By Bob Seidenberg Evanston city staff has proposed a $867,000 expansion in initiatives to address the youth violence which has increased during the Covid pandemic, including incentives for businesses to provide more workplace development opportunities for both youths and their families. It also includes increasing the age range of the group for programs to reach…
By Bob Seidenberg A fee on wealthy lakefront homeowners or a stealth tax? Members of a City Committee heard both points of view Dec. 13, discussing a proposal by Eighth Ward Council member Devon Reid that the city assess a fee on 42 lakefront properties where access is cut off from the public. Reid made…
By Bob Seidenberg In a process with little public involvement thus far, Evanston City Council members are down to their final candidates in the search for the next city manager, according to Council members reports to constituents. In a 7th Ward virtual meeting held Dec. 16, Council member Eleanor Revelle provided a brief update in…
By Bob Seidenberg (rseiden914@gmail.com) Parks versus operations buildings (like the water plant)? Community centers versus municipal buildings? Police and Fire buildings versus libraries? Jesus Lardizabal, a consultant with Altura Solutions, reviewed some of the choices with Evanston resident Amanda Zrust, preparing to take a survey on which city facilities need the greatest upgrades for accessibility….
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston City Council members moved November 8 to end the longstanding practice of offering the first hour of parking for free in the city’s downtown parking garages, starting January 1, despite criticism from some on the council as well as the group that represents many local businesses. Council members voted Monday in…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston City Council members’ approval of a new leaf-blower ordinance has started the clock running for the eventual phasing out of gas-powered leaf blowers. At their Monday, November 8 meeting, Council members approved the leaf blower ordinance as part of their consent agenda, which allows them to approve a batch of agenda…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston City Council members are expected to debate and possibly approve a new leaf blower policy at their meeting November 8 that calls for transitioning from gas-powered to electric-powered blowers. The ordinance amends the time and days when leaf blowers are permitted to be used, sets a new fine structure, establishes…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston City Council members at their November 1 meeting deferred acting on a request for $1 million in federal American Recovery Plan Act funds from local entrepreneurs to create The Aux, a commercial hub for Black business groups. Several council members praised the uniqueness of The Aux’s plan to transform the vacant…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com For the past 20 years or so, the City of Evanston has been picking up the full cost for crossing guard services for District 65 schools as well as for some of the private schools. But based on the tenor of a city budget discussion November 1, that could change. Looking…
By Bob Seidenberg PopularMMOs Presents A Hole New World” may not strike an immediate chord of recognition. But the stars of the children’s book, Pat and Jen, who do battle against zombies, have a huge fandom. The book, published by HarperCollins, is a spinoff of the Popular MMOs YouTube series, which has some 18 million…
