I was reading through various blogs and there were a couple that caught my eye, but Cesar's in particular. He talked about 47th street and some of the kids around there:
"These kids just go to school to gangbang and deal drugs not even paying attention to school or caring about graduation. I think it would be best if Mayor Daley would implement some sort of program to help out these kids becuase the YMCA isn't doing a good job. Some sort of an after school program should help out the kids, something along the lines of anti-gang violence."
This caught my eye because it's something that I've been saying for the longest time. I am a strong advocate for after-school programs for kids. I was mad when they tore down the Boys & Girls Club that used to be at Taylor and Racine (it's been torn down for almost 5 years now). And then when they were doing the rehabilitation of that entire neighborhood, I was saying that they should turn the old school that's on Ada just off of Taylor, they should turn that into a new Boys & Girls Club. For the most part, though, my views really solidified when some kids from Galileo Math & Science Academy pulled a knife on myself and some friends in the park behind their school (Sheridan Park). There's nothing for them to do, so they harass other people in the neighborhood. I've watched various video documentaries and read multiple books about kids who grew up in the projects and all of them had one thing in common: their Boys & Girls Club was their escape. There was someone there was someone there who was a mentor to them and helped them keep their priorities straight. And here you have a first-hand account of someone who went to school in a neighborhood that lacked an after-school program. I have always thought that after-school programs were a necessity, but maybe that's because I grew up in my mom's after-school daycare, which was just as good as a Boys & Girls Club with our snack time and homework time. Something along those lines is what the city needs--everywhere. It's not enough to have just a few placed here and there. It really isn't. Mayor Daley does need to step in and help the situation by making more after-school programs. And that means more funding for the schools so they can afford to pay people to stay. It all comes down to funding. So, Mayor Daley, is that was these taxes are for??
Monday, November 19, 2007
Questions Questions Questions
I have entirely way too many questions that seem like they should have common sense answers. A lot of them pertain to public transportation, but they're still important to me:
Why isn't there any security on the CTA? There's always reckless kids on the cars harassing anybody and everybody. And as I've mentioned before, my mouth tends to get me in trouble. I've definitely barely avoided getting into fights with these kids, but I never start anything. I can only be provoked for so long. They need to stop instigating. Or better yet, just get off the train.
Where are all these new taxes going? What are they going towards? As far as I'm concerned, they should all go towards CPS. No more new streets where they aren't necessary and no more huge parks that aren't raking in the proposed profits.
What is it that's really attractive about Chicago? We have so many problems, I really don't see why anybody would want to move here. I mean, staying here is a whole other story--this is home. But for somebody to move here in the midst of all this? Why??
If people are so against the fare-hikes on the CTA, why don't they just boycott it? That would do something, right? I mean this is how I see it: LA gets a lot more public funding than Chicago. But that's because there's not a whole lot of people riding it, so they need to make it look appealing to get people to actually ride it. Chicago, on the other hand, we'll ride on anything. So even if they train is rundown and falling apart, they know they'll still get some business. Maybe if we show them that they really need to fix the situation by boycotting it, we'll actually see some changes.
Why is there ALWAYS some sort of construction going on? Will we never be happy with what we have?
How does such a big city with high taxes already have so many big financial problems?
At this rate, it seems like we're going to go into a big depression. Please don't tell me I'll have to move to another city! Ahhh!
Why isn't there any security on the CTA? There's always reckless kids on the cars harassing anybody and everybody. And as I've mentioned before, my mouth tends to get me in trouble. I've definitely barely avoided getting into fights with these kids, but I never start anything. I can only be provoked for so long. They need to stop instigating. Or better yet, just get off the train.
Where are all these new taxes going? What are they going towards? As far as I'm concerned, they should all go towards CPS. No more new streets where they aren't necessary and no more huge parks that aren't raking in the proposed profits.
What is it that's really attractive about Chicago? We have so many problems, I really don't see why anybody would want to move here. I mean, staying here is a whole other story--this is home. But for somebody to move here in the midst of all this? Why??
If people are so against the fare-hikes on the CTA, why don't they just boycott it? That would do something, right? I mean this is how I see it: LA gets a lot more public funding than Chicago. But that's because there's not a whole lot of people riding it, so they need to make it look appealing to get people to actually ride it. Chicago, on the other hand, we'll ride on anything. So even if they train is rundown and falling apart, they know they'll still get some business. Maybe if we show them that they really need to fix the situation by boycotting it, we'll actually see some changes.
Why is there ALWAYS some sort of construction going on? Will we never be happy with what we have?
How does such a big city with high taxes already have so many big financial problems?
At this rate, it seems like we're going to go into a big depression. Please don't tell me I'll have to move to another city! Ahhh!
CPD
Ugh. Need I say more? I'm not exactly sure what started it, but I really do not like cops. Not even just Chicago police officers, but police officers in general. I guess I'm a bit prejudiced towards them, though, so I'm kinda the bad guy in this situation. But either way, cops--Chicago cops, especially--just rub me the wrong way. Almost every time I have an encounter with one of them, I'm greeted by a HUGE attitude. And I have a big attitude of my own, so it's hard for me to not say anything. But I don't wanna get in trouble, so I have to keep my mouth shut. It's just, I feel like I can't even ask a cop a question without feeling like I'm bothering him--or her. I don't know if it's a power trip these cops get on, but they just always wanna find something wrong that you're doing.
I mean, sure, you have your fair share of nice cops. The ones who actually seem like they're out there to protect the public. There's just too many cops who seem like they just want to catch the bad guy--even if the "bad guy" isn't bad at all. You catch my drift? I'll have cops pull up next to me when I'm driving down the street and they're searching through the car trying to find something to get me for. Or they'll slow up and get behind me. And I just know they're checking my plates to see if there's anything fishy. You know what I mean? I know I'm not the only one who gets this vibe from cops.
