By Bob Seidenberg Northwestern University’s proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the city for the university’s $800 million stadium project speaks of public benefits but provides no figures as of yet concerning the contribution the tax-exempt university might give to blunt neighborhood impacts. The draft MOU is included in the packet of materials for…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s Tannenbaum Chabad Rabbi Dov Hillel KIein recalled saying two weeks ago if any of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants Oct. 7 were going to survive, it would be Judith Raanan, a frequent visitor to Chabad. “Why?” he said. “Because she has unbelievable hope, a tremendous amount of hope.” He quoted…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss issued a statement today regarding what he termed the “ongoing tragedy” in Israel. His comments on the issue came noticeably later than some of his political colleagues, including U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who both released statements shortly after the attacks on Israel….
Evanston Public Library names Yolande Wilbern as its new executive director The Evanston Public Library Board of Trustees announced today that they have named Yolande Wilburn as the Library’s new executive director, capping a more than 15-month search to a close. Wilburn will join the Evanston Public Library as the new Executive Director, starting Nov….
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston has made good use of renewable energy certificates in the past, purchasing them to buy a stake in renewable energy projects elsewhere, even though the sources of that renewable energy may be some far-off wind farm in North Dakota. City Council members reaffirmed continued use of that strategy Monday, voting 7-0…
By Bob Seidenberg Rule 5.2 of the Rules and Organization of the City Council states that a board or commission appointee may be reappointed only once. It’s a rule rarely if ever noticed and frequently not followed, but it became the center of discussion at the Evanston City Council meeting Sept. 11. Daniel Biss, who…
By Bob Seidenberg Residents would be required to obtain special permits before removing designated trees from their property under an ordinance expected to go to vote Monday night. Evanston City Council members are scheduled to vote on the city’s first comprehensive ordinance governing the protection of trees on private property, which makes up at least…
By Bob Seidenberg City and development officials highlighted the affordable housing features of a five-story, 60-unit, mixed-income apartment building planned for the city’s far south end at a well-attended Third Ward meeting Aug. 31. The Housing Authority of Cook County is teaming up with Cleveland-based PIRHL Developers, an affordable housing organization the city selected to…
By Bob Seidenberg Some neighbors of Canal Shores Golf Course, upset to see three old trees on the course get chopped down, on Thursday charged the trees had been felled without necessary permits. But Evanston Council Member Eleanor Revelle (7th Ward), who had initially concurred with neighbors and said that something “fell through the cracks,”…
By Bob Seidenberg Two senior City Council members took strong issue with the head of a group that markets the city as a destination place, suggesting her past remarks advocating for Northwestern University’s $800 million stadium project “crossed the line” in their criticism of residents who oppose the project. At the Aug. 28 City Council…
