Evanston's Challenges and Opportunties

Submitted by Jane Grover on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 21:38

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Evanston is at a critical juncture, one that presents enormous challenges, but also opportunities. The City faces another year of tight budgets, unprecedented liability to its police and fire pension funds, and overdue investment in infrastructure. While I have a realistic perspective on the City's dire budget landscape, we must also look to new opportunities and resources outside the silo of government to identify solutions to Evanston's challenges.

This is the time to change the tone of the discourse in Evanston. This is the time to create more opportunity and meaningful partnerships with city government's natural partners -- Evanston's nonprofits, our social service agencies, our schools, Northwestern University, and our businesses. I've used my training in law and diplomacy on both the large and small stage in Evanston and I know that I can effectively use those skills as alderman to bring people to the table to resolve these challenges in a way that respects our common values.

I've been working in our community and neighborhood for years. I served as chair of the Evanston Mental Health Board and as Assistant Director of Leadership Evanston for the Evanston Community Foundation. I've worked and volunteered in District 65 schools, including the District 65 school calendar committee. I've worked on pedestrian issues in our neighborhood, petitioning successfully for remediation of the Prairie/Central crossing and as an advocate to bring the Safe Routes to School program and project funding to Evanston.

Perhaps our paths have crossed on Central Street, at the Central Street Metra station, at Kingsley and Haven Schools, through Leadership Evanston, at St. Athanasius Church, walking our dogs, or through any number of youth baseball or soccer teams. Whatever our connection, I look forward to talking with you and learning what you know and understand about Evanston's challenges and assets.

The municipal election is on April 7, 2009 and, if you live in the 7th Ward, I hope I can win your vote.

Many thanks in advance.

Jane Grover
www.janegrover.org

Comments

JunadRizki

Sat, 01/17/2009 - 21:09

Jane -

You stated "I have a realistic perspective on the City's dire budget landscape"

Do you really?

It appears some how you think the non for profits might solve our budget problems? ( they are takers from the budget not givers )

Last year the city proposed cutting $75,000 from the Mental Health budget - I do not recall if you spoke as the former chair of the Mental health board. But plenty came and lobbied against the cut.

But if you are a Alderperson where do you plan to make any cuts? Or do you plan to effect everyone's Mental health by raising taxes?

Also if you are still connected to Leadership Evanston - I would like to know - do you plan to continue to ask the city to pay for training city employees by leadership Evanston? That is council members recently were questioning the value of the training. Will you propose eliminating this unnecessary expense from our budget?

As for the Central Street Crossing - way did the city approved this - as I recall two elderly residents were killed tragically crossing Central street.

Your statement "I've worked on pedestrian issues in our neighborhood, petitioning successfully for remediation of the Prairie/Central crossing"

It was a no brainer to correct. But since you claim great ability with the budget - as I recall the city had about $10,000 to restrip streets in the budget each year. Which is a drop in the budget so to speak given the miles and miles of restripping needed. As someone who crosses Central Street there are several other crossing points that need corrected - why didn't you work for a global solution?

Also where do you propose cutting funds? By the way the cost for the correction at Prairie/Central was small.Restripping,sign in the middle of the street and extend the curbs will you propose cutting the mental health budget for the additional crossing?

Finally are you a lawyer? " I've used my training in law and diplomacy on both the large and small stage in Evanston" We have too many of lawyers on the city council - we need more real diversity of thinking and problem solving than adding more lawyers to the council.