The www.fixwilsonyard.org site is up and running. For those of you who are concerned about what this project will do to our community and wonder what you can do to help, check the website out and donate to the campaign to halt this long-delayed project. We are working on adding a special link to the site so it will be more prominent on Uptown Update. Read on about the negative impact this will have on our neighborhood:Failed Housing Model: The misguided housing model of the past, all low-income housing in high and mid-rise buildings, is being torn down everywhere else, so why is it being built here? Uptown currently has 6,000 units of subsidized housing (25% of all rental units). Similar projects have been recognized as magnets for crime and safety problems.
Criminal Activity: Uptown has an ongoing problem with drug traffickers and gang recruiters/members easily accessing our neighborhood from Lake Shore Drive. The placement of this proposed development will act as a beacon for drug traffickers and gang members, increasing criminal activity in Uptown and endangering all residents.
Lost Economic Development & Community Retail: This plan which should have been the gateway for Uptown's commercial district fails to continue the organic flow of Broadway retail development we see just north of Leland in the 48th ward. Instead it brings dead, negative space with high empty walls and narrow sidewalks that discourage pedestrian traffic.
Poor Urban Planning: The project is dramatically out of scale with the neighborhood. Planning elevations show the housing will be ten stories of sheer brick walls that overpower Montrose from Broadway to the Red-line tracks, and Broadway from Montrose to Sunnyside. Design standards typically used to create safe welcoming spaces were ignored.
Traffic Congestion: The City's traffic study was conducted in September, not during the peak summer months.
So no comments yet? But the Dunkin Donuts post has 3 already?
ReplyDeletePut your money where you mouth is people. Or should I say your dough where your donut hole is?
I will be checking this out, and making a donation!
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I have already made a donation and sent it along to my condo association and neighbors. We should get a thermometer and keep track of how much money we've raised.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know when we are going to file the suit? Have we already or are we waiting to raise the funds. Just curious because when I ride by the site on the el it looks like they are making some progress...
Alderman Shiller's website has been a flurry of activity lately, being updated numerous times on July 31. However, buried in the "More..." Section on her homepage is this nugget:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aldermanshiller.com/content/view/450/30/
(I can't put in a link on this page; can it be done or am I just slow?) Maybe the folks over at fixwilsonyard.org just don't have their facts! HA!
She confirms Target is coming by linking to the Crain's story a few months back where Target confirmed they were in negotiations. Sounds like a squishy confirmation, HUH?
The plan has changed to: 178 units of 100% low-income housing (with family housing income ceilings of 21% low income, 56% very low income and 23% extremely low income), no movie theaters, and no confirmation that Target is coming. Holsten Real Estate is now the lone developer and owner of all the low-income housing. The TIF commitment has soared to $52 million, 34% of the cost of the entire project.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize the percentages of low income housing the projects will contain. While I'm all for affordale housing, this is entirely too much for ANY one project. This building will serve as the front door for Uptown (assuming that downtown is the starting point for tourists, etc.). Is this the welcome they want. 30 or even 40 percent low income I could understand, but... man.
52 Million would buy 173 300K Condos all over the City.
ReplyDeleteWhen the original post about FixWilsonYard.org was put up on Uptown Update, I commented on some reservations I had about the group. Most of those reservations still stand (except I see they're now using a dedicated PO box rather than the UNC PO box). Although the post, along with my comment, was deleted almost immediately. I'll repeat my comment here (verbatim, thanks to Google page cache):
ReplyDelete----------------------------
I'd like to see someone pursue the lawsuit idea, and I don't want to rain on the parade, but I'm not comfortable contributing any money at this time because there are too many unanswered questions about this effort.
