#chicago suburban residence

[zaynsource]

Ideas for a medium-sized, contemporary backyard patio renovation without a cover Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete paver patio remodel with no cover

[sjmattson]

Anyone who has ever lived in a big city knows to generally avoid eye contact with strangers. Pan-handlers, petitioners trying to garner signatures, or salespeople trying to sell their wares—avoiding eye contact is the first line of defense towards preventing awkward social situations.

I used to be a doorman in downtown Chicago, and part of my responsibility was acting as a gatekeeper, securing the luxurious lobby entrance from anyone who wasn’t authorized to be there. It was a job that was part security guard and part host—providing the services expected of the wealthy tenants who paid a premium price to live there.

During the countless hours of observing the busy downtown streets, I would daily see the many unique interactions that occur within cities: business people hustling to and from meetings, buskers playing a tune to anyone who would listen, shoppers admiring the large window displays of name-brand stores, tour buses slowly navigating their way towards their venues, and the general patterns of crowds that ebb and flow past the skyscraper-lined avenues.

Without fail, there would be tourists and visitors who would stand out—looking around with expressions of curiosity, excitement, and revealing themselves through the most obvious tell: making eye contact.

Inevitably, they would become targets for people who ask them for money, ask them to give their signature to prevent pollution, and would be accosted by all types of aggressive personalities who would want to take advantage of their vulnerability—their unfamiliarity with the urban norms of being cold and unapproachable in public spaces.

How were they supposed to know that saying “fuck off” was a generally acceptable response used by everyone from sweet old grandmothers to their sweet little grandkids. How would a suburban or rural family visiting the city from some far off corner of the world know that vulgarity and threats of violence were socially acceptable here? They didn’t. So instead, they would try to be polite, and listen to the stories of people down on their luck for blocks at a time, awkwardly trying to assess how to get away from a stranger who wouldn’t leave their side.

If they gave money, the transaction would elicit more strangers to confront them asking for money. If they refused to offer money, they would face begging, yelling, or even violent threats. Once the eye contact caused social engagement, there was often no good ending.

One night as I worked my shift as a doorman, a tenant walked in a said they were concerned about a man who was shouting outside on the sidewalk. I assumed it was someone tweaked out on drugs, but since residents were concerned about the loud noise, I felt responsible to go outside and check it out.

There he was, a man who appeared to be in his upper forties yelling up at the sky. He was confronting people, trying to get them to look him in the face—no Chicagoans were stopping for him. The man was screaming, yelling, and even appeared to be crying. I didn’t think much of it until I saw a resident I knew walking down the sidewalk and heading for my condominium’s entrance—and the man was making a beeline for them.

I felt obligated to somehow prevent this man from accosting the resident, so before he could confront them I called out to him and waved him over to me as I moved away from the lobby’s entrance. I made eye contact with him.

The man immediately showed me a picture. It was of a young woman—probably a high school picture. His eyes were swollen from sobbing, and he had a look of desperation in his eyes. “Look at her. Look at her!” He sobbed to me, pushing the picture up towards my face so I could see it.

“Why?!” he cried again. He yelled up at the buildings that towered above him, as if begging the tenants inside to come out and answer him.

“What’s going on?” I asked cautiously, watching his hands and preparing to defend myself in case he suddenly attacked.

Although the exact words now escape my recollection, he yelled something like, “My daughter is dead! They killed her! She went to Iraq! Why did we go there?!”

Through angry yells and heartbreaking sobs I soon learned that he had just found out that his daughter—a member of the American military—had been killed in Iraq.

I didn’t know what to do other than to look at the picture of her that he was waving in my face. I eventually looked at him and said “I’m sorry.”

He then grabbed me by the shoulders and started sobbing. I stood there, and then held him as he cried.

It was awkward, and after a few minutes he stumbled away, and I went back into the building lobby and resumed my role as being a doorman.

That incident happened years ago, but I’ll never forget the man’s face and words. He was utterly broken and devastated. He had lost his child, his beloved daughter was gone forever, and he could never get her back.

I was a young college kid at the time, probably around the same age as the man’s daughter, and I was reminded that life can be cruel and unfair. And looking back, I wish I had been more caring, and brave enough to sit with that man until he could get into a better state. I wish I would’ve realized that it’s ok to look awkward in public and that there are more important things than work responsibilities or how you look in public.

I hope that man got somewhere where he could be supported by loving friends and family. But I don’t know what happened to him.

I remember what an impression the man had on me because he introduced me into a reality that was meaningful and important—a world where real wars were being fought and loved ones were being violently killed.

We can’t always live our lives worrying about the heavy things in life, but we shouldn’t wholly embrace a life of superficial escapism. Sometimes we need to connect in meaningful ways with people—to risk eye contact with those who aren’t being truly seen.