One thing I noticed is that it is GREAT to know a Chicago police officer. One of my friend's dads is a Chicago Police officer, but he doesn't do patrol-work. No, he's higher up on the totem pole and travels a lot doing the DARE program. He holds a lot of ground within in the Chicago Police Department. I've mentioned his name before and cops have just stopped talking to me. Now, the particular cop I'm referring to was clearly a shady cop, so I'm not sure if he stopped talking to me because he knew he couldn't get me for anything (since I had that connection up top) or because he didn't wanna say anything that could potentially get himself in trouble. But either way, it got the cop off my back. Haha. It's just all very political. And it's all about who you know and who knows you. I just know that I steer clear of cops every chance I get. I just don't like having to hold my tongue, but I know that my mouth is gonna get me in trouble sooner or later. So I'd rather just avoid the situation altogether.
I mean, sure, you have your fair share of nice cops. The ones who actually seem like they're out there to protect the public. There's just too many cops who seem like they just want to catch the bad guy--even if the "bad guy" isn't bad at all. You catch my drift? I'll have cops pull up next to me when I'm driving down the street and they're searching through the car trying to find something to get me for. Or they'll slow up and get behind me. And I just know they're checking my plates to see if there's anything fishy. You know what I mean? I know I'm not the only one who gets this vibe from cops.
One thing I noticed is that it is GREAT to know a Chicago police officer. One of my friend's dads is a Chicago Police officer, but he doesn't do patrol-work. No, he's higher up on the totem pole and travels a lot doing the DARE program. He holds a lot of ground within in the Chicago Police Department. I've mentioned his name before and cops have just stopped talking to me. Now, the particular cop I'm referring to was clearly a shady cop, so I'm not sure if he stopped talking to me because he knew he couldn't get me for anything (since I had that connection up top) or because he didn't wanna say anything that could potentially get himself in trouble. But either way, it got the cop off my back. Haha. It's just all very political. And it's all about who you know and who knows you. I just know that I steer clear of cops every chance I get. I just don't like having to hold my tongue, but I know that my mouth is gonna get me in trouble sooner or later. So I'd rather just avoid the situation altogether.
Creative Class
So Richard Florida mainly talks about how companies and cities are gearing themselves to appeal to the "creative class." Why? Because rumor has it that's where all the profits come from. It's a strange idea at first, I was even a bit thrown off by his intro. Usually, it's the artsy kids who are being exiled and ignored. They're generally type-casted as being strange or weird and are even pariahs at times. But those are who make a company thrive. They are the ones who come up with brilliant ideas and help companies just flourish. I had to think about it for a minute before I fully understood what Florida was getting at, but now it almost seems like common sense.
Cities need idea-filled people, otherwise things aren't going to change. And, generally speaking, change is good, right? So how is a city gonna go anywhere if nothing changes. Well, I guess it's not. So the Creative Class is a good thing. And it's even better because a big bulk of it comes from my generation--so that makes me feel extra special. ^_^
Companies are changing themselves, too. They're making themselves seem more appealing because they want the artsy kids to choose them. They want the people with creative ideas and unique ways of thinking to be drawn in their direction. It almost seems natural. So it's a win-win situation. Companies are getting the kids with the big ideas while the kids are getting jobs in flourishing cities and rich companies. It doesn't seem like anything's wrong with that.
Cities need idea-filled people, otherwise things aren't going to change. And, generally speaking, change is good, right? So how is a city gonna go anywhere if nothing changes. Well, I guess it's not. So the Creative Class is a good thing. And it's even better because a big bulk of it comes from my generation--so that makes me feel extra special. ^_^
Companies are changing themselves, too. They're making themselves seem more appealing because they want the artsy kids to choose them. They want the people with creative ideas and unique ways of thinking to be drawn in their direction. It almost seems natural. So it's a win-win situation. Companies are getting the kids with the big ideas while the kids are getting jobs in flourishing cities and rich companies. It doesn't seem like anything's wrong with that.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Christmas in Chicago...
...is absolutely GORGEOUS. I love going by Millennium Park and seeing everyone skating outside and enjoying the lights and the holiday season. The city just looks amazing during the winter. Everything is all decorated all pretty. And then the snow (the fresh, white snow, at least) just makes everything stand out and pop. It amazes me every time I go downtown. I'm just hypnotized by the lights in the trees and the decorations along lightpoles and in store windows. It just warms my heart. Maybe because it reminds me of the movies like Miracle on 34th Street, but either way, it's still absolutely beautiful. (I've realized through writing these blogs that I love the word "absolutely.")
I've only gone ice skating downtown once--that I remember at least. It was for my friend's birthday two years ago. It was so much fun, I don't really know why I haven't gone back yet. But it was so much fun. Just being outside just a couple blocks from the lakefront in the heart of the city. I don't know, I guess you could say I felt actually a part of the city, you know?
But that's besides the point. What I had intended on getting at when I started this was the way the city can, as big as it is, make itself seem like a fun little town. The way it unifies itself during certain times makes it feel like that. Like, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all of the buildings have pink lights glowing from their rooftops. Even Navy Pier has each building along the pier lit up in pink lights. And the diamond shaped building (I don't know the name it goes by. Whoops.) will usually have a message corresponding to the lights. Like, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it says "Think Pink" I'm pretty sure. Last night, though, I noticed that it says "Pink + Blue." Now, I'm not too sure what that's for, but since I was driving down Lake Shore Drive, I was able to get a good look at all the buildings, I noticed that there was indeed a mixture of some pink lights and some blue lights. It just amazes me how a city so big can be so coordinated, you know? (So I guess Daley deserves some credit.)
