Some city leaders lend their support in key ward races
There’s a question of how much it helps By Bob Seidenberg With Evanston’s once-in-four-years municipal election less than a week away, members of the city’s political establishment are making their weight felt in several key ward races. — Current mayor Daniel Biss and former mayors Steve Hagerty, Elizabeth Tisdahl and Jay Lytle have endorsed first-time…
The Bluestone restaurant at 1932 Central St.
A sign of the times? Restaurant owner says he was confronted at charity event about signs he put out for Suffredin
By Bob Seidenberg The war of words and accusations between Sixth Ward candidates Council member Thomas Suffredin and challenger Candance Chow spilled over to a charity event for an Evanston group in Skokie last Friday. In an email sent out to several media outlets, and statement after, Patrick Fowler, charged that Chow’s husband, Daniel,…
(To left) Jack Mortell, president of city’s firefighter’s pension board.
Pension board leader accuses city of wrongly claiming pension funds as budget expenses
City says other neighboring communities do so as well and that there’s ‘no phantom’ budget item By Bob Seidenberg City says other neighboring communities do so as well and that there’s ‘no phantom’ budget item The city is following a practice used by a number of area communities by including public safety pension funds in…
Council approves lease to create an event venue at Harley Clarke
By Bob Seidenberg The Evanston City Council officially tied the knot Monday on a 40-year lease with the Celadon Construction Corporation, approving the company’s plans to convert the Harley Clarke mansion into a lakeside wedding and event venue, with the capacity to host as many as 150 weddings and other gatherings per year. Councilmembers voted…
Ward change catches one voter by surprise on first day of early voting
First day of early voting converges with change in ward boundaries, causing confusion for some ‘I thought I was going to vote for the Third Ward Alderperson. I was shocked to find out I had to vote in the Fourth Ward,’ one says. By Bob Seidenberg A few Evanston residents apparently encountered confusion Monday, arriving…
City may start recruiting businesses to fill vacant storefronts
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston Economic Development Committee members showed interest last week in a plan to recruit businesses to fill empty storefronts, taking advantage of new search tools that would allow them to find businesses that might be a good fit. “A lot of what drives our concerns about vacancy isn’t really about, ‘Why don’t…
Library officials explore potential cost of separating from the city
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Public Library officials are continuing to explore different options for managing mounting maintenance costs at the main building on Orrington Avenue, including one path that would entail separating from the city and becoming an independent district. EPL Executive Director Yolande Wilburn briefed the board at its Feb. 19 meeting on a…
Preservation Commission members again question proposed code changes
By Bob Seidenberg Frustration boiled over at times as members of the Evanston Preservation Commission met Feb. 11 for a second review of proposed city zoning code changes encapsulated in Envision Evanston 2045, raising concerns the recommended changes for greater height and bulk may be placing development over maintaining the city’s special character. “I think…
NU contract workers win protections in first-time ordinance supporting retention rights
By Bob Seidenberg Veronica Reyes, a longtime resident of the city, has worked the past 15 years as a cashier in food service for Northwestern University. When the university replaced food service operators Sodexo and Aramark with the Compass Group in 2018, she told members of the city’s Human Services Committee Wednesday night, “there was…