[mariacallous]

This is the time of year when the U.S. Census Bureau publishes its latest data on poverty in the United States, and headlines are presenting a mixed picture. One set of survey results found that the overall number of people living in poverty in 2022 was relatively unchanged from the last two years. In contrast, another survey found that America’s child poverty rate doubled between 2021 and 2022, largely due to the post-pandemic expiration of an expanded child tax credit. The divergent results reflect the fact that the Census Bureau measures poverty in more than one way.

Neither of these results, however, sheds much light on where poverty is rising, falling, or staying the same, and who is most affected. Ten years ago, our book, “Confronting Suburban Poverty in America,” chronicled the rapid rise of poverty in the nation’s suburbs during the 2000s. We showed the challenges the shifting geography of poverty posed for low-income Americans’ ability to access safety net services, transportation, and jobs.

Now, the Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey (ACS)—another set of data that often flies under the public radar—offers an updated look at the landscape of poverty in 2022. After a long run of economic growth in the 2010s and more than two years into a post-pandemic economic recovery, what does the geography of poverty in America look like today?

The nation’s suburbs accounted for the majority of increases in the poor population following the onset of the pandemic

Of that 1.5 million person increase in Americans living below the poverty line, more than 60% occurred in suburbs. The U.S. is a suburban nation—more people live in suburbs (47%) than in cities (21%), small and midsized metro areas (18%), or rural areas (14%).1 And between 2019 and 2022, the poor population in major metropolitan suburbs grew three times as fast as in major cities (6% versus 2%). Major metro areas in the West (e.g., Ogden, Utah and San Francisco), South (e.g., Washington, D.C. and Houston), and Midwest (e.g., St. Louis and Minneapolis-Saint Paul) posted double-digit percentage increases in their suburban poor populations over this period. (See the appendix for detailed data.)

Fewer suburbs experienced falling poverty rates than cities

As urban and suburban poor populations increased, so did poverty rates (the share of the total population living below the poverty line) in both large cities and their surrounding suburbs. In 2022, roughly one in 10 suburban residents lived in poverty (9.6%), compared to about one in six in primary cities (16.2%). Those rates represented increases of less than half a percentage point over 2019 (0.3 percentage points for suburbs and 0.4 percentage points for large cities).

Over this same period, 25 major metro areas posted statistically significant increases in their suburban poverty rates, and 25 saw significant increases in their urban poverty rates. Only six metro areas had increases in both their urban and suburban poverty rates: Chicago, Detroit, Houston, New York, Ogden, Utah, and San Francisco. As our colleague William H. Frey has shown, several of these metro areas shed both city and suburban population during the 2019-2022 pandemic period.

In contrast, 19 major metro areas saw their urban poverty rates decline between 2019 and 2022, led by Grand Rapids, Mich., Buffalo, N.Y., and Knoxville, Tenn. But only 12 major metro areas posted statistically significant declines in their suburban poverty rates following the pandemic. By and large, those declines reflected overall (non-poor) population growth rather than declines in the number of people living in poverty; no major metro area registered a statistically significant decline in its suburban poor population over this period. For example, the total number of residents in Provo, Utah’s suburbs grew by 13% between 2019 and 2022. That rapid population growth, even as the region’s poor population remained statistically unchanged, led Provo’s suburban poverty rate to fall by 2.2 percentage points.

America continues to confront suburban poverty

A year after the release of “Confronting Suburban Poverty in America,” we wrote that recovery from the Great Recession “did not hit the reset button” on the landscape of poverty. By 2014, the worst effects of the recession had receded, yet the shift of poverty toward the nation’s suburbs had not. The same remains true in the wake of the pandemic recession. Whatever trajectory U.S. poverty follows in the coming years, it’s increasingly clear that the “new geography of poverty” we chronicled a decade ago is here to stay.

Much of our book detailed the challenges of addressing this geography of poverty when so much key infrastructure—such as policies targeted to low-income communities, the social service capacity for deploying key work supports, and the transportation networks that shape access to employment opportunities—historically has been concentrated in urban areas. We articulated the need for more cross-jurisdictional strategies that could grapple with the regional scale at which major metropolitan labor and housing markets function.

For all the economic pain it wrought, the COVID-19 pandemic also induced a massive federal response to alleviate need at the local level. Counties, cities, and towns of all sizes—including thousands in suburban America—received direct aid to help workers, households, and students whose lives the pandemic upended. While that aid was time-limited, it surely opened more suburban leaders’ eyes to the hardships many of their residents continue to face even after the emergency has subsided.

Sustaining efforts to address economic hardship once pandemic-era federal funding runs dry will take creativity, collaboration, and commitment in the face of competing priorities. But as the latest data makes clear, American poverty remains a growing suburban challenge, and solutions to overcome it must take root there as well.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

The terms “suburbs” and “suburbanization” often bring to mind the period after the Second World War, defined by rows of bungalows on tree-lined streets. Another image of the suburbs are the more recent stucco McMansions in far-flung areas of the city with garages standing guard over sidewalk-less streets.

In fact, the process of suburbanization emerged far earlier in Canadian cities and was deeply tied to the emergence of the streetcar as a revolutionary form of public transpiration.