Checks are to be made payable to the Graceland-Wilson Neighbors Association, so I'd like to see some sort of acknowledgement on either FixWilsonYard.org or the GWNA Web site that the directors of GWNA have signed off on being the figurehead for this, as they would no doubt have to be the ones to bring the lawsuit (if they expect contributions to be tax-deductible, anyway). I can only assume GWNA has allowed their members to vote on taking this action, but I'd like to see some acknowledgement of that as well. Why are the checks being mailed to the UNC post office box, when GWNA has its own PO box advertised? How do they plan to bring a lawsuit, and on what grounds (they should at least have a game plan already, to make sure they aren't going to be engaging in something that could risk their 501(c)(3) status). Since GWNA is a block club, how can I be assured the money I donate will be used for the advertised purpose? What happens if a lawsuit is never brought? Does my money then gets used for a block party or some other unrelated purpose? What assurance do I have?
These may seem like petty questions to some, but if this effort plans to court any serious donors, they will eventually be asked all of these questions and more. Personally, I don't want to contribute money to a group that does not have a clear action plan. I know the Web site is newly launched, and will no doubt become more comprehensive. If they can answer some of these questions, I will gladly donate.
----------------------------
I wasn't able to make the recent meeting held by this group, so maybe some of my concerns were addressed at that time. If so, could someone fill me in?
I'm with you UptownWalker. With little to no real information being disseminated by the FixWilsonYard folks, it makes me very wary of donating money. The information on the webiste is the same re-hashed information that many of us have known for years.
ReplyDeleteWell I have a question what good will suing do?
ReplyDeleteThe project has already been approved by the Mayor and his corrupt cronies so what can we do?
What law firm are they using?
I don't like WY but I don't think you can do anything since it has been approved and Holstein has financing.
The time frame to stop it or change it has passed or not?
Their website has a lot of holes in it. How does one know the donations are well spent? What are the grounds for litigation? Why two law firms? Who are the law firms?
ReplyDeleteFor those naysayers, we have two words for you in regards to the power that Uptown residents have been wielding lately...Labor Ready.
ReplyDeleteLabor Ready has or will be changing their name to "TrueBlue."
ReplyDeleteI signed the petition on fixwilsonyard.org, but was also wary of donating money.
Sometimes you just have to take a chance. There are many holes in the information FixWilsonYard has put out. That didn't stop me from donating. Many Pizzas will not be eaten in my condo because I took a chance.
ReplyDeleteRight now my impression is that Helen Shiller is feeling a great deal of pressure on many fronts. Our State Rep, Harris, and State Senator, Steans, seem to have lined up against her. Which is good politics if they want to remain in office or more likely move up the political ladder. Perhaps I am being cynical. Perhaps they actually want to do some good. More than likely it is a combination of all of the above.
Do you truly believe she showed up at the anticrime meeting because she wanted to? When Harris was picked to replace the late Larry McKeon, Shiller and her committeeman, Tom "Not So" Sharpe, supported another candidate. Harris used to be Mary Ann Smith's chief of staff and Steans comes out of that organization too. Do you see what I am getting at? To paraphrase the "Blues Brothers" can you see the light?
I truly do not expect Shiller to win if she runs again. Between Labor Ready, Wilson Yard,her vote for the tax hike, and our state legislators her chances are lessened. Cappleman is clearly running again and other may too and force a run off. The future is difficult to see it is.(Yoda)
Now the FixWilsonYard folks seem to be a relatively small group of folks working for change. Many of these folks have been fighting the good fight for years or even decades. If you think you can't fight city hall and win look at the soccer field that was "given" to the "Latin School". Sometimes good people working together and hiring attorneys can make a difference.
In fact I was told that one of the law firms hired by FixWilsonYard also worked on the soccer field case.
Now you can sit back and demand answers before you donate. That is your prerogative. As time goes on those answers will likely be forthcoming. Some of those answers may be held back in order not to give the city attorneys insight into what the opposition(rebellion) plans.
I donated. I took a chance. Worse case is we lose and the towers are built. Best case we win. In any case we organize for the future and annoy the hell out of a few "leaders". To me that is well worth it.
Join me. Join your neighbors. Fight for yourselves. Fight for your neighborhood. Fight the Good Fight. Stick it to "da man".
