By Bob Seidenberg With needs far outpacing available funding, members of the city’s Finance & Budget Committee on Tuesday agreed it’s time to address how much debt is acceptable in addressing a growing list of capital projects. Committee members didn’t vote at the end of their discussion, but there was consensus toward developing a policy on…
Filing for office substantially down from four years ago By Bob Seidenberg Barring a successful petition challenge, the races are set for next April’s once-in-four years municipal election, with filings substantially lower than four years ago. Three incumbents — City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza, Fourth Ward Alderperson Jonathan Nieuwsma and Ninth Ward Alderperson Juan Geracaris will…
Council members appear open to expenditure cuts and new revenue sources — including property tax hike By Bob Seidenberg Evanston City Manager Luke Stowe has made it easy enough for the City Council to skate by without major changes this budget season, proposing a $342 million budget for 2025 that doesn’t include any new…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Filing is off to a slow start for Evanston’s once-in-every four years municipal election. Twelve candidates filed petitions of candidacy on the first day of filing for next year’s election — Feb. 25, if a primary; April 1, for the General Election. Sixteen candidates filed on the first day of filing…
By Bob Seidenberg A group of Latino city employees has hit out at what they called a “disturbing slander campaign” that suggests favoritism was at play in job promotions they have received. “It seems like whenever a Latino is promoted, instead of being celebrated, we are investigated and devalued, like we can’t possibly be capable…
By Bob Seidenberg An Evanston homeowner’s young elm tree — currently leaning over a neighbor’s garage, and projected to grow in that direction in coming years — will remain in place at least a few months, in the first test of the of the city’s private tree ordinance. At Monday’s Human Services Committee meeting, Council Member…
Sign up for our free newsletter to have Evanston news delivered directly to your inbox every weekday! By Bob Seidenberg Sharon Perrino, a 22-year resident of Evanston’s downtown, is on a mission to promote sidewalk safety. Still recovering from injuries she suffered when she was knocked down by a cyclist June 29, the 75-year-old has been…
By Bob Seidenberg City officials have introduced the possibility of allowing the development of different housing options, such as duplexes and triplexes, in what are now single-family-only zones throughout the city, as one of the “bold steps” they are considering in the Envision Evanston 2045 process to rewrite the city’s zoning code and comprehensive plan….
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com The Evanston City Council cleared the way Monday for a one-year pilot Pathway to Wellness program that aims to improve health outcomes for some of the city’s most vulnerable populations. Council members voted 9-0 in support of Fifth Ward Council Member Bobby Burns’ recommendation to approve the $400 000 funding allocation,…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s downtown fountain probably won’t start flowing again until summer of 2026, City Engineer, Lara Biggs told City Council members in a discussion of the issue tonight. The fountain, a centerpiece of downtown, has been off since spring of 2021, when officials observed it was unable to retain water. The city subsequently…