Up until the late 19th century, there were no effective means of mass public transit and most people’s main form of transportation was walking. The lack of transit set real limitations in terms of where people could live. ...

The period saw Winnipeg as the main industrial and wholesale base for western Canada. With three railways crossing the city and the grain exchange being moved from Toronto to Winnipeg in 1890, Winnipeg was considered the “Chicago of the North.”

In 1910, Winnipeg accounted for 50 per cent of all manufacturing in western Canada. A massive industrial working class was created in Winnipeg, and those workers needed to get to work somehow.

Yearly streetcar paid fairs increased from 3.5 million passengers in 1900 to 60 million in 1913. The areas of the city that gained the most new residents in this time were west and south Winnipeg.

Streetcars were not only the most effective option for public transport but also used as a tool for land speculation that drove the creation of new developments and suburbs.

In many cases, streetcar lines were built into less-developed areas to spur on development and used as a promotional tool to attract homebuyers.

Land and subdivisions that had basic municipal services, paved sidewalks, sewers and piped water, were still the most desirable to homebuyers and developers – but by 1900, streetcar service was a requirement." - Scott Price, "The streetcar emerges," The Uniter. Volume 78, Number 06. October 19, 2023.

[acemapleeh]

Alfred Home Headcanons

We see Alfred with quite a few houses throughout the series so I think it’s fair to say the man gets around and lives all across the country. It was difficult pinning down just a few for this post and even more so for the photos to go alongside it.

I’m going to be narrowing things down to regions of the United States but I think this man has at least one home in every state. We’ll be here a lifetime if I had to describe his home in Ohio vs Indiana.

We’ll start with New England.

His oldest homes are located here, the most noteworthy is his white colonial home in Massachusetts just outside of Boston overlooking the bay. This is the one he was raised in for a large part of his youth under Arthur’s care and tutorage. Think of the house that we see in the episode of America’s Storage Room Cleaning with the wrap-around porch and expansive garden. It’s an honestly massive home for just one person to be living in. During the mid to late 1800′s when people like Lovino, Tolys, and Morgan came to work in the United States, this was the main residence that Alfred lived with them in. Finally felt a little less lonely.

I think Cape Cod or Georgian is the best fit for the style of house in this region, like, to be more specific.

Traditional accents rather than it being the main focus.

Similarly to Arthur's dust-covered archive of an estate, this is where Alfred stores a lot of his things from the days of old. Unlike his father, he doesn't put much out on display. A couple pieces of memorabilia here and there but for the most part, he's got it in a box shoved in a corner of a room he hasn't opened in half a century.

What once was Sir Lord Kirkland's bedroom when staying in the colonies, has the largest upstairs balcony that looks over the garden and on clear days, out to the harbor. A telescope perched on the railing always on the lookout for father's return home.

I think something of old he does have out on display is a massive quilt he has up and framed in the living room. It's something that took him ages to finish back in the 19th century and the fabric is far too fragile for him to use it practically anymore.

For New York, he lives in a high-rise apartment in Manhattan. Big, open floor plan, and lots of large windows, and it's perfect for entertaining guests. This is his most modern and luxurious residence. Beautiful view of the city and Central Park. Think of the apartment that we see in Hetalia of the Living Dead.

Back in the 20s he 100% had one of those big Gatsby mansions out in the Hamptons and threw parties all of the time but got rid of it all towards the latter half of the decade. Think of the ridiculousness of Mansion Party by Ninja Sex Party

The last one for this area will be the brick row house in West Philadelphia. This is likely his second oldest home and where he spent a lot of his time during the Revolution. This is where he feels like where he was really born as a nation so he has a lot of deep ties here.

I want to give him an attic bedroom with a desk by the window that can see the steeple of Christ Church near the Delaware River. The same desk he's written pamphlets for the Revolution, letters to his brother, and for even a time, a typewriter when he was feeling a resurgence of literature and poetry in the early 20th century is still there.

I don't which state exactly has that beautiful blue suburban with the big pool. Somewhere there's not a lot of snow year-round and gets those hot summers where all you want to do is submerge yourself in water. Somewhere in the South, I'm thinking either one of the Carolinas or Georgia.

He feels like the type of person to have ranches all across the central US. Most of the year he has other people working on them to take care of the animals.

The one he frequents the most is the working cattle ranch in Arizona.

Time capsule midcentury house out in the Midwest. I want to say somewhere in the Chicago area. I want to put it in Southern California where this style of house first started to get popular but going to give some love to other parts of the country.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, a sunk-in living room pit, short staircases connecting rooms throughout the house, partial brick walls, fireplaces centered in rooms, and several doors and windows to access the outdoor living space.

If you've been on my blog for a while then you might have noticed I love making Alfred a California Beach Boy. I can give him so many houses in just this state alone but I'll keep it short and sweet.

His bum-out beach cottage is located in Santa Monica and he's been located there since the 1890s. The house itself has been remodeled and updated several times over the past century. The materials he uses for the house as well as the layout stay fairly consistent, with lots of natural, light wood and open space to allow in lots of sunlight and central airflow. It's also a small space; you open that front door and right away you can already see the living room, kitchen, dining room, and out to the ocean out back. The entryway is the house.

