Bridgeport diversity
An Open Letter to All Bridgeport
Developers:
As most families in this area would agree Bridgeport is a neighborhood of
generations. It is as common for families to pass on housing in Bridgeport
as it is to pass on investments or jewelry in other areas of Chicago. These
families (count me in) take great pride in living in their parents' home,
their grandparents' home, their great grandparents' home, etc.
The beauty throughout Bridgeport is in the diversity--yes, I said "diversity" and "Bridgeport" in the same sentence. If you live here, if you "really" live here then you know this neighborhood has generations of Irish, Italians, Mexicans, Lithuanians, Polish, Chinese, and on and on. It is not just the people that are diverse; it is the homes themselves. Take a drive down some of our streets and you will see row houses, brick bungalows, greystones, two flats, three flats, converted corner taps, etc. It is this diversity that brings the magic to Bridgeport and something I implore you to take into account.
I truly understand that money is the single
biggest factor in building but I will promise you with all the talented
architects and designers in this great city someone can design truly
inspired homes that keep
Bridgeport looking like Bridgeport and still be cost effective.
As I have driven through the neighborhood the last few years my fear is developers are using scraps from other jobs to put up whatever can fit in any open space they can purchase and, you know what--it shows.
There is such a lack of originality and thought given to some of the recent housing developments, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You know who you are and, unfortunately, so does our Alderman.
These homes, if (and that is a big if) they are to last for several generations will be dated looking in a matter of a few short years with the materials I see being used and it does not have to be that way. Think of the support you can garner from the neighborhood and future buyers with big pockets if you create something that truly can make a family proud.
I challenge you, all of you, to take a moment and look at the legacy you are leaving behind. Are your children and grandchildren going to be proud of what you built in Bridgeport or are they going to thank you for the monetary inheritance and move to a much cooler looking neighborhood where development is a word that had some thought behind it.
There has to be a better a way, a way that allows the neighborhood to win for generations to come and for you as business developers to win so you can still make a great return on your investment. Let me throw out one idea just to get the thoughts flowing. How about something as simple as a design contest that is open to architect firms or, even more cost effective, open to seniors graduating from the various Chicago area schools of architecture?
Give them the a dollar figure you have to work with and the specs they have to work within and let them design something for you that will make Chicago proud and give them the exposure of success as they head out into theirchosen career. That is just one idea. Do I hear any others?
Kathryn Totaro
Bridgeport
Resident - 4th Generation
'Publication
provides vital information'
Dear Editor:
Congratulations and thank you on the 25th anniversary of your publication, the Gazette.
I offer congratulations for the anniversary itself, and thank you because what you do is important to all of us.
The people of our communities love word about events and history close to them. Your publication provides such vital information to your readers, satisfying their needs and interests.
As one who believes in the importance of strong communities, I commend your commitment to your readers. The cohesion you provide your community makes our entire society stronger. That cohesion was what I sought in designing my website, www.cookcountytreasurer.com, which has crucial information about property ownership for your readers in a variety of languages.
I join your readers in wishing your publication the best on this anniversary.
Sincerely,
Maria Pappas
Cook County
Treasurer
Sign of the Sacred Heart
Dear Editor:
It was interesting but disappointing to read Anne Nordhaus-Bike's analysis of Mother Cabrini's life as a person of the Cancer sign. The sign that ruled Frances Cabrini's life was the sign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a sign of God's sacrificial love poured out for us. This sign ruled Cabrini's life as she poured out the Divine Love to others as she lived out God's will for her.
Rev. Donald Craig
CTA solutions
Dear Editor:
Here we go again with the bleak predictions and service cuts regarding Chicago Transit Authority public transportation. This is what happens when you put one-note, fight-to-lose, clueless people in charge of things.
All revenue options should be explored. These include a CTA telethon. The CTA could also market "Take That, Global Warming" t-shirts and shopping bags that promote public transportation as a ready solution that is already in place.
By the way, riders and activists have proposed literally hundreds of revenue sources in the last few years alone. Why aren't any of these ideas taken seriously?
James Reyes
Need health care reform
Dear Editor:
Many people seem to have a stereotyped image of who the uninsured are in Illinois. They feel that some people do not “deserve” health insurance and are opposing the Governor’s plan for health care reform. Do these people realize that 367,995 families in Illinois with an annual income of more than $50,000 have at least one uninsured family member?
As a soon-to-be college graduate, I can almost certainly claim that I do not fit many people’s notion of the uninsured population. And yet, I fact the very real prospect of being without health care as soon as I graduate and can no longer be covered under my parents’ insurance plan. This means that as I am searching for jobs—an already stressful endeavor—I must eliminate those jobs that do not offer me full health care benefits. Unfortunately, because of our current health care system, many companies fall into this category.
Transitioning to the “real world” is hard enough without this added stress. I shouldn’t have to worry about ending up in medical debt because I cannot find insurance. We need reform in the health care system, and we need it now.
Sincerely,
Jennifer D.
Wilkey
West Town
Ban metal baseball bats
Dear Editor:
As a personal injury attorney who has witnessed one too many times the devastating impact that sports equipment can have, I am writing to make your readers aware of the imminent danger of metal bats.
On opening day of baseball season, the 14-year-old son of a close friend was seriously injured while pitching during a Pony League game. A line drive hit by a metal bat struck him directly in the face, destroying his orbital lobe and nose and requiring plastic surgery to repair. He will never look quite the same.
New York City has banned their use for 13-to-18 year-olds as of September 2007. North Dakota has banned them, and numerous other leagues and organizations across the U.S. have banned them or are considering doing so. The Illinois High School Association currently has five conferences that use only wood bats because of the growing safety concerns about metal bats. Jack Mackay, a former metal bat engineer for Louisville Slugger, has been an outspoken advocate against the use of metal bats.
I urge all local baseball leagues to ban the use of metal bats for the sake of our children and our communities.
Sincerely,
Antonio M.
Romanucci
Romanucci &
Blandin LLC
(312)
458-1000