But Christmas is still my favorite time to be in the city. I especially love going by the Marshall Field's building because they always have the best window displays. And actually going into the store and going up to the Walnut Lounge (you all know what I'm talking about, right?), well that big Christmas tree always gets me going. Its ornaments are ginormous and the train goes all the way around it. At least, that's how it was when I was there last--like 5 years ago. But still, that's the image I have in my head, so that's what I know. I'm just really looking forward to all the decorations for this year and I think I'm actually going to go out and soak as much of it up as I can. I have a long to-do list for this season.
I've only gone ice skating downtown once--that I remember at least. It was for my friend's birthday two years ago. It was so much fun, I don't really know why I haven't gone back yet. But it was so much fun. Just being outside just a couple blocks from the lakefront in the heart of the city. I don't know, I guess you could say I felt actually a part of the city, you know?
But that's besides the point. What I had intended on getting at when I started this was the way the city can, as big as it is, make itself seem like a fun little town. The way it unifies itself during certain times makes it feel like that. Like, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all of the buildings have pink lights glowing from their rooftops. Even Navy Pier has each building along the pier lit up in pink lights. And the diamond shaped building (I don't know the name it goes by. Whoops.) will usually have a message corresponding to the lights. Like, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it says "Think Pink" I'm pretty sure. Last night, though, I noticed that it says "Pink + Blue." Now, I'm not too sure what that's for, but since I was driving down Lake Shore Drive, I was able to get a good look at all the buildings, I noticed that there was indeed a mixture of some pink lights and some blue lights. It just amazes me how a city so big can be so coordinated, you know? (So I guess Daley deserves some credit.)
But Christmas is still my favorite time to be in the city. I especially love going by the Marshall Field's building because they always have the best window displays. And actually going into the store and going up to the Walnut Lounge (you all know what I'm talking about, right?), well that big Christmas tree always gets me going. Its ornaments are ginormous and the train goes all the way around it. At least, that's how it was when I was there last--like 5 years ago. But still, that's the image I have in my head, so that's what I know. I'm just really looking forward to all the decorations for this year and I think I'm actually going to go out and soak as much of it up as I can. I have a long to-do list for this season.
Chicago Public Schools
It seems like there has always been a problem with Chicago Public Schools. Well, in most neighborhoods at least. The funding for the schools is based off of property taxes. And since different neighborhoods have different property values, the fundings for the schools in each neighborhood is different. So, with that sytem in place, you have more money going towards schools in neighborhoods where the property costs a lot more. So you can assume that the kids who go to the better-funded schools come from families with more money, since they can afford the more expensive housing. And vice versa; the not-so-well-funded schools are attended by students who are coming from poorer families. So, the question is, is this way of funding the public schools a good one?
My response: No. I think that it segregates the city so much more. It really separates the poor from the rich. The poorer schools have less teachers and larger classes and not as many amenities. The richer schools, however, are able to pay more teachers to have smaller classes and are able to keep extracurriculars around. The poor kids are almost punished for coming from a poor family, and that's just not right. Sure, "life's not fair" but this is America--one of the most prosperous cities in America, at that--and we should be able to work out a better system that would ensure everyone gets the same education. Here's my proposal.
How about doing a blanket tax. Like, it could still be based on property taxes, but instead of focusing all of that on the school in that neighborhoods, pool it all together and distribute it equally. Yes, I know that would make the richer end of the rope angry because their tax money would be going towards funding schools in the "ghetto." But in my eyes, that's good. Because they would realize the need to help the "ghetto." It would no longer be a distant problem, one they don't have to deal with. And that might actually help the city become desegregated and more equal on an economical level.
That's just the way I see it. Maybe I'm just being an idealist in thinking that, but I believe strongly in it. I honestly think that by doing that, it'd be a wake up call to the richer people of Chicago and they'd be motivated to help the city in its entirety.
My response: No. I think that it segregates the city so much more. It really separates the poor from the rich. The poorer schools have less teachers and larger classes and not as many amenities. The richer schools, however, are able to pay more teachers to have smaller classes and are able to keep extracurriculars around. The poor kids are almost punished for coming from a poor family, and that's just not right. Sure, "life's not fair" but this is America--one of the most prosperous cities in America, at that--and we should be able to work out a better system that would ensure everyone gets the same education. Here's my proposal.
How about doing a blanket tax. Like, it could still be based on property taxes, but instead of focusing all of that on the school in that neighborhoods, pool it all together and distribute it equally. Yes, I know that would make the richer end of the rope angry because their tax money would be going towards funding schools in the "ghetto." But in my eyes, that's good. Because they would realize the need to help the "ghetto." It would no longer be a distant problem, one they don't have to deal with. And that might actually help the city become desegregated and more equal on an economical level.
That's just the way I see it. Maybe I'm just being an idealist in thinking that, but I believe strongly in it. I honestly think that by doing that, it'd be a wake up call to the richer people of Chicago and they'd be motivated to help the city in its entirety.
My 5 Favorite Places
OK, so I've been thinking about what I'm going to put for this blog ever since we received or second sheet of assignments. And I've come up with this:
1) My dormroom
2) The El
3) The lakefront--between North Ave. and Chicago Ave.
4) My friend's grandma's house in Hyde Park
5) My highschool--St. Ignatius (Roosevelt and Blue Island)
And here are my reasons:
1) I absolutely love being in my dormroom because it's my room. As a matter of fact, I just love being in the building. The view is absolutely amazing. Especially from the top floor lounge in my building. It looks straight at the skyline...it's gorgeous. Sometimes, I'll go sit and just gaze out the window for what seems like forever.
2) I love being in public spaces; I'm a people-watcher. I love taking the CTA and just thinking things over, watching the way people interact. It's interesting to me. But more than anything, it's the best way for me to work through things. I'll just sit on a train for a prolonged period of time--sometimes even hours--and just think about things, work them out in my mind. So, in a way, it's a win-win situation for me. If I'm not working things out for myself, I get to watch people interact.