It's almost purposely made so you can see the wear on the floors and furniture. If he drops a surfboard on the floor and there's some damage left behind, he'll leave it there. You can see the wood frames have been handmade and have some flaws and mistakes if you run a hand over them.

It's also very analog with most of the tech in the house dating to maybe the mid-90s at the latest: VHS and record player, rotary phone, etc. No AC either but he does have a great internet connection.

If I cannot fulfill my lifelong dream of having a colorfully painted Victorian house in San Francisco then Alfred can have one. I think he spent a lot of time in the 80s in the Bay Area and this old house was just a constant project of fixing up and refurbishing.

Okay, the last one I'll talk about for the time being will be his house up in Washington State.

I just really love Contemporary houses and Alfred had one built for him when they first started gaining popularity in the Pacific Northwest in 1935. Large windows invite the beauty of the region into the house while complementing the natural landscape. The Pacific Northwest features steep, rugged terrain that encourages post and beam architecture.

Tucked away in cozy woods and nestled along a majestic river.

Decor often brings nature indoors using live-edge wooden furniture, stone and wooden accents, and other cozy touches.

I don't see Alfred as being a big log cabin person but incorporate the coziness of one into this house. Place that Twilight filter on and it's his most aesthetic getaway.

[tomorrowusa]

It's embarrassing to Putin that US intelligence is better than his own secret police at assessing the threat posed by ISIS inside Russia. And it's irresponsible of Putin not to have taken the US advisory seriously.

The US warned Moscow that ISIS militants were determined to target Russia in the days before assailants stormed the Crocus City Hall in an attack that killed scores of people, but President Vladimir Putin rejected the advice as “provocative.” Gunmen stormed the concert hall near Moscow on Friday, opening fire and throwing an incendiary device in the worst terrorist attack on the Russian capital in decades. Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack. Experts said the scale of the carnage – some of which was captured in video footage obtained by CNN showing crowds of people cowering behind cushioned seats as gunshots echoed in the vast hall – would be deeply embarrassing for the Russian leader, who had championed a message of national security just a week earlier when winning the country’s stage-managed election. Not only had Russian intelligence services failed to prevent the attack, they said, but Putin had failed to heed warnings from the United States that extremists were plotting to target Moscow.

Earlier this month, the US embassy in Russia had said it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow,” including concerts, and it warned US citizens to avoid such places. US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the US government had “shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy.” But in a speech Tuesday, Putin had blasted the American warnings as “provocative,” saying “these actions resemble outright blackmail and the intention to intimidate and destabilize our society.” That stance came despite Russian authorities having reported several ISIS-related incidents within the past month.

Some of us may recall another time when the leader of a large country didn't take warnings of a terror attack seriously.

Of course Putin is trying to blame the attack on Ukraine without providing any credible evidence. But anybody who seriously keeps an eye on terrorists understands that this attack was conducted by an ISIS related group. I mean, ISIS-K itself is openly taking credit for the Crocus City Hall rampage.

Russia and its predecessor the USSR have been angering Sunni Islamic militants for a long time. It doesn't take much for ISIS to get pissed off at you and Russia has been giving them lots of material.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 set off the forever war in that region.

Russian intervention in Syria where Putin has been propping up fellow dictator Bashar al-Assad since 2015.

Russia's de facto alliance with the Shi'ite régime in Iran has Sunni ISIS enraged; they consider Shi'ites to be heretics.

Russia's growing involvement in Africa puts it at odds with ISIS elements there – especially in the Sahel.

The Putin régime has been stepping up suppression of religions other than Orthodox Christianity in Russia.

Crocus City Hall, site of the shootings and fire, is in Krasnogorsk which is not terribly far from Putin's official suburban residence in Novo-Ogaryovo. In a direct line, the two are about 9 miles/14.4 km apart; that's the distance between downtown Chicago and the nearest suburb Oak Park. According to Google Maps, it's a 25 minute ride.

I bring this up because it was reported...

President of Russian Vladimir Putin conveyed get-well wishes to victims via Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova. He did not address the nation himself.

When the late Yevgeny Prigozhin was headed to Moscow with his mutineers last year, Putin apparently fled to the Saint Petersburg area. If the most senior official available just after the Crocus attack was a deputy prime minister, that may be an indication that Putin and other senior figures were headed out of town during the crisis.

Just one more observation: Crocus City Hall was the venue for Donald Trump's 2013 Miss Universe contest.

Crocus City Hall: The Trump-linked venue that's now the scene of a deadly IS attack

[nickgerlich]

Looking For A Miracle

In the history of American retailing, there has never been a chain whose name became synonymous not just with an event, but an entire holiday season. While younger generations may not have the same level of intense memories as their parents and grandparents, it is still part of our fabric. It starts on Thanksgiving and runs through Christmas.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is as much tradition as is the turkey that will be front and center on dining room tables later that same day. The parade dates to 1924, and it was a shrewd move on behalf of the department store to put its name on it. Little did they know then it would become synonymous with not just the parade, but also the day and the holiday shopping that would ensue the day after.