Know Hope.
What the FixWilsonYard.org site seriously lacks is an "about us" page. How can you ask for money if you don't clearly identify who you are?
ReplyDeleteThe site does mention payment could be made in care of Graceland-Wilson Neighbors, but there is no acknowledgment or link back from that site. Right now, when I look at the FWY site, all I see is an anonymous group asking for money for an unspecified action plan without even a concrete list of goals. Hope and a vague idea are not going to get you very far.
I can't find any information anywhere for who the officers of this 501(c)(3) are. According to the Illinois corporation search database, Katharine Boyda is the contact person for Graceland-Wilson. I'd like to see a personal pitch from Katharine to clarify issues and questions that many neighbors seem to have, in particular, some assurance that this activity does not conflict with the 501(c)(3) status of Graceland-Wilson. From my reading of the code, it seems to be in a very grey area.
Glad to see this site is up.
ReplyDeleteI've emailed the 'Helen Gang' a few times, about
the fictional artist's depiction of the Yards on her
re-election post card. No word back.
I cannot understand, how she seems to view Uptown, as her own 'mad experiment', injecting these social services gone wrong, like so many cancer cells.
What on earth is she thinking???
i will do everything in my power to expose wilson yard for what it is ... schiller and daley will be out of office if this happens ... ive talk to a number of people who are just feed up w/ all of this ... people w/ power and money
ReplyDeleteWhile I know a few of the people involved w/Fix Wilson Yard personally, and I don't think any of them would do anything improper w/money donated - I do agree the site needs to do a LOT more to educate people about who the group is, where the money people donate goes and what will it be used for.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a matter of making people feel safe that their money is going towards the intended cause and not someone's vacation to Costa Rica :-)
For those that don't think much can be done to stop WY - all I can say is "Latin School Soccer Fields". Those fields were under construction in LP when the injunction was filed to stop it. You CAN fight city hall - even in Chicago.
I agree with IrishPirate. I have no idea whether there is any real hope or not, or whether the money will be spent wisely or not. For those reasons, I limited the amount of the donation I made to $50. But I HAD to donate something, because to donate nothing is to admit defeat. Even if the money is squandered, at least I will have voiced an opinion, and won't be left with a feeling of "I wish I had tried to do something."
ReplyDeleteMy award winning video supporting FixWilsonYard. Actually, it hasn't won an award........yet.
ReplyDeleteDamn the politicians, full speed ahead!
I work in the development industry and deal with projects all over the city (not as a developer). Most all projects of this nature are required to be mixed-use. Meaning the first floor is commercial tenants and the upper floors are residential. Very rarely do we see and all-residential building on such a busy thoroughfare. If W.Y. is ALL residential: it wouldn't fit the model the entire city is adhering to.
ReplyDeletewhat do you want to be built at wilson yard some more condo?
ReplyDeleteI know it not mix-income.
I don't think for a min your helping poverty-level individuals and families lead stable, safe and meaningful lives in uptown.
I see this as a means to keep low-income family out of uptown.
this law suit is waste of time, they should have all ready file a suit whan it was first begin now it like OMG theirs going to more low-income people living in uptown.what can we do. lets file a law suit!.
This week's Reader has an interesting story about a recent court ruling in a case involving a TIF-financed shopping center in downstate Belleville. An Illinois appellate court ruled that "individual taxpayers have legal standing to sue municipalities they think are breaking or bending the laws governing TIFs."
ReplyDeleteIf I were Peter and Helen right now, I'd be feeling a little nervous. TIF abuse? Let me count the ways! If this stops Wilson Yards, it will be one of the biggest embarrassments Helen will have ever faced besides that meeting a week ago and maybe if you also count Labor Ready. It's safe to say that so far, 2008 has not been a good year for Helen.
