UU hasn't gotten any reports of violence or gangbanging, so we're guessing those activities were at a minimum for the evening. Good news, and something to aspire to every summer evening.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Happy Independence Day (Right Here In Uptown)
UU hasn't gotten any reports of violence or gangbanging, so we're guessing those activities were at a minimum for the evening. Good news, and something to aspire to every summer evening.
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I personally thought the show was great, although it could have been a little longer. Let's hope for better times ahead so we can actually afford a longer fireworks shows and the right level of police protection 365 days a year (instead of just for 1 night).
ReplyDeleteCops were visibly out and seemed to do a reasonable job ensuring visitors to our community had a nice night.
Sure, some things could have been different, but hopefully we learned a little about what worked and what didn't.
Let's hope we can pull off ANOTHER fun, safe event in a few weeks with Ribfest!
Other than the neighborhood being absolutely trashed, (specifically the park behind Uplift School at 900 W Wilson) - I will take that any day if there is no violence and generally good vibes in the area. The trash is from families and kids that had a genuine, fun, safe, beautiful day. I just wish they were a little cleaner and didn't take for granted that others will have to pick up after them :)
ReplyDeleteFYI, the entire lake front from Montrose to Hyde Park was rather trashed. Often not so much because people were messy, but because the trash bins were overflowing and the overflow got blown about. Of course some people are just messy, but not most.
ReplyDeleteThe garbage crews were out in force on my ride home around midnight.
Our community was give no choice about having the City's annual fireworks show done here. Although the neighborhood wasn't trashed as many feared, the City failed to protect us as promised. Our block club was given countless warnings about street closings that would limit the access of cars to the park and beach. My side street was supposed to be one of the ones affected, but the people waving those lighted cones let everyone enter, which meant that the narrow street was constantly congested with cars, vans and SUVs filled with people trying to find parking. Even the spaces on the corners and next to fire hydrants were taken. First, people need to learn that they can't expect to drive right up to the park and beach and should take public transportation instead. Second, the City should protect our local streets from the traffic it brought to our doorsteps.
ReplyDeletehawkmoon947, Traffic Management people are a waste of tax dollar money to begin with. Ever watch them in the loop? they stand on one corner and wave their wands erratically. I don't remember the last time I've actually seen one of them do their job.
ReplyDeleteI'm Confused, as I usually am.
ReplyDeleteI walked over to the show at Montrose beach around 8PM.
The parking lot off of Wilson Ave was almost entirely empty. The lot by Montrose harbor was mostly empty.
So obviously they didn't let anyone use the lots, which I'm sure helped with the neighborhood congestion.
By the way, it was kind of amusing standing on Montrose beach with thousands of folks lighting off pretty big fireworks while the CPD was hanging out on the benches or leaning against their cruisers. It didn't bother me, as there's no point in trying to police that on the 4th, but it was kind of funny.
I thought things went off pretty well. I would like a longer show next year, but splitting it up across the lakefront was, in my opinion, a good thing to do.
I watched the spectacle from the balcony of an apartment near Irving and LSD. Yep, in addition to the "official" fireworks at Montrose and Navy Pier there were "renegade" displays near the Montrose site, as well as somewhere along Broadway (?), at Belmont or Diversey Harbor, and right outside the building (or so it seemed).
ReplyDeleteOne suggestion for next year: make July 4 like December 31 and have CTA offer "penny" rides for people attending the holiday festivities.