As if that weren’t enough, Hollywood picked up on this beautiful romance, and in 1947 released Miracle on 34th Street. It was almost like it was a 96-minute commercial for Macy’s as it spun the tale of a drunk man hired to play Santa Claus at their downtown store.

With all of that good fortune, it would be easy to think the company was set up for life. Alas, no one is immune to change, and even Macy’s, which continues to benefit from its association with the parade as well as the month that follows, is in trouble. They just announced 150 more store closings, leaving the chain with 350 stores. It once had many hundred more.

The news comes not long after Macy’s rejected a $5.8 billion buy-out bid. They must be feeling pretty confident that they can take it from here, choppy waters be damned.

But this does not address the elephant in the room, that being the one whose name is Change. Much has indeed changed in the century since the birth of that parade, when downtown flagship department stores were a matter of civic pride and family tradition. I remember my family always traveling to downtown Chicago to go to Marshall Field, then the leading store in the region. It was an event, complete with seeing Santa, dining in the restaurant, and shopping all day. Side note: Macy’s eventually bought Marshall Field and changed the name, but Chicagoans still refer to that downtown location as Field’s.

Today, department stores are in the throes of death, along with the suburban malls in which they reside. Whereas mall owners could once count on these anchor stores to attract the foot traffic that would keep the ship and its smaller tenants afloat, that is no longer the case. The US is littered with abandoned malls or those so eerily like a ghost town that you begin to wonder why we went down this road in the first place.

Of course, we can point to e-commerce as a big contributor for this decline. This includes Amazon as well as the upstart fast-fashion site Shein. But there’s more. COVID taught us that curbside pickup and delivery are also viable options. Mass merchandisers like Target and Walmart have upped their game, and provide more outlets for our shopping dollars. All of these have combined to create a perfect storm.

It’s not like Macy’s hasn’t mounted its own response with a reasonable e-commerce site. It’s just that through so many decades of focusing on its roots that it overlooked the need to grow in new ways. Worse yet, it has developed a rather stodgy image. Just like Sears did toward the end of its life, Macy’s is now where your old aunt shops.

Eeewwwww.

I have to wonder how much longer the chain will survive. I hope they do not face the same fate as Sears. For that matter, I would not wish upon them the challenges that JC Penney has faced. At best they can hope for the comparatively calm seas that Dillards finds itself in.

This is the challenge for every legacy retailer. You have to maintain relevance. And while an annual parade may stir romantic notions, I don’t think it is going to be close to enough to keep the company going for 12 months a year, not just one. I hate to rain on their parade, but it’s looking kind of overcast out there, and it’s time to reach for an umbrella.

Dr “But Miracles Do Happen” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[beardedmrbean]

An Antioch, Illinois, man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly driving to Wisconsin to pick up a teenager he met through social media, driving her to his house and sexually abusing her.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said 25-year-old George Soriano faces charges of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of traveling to meet a minor.

Deputies responded to a residence on North Bonham Court in unincorporated Antioch at about 3:15 a.m. on Saturday after a caller told the 911 operator she and a friend were picked up by Soriano at their home in Wisconsin.

After picking the girls up, Soriano drove them to his home and allegedly sexually assaulted one of them, who was 13 years old.

CHICAGO SUFFERS 34 SHOT, 8 KILLED AS BLOODY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND NEARS END

Both girls were picked up by deputies and taken to an area hospital to be evaluated.

The sheriff’s office said a further investigation discovered Soriano met the girls on social media, and on Saturday, he communicated with them through the social media app and made plans to pick them up.

According to a press release from the department, the girls said they feared Soriano because he had a gun.

MAN WHO SHOT SUBURBAN CHICAGO OFFICER HIT WITH ADDITIONAL ARMED ROBBERY CHARGE

Police also said Soriano may have met with at least one of the girls prior to Saturday’s incident.

A search of Soriano’s home revealed he also had a cannabis growing operation.

Soriano was taken into custody and held in the Lake County Jail, pending a court hearing on Sunday.

[aryburn-trains]

CB&Q E8 9976

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad E8 9976 westbound at Naperville, Illinois on June 7, 1965, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This locomotive was built in September 1953 ( c/n 18318 ) on EMD Order 2059A for eight E8's ( #'s 9970-9977 ), became BN 9976 sometime after the March 2, 1970 merger. It was sold to the West Suburban Mass Transit District on April 1, 1977, and was rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen in Boise, Idaho, swapping out it's twin 12-cylinder Model 567B prime movers for 645E's and changing out it's twin steam generators for Detroit Diesel powered HEP units. It appears this unit went on to a brief career as MARC 68, and now resides at the Illinois Railway Museum, Union, Illinois. In the background is Train #11, the Nebraska Zephyr. Assuming everyone is on time, 9976 is on Train #109, due in Naperville at 11:32AM, #11 is due at Aurora at 11:37AM.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

An Illinois grand jury on Wednesday formally indicted the father of a man charged with fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago, the Lake County State’s Attorney Office said.

