Unlike many suburbs that sought to exclude African Americans altogether, leading members of Evanston’s real estate establishment played a role in the growth of Evanston’s African American community. ... There was a major caveat, though. Mr. Wiese says, “Evanston’s white real estate brokers apparently developed a practice of informal racial zoning. In effect, they treated a section of west Evanston as open to African Americans, while excluding them from the rest of town.”

Aldermen are following up their approval of a controversial request allowing Northwestern University to hold more special events at Welsh-Ryan Arena with consideration of another proposal that would allow liquor service at that venue too. At the Nov. 25 City Council meeting, aldermen redirected the issue to their Administration & Public Works Committee for further discussion after Alderman Eleanor Revelle, in whose north central Seventh Ward Welsh-Ryan is located, raised some concerns about the proposed ordinance.

The budget contains a 10.8% overall increase in the property tax levies. The City’s portion of the property tax bill is about 20%, while the two public school districts combined take up about 68%.