Monday, May 13, 2013
The Chicago City Council is considering several measures centered on bicyclists including increased fines for drivers convicted of dooring, stiffer penalties for bikers who break the laws and an awareness campaign aimed at taxi drivers.
Officials are proposing even stiffer penalties against those convicted of "dooring" bikers within the city. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a plan to the city council on Wednesday that would raise the fines for cyclists disobeying traffic laws, and double the fines for motorists who cause crashes by opening vehicle doors into the path of cyclists, commonly known as “dooring.” The 2013 Bicycle Safety Ordinance proposal includes a provision to raise fines for cyclists who break street laws from $25 to a range of $50-$200, depending on the violation. "If they are sharing the roadway with vehicles, cyclists need to obey all traffic laws, including yielding to pedestrians, stopping at traffic signals and indicating when they are making …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A group of alderman recently proposed a resolution to the city seeking answers regarding local red-light cameras. The company responsible for installing the devices is now under fire.
When it comes to red-light cameras, local aldermen want answers. A group of them introduced a resolution at last week's City Council meeting calling for hearings on how the camera sites were chosen. They want proof, they said, that the Australian company, Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., and Chicago installed the devices to improve traffic safety rather than to create a source of revenue. Red-light camera enforcement started in 2003, when officials launched a pilot program at two area intersections—one on the North Side and one on the South Side. The city alleges that those locations, as well as all subsequent camera sites, were chosen based on Chicago Department of Tranportation crash data. "All intersections except one have two cameras …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
An ordinance sponsored by Ald. Matt O'Shea to increase restrictions on public drinking during parades, including the South Side Irish Parade, was passed by the City Council.
It's now official. An ordinance sponsored by Ald. Matt O'Shea and worked on by the South Side Irish Parade Committee that imposes harsher punishments and tighter restrictions on drinking and intoxication during parades was passed. "I believe this ordinance will make parades in our great city safer," O'Shea said before the ordinance was unanimously approved Wednesday afternoon. The ordinance passed committee last week. Read: Boozers at South Side Irish Parade Might Soon Face Harsher Fines "It helps us work within our security plan and with the Chicago Police Department so that many of the old behaviors don't come back," said said Joe Connelly, co-chair of the parade committee last week. "There is really no room for open alcohol and this …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The City Council's Public Safety Committee approved an ordinance that would level harsher punishments to those caught drinking within 800 feet of a parade route.
If organizers and local officials have their way, the days of the South Side Irish Parade crowd being viewed as a green-clad drunken horde are long gone. The City Council's Public Safety Committee unanimously voted Thursday morning to move forward an ordinance that would significantly increase the fines for those found to be drinking near parade routes anywhere in the city. Follow Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Patch on Facebook and sign up for Breaking News Alerts. The measure, sponsored by Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th), and worked on by the South Side Irish Parade Committee is viewed by its drafters as another tool to curtail drinking at the famed parade. "I want our community to know that we are doing everything possible to make sure it remains a …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Ald. Ed Burke recently proposed a city-wide ban of energy drinks
Those of you craving a Red Bull will have to travel to the suburbs if one Chicago alderman has his way. Ald. Ed Burke recently proposed that the city institute a ban on energy drinks. His proposal calls for a fine of $100 to $500 if a business is caught selling highly caffeinated drinks, the Chicago Tribune reports. Burke's proposal argues the drinks are harmful to the public health and points out that scientists have discovered that the drinks have, "dangerous, even life-threatening, effects on blood pressure, heart rate and brain function." We shared the proposal with our Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Facebook fans. Here is what they had to say. Adam Wiers: Maybe we should focus more on any number of the actual problems that plague this city …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
An alderman of a nearby ward has proposed allowing Chicago cemeteries to offer cremation services for pets.
You will be able to have your pets cremated at local cemeteries if one Chicago alderman gets her way. Sun-Times Media reports that Ald. Marge Laurino (39th) is taking initial steps toward giving cemeteries the ability to accept animal cremation requests. “People feel very close to their pets. Some people even put them in their wills. I want to change the zoning code to allow them to have their pets cremated in Chicago,” Laurino told the Sun-Times. Laurino was encouraged to address the issue by a cemetery in her Northwest Side ward.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
The switch is expected to save residents money, exactly how much has yet to be determined.
The Chicago City Council approved a new energy plan on Wednesday and savings might start showing up almost immediately, reports say. Following in the footsteps of suburbs across Illinois, Chicago is moving away from ComEd in favor of a new electrical supplier in an effort to save money. Chicago energy will now be secured through Integrys, a sister company of Peoples Gas, the Chicago Tribune reports. ComEd will still handle outages, repairs and billing. "By buying electricity in bulk, we have secured an agreement that will put money back into the pockets of Chicago families and small businesses while ensuring that our electricity comes from cleaner sources,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a news release. “I commend the City Council for …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, Ald. Matt O'Shea proposed an ordinance that would increase fines for those caught drinking near parades, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
If you booze you might stand to loose a little more at next year's South Side Irish Parade. On Wednesday, Ald. Matt O'Shea proposed a new ordinance that would increase fines for those caught drinking within 200 feet of a parade, Fran Spielman of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The minimum fine would increase from $100 to $500 and the maximum would jump from $500 to $1,000. The ordinance has direct ties to the South Side Irish Parade, and this year's chairman Joe Connolly helped draft it, the report states. In September Patch spoke with Connolly about plans for next year's parade. "We were thrilled with the quality of the parade last year," Connolly said. "It was definitely very family oriented, very safe and with little to no public …
Monday, October 8, 2012
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) signed a resolution with 31 other aldermen that calls for hearings on the city's plans to close additional schools.
Ald. Matt O'Shea, 19th, joined 31 other alderman in signing a resolution that calls for hearings that would look into plans to shutter an unknown number of Chicago Public Schools, reports say. The Chicago Tribune reports that CPS officials have not revealed any closure plans, yet sources say 80 to 120 schools could be on the chopping block. Read: Aldermen want hearings on Chicago school closings The report says the aldermen who signed the resolution are looking for more transparency in the process. A copy of the full resolution is attached to this post. Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, told the paper she supports the efforts to hold hearings on the issue: "Now (the aldermen) have signed a pledge to say the school …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the designated parking locations for food trucks in Chicago. All 23 spots are in the Loop or North Side neighborhoods.
I guess it's the traditional brick and mortar restaurants for us. On Wednesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed an ordinance detailing the 23 designated parking locations for food trucks in the city, the Chicago Tribune reports. Each of the parking stands can accommodate two trucks. The report says that these spots were chosen because they are in high density areas were legal parking might otherwise be a problem. Food trucks can still sell in other parts of the city, however these stands will likely have regular occupants. Lincoln Park Patch plotted the proposed stand locations in a map. With no stations set south of Soldier Field, it's unclear if Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park might see a regular stream of trucks. The proposed …
Gloria M. Lowery
6:30 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
It won't do a damn bit of good. The parade only lasts about an hour and a half in the early afternoon. That leaves the rest of the afternoon and evening to get drunk. Come out and walk Western Ave. a few hours after the parade ends! more ›