By Bob Seidenberg Dissatisfied with the city’s City Manager choice, members of some local activist groups lined up outside 619 Howard St., today before Mayor Daniel Biss delivered his “State of the City” speech. Protesters were on view outside the PalmHouse as guests filed in to the $75-a-ticket (for non-members) Evanston Chamber Commerce-sponsored lunch for…
The Evanston City Council intends to appoint John Fournier as the next Evanston city manager. Contract negotiations are currently underway and a decision is expected in the coming weeks. John Fournier is the assistant city administrator of the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan where he has helped lead transformational changes through a commitment to multi-modal…
By Bob Seidenberg With a population deviation of more than 20% between some wards, members of a city Redistricting Committee recommended May 10 the City move forward on remapping effort to create greater balance. At the same time, officials vowed to keep the process as simple and straightforward as possible. Fourth Ward Council member Jonathan Nieuwsma is…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston officials have turned to a Philadelphia, Pa., firm to conduct a comprehensive study of the city’s business districts and suggest ways the city can realign itself in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Members of the city’s Economic Development Committee recommended April 27 that the city enter into a $245,000…
Mediterranean/European-style café with festoon of lights and umbrella-shaded tables. Open for coffee in the morning, moving to a wine café in the evening. Foods will be light fare that is good for grab-an- go or picnic-appropriate. Hoping to become a hub for cyclists, kayakers, runners and yoga participants…a place to refresh, recharge and socialize with…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Parks and Recreation Board members offered eight reasons at their Feb. 17 meeting for the city not to adopt a Council member’s proposal to end park closure times. Members of the City Council’s Human Services Committee touched on a number of these at their May 2 meeting, voting 3-2 against sending…
By Bob Seidenberg Snapper Poche took his listeners on a verbal ride through his government career, from his stint as Director of Code Enforcement in post-Katrina New Orleans to dealing with blighted properties as head of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. “It’s a passion for me, and it’s an area of deep interest and…
By Bob Seidenberg Alcohol is not prohibited in Evanston and indeed the substance is “flowing through many livers,” in the city, observed Eighth Ward City Council Member Devon Reid at the city’s April 27 Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting. Alcohol also has a number of detrimental health effects, particularly when overconsumed, Reid noted. Yet it…
By Bob Seidenberg Two city-owned properties at 1805 Church St. and 1708-10 Darrow Ave. lie within the West Evanston tax-increment financing district and are slated to be redeveloped several years down the road. Instead of sitting unused until then, though, one city council member is proposing that officials consider placing two street-soccer pitches – compact-sized…
By Bob Seidenberg Members of a City Council subcommittee have hit an impasse on whether to recommend the city adopt a program requiring licensing for all rental properties and have sent the issue back to a Council committee for review. At their April 14 meeting, members of the Planning & Development (P&D) Housing sub-committee voiced…