3) Well, this one really only works in the summer, but I have to admit, I'll go out there in the dead of winter, too. The sound of the waves crashing, especially like they were last night, just puts me at ease. Everytime I go to the lakefront, it feels like I'm escaping in a sense.
4) First of all, my friend's grandma is like my grandma. I love her to death. And when I'm at that house, I feel like I actually have a grandma (all of my grandparents died by the time I was three). She'll start cooking up dinner and we'll all sit in the kitchen--which is so reminiscent of the 70s--and talk and tell stories and just have so much fun. And then the neighborhood itself is so calming and just so nice. I go over there every chance I get, even if my friend isn't over there.
5) Yes, I like to go back to my highschool. Preferably with friends who I graduated with, but I'll go by myself, too. There's just so many memories there, I like going back because it's easier to reminisce that way. I mean, yea, it's strange tha there's all kinds of new kids there, but I still like being at the actually school. And then it's right down the street, so it's easy to go back. A lot of people say that they don't like going back to highschool--that once they're done, they're done. And I was like that at first, too. But I can't lie--I like going back.
1) My dormroom
2) The El
3) The lakefront--between North Ave. and Chicago Ave.
4) My friend's grandma's house in Hyde Park
5) My highschool--St. Ignatius (Roosevelt and Blue Island)
And here are my reasons:
1) I absolutely love being in my dormroom because it's my room. As a matter of fact, I just love being in the building. The view is absolutely amazing. Especially from the top floor lounge in my building. It looks straight at the skyline...it's gorgeous. Sometimes, I'll go sit and just gaze out the window for what seems like forever.
2) I love being in public spaces; I'm a people-watcher. I love taking the CTA and just thinking things over, watching the way people interact. It's interesting to me. But more than anything, it's the best way for me to work through things. I'll just sit on a train for a prolonged period of time--sometimes even hours--and just think about things, work them out in my mind. So, in a way, it's a win-win situation for me. If I'm not working things out for myself, I get to watch people interact.
3) Well, this one really only works in the summer, but I have to admit, I'll go out there in the dead of winter, too. The sound of the waves crashing, especially like they were last night, just puts me at ease. Everytime I go to the lakefront, it feels like I'm escaping in a sense.
4) First of all, my friend's grandma is like my grandma. I love her to death. And when I'm at that house, I feel like I actually have a grandma (all of my grandparents died by the time I was three). She'll start cooking up dinner and we'll all sit in the kitchen--which is so reminiscent of the 70s--and talk and tell stories and just have so much fun. And then the neighborhood itself is so calming and just so nice. I go over there every chance I get, even if my friend isn't over there.
5) Yes, I like to go back to my highschool. Preferably with friends who I graduated with, but I'll go by myself, too. There's just so many memories there, I like going back because it's easier to reminisce that way. I mean, yea, it's strange tha there's all kinds of new kids there, but I still like being at the actually school. And then it's right down the street, so it's easy to go back. A lot of people say that they don't like going back to highschool--that once they're done, they're done. And I was like that at first, too. But I can't lie--I like going back.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Part IV: Land Use and Housing
Basically, the conclusion I came to is this: more affordable housing. Maybe that's just what's stuck in my head since that's what the end of the reading talks about, but it's still the thing that sticks out in my mind most. But it's true, we do need more affordable housing. I mean, especially in Chicago. The lack of affordable housing is insane. And this whole CHA Transformation just made the problem even worse if you ask me. I mean, I understand that they're trying to integrate certain neighborhoods and everything, but I am just extremely against it. This is how it works, just in case you don't know:
The CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) is making moves to integrate neighborhoods by tearing down the rundown projects--which are extremely segregated neighborhoods--and buliding new mixed-income housing. One third of the housing is going to be sold at full market price; one third is going towards subsidized housing (Section 8); one third is for public housing. And that's where the biggest problem lies. While it's great that they're integrating the neighborhoods that were so homogenously filled with the projects, they're forgetting that there's a whoooooole lot of people being put out on the street. OK, I take that back. They're not necessarily getting put out on the streets, but there is a big crisis over where the people from the projects are going to go. And that's where this lack of affordable housing comes into play.
With such a low amount of affordable housing, there really is this question about what are these people who aren't going to get one of the mixed-income units--what are they going to do? This issue has been on the table since even before the CHA transformation. I guess they didn't plan things out all the way, huh.
The CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) is making moves to integrate neighborhoods by tearing down the rundown projects--which are extremely segregated neighborhoods--and buliding new mixed-income housing. One third of the housing is going to be sold at full market price; one third is going towards subsidized housing (Section 8); one third is for public housing. And that's where the biggest problem lies. While it's great that they're integrating the neighborhoods that were so homogenously filled with the projects, they're forgetting that there's a whoooooole lot of people being put out on the street. OK, I take that back. They're not necessarily getting put out on the streets, but there is a big crisis over where the people from the projects are going to go. And that's where this lack of affordable housing comes into play.
With such a low amount of affordable housing, there really is this question about what are these people who aren't going to get one of the mixed-income units--what are they going to do? This issue has been on the table since even before the CHA transformation. I guess they didn't plan things out all the way, huh.
Monday, November 12, 2007
November 14 Readings
Quite honestly, I was definitely expecting both of those readings to be a lot longer. The chronology seemed to cover just the basic basics. And the overview of the redevelopment of the South campus, well, it states exactly what it had planned to do. It was weird for me to read it, though, since everything's been built accordingly. But either way, it made sense.
