June 17, 2025
Headlines

Bob

Bob Seidenberg is an award-winning reporter, covering issues in Evanston for more than 30 years. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism.

At a meeting at Evanston Fire Department headquarters Thursday, Jack Mortell (left), president of the Evanston Firefighter’s Pension Board, and Hitesh Desai (center) the city’s chief financial officer and treasurer, discuss public safety pensions. Credit: Bob Seidenberg

City treasurer questioned over lack of transparency on pension tax

Bob08 mins

By Bob Seidenberg The president of the Evanston’s Firefighter’s Pension Board pushed the city Thursday to disclose how much of a special tax is being used to pay retiree pensions. Jack Mortell, the board president, pressed Hitesh Desai, the city’s chief financial officer and treasurer, to release figures for the revenues generated through the personal…

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Biss highlights his ability to win the tough fights, announcing a run for the 9th District Congressional seat

Bob03 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Mayor Daniel Biss announced his intention Wednesday to run for the 9th District Congressional seat, highlighting his ability to win tough fights in his opening message, including some “big ones”  as mayor. In a one-and-a-half-minute video, Biss said he is running “because we need Democrats who won’t flinch, who won’t fold, won’t…

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People using the limestone amphitheater steps at Grey Park. Credit: Bob Seidenberg

Preservation Commission raises concerns over Grey Park dog park design

Bob015 mins

Historic amphitheater an issue By Bob Seidenberg Members of the city’s Preservation Commission on Tuesday sharply criticized some design features proposed for a new city dog park at Grey Park, raising concerns that the project would undermine the park’s core feature and also limit access for some current users. Staff’s plan calls for the dog…

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(Left) Donna Robinson-Smith and daughter Jennifer Smith celebrated Mother’s Day and Jennifer’s birthday in a special way May 11. (Photograph by Carlton Rosemond).

Library leaves ‘a good feeling’ for one local family on Mother’s Day

Bob07 mins

CBy Bob Seidenberg Jennifer Smith remembers making her first visit to the Evanston Public Library. Her mom brought her and her sister “to the library shortly after we moved to Evanston in 1995 [from essentially across the street in Rogers Park] when I was around 5 and my sister, 2, to get us library cards,”…

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Members of the 82nd Evanston City Council will tackle a revision of the ‘Council Rules’ as one of their first actions.

City Council to consider rule changes, including to mayor’s voting power

Bob017 mins

Staff propose giving the mayor a chance to weigh in when an ordinance is one vote away from adoption but multiple councilmembers are absent By Bob Seidenberg The current “Rules and Organization of the City Council of the City of Evanston,” more commonly referred to as “Council Rules,” were initially drawn up to serve as…

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(Left) Former Township Assessor Bonnie Wilson with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky at Fourth of July festivities here last year. The two worked together on campaign in support of freshness dating on produce products that brought prominence to Schakowsky early on.

Schakowsky announces she will not seek reelection in 2026

Bob08 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky announced this week she won’t seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026,  ending a nearly thirty year run where she embodied the city’s progressive voice on the national scene. “For the last 26 years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of representing the 9th…

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New Adirondack chairs are now in place for the dining terrace at Independence Park.

Programs to enhance city’s business districts moving forward piece by piece

Bob011 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston economic development officials reported making headway last week on a number of initiatives included in the Evanston Thrives report designed to activate the city’s business districts. At the April 23 Economic Development Committee meeting, officials provided a status report on the projects — many having grown out of the 2023 Evanston…

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Crosby Theodore’s historic landmark building, 1817 Church St., stands to the left od Mt. Pisgah’s current location.

Court denies neighbor’s request for a preliminary injunction on Church and Dodge development

Bob013 mins

By Bob Seidenberg The Illinois First District Appellate Court upheld Monday a Cook County Circuit Court decision denying a property owner’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop a mixed-use development proposed for Church Street west of Darrow Avenue from moving forward. In a 25-page opinion, the three justices affirmed the circuit court ruling that the…

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Lenice Levy, owner of the Good to Go restaurant at 711 Howard St., responds to questions from members of the city’s Economic Development Committee April 23.

Committee reluctant to back restaurant’s request for assistance after fire

Bob014 mins

Economic Development Committee cited precedent and the past loan payment history of Good To Go Jamaican Cuisine By Bob Seidenberg A request from the owner of Howard Street’s Good To Go Jamaican restaurant for city assistance to rebuild after a devastating Nov. 29 fire failed to win initial support from members of the Economic Development…

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