Reader story on Appellate Court ruling that citizens have standing to sue over TIF abuse.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the link, IrishPirate. I think the Reader TIF archive is mandatory reading for every Uptown resident. I really wanna love me some Ben Joravsky but I just can't. For being the smart whipper-snapper he is, I don't understand why he can't see through Helen's charades. Maybe he will if we become his new heroes. He says:
ReplyDelete"Let’s have some oversight to justify taking all these tax dollars away from our cash-starved schools, parks, and county. I know, I know—it’s going to be expensive, inefficient, and risky to depend on lawyers and lawsuits for oversight that the City Council and the CDC are supposed to provide. And the irony that we’ll end up footing the city’s legal defense bills, drawing on tax money to fight the abuse of tax money, is almost painful. But if the supervisory agencies are too cowed to do their job, what’s the alternative? Somebody sue now, before Mayor Daley and his aldermen make the entire city a TIF and drive us all to the brink."
BTW, North Magnolia I am not against low income housing at all. One of the reasons why that community survey showed a high % of support for affordable housing is because people in this community were willing to say it is a concern even if they can afford market rate housing themselves. (That being said I am not discounting that some "hanky panky" did go on with the tabulations...)
ReplyDeleteAffordable housing is a big issue in this country. We have no housing policy. Of all of the causes that Helen Shiller could decide to take up this is a good one. However, low income housing should not be segregated into a very limited number of neighborhoods within this region. Mixed income communities are truly the only way to go. Either Shiller doesn't realize it or she doesn't want to but there comes a point when you start doing more harm than good. I wish she would retire from her official post and go work in the housing advocacy field. That is clearly where her passion is and I am sure her many years of slogging through Chicago politics could be put to good use there. Bottom line: the latest plan for Wilson Yard needs to be reviewed and revamped if not completely stopped.
Although I still have questions, I'll donate $50. I mean that's only a night of serious partying.
ReplyDeleteWhen they give us some more info or if I see some real legal action taken, I may be apt to donate more money.
i agree with marathonman1977, although i need about $150 for a serious night of partying...but I can do 50 this week....
ReplyDeleteuptownwalker's points are all valid - there needs to be more detail behind the org, where the money goes, where it goes if nothing happens, etc.
i know some of these folks so I'm more than happy to donate. but when lots of money is needed, people want solid details...
For all those who are saying, "oh what can we do...it will never work, etc." I'd like to tell you to shut up. Many efforts were made to settle this issue without a lawsuit, but it didn't work, so that is why the lawsuit is happening now. If you're so apathetic, why take the time to post on this site? People are doing serious work getting the site running, gathering info, selecting experienced lawyers, and contacting local businesses to organize fundraisers. You'd know this if you attended the meetings. So go ahead, throw up your hands and be useless while a housing project goes up on the corner of Montrose and Broadway, and puts the last nail in the coffin for Uptown, and a big feather in Hellen Shiller's cap.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the lawsuit gonig to be filed? Who are the lawyers? Who are the plaintiff's?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't an injuction to stop it in its tracks be the first step pending hearing of the lawsuit.
Frankly, it's a bad project but this is such a huge project $$$ wise and WY land has been sold to Holstein if I am not mistaken. So it's not like the soccer field issue.
Also the time to raise money and sue was a long time before this. Before the first spade was turned.
If someone can answer my questions I would donate but I think this is a bigger long shot than stopping Labor Ready.
The issue is simple. If the Wilson Yard Housing gets built as currently planned the following are likely to happen:
ReplyDelete1. The building will become a problem crime area and we will likely see the building become a gang building.
2. It will lead to this area of Montrose/Broadway being a slum for the next 50 years. What business wants to locate next to a project? What developer wants to have his next building in an area with all of the possible concerns I've mentioned?
3. Those of us who own property in the immediate area will see our property values drop!
This third reason is the basic reason that I am willing to donate for this cause. Its a small investment in our homes and neighborhood. It can be considered insurance for your property. We all have insurance (or should) and we rarely use it. Invest $100 to save the bigger investment of $200-$400K+ that you paid for your home.