The indictment charges Robert Crimo Jr., 58, with seven counts of reckless conduct. Prosecutors have said he helped his son, Robert Crimo III, obtain a gun license years before the shooting in Highland Park, even though the then-19-year-old had threatened violence.

Sara Avalos, a spokesperson for the prosecutors office, confirmed the grand jury indictment and said the father will be arraigned Thursday.

Robert Crimo Jr. was arrested in December, also on seven felony counts of reckless conduct, one for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum 3-year prison term. The longtime resident and well-known figure in Highland Park was released after his arrest on a $50,000 bond.

At a brief hearing last month, prosecutors had told Judge George Strickland at a Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, north of Highland Park, they needed more time to present evidence to the grand jury.

In a brief statement released by his office later Wednesday, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said the grand jury agreed the case against the father should move forward.

“Parents who help their kids get weapons of war are morally and legally responsible when those kids hurt others with those weapons,” Rinehart said.

George M. Gomez, the father’s Chicago-area attorney, said Wednesday evening that he couldn’t comment because he hadn’t yet seen the indictment. But he earlier called the accusations against his client “baseless and unprecedented.”

Rinehart has previously said the accusations against the father are based on his sponsorship of his son’s application for a gun license in December 2019. Authorities say Robert Crimo III attempted suicide by machete in April 2019 and in September 2019 was accused by a family member of making threats to “kill everyone.”

“Parents and guardians are in the best position to decide whether their teenagers should have a weapon,” Rinehart said after the father’s arrest. “In this case, the system failed when Robert Crimo Jr. sponsored his son. He knew what he knew and he signed the form anyway.”

Authorities say Illinois State Police reviewed the son’s gun license application and found no reason to deny it because he had no arrests, no criminal record, no serious mental health problems, no orders of protection and no other behavior that would disqualify him.

Legal experts have said it’s rare for an accused shooter’s parent or guardian to face charges — in part because it’s difficult to prove such charges.

In one notable exception, a Michigan prosecutor in 2021 filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the parents of a teen accused of fatally shooting four students at his high school. A trial date was delayed while the state appeals court considers an appeal.

A grand jury indicted Robert Crimo III in July on 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven people killed and dozens wounded in the attack at the holiday parade in Highland Park.

Robert Crimo Jr. has shown up at several of his son’s pretrial hearings, nodding in greeting when his son entered the courtroom shackled and flanked by guards. The father is a familiar face around Highland Park, where he was once a mayoral candidate and operated convenience stores.

[sarasa-cat]

In the US and California in particular, a new wealthy class has been moving from suburbs to cities and displacing the urban working-class population. In San Francisco, billionaires and the ascendant class of wealthy tech workers moved into a city with all that urban life entails – noise, homelessness, people of many economic and racial backgrounds in close proximity, etc – and have responded by trying to turn the city into the suburbs. As the housing crisis worsens and cities become more wealthy and more unequal, we will see a sort of reverse of the white flight of the 1950s and 60s and the suburban tax revolts of the late 1970s, as the new urban ruling classes seek to instate a homogeneous society in place of the bustling, messy, diverse, cultured places they inherited.

Crime has been rising nationwide at about the same rate, with no correlation whatsoever to progressive prosecutors or city governments

The final prong of the recall effort was a massive campaign by the media, which has ramped up around the country. Boudin’s tenure was marked by breathless coverage of crime and increasing media alarmism about the city becoming a war zone. Hundreds of articles have been written in San Francisco and elsewhere attributing rising crime to progressive prosecutors and criminal justice reform.

This hysteria is largely evidence-free: crime has been rising nationwide at about the same rate, with no correlation whatsoever to progressive prosecutors or city governments. In fact, cities with Republican mayors and prosecutors are far more dangerous. Republican-governed Jacksonville, for example, is about the same size as San Francisco and has three times the murder rate. The media, however, has focused almost exclusively on progressive-run jurisdictions. In San Francisco, people were whipped into a frenzy, despite the fact that the city is vastly safer than it was for most of the previous 50 years.

Boudin’s recall is the tip of the spear of reaction, rather than just one example of backlash against progressive governance. San Francisco is a unique city that, despite its left-leaning reputation, gave unique opportunities for conservative forces to move so aggressively. For one, Boudin only won in the first place with 36% of the vote, hardly a clear mandate. Indeed, the 40% who voted to retain him demonstrates that, if anything, he gained support over his tenure.

In contrast, the handy re-election victories of progressive prosecutors Larry Krasner in Philadelphia and Kim Foxx in Chicago further demonstrate Boudin’s unique vulnerability. Krasner and Foxx both lost white voters, winning re-election on the back of large margins from the Latino and especially Black voters who together make up a majority of both their districts. In San Francisco, however, Black people and Latinos together make up just 20% of the population, with Black residents alone just 5% of residents.

