Blogs

At the Evanston City Council Budget Workshop on November 17, City staff presented a study on water and sewer cost of service rates and fees. A deficit is projected, primarily because water usage has declined by over 16% since 1998, resulting in less revenue. Given the large increase in rates to pay for the improved storm sewer system, is it any wonder that Evanston residents have cut back their usage?

With as many as four new “parks” in Evanston - Central Street, Main & Chicago Avenue, Kendall College,and a piece of the Research Park- the economy has done what the Evanston City Council failed to do, prevent an overbuilding of condo buildings.

1955 - born to John and Regina Zbesko in Newark, NJ.
Father emigrated to the US in 1948 from Czechoslovakia. Mother
emigrated from Poland in 1946.

1973 - Salutatorian, Chatham (NJ) High School

1978 - B.S. Business Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity

1983 - M.A. Economics, University of Chicago

1985 - married Pamela Duhl, LCSW

1986 - moved to 1120 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL

1987 - Emily Zbesko born

1990 - Jacob Zbesko born

1993 - 2004 AYSO soccer coach and board member

Happy New Year!

Since I filed to run for Alderman in the 6th Ward, I’ve been asked nearly every day—“Why are you running?”

My answer is simple: I’m running to help build and lead a community of value.

A community of value means your opinions are solicited and respected—and not just in times of crisis. I believe deeply that involvement brings connection and personal satisfaction well beyond the routine city services we expect.

Dear Sixth Ward Residents and All of Evanston,

I am running for Sixth Ward Alderman and I am asking for your support. I am excited about the upcoming campaign and the chance that we all have to reshape our City Council on April 7, 2009.

Friends and Neighbors,

My name is John Zbesko and my family has lived at 1120 Noyes St. for over 20 years. Today, I am a candidate for 7th Ward Alderman.

Sharon Strobeck Eckersall
Evanston Township Assessor
847-989-7705

As a life-time Evanstonian, I would like to express my qualifications for office of Evanston Township Assessor.

-Township Assessor 10 years
-Licensed Residential Appraiser/Illinois 14 years
-Real Estate Broker 25 years
-Certified Illinois Assessing Officer - 12 years
-Licensed Wisconsin Real Estate Agent
-BA Degree in Management/with honors/Mundelien College

Jeff Smith wrote a letter to the editor that appeared recently in the Evanston RoundTable. I thought it was worth repeating here. It's about two pages long...click 'Read more' to see the complete article.

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"What Evanston Needs (And Doesn't Need)
Editor:

Recently, a community leader asked me, "What do you think Evanston needs?" This huge question can't be answered in one conversation, but looking back at the last few years, here are some starters.

What Evanston needs are more leaders who regard every citizen's concerns as deserving consideration, regardless of their neighborhood. What Evanston does not need are opinion leaders - elected, community or media - who exploit differences between neighborhoods or constituencies, or seek to pit one against another....

Much discussion of Evanston's downtown has invoked a "wedding cake" concept, with the center tallest, and heights lower further out. Mega-growth advocates urge that an extra-tall building on the Fountain Square block will restore a cake-shaped "typical urban form" to downtown, which now allegedly resembles a "fallen soufflé." This is loaded language, meant to shame us as lousy cooks. I'd feel bad, except for one thing: it's nonsense.

First, since 1920, as one official Illinois publication notes,