But when I was looking at the pictures they put there, I was a little put off. Just because in one of the pictures--well, drawing--it shows Maxwell, I'm pretty sure, looking East from Halsted. And it makes the street look so much more friendlier than it actually is and it shows it basically crawling with people. Sadly, that's not the way it is. I mean, sure, the whole thing is really new and maybe they're not completely done with the redevelopment of the neighborhood, but it still threw me off a bit.
As far as what would I add to or subtract from the UIC campus, I have plenty of ideas. No, I'm not crazy and didn't just come up with all of these ideas, but ADH had signs up all last semester about various places on campus and what its pros and cons were as far as its level of friendliness. I remember reading them and for almost every different part of campus that was covered, it was stated in some way, shape, or form that the campus had a cold, dark feeling. It's the high levels of concrete and metal beams and cinderblock walls. One thing that I think would add so much to the campus, and I don't even think it would cost all that much, would be to change the light fixtures. The light poles are so industrial and ugly that it gives the campus such a distant feeling. If they were more "suburban," the campus might feel more like a campus. Sometimes when I'm walking down the sidewalks, I try to picture them lining the walkways instead of those ugly things and it works--the campus instantly gets a new feel. It's strange how something that seems so little can do a lot to change the feel of an entire campus. Of course, we all know that the buildings definitely look like bomb shelters, and that's going to have to be worked on. Especially--especially--the library. I absolutely hate going in there. Not only is it confusing as all get out, but it's just so ugly. It's hideous on the inside and it doesn't even feel like a library. I don't know about everyone else, but I can't do work in an environment that I feel uncomfortable in. The library, along with the streetlights, gives the campus an incredible industrial feel. That's now how a campus should feel like? It seems like the University is working on it though, because Grant Hall is a little bit more like a campus building, een though it does still kinda look like the rest of the lecture halls. It's weird walking through the campus when I've seen the likes of Loyola and U of I. Their campuses definitely have us beat, hands down. Hopefully, while I'm still here, the school can start to feel more comfortable and not so industrial. Even if I have gotten used to it.
But when I was looking at the pictures they put there, I was a little put off. Just because in one of the pictures--well, drawing--it shows Maxwell, I'm pretty sure, looking East from Halsted. And it makes the street look so much more friendlier than it actually is and it shows it basically crawling with people. Sadly, that's not the way it is. I mean, sure, the whole thing is really new and maybe they're not completely done with the redevelopment of the neighborhood, but it still threw me off a bit.
As far as what would I add to or subtract from the UIC campus, I have plenty of ideas. No, I'm not crazy and didn't just come up with all of these ideas, but ADH had signs up all last semester about various places on campus and what its pros and cons were as far as its level of friendliness. I remember reading them and for almost every different part of campus that was covered, it was stated in some way, shape, or form that the campus had a cold, dark feeling. It's the high levels of concrete and metal beams and cinderblock walls. One thing that I think would add so much to the campus, and I don't even think it would cost all that much, would be to change the light fixtures. The light poles are so industrial and ugly that it gives the campus such a distant feeling. If they were more "suburban," the campus might feel more like a campus. Sometimes when I'm walking down the sidewalks, I try to picture them lining the walkways instead of those ugly things and it works--the campus instantly gets a new feel. It's strange how something that seems so little can do a lot to change the feel of an entire campus. Of course, we all know that the buildings definitely look like bomb shelters, and that's going to have to be worked on. Especially--especially--the library. I absolutely hate going in there. Not only is it confusing as all get out, but it's just so ugly. It's hideous on the inside and it doesn't even feel like a library. I don't know about everyone else, but I can't do work in an environment that I feel uncomfortable in. The library, along with the streetlights, gives the campus an incredible industrial feel. That's now how a campus should feel like? It seems like the University is working on it though, because Grant Hall is a little bit more like a campus building, een though it does still kinda look like the rest of the lecture halls. It's weird walking through the campus when I've seen the likes of Loyola and U of I. Their campuses definitely have us beat, hands down. Hopefully, while I'm still here, the school can start to feel more comfortable and not so industrial. Even if I have gotten used to it.
Another rant about the CTA
So this public transportation thing is steady proving to be difficult. They postponed D-Day again, but what does that mean? Does that mean that the problem's not really as big as they say it is? Because they seem to be getting emergency funding from somewhere. This second delay of D-Day wasn't even publicized all that much. It kind of surprised me, actually. Because I was definitely expecting there to be a lot less buses as of November 4th. We were talking about it in my English class and about how the importance and urgency of the situation is slowly diminishing since they just keep pushing back the day. Each time they do that, the public just kinda is like "Again?" I mean, I know I am. But then again, it never really bothered me, the fact that they were having all these cuts and raising the prices. Because I have a U-Pass. Does that make me selfish? I mean, yea, it sucks because all kinds of people are gonna be losing their jobs. But, no offense to them, I have other things that I need to worry about. The fact that they're discontinuing a lot of routes, that part does suck because that also means longer waits for different buses. Which kinda makes me wish they did the cuts at the beginning of the summer, because I don't wanna be standing out in the cold waiting for a prolonged period of time. I'll admit, that part does suck.
I was reading the RedEye today when I saw an article about how scientists are linking obesity to global warming. They said that if people didn't drive so much and walked and rode their bikes more often, then they'd be helping to fix this global warming problem. It also said how obese people emit more carbon dioxide than a "normal" person. Maybe that's because of their tendency to drive opposed to walking and such. But I can't help but think that maybe they're also pushing towards using public transportation. I mean, they're printing articles that are promoting NOT driving. And it's getting cold out, so who's gonna wanna walk and ride their bikes. Come on now. So here's what I think: They're printing this article hoping that people will be like "They're right!" and they'll jump on the trains and the CTA crisis will be downgraded, not necessarily diminished. But brought down a level. I mean, it's the RedEye--a Chicago newspaper. It's likely, right?