And for the record I am in favor of affordable housing based on models that have worked not on the Cabrini-Green or Robert Taylor Homes models that have failed. If Helen would listen to an Urban Planner she would realize that her plan is doomed to fail based on actual experience we've had here in Chicago with other developments!
Has anyone who is in contact with the State reps that came to the Truman meeting last week spoken with them about Wilson Yard? Do they have any advice? Or are they willing to help?
ReplyDeleteCowboy raises one issue that I have been trying in vain to understand: what exactly about this plan is supposed to be appealing to Target? From what I have read, Target will own their own store. With the subsidies, then, they might end up with a significant piece of real estate at a very reduced cost. Ok. But in the end it all comes down to same store sales. This store needs to contribute to their portfolio of stores. I do agree that major retailers underestimate the purchasing power of low-income communities. But even so there are lots of risks with pursuing them. Wall Street and institutional investors (yada yada) don't care at all about do-goodyness. There is less at risk if you go after mixed income areas because in a recession/contraction you are hedging different spending patterns all at once rather than depending on one type of consumer. In principle, Uptown's diversity is a strength because there is a lot of income diversity within a 3-4 mile radius.
ReplyDeleteIMHO what is being overlooked is that local economies have various "ecologies." Traffic patterns (pedestrian and vehicular) and perceptions of crime really do affect people's consumption patterns. As I have said before on previous threads I am not wholly convinced WY is "doomed" to failure but WY doesn't have much going for it as far as what we know has worked in the past regarding mixed-income mixed use development. I really want someone to explain to me what is in it for Target if there is a chance that this location will not be a go-to destination for consumers?
Because there is a PayPal donate button right at the top of Uptown Update for the Fix Wilson Yard campaign, can we assume our anonymous host works directly with the campaign and/or is on the board of directors with Graceland Wilson Neighbors?
ReplyDeleteAs a news source, it would probably be better to link to their site rather than host the donate link directly--or start answering the questions residents have about the project.
I donated 100 dollars.
ReplyDeletecan we assume our anonymous host works directly with the campaign and/or is on the board of directors with Graceland Wilson Neighbors?
ReplyDeleteAs one of the contributors to the blog, I can assure you that neither Uptown Updater nor any of the contributors is personally involved with GWNA or working directly with FixWilsonYard.org.
The link is there because we DO strongly support their efforts.
As a news source
We're not the Trib or NYTimes. We don't have to pretend impartiality. Like most blogs, we've got opinions and we promote the things we like. Someone said we must be part owners of a local restaurant we promoted and enjoy. Wrong again. We're just not shy about pointing out the good and bad (as we see it) 'round these parts.
start answering the questions residents have about the project.
Since we're not part of GWNA or the FixWilsonYard organization, we're not in a position to answer questions readers may have. We suggest you direct any questions to the people behind the organization. I'm sure there's a "contact us" section on their site.
Well said Caring Neighbor.
ReplyDeleteBy the way even the major media have "points of view" and many make endorsements in elections.
For example I saw a great article on how the Tribune and Sun Times for years endorsed Convicted Felon and Former Alderbeast Troutman. Even though negative stories had appeared in their papers regarding her reign of "pay to play".
The Beachwood Reporter on Troutman.
As I stated so eloquently and loquaciously before you can do nothing or you can take a chance. You can sit back and complain or you can make a leap of faith. You can get involved or you can lay back in your LazyBoy and watch Shiller's towers of delusion take shape.
No North Magnolia,
ReplyDeleteWhen Helen Shiller first proposed this plan, we were told this was a 'mixed income' community.
The type of building this will turn out to be is as detrimental to the low-income people it will house as it is for the neighborhood. It will be Cabrini Green, Part II. Would you want to raise your children in that kind of environment?
Think, why would Helen Shiller want to recreate a failed housing model? Because she cares? No... it's about the $. Per unit, those apartments will cost more than the average condo in Uptown. Why is that? Because Holstein is gouging the crap out of Uptown, TIF money is being seriously abused, and no one is doing anything about it.