San Francisco is also vastly wealthier than most other American cities, leaving a much smaller base of people affected by policies that primarily harm poor and marginalized people. The election map shows that support for the recall was strongest in the wealthiest areas. In Philadelphia, someone seeing a homeless encampment on their way to work is likely to be a working-class person; in San Francisco, there’s a decent chance this person is a millionaire or even billionaire who will make their distaste everyone’s problem.

——

@thehungrycity - this piece from today summarizes some of the issues that became apparent by very late in the evening this past Tuesday, when I — with depressingly sincere sadness and nervousness — held a funeral for the progressive left in the US.

I’ve been seeing very strong signs of ALL OF THE ABOVE growing in recent years and the local elections held last Nov were… troubling. I was also kicked out of the local dems (removed from their local roll/list) for being too progressive (and my record is pretty public in their records given things I have done for the party so…. Yeah).

The other things to keep in mind are that the democrats have, historically, been a right of center party until a huge progressive push moved them left of center. During the Clinton years? Right of center. Failed candidates who ran against Bush Jr? Right of center. The democratic party platform during Obama’s 2008 campaign? Right. of. Center. The slow and steady push left began in 2012. But now it is swinging back to the right because a lot of $$$powerful$$$ forces are making The New Urban High Income White Households very very nervous. Also, these private school educated folks merely think they are left because they are left of their christian suburban parents.

Anyhow, I CONSTANTLY hear lots of nervous nelly talk from my neighbors, ESPECIALLY women, regardless if they are 28 or 68. Fear of urban complexity. Fear of homeless people sleeping in front of their $6/per coffee cafe. Constant nonstop chatter about “suspicious” looking people walking too slowly past their “in this house we believe sign.” The gentrifiers are, as expected, swinging the dems back to the center right and when forced between a vote for a progressive (especially if a WOC) and a respectable “Soft” republican, they’ll fill in the circle next to the republican’s name. This isn’t hyperbole. The data is there. Prior voting patterns are available at the level of 500 households per aggregate. And the experiences of prior organizers, behind the scenes workers, and delegates (self included) are all there if you start asking questions in the correct places.

Additionally……… (ominous ellipses). Hm…..

Additionally, there are far too many signs that “Educated Professional America” is attempting to wipe its hands of everything to do with the progressive movements of the past 1-2 decades. Actually, I would like to see a social historian compare this modern (2020s) backing away from progressivism to what happened in 1980 in the US, when the US also took a big step backwards away from all of the advancements made during the 60s and 70s. I suspect there are solid parallels based on what I know/knew/heard from people a generation or more older than me.

And this isn’t me being a party pooper on progressivism— I STRONGLY believe (even more now than I did in 2012-14) that progressives need to focus and regroup. But there is a propaganda war against progressivism that is far older than the oldest progressives alive today. And suburban professional class people are a nervous bunch by nature (prior generations back that would have been primarily been White Protestant Americans but in more recent decades it also includes everyone who aspires for Americanized Whiteness(tm)) — i worried about what that would mean for urban areas and it has proven to play out much as I thought it would.

Sadly, so many things I predicted in the 00s and the 20-teens have come to pass.

Right now— I am very concerned about where the median will be in american politics because it is swinging back to the right and swinging fast.

For where america stands against other nations (yes, this is a little old- from 2019), see this:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/26/opinion/sunday/republican-platform-far-right.html

[urbandiaries-by-sofea]

Blog Post #1: The Discontinuous Cores of Los Angeles

The Los Angeles School discussed in class compelled me to recall my recent experience travelling to Los Angeles with my best friends. With a focus on postmodernism, the Los Angeles School suggested a new urban model defined by fragmented and split urban growth and the decline of metropolitan centers. This hypothesis offers a different way of viewing city growth compared to Burgess’s Concentric-Zone Hypothesis (a product of the Chicago School), which suggested that industrial cities grew radially through a series of concentric zones.

One thing that struck me while planning my trip to Los Angeles is how Los Angeles has multiple core areas in the periphery and not strictly in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). It seems like a city composed of a sum of disconnected cores, each with its unique character, and devoid of traditional city centers. I could see how automobiles must have been an essential factor in the development of Los Angeles, given that I find it particularly difficult to commute from one core area or suburb to another with public transport. I also recall how amazed I was to see how incredibly diverse and multicultural Los Angeles is. This is consistent with what Charles Jencks said about Los Angeles, whereby “No single ethnic group, nor way of life, nor industrial sector, dominates the scene.” (Palen’s book, p. 76)

As I walked on the streets of DTLA during my trip, I noticed that office buildings, banks, and hotels dominate most spaces. While there are still a few departmental stores left like Macy’s, in my eyes, the retail scene is not as vibrant as I would have imagined in a big city. This observation aligns with our discussion in class about the out-movement of offices, manufacturing, retail trade, and people from the center city to the periphery areas (i.e., suburbs). The opening of large shopping centers like Valley Plaza and Lakewood Center was widespread in the county as massive suburbanization took off after World War II. By the 1960s, Los Angeles residents didn’t find the need to go to DTLA anymore to shop.  