I was reading the RedEye today when I saw an article about how scientists are linking obesity to global warming. They said that if people didn't drive so much and walked and rode their bikes more often, then they'd be helping to fix this global warming problem. It also said how obese people emit more carbon dioxide than a "normal" person. Maybe that's because of their tendency to drive opposed to walking and such. But I can't help but think that maybe they're also pushing towards using public transportation. I mean, they're printing articles that are promoting NOT driving. And it's getting cold out, so who's gonna wanna walk and ride their bikes. Come on now. So here's what I think: They're printing this article hoping that people will be like "They're right!" and they'll jump on the trains and the CTA crisis will be downgraded, not necessarily diminished. But brought down a level. I mean, it's the RedEye--a Chicago newspaper. It's likely, right?
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Government Magazine
Illinois:
Overall--C+
Money--B
People--C
Infrastructure--C+
Information--C+
Louisiana:
Overall--B
Money--B+
People--B
Infrastructure--C+
Information--A-
At first, I was a little thrown off by the overall grades. Mostly because I think that Illinois has a better internal government than Louisiana. Of course, a large part of this perception is because of the hurricane, I know. But that's just because it exemplified the weakness of Louisiana's internal government. It was a mess. Nobody could really get a hold of things and it was just chaotic. But looking at the strengths and weaknesses, Illinois has one strength: Internal Coordination. So I guess that means the people who run the parts of the state are all on the same page? I'm not exactly sure. Louisiana on the other hand, has six strengths: Contracting/Purchasing; Training and Development; Budgeting for Experience; Managing for Performance; Program Evaluation; Electronic Government. OK, so again, I'm not entirely sure what all of those things mean but I'm guessing they're all good, since they're being evaluated in the report card thing.
Overall--C+
Money--B
People--C
Infrastructure--C+
Information--C+
Louisiana:
Overall--B
Money--B+
People--B
Infrastructure--C+
Information--A-
At first, I was a little thrown off by the overall grades. Mostly because I think that Illinois has a better internal government than Louisiana. Of course, a large part of this perception is because of the hurricane, I know. But that's just because it exemplified the weakness of Louisiana's internal government. It was a mess. Nobody could really get a hold of things and it was just chaotic. But looking at the strengths and weaknesses, Illinois has one strength: Internal Coordination. So I guess that means the people who run the parts of the state are all on the same page? I'm not exactly sure. Louisiana on the other hand, has six strengths: Contracting/Purchasing; Training and Development; Budgeting for Experience; Managing for Performance; Program Evaluation; Electronic Government. OK, so again, I'm not entirely sure what all of those things mean but I'm guessing they're all good, since they're being evaluated in the report card thing.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Festival of Maps
I haven't been to the festival of maps--I'm not sure it would hold my attention for very long. But last semester we did a project on maps and how each one is made to serve a particular purpose, so then contain different information and look completely different, which is why we have so many different kinds of maps around. Sometimes they're confusing and difficult to decipher, other times they're extremely easy to figure out. Usually, though, it all depends on the purpose of the map. As stated earlier, maps are made for different reasons--to suit different needs--so they'll contain different information, even if it may be completely irrelevant to what you need. If that's the case, the map you're looking at is definitely the wrong one.
It is very difficult to map things exactly to scale. Without knowing the exact size of a building or playground, sizing it up on the paper comes as a task. Taking the train—the pink line, more specifically—I have noticed that the map of the rails seems to be a rough sketch. Knowing the streets fairly well, I have noticed that the spacing of some of the stops compared with the spacing of other stops is inconsistent. But people still know where they are going. With that particular map, the spacing and scale is not important. The order of the stops is what is important; that is what the people pay attention to. A map of interstate highways, however, is something that needs to be done to scale. When people are planning on a trip, they sometimes count on the scale-key to determine how many miles they can expect to drive in a given day. Basically, every map needs to be different to suit different needs. Every map has its purpose, and with that different purpose comes different aspects that need to stand out.
The main maps of Chicago that I've seen are the CTA maps and the neighborhood maps. And they tell you exactly what you need to know. I mean, why do you look at a CTA map? To see which line stops where and where it makes its connections and which stations are wheelchair accessible, etc. And the CTA map tells you just that. The neighborhood map gives you an idea of where specific neighborhoods are. It labels various streets--not all of them, just a few--to give you an idea of where each neighborhood is.
Bottom line, when it comes to maps, they usually have a specific purpose; they have something specific that they're trying to show you. It's difficult to look at a single map and have it tell you absolutely everything you want to know about an area. It's highly unlikely, actually.
So maybe the Festival of Maps would be a good idea. See the different ways to look at things. We'll see what happens.
It is very difficult to map things exactly to scale. Without knowing the exact size of a building or playground, sizing it up on the paper comes as a task. Taking the train—the pink line, more specifically—I have noticed that the map of the rails seems to be a rough sketch. Knowing the streets fairly well, I have noticed that the spacing of some of the stops compared with the spacing of other stops is inconsistent. But people still know where they are going. With that particular map, the spacing and scale is not important. The order of the stops is what is important; that is what the people pay attention to. A map of interstate highways, however, is something that needs to be done to scale. When people are planning on a trip, they sometimes count on the scale-key to determine how many miles they can expect to drive in a given day. Basically, every map needs to be different to suit different needs. Every map has its purpose, and with that different purpose comes different aspects that need to stand out.
The main maps of Chicago that I've seen are the CTA maps and the neighborhood maps. And they tell you exactly what you need to know. I mean, why do you look at a CTA map? To see which line stops where and where it makes its connections and which stations are wheelchair accessible, etc. And the CTA map tells you just that. The neighborhood map gives you an idea of where specific neighborhoods are. It labels various streets--not all of them, just a few--to give you an idea of where each neighborhood is.