Those of us who care about it have tried every other method to stop this plan from moving forward as it is, and weren't able to get it stopped. So yes, now we have to turn to legal action.
As far as low income housing is concerned, why aren't you upset over the fact that other safe neighborhoods in the city aren't being pressured to provide safe, well-managed low-income housing in a mixed-income environment? Wouldn't you like to live in a safe neighborhood with a lot of grocery stores and facilities like Lincoln Park, Old Town, Wicker Park, Lakeview, etc? Aren't you a bit offended that the City of Chicago would shove you into a tiny Ward of Uptown, a neighborhood known to be, until the last 10 years, a violent, gang-ridden city? Aren't you angry that you are being segregated to this area like your some kind of cockroach? You should be.
Wilson Yard has the Mayor's approval not because he cares about 'poor people'. It has his support because the building won't be in the Loop, or near the Lake, so he doesn't have to worry about real estate values dropping in these areas due to the low income housing high-rises, which is what Wilson Yard is really going to be, if not stopped.
Correction - those of 'us' I should say, those who have been active in fighting against Wilson Yard, while I support it, I am not a key player in this. I support it in the ways that I can.
ReplyDeleteFarrell, As far as low income housing is concerned, why aren't you upset over the fact that other safe neighborhoods in the city aren't being pressured to provide safe, well-managed low-income housing in a mixed-income environment?
ReplyDeleteWhy because you what me to move their. No thank you so we have to fight people like you to stay there because we are low-income.
Wouldn't you like to live in a safe neighborhood with a lot of grocery stores and facilities like Lincoln Park, Old Town, Wicker Park, Lakeview, etc?
Those neighborhoods are not that safe we're in the city not a nice Suburbs. There killing everywhere. And if there are so safe with lot nice facilities why do you live there.
Aren't you a bit offended that the City of Chicago would shove you into a tiny Ward of Uptown, a neighborhood known to be, until the last 10 years, a violent, gang-ridden city?
No because the city of Chicago is what it is. The poor live where they can. And this is not only place that low-income housing is.
Aren't you angry that you are being segregated to this area like your some kind of cockroach? You should be.
Are you calling me and my family cockroach now that is what I am angry about? You know what I thinking you’re angry that you live in uptown and can not afford to live anywhere else and that we live here to.
Wilson Yard has the Mayor's approval not because he cares about 'poor people'. It has his support because the building won't be in the Loop, or near the Lake, so he doesn't have to worry about real estate values dropping in these areas due to the low income housing high-rises, which is what Wilson Yard is really going to be, if not stopped.
I know he does not care about anybody but his self. And we are by the lake. Wilson yard is 5 or 6 block from the lake.
North Magnolia,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, you don't seem to understand what I am saying to you. I will attempt to clarify it for you, but its obvious you have bought into Shiller's scare-tactics and are dismissing my arguments because you think I'm some rich person who wants to take your home away.
-I am not against low-income housing. MY DISABLED MOTHER LIVES IN IT. I think EVERY neighborhood in the city of Chicago should have the SAME amount of opportunities for low-income housing. That way, those who qualify for low-income housing can CHOOSE where they want to live. They wouldn't have to, as you say, "live where we can." Currently the majority of low-income housing is practically segregated to one area -Uptown- THAT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU, or ANYONE in your situation.
-I don't want to shut down any existing low-income housing in Uptown. I want more added in OTHER neighborhoods so that there is a BALANCE. It has been proven that the most successful communities with businesses, (JOBS!) park space, schools, etc, are MIXED income, meaning ALL levels of income from low - rich. Shiller is following a FAILED urban model of segregating all low income in one area. The last time this was tried, the Projects in the Loop. IT FAILED.
