c) What retired, well-off control freaks with nothing better to do than dispense nonsensical, prejudiced laws think

FTAShe envisioned water rings for the kids to go through with "whirly water" spraying in all directions...Giving budget power to residents has changed what gets done with infrastructure money. When Moore called the shots, he chose only meat-and-potatoes projects - street repairs, a new crossing signal or two. Under the new scheme, the ward's residents have funded showers at the beach, heated bus shelters and a $110,000 dog park.

Yeah, those seem like much better uses of the money. Who needs usable roads and safe crossings when you've got whirly water!!

The neighborhood up there actually looks great now - when I lived there is was falling apart, but businesses are coming in due to a seriously revamped Morse Avenue (though I'll always miss Duke's...great dive bar that's now gone). The volunteers on the budget committee put in a lot of time on this, too. It's a cool notion.

naughtyrev: The neighborhood up there actually looks great now - when I lived there is was falling apart, but businesses are coming in due to a seriously revamped Morse Avenue (though I'll always miss Duke's...great dive bar that's now gone). The volunteers on the budget committee put in a lot of time on this, too. It's a cool notion.

Agreed. I lived in Roger's Park about 20 years ago, and Morse Ave. wasn't much to look at.

/First thing I thunked of.

They should just cut out the middle-man.

I am thoroughly shocked and impressed that a city alderman is doing anything at all.

But I also remember that 20 years ago the best thing to do in Rogers Park was to go to Evanston.

Coolfusis: FTAShe envisioned water rings for the kids to go through with "whirly water" spraying in all directions...Giving budget power to residents has changed what gets done with infrastructure money. When Moore called the shots, he chose only meat-and-potatoes projects - street repairs, a new crossing signal or two. Under the new scheme, the ward's residents have funded showers at the beach, heated bus shelters and a $110,000 dog park.

Yeah, those seem like much better uses of the money. Who needs usable roads and safe crossings when you've got whirly water!!

Actually, the park upgrades ("whirly water"), beach showers, and heated bus stops all have an indirect effect on the economy.by encouraging people to actually go outside, where they're more likely to buy shiat.

The only one its actually worth getting mad at is the $110,000 dog park. Seriously, you couldn't do it cheaper? And if you tell me it's one of those tiny-ass fenced in areas like that shiatty non-profit put up near me recently, I'm going to scream.

i moved into Rogers Park last August, right on the lake, and I love it up here. There's a stronger sense of community responsibility and neighborhood friendliness here than anywhere I've ever lived. Granted, before moving I was a mostly lifelong resident of south St. Louis, where people only get active in their community when they hate or fear something or are drunk, so I may be biased.

apparently RP was hit pretty hard by the recession a few years ago, but it seems to be making a pretty good comeback now. I don't know how much of an effect the participatory budgeting has had on this, but the neighborhood is healthy if not thriving right now, so I say keep on keepin on.

My only complaints about Rogers Park so far are the lack of good thrift stores and crappy parking availability.

Leone Beach/Loyola park, and really all the beaches up into Evanston are wonderful,

Ikam: I lived in Roger's Park about 20 years ago

Until Roger came along and said "get out of my park you bum!"

Alderman have been outsourced!

You know, I was going to complain about the whole using money on murals thing...but they're kind of nice.

friday13: Coolfusis: FTAShe envisioned water rings for the kids to go through with "whirly water" spraying in all directions...Giving budget power to residents has changed what gets done with infrastructure money. When Moore called the shots, he chose only meat-and-potatoes projects - street repairs, a new crossing signal or two. Under the new scheme, the ward's residents have funded showers at the beach, heated bus shelters and a $110,000 dog park.

Yeah, those seem like much better uses of the money. Who needs usable roads and safe crossings when you've got whirly water!!

Actually, the park upgrades ("whirly water"), beach showers, and heated bus stops all have an indirect effect on the economy.by encouraging people to actually go outside, where they're more likely to buy shiat.

The only one its actually worth getting mad at is the $110,000 dog park. Seriously, you couldn't do it cheaper? And if you tell me it's one of those tiny-ass fenced in areas like that shiatty non-profit put up near me recently, I'm going to scream.

Instead of premptively biatching you could have looked into it and realized $110,000 is pretty good for the facility that was built.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idK0f0 JEHlI&feature=youtube_gdata_play e r

FRTA, my understanding was a certain percentage was voted to cover infrastructure. The remaining portion was used to fund the voted upon community projects.

I like this idea. My concern is the people who are voting? Is the participation rate enough to truly represent the mood of the community?

Alderman, alderman, doing whatever an alder can...

/Got nothing, it just sounded like a friendly neighborhood.

[okaywiththis]

Did

exactly the same thing, still gets call an evil dictator around here

lunogled: Did
[upload.wikimedia.org image 414x600]
exactly the same thing, still gets call an evil dictator around here

Because thats exactly what he gets called an evil dictator for.

I've met Alderman Moore a couple of times since I live in the area. He's actually a really cool person. He listens well and he's really responsive to his constituents. He has a regular presence on Everyblock for the areas in the ward and he sponsors a lot of "follow me" type events to bring customers to local businesses.