Bottom line, when it comes to maps, they usually have a specific purpose; they have something specific that they're trying to show you. It's difficult to look at a single map and have it tell you absolutely everything you want to know about an area. It's highly unlikely, actually.
So maybe the Festival of Maps would be a good idea. See the different ways to look at things. We'll see what happens.
'Of' vs. 'In'
Yesterday in class we talkeda bout Culture of Chicago. Initially, I was kind of confused about the conversation we were having. Because my understanding was that we were talking about the culture of Chicago. But most of the things people were coming up with were what I saw as culture in Chicago. And yes, to me, there's a difference. Here's how I see it:
Culture of Chicago means things that are partial to Chicago, which is why I brought up the Chicago Style Hotdog and the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Those are both things that Chicago is notorious for. Maybe people just see them as trademarks of Chicago, but to me, that's part of Chicago's culture. Culture in Chicago is, as people were saying, the neighborhoods, the variety of restaurants we have, etc. And the museums would also fall into that category. Now, were the museums full of things exhibiting Chicago, then it would fall into the "of" category. I know, it's confusing. I was even a bit confused about my classification, but I can't help it--my brain defaults to it.
When Ms. Sherry asked us about what other cities would we say has a lot of culture, I immediately thought of New Orleans (I know, my range of cities is real narrow, but Chicago and New Orleans are the only two cities that I know fairly well). But when I thought about why I thought about New Orleans, I thought about the overwhelming feel of history that just eminates off of the sidewalks, the buildings--everything. The architecture is partial to New Orleans. You can't just up and go somewhere else to find the same style of houses. And Café du Monde, the all-year-round-24-hours-a-day café that overlooks Jackson Square and sits just off of the Mississippi River, that in itself is a huge piece of culture right there. Basically, I started to think about the state as a whole. I feel that Louisiana--and the rest of the South, for that matter--has way more culture than Chicago. Why? Because of the history that that land holds. Over in Vacherie, Louisiana sits Oak Alley, the aboslutely gorgeous plantation house that has two rows of 14 200-year-old Oak Trees lining the walkway to the hill the separates the houses from the river.
So, in that little stream of consciousness, I realized that, in a sense, I measure a place's level of culture based on its historic appeal.
Culture of Chicago means things that are partial to Chicago, which is why I brought up the Chicago Style Hotdog and the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Those are both things that Chicago is notorious for. Maybe people just see them as trademarks of Chicago, but to me, that's part of Chicago's culture. Culture in Chicago is, as people were saying, the neighborhoods, the variety of restaurants we have, etc. And the museums would also fall into that category. Now, were the museums full of things exhibiting Chicago, then it would fall into the "of" category. I know, it's confusing. I was even a bit confused about my classification, but I can't help it--my brain defaults to it.
When Ms. Sherry asked us about what other cities would we say has a lot of culture, I immediately thought of New Orleans (I know, my range of cities is real narrow, but Chicago and New Orleans are the only two cities that I know fairly well). But when I thought about why I thought about New Orleans, I thought about the overwhelming feel of history that just eminates off of the sidewalks, the buildings--everything. The architecture is partial to New Orleans. You can't just up and go somewhere else to find the same style of houses. And Café du Monde, the all-year-round-24-hours-a-day café that overlooks Jackson Square and sits just off of the Mississippi River, that in itself is a huge piece of culture right there. Basically, I started to think about the state as a whole. I feel that Louisiana--and the rest of the South, for that matter--has way more culture than Chicago. Why? Because of the history that that land holds. Over in Vacherie, Louisiana sits Oak Alley, the aboslutely gorgeous plantation house that has two rows of 14 200-year-old Oak Trees lining the walkway to the hill the separates the houses from the river.
So, in that little stream of consciousness, I realized that, in a sense, I measure a place's level of culture based on its historic appeal.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Olympics!
OK, so Chicago is really trying to have the Olympics here in 2016. It seems like forever and a day away, so why are we stressing about it so much right now? Well, apparently, they like to choose the city like 7 years in advance. So the debate has begun. Mayor Daley appears to be intent on getting the Olympics for Summer of 2016. He's a man who loves to publicize Chicago and it's amenities as much as possible. To me, however, it seems as though Daley is looking at this situation through rose colored glasses. Daley has proposed an 80,000 seat venue to be built in Washington Park, turning it into a 10,000 seat multi-use stadium after the Olympics. The way he sees it, the park is big enough to even have that large of a venue built on its ground. But what's more important, having the venue in that neighborhood, it would give countless jobs to unemployed people. My feeling, though, is that the majority of the jobs aren't going to go to the people who live in that area--I don't think Mayor Daley would be too fond of having the Olympic contestants and viewers be greeted by the lower classes of Chicago. Even so, the venue would provide jobs, it's just a matter of to whom.
In class last week, we had a discussion about the Olympics coming to Chicago. I said that I don't think it's a good idea because we have so many internal issues that need to be ironed out first. But someone else said that the Olympics would be good because it would force the city to get itself together, to hurry up and fix these problems. And that's a good point. Because would the city really be working so hard on its public transportation dilemma if they weren't trying to get in shape for the International Olympic Committee? To me, it's more a matter of the Mayor's priorities. If it takes having the Olympics here for him to get himself together, then does he have his priorities straight? Would he really be so passionate about giving jobs to the residents around Washington Park? Would the public transportation crisis weigh so heavily on his shoulders? I'm not so sure, but at least he's doing something about it now.
So maybe having the Olympics in Chicago would be a good thing. It would surely bring in lots of money for the city. Since it would be the Summer Olympics, Navy Pier would be in full operation, and with all the added tourists, it would definitely make a huge profit. The city would benefit greatly, I think. But would it be a case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting porrer? Would the profit of the Olympics be distributed to neighborhoods that need it? The city is more than just downtown and the Loop, but it seems as though that's where all the money goes. The nice places just get nicer while the rundown parts of the city stay as is, usually getting worse. Would Daley be able to get his priorities straight after having the Olympics--that is, if it turns out that way?
