My Chicago Rant

     What is going on in this fair city that I love so much?

     Todays rant will include the parking meters that we all loath!!! Getting around the city is becoming such a pain in the $%#, I wonder how many of us are now skipping it and heading to the suburbs. I live in the city, and find myself going to the suburbs to shop. There are just too many days that I don’t feel like going to the bank, getting 42 rolls of quarters, finding a place to park, going to the store for 15 min, so my meter won’t run out, and repeating the same thing over and over until the errands are complete. Oh, I could park in a garage, but that will cost me more than my grocery bill for five people.

     Unfortunately, it is cheaper and easier to get in the car and drive to the suburbs to do my shopping, have dinner, whatever. I am beginning to think my wonderful city is being totally set up for tourists. I am beginning to feel like I am not welcome in my own city.

     Instead of making such asinine decisions, maybe our Mayor and City Council could put their time and energy toward something useful. How about Gang violence? How about innocent children being slaughtered on the street? Mr. Mayor, how many times are you going to tell the community that it is their responsibility to make sure the gang members are identified? That they need to co-operate with the police?  Gee, do you think they might be afraid? Do you think someone may retaliate against them? Yes, neighborhood co-operation is important, but police protection is and should be TOP priority. No money for more police officers but enough money to buy Michael Reese hospital for the Olympic Village. No matter how many times you say that the community has to bear the burden, now matter how many anti-violence protests the community puts on, the responsibility rests directly on your shoulders. You and the police commissioner, whom you appoint.  That is the way it is supposed to be right? Although, come to think of it, I have never ever heard our Mayor or any member to the City Council say that the “buck” stops with them. I have only heard them say things like, “Sorry, we didn’t have time to read it before we voted.” or, “We were pressured into voting on that before we could study the impact”  What? Not sure why we pay you to not do your job. Not sure what good you might be doing us by “not reading” a proposal. After all, you appointed him.

     I suppose there is one upside to the economic downturn. The Midway Airport Deal.  It fell through. Thank God and the heavens above!!! Imagine the disaster there. It is one thing to turn our parking meters over to company that is as lame as our city council, it is quite another to turn over an airport.

Sorry. I really do love this city, it is just getting too difficult and ridiculous to live here.
Promise, next post will be positive

Peace Always