I'm pretty cynical about politicians in general but this guy does a good job and genuinely seems to care about the people in Rogers Park.

Ah, Rogers Park, where I learned to identify gunshots by caliber, heard automatic gunfire, encountered a drive-by shooting, accidentally lived a block away from a crackhouse, and had a burglar try to jump me.

I remember one hot summer night, hearing screaming and rushing footsteps coming from the direction of Lake Michigan, sounded like a kid screaming nonstop. A long approach, and then red-shifting as the screaming passed us by and receded in the opposite direction.

Another night, heard a large "boom" and thought "what the hell was that, a gun???" The next morning we saw a small car had been thrust onto the sidewalk, on its side. Presumably rammed by a drunk driver but it could've been Lovecraftian monsters for all I know.

Wolf_Blitzer: lunogled: Did
[upload.wikimedia.org image 414x600]
exactly the same thing, still gets call an evil dictator around here

Because thats exactly what he gets called an evil dictator for.

In America, the people having a real say in government is called authoritarianism, while a farcical oligarchy ruled by a minuscule aristocracy is democratic freedom. Make sense yet? No? Then you need to turn on the TV machine more, you free citizen, you.

A Dark Evil Omen: Wolf_Blitzer: lunogled: Did
[upload.wikimedia.org image 414x600]
exactly the same thing, still gets call an evil dictator around here

Because thats exactly what he gets called an evil dictator for.

In America, the people having a real say in government is called authoritarianism, while a farcical oligarchy ruled by a minuscule aristocracy is democratic freedom. Make sense yet? No? Then you need to turn on the TV machine more, you free citizen, you.

If you say so Che.

I like this idea. My concern is the people who are voting? Is the participation rate enough to truly represent the mood of the community?

If the voting is publicized enough it should be. Those that don't bother to vote are saying they don't care how the money is spent.

lunogled: Did
[upload.wikimedia.org image 414x600]
exactly the same thing, still gets call an evil dictator around here

Do you like dancing or puppies... Because Hitler liked dancing and puppies, too. However that's neither why he's despised, nor any reason to dislike dance or puppies.

Now do you see your mistake?

Coolfusis: FTAShe envisioned water rings for the kids to go through with "whirly water" spraying in all directions...Giving budget power to residents has changed what gets done with infrastructure money. When Moore called the shots, he chose only meat-and-potatoes projects - street repairs, a new crossing signal or two. Under the new scheme, the ward's residents have funded showers at the beach, heated bus shelters and a $110,000 dog park.

Yeah, those seem like much better uses of the money. Who needs usable roads and safe crossings when you've got whirly water!!

Where does it say that roads & crossings are no longer being maintained?

Color me impressed. I wonder if anybody in that area is hiring a security guard.

>_>

Egalitarian: Ah, Rogers Park, where I learned to identify gunshots by caliber, heard automatic gunfire, encountered a drive-by shooting, accidentally lived a block away from a crackhouse, and had a burglar try to jump me.

I remember one hot summer night, hearing screaming and rushing footsteps coming from the direction of Lake Michigan, sounded like a kid screaming nonstop. A long approach, and then red-shifting as the screaming passed us by and receded in the opposite direction.

Another night, heard a large "boom" and thought "what the hell was that, a gun???" The next morning we saw a small car had been thrust onto the sidewalk, on its side. Presumably rammed by a drunk driver but it could've been Lovecraftian monsters for all I know.

Sounds familiar...I was walking to the red line one morning going to work, when "pop, pop, pop" then CRASH! Dude driving down the street had been shot and smashed in to some parked cars. A few months later came home to my whole block taped off with police tape while they examined all the cars, pulling bullets from what must've been one big-ass shootout....they said it happened at 1:00 in the afternoon. Still plenty of great places up there, though, and I make it back to the old neighborhood quite often.

erik-k: Do you like dancing or puppies... Because Hitler liked dancing and puppies, too. However that's neither why he's despised, nor any reason to dislike dance or puppies.

Yeah, but Hitler did not base the politicis he implemented in Germany on dancing and puppies. On the other hand, direct involvment of citizens in decisions was a major Plank of Chavez's program, thats what he stood for.

NotARocketScientist: I like this idea. My concern is the people who are voting? Is the participation rate enough to truly represent the mood of the community?

If the voting is publicized enough it should be. Those that don't bother to vote are saying they don't care how the money is spent.

The people who are supposed to make the budgetary decisions are elected by a majority. The doofuses who show up to the meeting are not.
Listening to the doofuses? Fine. This happens in every community; the old useless squeaky wheels get the oil, because they have nothing better to do than show up to meetings and annoy councilfolk.

Ceding power directly to the doofuses? That's unethical. Let them run for election.

I lived in RP in the '80s, and from all reports, the neighborhood has changed very little; it was a cheap, sometimes dangerous place to live until I could move into a nicer part of town. You'd think that with its lakefront location, the neighborhood would have gentrified in the last 25 years, but I guess not.

I figure that the real Joe Moore is somewhere between this slobberfest and the picture painted by what's-his-Craig at the old Broken Heart blog.

No Rarity?

fark you all.