Hopefully, things will get better after the Olympics, if we have them. For Atlanta, the 1996 Summer Olympics actually did help the city. The housing used for the competitors turned into the residence halls for Georgia State University, and later Georgia Institute of Technology. The city made use of venues initially built for the Olympics. However, throughout the duration of the Olympics, there was a dire need for better transportation. The city hired bus drivers who didn't know the geography of the city; some of the drivers had no idea where they were going and had to ask Atlanta natives for directions. But in the end, the Olympics are considered a success for Atlanta. Let's hope, if we win the bid, that the results can be similar for Chicago.
In class last week, we had a discussion about the Olympics coming to Chicago. I said that I don't think it's a good idea because we have so many internal issues that need to be ironed out first. But someone else said that the Olympics would be good because it would force the city to get itself together, to hurry up and fix these problems. And that's a good point. Because would the city really be working so hard on its public transportation dilemma if they weren't trying to get in shape for the International Olympic Committee? To me, it's more a matter of the Mayor's priorities. If it takes having the Olympics here for him to get himself together, then does he have his priorities straight? Would he really be so passionate about giving jobs to the residents around Washington Park? Would the public transportation crisis weigh so heavily on his shoulders? I'm not so sure, but at least he's doing something about it now.
So maybe having the Olympics in Chicago would be a good thing. It would surely bring in lots of money for the city. Since it would be the Summer Olympics, Navy Pier would be in full operation, and with all the added tourists, it would definitely make a huge profit. The city would benefit greatly, I think. But would it be a case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting porrer? Would the profit of the Olympics be distributed to neighborhoods that need it? The city is more than just downtown and the Loop, but it seems as though that's where all the money goes. The nice places just get nicer while the rundown parts of the city stay as is, usually getting worse. Would Daley be able to get his priorities straight after having the Olympics--that is, if it turns out that way?
Hopefully, things will get better after the Olympics, if we have them. For Atlanta, the 1996 Summer Olympics actually did help the city. The housing used for the competitors turned into the residence halls for Georgia State University, and later Georgia Institute of Technology. The city made use of venues initially built for the Olympics. However, throughout the duration of the Olympics, there was a dire need for better transportation. The city hired bus drivers who didn't know the geography of the city; some of the drivers had no idea where they were going and had to ask Atlanta natives for directions. But in the end, the Olympics are considered a success for Atlanta. Let's hope, if we win the bid, that the results can be similar for Chicago.
Bowling Alone
Today in class we had a discussion about Robert Putnam's book Bowling Alone. Although we didn't have to read it for this class, I liked talking about it. I read a chapter of it for my UPP101 class, so I knew what Putnam was talking about. Basically, we came to the conclusion that back in the fifties and sixties, people were more connected within their neighborhoods through weekly bowling leagues. But nowadays, people are more distanced from each other and don't necessarily require that once-a-week meeting to see each other. Jill mentioned that part of it is the fact that people are more invested in themselves and are too busy dealing with their own affairs to join an organization that meets once a week. I agree with her, but I also feel that today's advancement in technology plays a big role in the decrease of organization membership. People don't need to set aside one night a week for catching up on stuff with friends because they can call, email, text, page their friends within a matter of seconds. It is so much easier to get in touch with our friends that it is no longer necessary to be a part of an organization to see them or talk to them.
Personally speaking, the bowling alley is still very much a place of community. I worked at a bowling alley in Cicero for over a year, also participating in multiple leagues that the bowling alley offered. Although most of the people who bowl there aren't from Cicero--coming in from Humboldt Park, West Lawn, Carol Stream, and many other neighborhoods--there was such a strong community feel within the walls of that bowling alley. I quickly learned that sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles would all come together to bowl in a particular league. It was so easy to get sucked in and become a part of the "Town Hall Bowl family."
Over the years, bowling alleys have shut down and been torn down at an alarming rate, a sign that bowling just isn't as popular as it once was. Furthermore, with the increasing rate of Brunswick Zones, family-owned bowling alleys, such as Town Hall, just aren't able to keep up. But either way, the bowling alley is still a place of strong community, even if it's not as prevalent as it used to be. Today's world is a fastpaced, hectic one and people just don't have the time to devote one night a week to a specific group or organization. Things are done via the internet and quick minute-long phone calls. People are constantly on the run and hardly have any time to sleep, let alone be part of a bowling league. To an extent, Putnam is right, but communities are just being formed and meeting together in different ways is all.
Personally speaking, the bowling alley is still very much a place of community. I worked at a bowling alley in Cicero for over a year, also participating in multiple leagues that the bowling alley offered. Although most of the people who bowl there aren't from Cicero--coming in from Humboldt Park, West Lawn, Carol Stream, and many other neighborhoods--there was such a strong community feel within the walls of that bowling alley. I quickly learned that sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles would all come together to bowl in a particular league. It was so easy to get sucked in and become a part of the "Town Hall Bowl family."
Over the years, bowling alleys have shut down and been torn down at an alarming rate, a sign that bowling just isn't as popular as it once was. Furthermore, with the increasing rate of Brunswick Zones, family-owned bowling alleys, such as Town Hall, just aren't able to keep up. But either way, the bowling alley is still a place of strong community, even if it's not as prevalent as it used to be. Today's world is a fastpaced, hectic one and people just don't have the time to devote one night a week to a specific group or organization. Things are done via the internet and quick minute-long phone calls. People are constantly on the run and hardly have any time to sleep, let alone be part of a bowling league. To an extent, Putnam is right, but communities are just being formed and meeting together in different ways is all.
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