Milton Friedman probably got all of his inspiration for his books from cracking open the Chicago Tribune every morning! :)
I know this thought probably won't go anywhere but...
Premise: Chicago politicans' have stockpiled huge cash reserves as "campaign" funds. These funds are largely comprised of "pay to play" contributions. Said politicians are not legislating in the best interests of the community. The community is forced to sue the city to force the politians to follow the law.
Proposal: Sue the politians to recover monies used to sue the city.
And, windycityeagle, Chicago has CRONY CAPITALISM.
If you have to bribe the state to get things done, then you're not really living in a capatlistic society. See the definition:
esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
So the part of our economy where you have to bribe public officials to get things done is in no way capalistic, and you can't just call it capitalism because it goes on next to parts of our economy that are capatilistic.
And saskia, I would agree the Friedman and the rest of the Chicago boys got much of their anti-government influence from living in this city. God knows I have. When I graduated college 10 years ago I was a huge liberal and argued vehemently for income tax hikes to help the poor. Then I lived here and year by year the liberal in me died and was replaced by the hardcore l(small l)ibertarian.
That is interesting insight, windycityeagle. I am trying to hold fast to the ideals of my youth but it is hard in Chicago and nearly impossible in Uptown. Its hard to hold your head up as a proud leftie in Uptown and Rogers Park these days. All I want to do is give Helen a sharp poke in the ribs and say "for goodness sake QUIT IT because you're making us all look bad!" I think she sold out years ago but most people just call her a liberal nutjob.
Proposal: Sue the politians to recover monies used to sue the city.
There are laws in many states where if a plaintiff sues to defend their civil rights and wins, the defendants(typically governments or government agents) must pay the cost of accumulated defending your civil rights.
These laws are very popular for elected officials to support. The people support them. The pols take some hand holding and connecting with issues of immediate interest to them.
It's a deterrent more than an implicit cost the pols will incur to make mistakes.
State legislators have to consider the legal implications of their laws all the time as result of the reimbursement for counsel costs to defend your civil rights. Many laws are simply discarded because legislators know the cost to defend the laws are very expensive.
What you end up with is a better debate and legislation that doesn't move forward without dotting all the "i's" and crossing all the "t's".
A must read for Uptown Update readers at Clout Street.
Hmmm...kind of disappointed to see Schulter as the bully in this meeting. He's a guy I generally like, but I guess he is just as involved in this crap as the other aldermen.
ReplyDeleteThis says it best:
"Politics is politics, you know?" Hanna said. "Nice meeting you."
I like that these stories give names and faces to the people most involved in these processes.
ReplyDeleteI think the writers on this beat would be really interested to know about what the Fix Wilson Yard crew is doing.
I believe that this corrupt system can be changed with more citizens involved and informed!
Tell 'em about Wilson Yard! E-mail the writers--I did! Give them the fixwilsonyard link:
ReplyDeletedmihalopoulos@tribune.com
rxbecker@tribune.com
I don't feel the Architect can be blamed in this situation. The government is what is supposed to maintain the interests of the people. The developer should follow the rules and ordnances required. However the professionals aren't driving the project. I mean, if Hanna wouldn't design the building, the developer would find someone who would. Everyone know that money greases the wheels in a capitalist society. That is certainly nothing new...
ReplyDelete...That's to say, the donations are good business practice from an Architect's view. Why do sales people always smile and act like your friend?
ReplyDeleteEveryone know that money greases the wheels in a capitalist society. That is certainly nothing new...
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly does Capatalism have to do with this? I know its a convienent whipping boy, but this has nothing to do with Capatalism.
If anything, this is an example of how communism fails.
eagle, you love the dictionary so here it is:
ReplyDeleteCapitalism: an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
-Dictionary.com
um, do ya get it NOW? besides, no political system follows its definition precisely. Every government has an operational basis which resembles some text book definition but reality sets in and rules change. Usually, change arrives in ways that are most convenient and/or financially beneficial to those in power.
for someone who prides themselves in syntax, sometimes you miss the target.
Thanks for posting this story but it is sad to me to think that similar issues with zoning that we know all to well in the 46th Ward are taking place all over the City. However, I think our community is pushing to the front in dealing with some of these issues. Our neighbors have volunteered a tremendous amount of their time to address the planning of the Stop Labor Ready and Fix Wilson Yard websites and organizing fundraisers for these events. Please consider how import these issues are to our neighborhood and what kind of message will be sent to all politicians in Chicago if both are successful. Please if you have not done so already consider donations to these movements. Unfortunately, just as it appears to take money to get a zoning change made from the Alderman it will take money to hold public servants accountable to the rest of the community.
ReplyDeletenice uptown vegetarian, you hit it on the head: it takes money...
ReplyDeleteThat is what makes me so angry about the whole thing, uptown vegetarian. Between "Stop labor Ready" and "Fix Wilson Yard" it looks like our neighborhood will be raising somewhere in the realm of $75,000 this year. To sue the city for not following due process...which we as taxpayers pay them to do...and also pay for them to defend not doing...
ReplyDeleteI guess this is where the libertarian in me comes out, uptown dad!!!
And, windycityeagle, Chicago has CRONY CAPITALISM. Milton Friedman probably got all of his inspiration for his books from cracking open the Chicago Tribune every morning! :)
I know this thought probably won't go anywhere but...
ReplyDeletePremise:
Chicago politicans' have stockpiled huge cash reserves as "campaign" funds. These funds are largely comprised of "pay to play" contributions. Said politicians are not legislating in the best interests of the community. The community is forced to sue the city to force the politians to follow the law.
Proposal:
Sue the politians to recover monies used to sue the city.
very interesting concept, bradley. how juicy would THAT story be?
ReplyDeleteAnd, windycityeagle, Chicago has CRONY CAPITALISM.
ReplyDeleteIf you have to bribe the state to get things done, then you're not really living in a capatlistic society. See the definition:
esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
So the part of our economy where you have to bribe public officials to get things done is in no way capalistic, and you can't just call it capitalism because it goes on next to parts of our economy that are capatilistic.
And saskia, I would agree the Friedman and the rest of the Chicago boys got much of their anti-government influence from living in this city. God knows I have. When I graduated college 10 years ago I was a huge liberal and argued vehemently for income tax hikes to help the poor. Then I lived here and year by year the liberal in me died and was replaced by the hardcore l(small l)ibertarian.
That is interesting insight, windycityeagle. I am trying to hold fast to the ideals of my youth but it is hard in Chicago and nearly impossible in Uptown. Its hard to hold your head up as a proud leftie in Uptown and Rogers Park these days. All I want to do is give Helen a sharp poke in the ribs and say "for goodness sake QUIT IT because you're making us all look bad!" I think she sold out years ago but most people just call her a liberal nutjob.
ReplyDeleteProposal:
ReplyDeleteSue the politians to recover monies used to sue the city.
There are laws in many states where if a plaintiff sues to defend their civil rights and wins, the defendants(typically governments or government agents) must pay the cost of accumulated defending your civil rights.
These laws are very popular for elected officials to support. The people support them. The pols take some hand holding and connecting with issues of immediate interest to them.
soul-
ReplyDeleteThe problem with that is that as a taxpayer I'm still footing the (extra) bills. I want the politicians to have to pay for screwing the public.
It's a deterrent more than an implicit cost the pols will incur to make mistakes.
ReplyDeleteState legislators have to consider the legal implications of their laws all the time as result of the reimbursement for counsel costs to defend your civil rights. Many laws are simply discarded because legislators know the cost to defend the laws are very expensive.
What you end up with is a better debate and legislation that doesn't move forward without dotting all the "i's" and crossing all the "t's".