-It is a fact that an area that has a high concentration of poor is high crime. NOT because all poor are criminals - No, because criminals TARGET the poor because they think you are weak. Living in a MIXED income community helps reduce crime. That is why Uptown has gotten BETTER than it was 10 years ago - gentrification. We are trying to keep it from going back to where it was 10 years ago, and that is what Wilson Yard, per Shiller's current plan, represents.
-No, I did NOT call you or your family 'cockroaches.' I wrote very clearly that the City of Chicago, is treating you and your family as if you are cockroaches by making sure you have very limited places to live in the city - far away from tourist eyes! I would be angry about that if I was in your situation. There should be affordable housing in EVERY neighborhood.
-I live here because I like the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean I won't try to make it better if I can. I believe if you don't work hard and fight for the best you can get in life, you don't deserve it to begin with. I think you deserve it, and I deserve it. Which is why I want Wilson Yard to be a great example of a MIXED INCOME community. What it originally was supposed to be.
Either you are blinded by your hatred for condo owners or you bought Shiller's line of crap that all home owners in Uptown want you out of here. Either way, you and I may never see eye to eye. I'm not trying to keep you from getting a home, or take your current home away from you. I want you and others in your situation to have more options across the city. Period.
-I was referring to lake-front property. Homes on the lake. Daley has pushed the homeless out of major parts of the Loop, and away from the lakefront so that Chicago looks pretty to tourists.
Oh, and I could afford to live some place else. I didn't choose Uptown because I thought it was 'cheap.' These condo prices and property taxes aren't exactly 'cheap.'
ReplyDeleteI am angry that Alderman Shiller is only concerned about serving her 'cause' instead of doing the job she is paid by us tax payers to do. Which is make the 46th Ward a profitable, safe, and pleasant neighborhood that people want to live in.
Her refusal to take a strong stand against crime in her Ward, puts all of us, including you - in danger. Everyone should be angry about that.
Oh, and one other little note for North Magnolia...
ReplyDeleteJust as I don't know anything about you. You know zilch about me.
I know what its like to be poor, and to struggle. I grew up that way.
But because I didn't want to stay that way, I busted my butt to get through school, put myself through college and worked hard at any job I could to work my way up in my career.
For the first time in my life I am able to afford my OWN home. I chose Uptown to buy it in because I liked the character of the neighborhood. Instead of feeling welcome however, I come to learn that I am basically the devil in this community, and should be blamed for all the social ills of the low-income in Uptown. I ask a few simple questions of my Alderman, whose salary I help pay for, and her response to me is 'leave if you don't like it.'
Not too cool.
Farrell I respect your earnestness but seriously stop wasting your time. North Magnolia hears what she/he wants to.
ReplyDelete~don't even apologize. I've read your post over and over and how someone would get that you want them too move, are against the poor or that you're calling them or their family cockroaches is beyond me.
Most everyone in here have worked extensively with less fortunate people, i.e. mentally ill, handicapped, drug/alcohol addicted, homeless, abused children, neglected elderly. Why do people think if your not for shiller you are out to up root them ? Why do people think all condo owners want Uptown to be Lincoln Park?
Unless your criminally dangerous I wish no one would ever have to be forced out of their own neighborhood.
One decent, hard working INNOCENT young man too many has already been killed, that's why I'm here. That and I don't like backroom politics. If shiller herself thought it was a good idea why would she be lying about it-why wouldn't she be proudly announcing the real plans??????
I commend your patients farrell
Uptown Pits...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support. I know I should of saved my energy. I get a bit hot under the collar when someone who doesn't even know me, has the gall to question my motives or character. I knew when I was typing it that it wasn't worth the fight.
I'm interested in seeing what will play out with Fix Wilson Yard however... I really hope this will serve as a wake up call to our Alderman, that ignoring her constituents (the ones paying her salary!) will not make them go away. See, that's the problem with us nasty 'condo owners' we actually care about our investments, and when those investments are threatened by stupidity, we have no issue taking action. Whether its with our vote, our words, or our bank accounts, we refuse to be ignored, or demonized.