Blogging the 46th Ward

Posted on 1/18/2007 by Erik Moe

Sure it’s fun to talk about Hillary and Barack, but where your vote really makes a difference is on the local level. Finally I’m getting a better sense of where things stand here in Chicago’s 46th ward with the help of Gapers Block:

46th Ward (Uptown, Edgewater): What the Helen? Shiller somehow secured the CFL’s vote despite her conspicuous “No Vote” on Big Box Living Wage. Granted her previous decade or so of service probably played into that, but it is a serious blow for her highest-profile opponent, one James Cappleman. Cappleman has been running an energetic campaign and there is no doubt that the Uptown/Buena Park area is seriously split in who it supports. But is there enough of a “No-Helen” movement up there? I don’t see it when I tour the neighborhoods, and talking to some of the activists up there, it will be an uphill climb. Shiller may be an independent on the Council, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a mean electoral organization — she does.

Alderman Shiller no doubt voted against the big-box living wage because she’s been working for years on a mega-development anchored by an urban double-decker Target store. I don’t think that particular development is the worst thing in the world, considering how much that particular stretch of Broadway is hurting, though it is well-positioned real estate and the all-too-common use of tax increment financing (TIF) to get the project going seems altogether unnecessary. So that’s two strikes against Shiller, though her track record and personal history as listed on her website are compelling enough.

Her opponent, James Cappleman has a compelling biography as well, and he says all the right things about open government and community-driven sustainable urban design. To top things off, his attractive and well written website clearly is doing a lot more to earn the votes of writer-designers like me.

Having only been here since August, I can’t say that I have the full picture just yet. Are there any other neighborhood bloggers out there with insight on this race? Election day is February 27.

This entry was posted in Blog, chicago, the political. Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.whatthehelen.com irishpirate

    We are not exactly shy about who we support…………whoever is running against Shiller

  • http://www.whatthehelen.com irishpirate
  • http://www.whatthehelen.com irishpirate
  • http://www.jamesfor46ward.com Julie Sondgerath

    Hi Erik. Would love for you to come spend an hour with us. James’ campaign office is at 1220 W Wilson. Her website is full of inconsistencies, as well as her newly-formed newsletter emailed to constituents (she did NOT ask for 3 debates, she did NOT ever get even 1 letter of intent from Target in the past, let alone 3). She’s been in office for 20 years and we are still living in the cold war era.. It’s time for Gorbachev to tear down that wall! Also notice the extreme difference between her CAMPAIGN website and her OFFICIAL website.. She only informs us when it is reelection time.

    We are having a pizza party at the campaign office today. Please stop by, would love to meet you. 6pm”ish” http://www.jamesfor46ward.com

  • Elaine

    James Cappleman not only *says* the right things, he *does* them.

    As a community activist and past president of Uptown Chicago Commission, he was responsible for having a poorly-run shelter closed that placed sex offenders in the same building as a daycare center (no one was left out on the streets; the residents were placed in better-run, reputable housing). He worked with the liquor commissioner, and as a result, most/all of the area liquor stores voluntarily quit selling 40-oz’ers and half-pints, so the streets are now much cleaner. He’s encouraged people to donate to organizations that help the homeless rather than giving to the area’s panhandlers.

    He’s a social worker and knows how to help the poor, rather than providing “band-aid” care, which has been the status quo in Uptown for years. I’ve known and admired James for several years and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish as our alderman.

  • http://erikmoe.com Erik

    I seem to have stumbled upon a hot topic…

    Cappleman definitely has some passion behind his campaign. If the blogosphere is representative of the ward at large, Shiller has some real work to do in the next month. Having just spent five years in Philadelphia, which is very complacent politically, I’m fascinated by the heated politics here. I’ll definitely post more on the 46th soon.

    Sorry I couldn’t make the pizza party. Maybe next time!

  • http://www.whatthehelen.com What The Helen

    Take a look at the “WonderWall” – that lovely free new store we gave to Aldi – paid for by many residents of the 46th ward.

    Actually, it’s paid for by ALL the residents of the 46th ward, because EVERYONE’S TAXES ARE HIGHER DUE TO THE WILSON YARD TIF!

    There’s a photo up at What The Helen?! now.

  • http://ncbg.org/tifs/tif_what.htm Hugh

    > … it’s paid for by ALL the residents of the 46th ward, because EVERYONE’S TAXES ARE HIGHER DUE TO THE WILSON YARD TIF!

    When a City establish a TIF district, the TIF is fed by siphoning property tax revenue that would have gone to ALL the other units of local government that rely on property taxes, including the County and forest preserve districts, for example.

    So everyone in Cook County is helping subsidize Wilson Yard.

    Don’t sell it short!

  • http://ncbg.org/tifs/tif_what.htm Hugh

    > … that particular stretch of Broadway is hurting …

    … BECAUSE of the TIF process. The WY fire was a decade ago. If that land had been sold off at market rate the CTA would be richer and the land would be contributing to the tax base and we would all have new neighbors an stores. But no, politicians got involved and wanted to show the world how to do “the most inclusive process ever.”

  • http://www.whatthehelen.com What The Helen

    Amen, Hugh.

    Thank you for correcting the statement about taxes being higher across the entire county due to the TIFs. This is true. But for election purposes, we were focusing in on the local taxpayers.

    The annual TIF tab that gets picked up by Cook County tax payers is approaching HALF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. That’s the tax dollars sucked out of your pocket and given to people like Helen Shiller to dole out as she pleases, with no accountability whatsoever.

    That’s reason enough to throw her out of office. You CANNOT trust this person with $100,000,000 plus of your Wilson Yard TIF tax dollars. Take a look at that photo at What The Helen?! of the Aldi we purchased with our tax dollars.

    Then, take a look at our tax dollars hard at work removing the graffiti on that Aldi we boughtan opportunity for another community mural.

  • Pingback: emopage - by erik moe - this is not a fugazi blog. » Blog Archive » Sketchy Goings On Next Door