Pay stations and parking enforcement officers are heading to Evanston’s historically free lakefront with the Evanston City Council’s approving a pilot a parking program charging non-residents for parking along the area. With little debate, Council Members voted 6-3 in support of the staff-recommended program to institute the pilot program near or on lots adjacent to […]
Author Archives: Bob Seidenberg
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Parking fee might dampen attraction of Evanston beaches for some
Nelo and Maria Nightingale spent Sunday, July 25, at Evanston’s Clark Street Beach, arriving early on the already warm day and finding one of the free parking spots that bracket the area. Maria Nightingale, who lives in Chicago, did the driving, not an outstanding fact in itself. But after tonight, July 26, it might be a significant […]
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Handling of lifeguard complaint was ‘a serious institutional failure,’ says Mayor Biss
The City of Evanston’s past handling of charges of sexual harassment and abuse brought by female lifeguards and beach employees in a petition to the City last July represents “a serious institutional failure that we must get to and rectify,” Mayor Daniel Biss said in a statement on July 22, in a report updating the […]
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City May Look to ARPA Funds to Reduce Reliance on Debt Funding
The $43.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds Evanston is receiving to assist its recovery from the impact of COVID-19 may also prove helpful easing the debt funding the City turns to every year to finance major capital improvement projects. City officials discussed the possibility at the July 12 Administration & Public Works […]
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City to Bring in Outside Firm to Investigate Female Lifeguards’ Allegations of Sexual Harassment at Evanston Beaches
The City of Evanston will turn to an outside firm to investigate charges brought by more than 50 female lifeguards and beach staff in a petition given to the City in July 2020. The petition asked for City officials to address sexual harassment and other abuses at Evanston’s lakefront. The City’s response posted on July […]
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Emergency City Council Meeting Called After WBEZ Story of ‘Rampant Sexual Misconduct’ at Lakefront
Evanston City Council Members are scheduled to meet in a special executive session at 6 p.m. tonight, Saturday, July 17, to discuss a story reporting allegations of “rampant sexual misconduct” by the City’s beach staff over a period of several years, in a complaint brought last year by more than 50 female lifeguards and beach employees. […]
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2715 Hurd Church Building heads to Council for Local Landmark Designation
The City’s Preservation Commission has recommended that the Second Church of Christ, Scientist building and lot at 2715 Hurd Ave. be designated as a local landmark, with the role of prominent architect and lifelong Evanstonian Lawrence Perkins a major consideration in the nomination. Board members voted 7-0 at their July 13 meeting in favor of landmark […]
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Council Member’s Revised Proposal Favors More Pushcarts on Lakefront
Evanston City Council Member Devon Reid moved pushcarts ahead of food trucks for increased use in the lakefront area in a revised proposal at the July 12 Evanston City Council meeting. Mr. Reid, 8th Ward, announced at the start of the discussion that he would drop food trucks from his original proposal. That proposal had […]
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Chicago Ethics Expert Says Citizens Board Meets Best Practices
A citizens board with the authority to decide on ethics cases would be the system most in line with best practices used to investigate ethics complaints, the longtime head of the Chicago Board of Ethics told an Evanston committee last week. Invited to speak at the City’s Rules Committee July 7, Steve Berlin, who has headed […]
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Police, Council Member Emphasize Community Role in Response to Recent Second Ward Criminal Activity
At a neighborhood meeting July 9 called after a wave of incidents in the Second Ward, Alderperson Peter Braithwaite and police officials stressed the role residents can play in helping quell criminal activity. At the meeting, held at the Robert Community Center, many of the roughly 40 residents who filled the room added their concerns […]