Decentralization of economic activities and housing to locations outside of DTLA have certainly taken place in the City of Angels. Take Anaheim on the outskirts of Los Angeles, for example. While it is still part of Los Angeles County, it is a core area of its own and is popularly known for its theme parks. Another example that is integral to the Los Angeles School Hypothesis is Santa Monica which boasts itself of being the home to the headquarters of many businesses, tourist attractions, shopping districts, and real estates, despite being quite a distance from DTLA. Century City is also an example of an edge city that is a thriving business and commerce city outside of DTLA. It is anchored by a 1.3 million-square-feet outdoor shopping mall called Westfield Century City and is very much automobile-dependent.

While the Los Angeles School of Thoughts might be a better representation of the urban sprawl in Los Angeles today, this video showing the growth of Los Angeles from 1877 to 2000 made me think about how Burgess’s Concentric-Zone Hypothesis might have come into play in the city, especially in the early 20th century. Some articles I read also confirmed that the small towns that emerged in the early 1900s centered around the economically booming DTLA. Eventually, a 1,100-mile streetcar system came into the area, establishing an urban footprint there. I remember walking from our hotel in DTLA to Little Tokyo and observing how the buildings were gradually shorter as we walked further away from the financial district of DTLA. The financial district of DTLA can be best described as Zone I—the Central Business District. On the other hand, neighborhoods like Chinatown, Koreatown, and Little Tokyo are reflective of Zone 2—the zone in transition—since they were “immigrant settlements”. I believe that, in the early 1900s, there might be the influence of an urban growth pattern similar to the one described by Burgess when Los Angeles was a relatively small area. However, it was fascinating to see how, in the video, there seems to be concentric growth from different cores in Los Angeles (not necessarily the center city), especially after the 1940s, affirming the Los Angeles School of Thoughts Hypothesis.

As I reflect on this week’s and last week’s readings, I wonder what led to the emergence of these core areas in Los Angeles and how the simultaneous development of different core areas was possible. I look forward to learning more about the sustainability of cities and suburbs whose development was not dependent upon the conventional center cities and how these areas build economic independence.

[landandbuildings]

Discover Your Ideal Home: Duplex for Rent Illinois

Searching for a new place to call home can be an exciting yet daunting task, especially in a state as diverse and vibrant as Illinois. Whether you're a young professional seeking a cozy space or a growing family in need of more room to thrive, finding the perfect Duplex for Rent Illinois can make all the difference. Nestled within this bustling state are numerous duplexes waiting to welcome their next residents with open arms.

Illinois offers an array of options for those in search of a House for Rent Illinois. From quaint suburban neighborhoods to bustling urban centers, there's something to suit every lifestyle and preference. Duplexes, in particular, present a unique opportunity for renters to enjoy the perks of both apartment living and single-family homes.

One of the key advantages of renting a duplex in Illinois is the sense of privacy and independence it offers. Unlike traditional apartment buildings, duplexes typically consist of only two units, providing tenants with their own distinct space and entryway. This setup allows for a more intimate living experience while still enjoying the convenience of shared amenities and proximity to neighbors.

Moreover, duplexes often boast spacious layouts that rival those of single-family homes. With multiple levels and ample square footage, renters have plenty of room to spread out and personalize their living environment. Whether you're hosting a gathering with friends or simply enjoying a quiet night in, duplexes provide the flexibility and comfort needed to accommodate your lifestyle.

Location is another crucial factor to consider when searching for a Duplex for Rent Illinois. Fortunately, Illinois offers a diverse range of neighborhoods and communities, each with its own unique charm and appeal. Whether you prefer the bustling energy of downtown Chicago or the serene beauty of the suburbs, there's a duplex waiting to welcome you home.

In addition to location and layout, amenities play a significant role in determining the appeal of a duplex. Many rental properties in Illinois offer a variety of amenities to enhance residents' quality of life, such as on-site laundry facilities, parking options, and outdoor spaces. These amenities can make all the difference in creating a comfortable and convenient living environment.

In conclusion, finding the perfect Duplex for Rent Illinois is an exciting journey that offers endless possibilities. With a diverse range of options to choose from, renters can find a duplex that not only meets their practical needs but also reflects their unique personality and lifestyle. Whether you're searching for a cozy urban retreat or a spacious suburban oasis, Illinois has the perfect duplex waiting for you to call home.

[bllsbailey]

Illinois Mayor Tried to Play the Race Card at a Community Meeting. There Was One Big Problem.

DOLTON TRUSTEES HIRES LORI LIGHTFOOT TO INVESTIGATE MAYOR TIFFANY HENYARD

Dolton, Illinois, is the scene of a political circus. The village outside of Chicago is the epicenter of local uproar over the misappropriation of funds, and now a sexual misconduct allegation lobbed at an ally of Dolton’s mayor, Tiffany Henyard. Dolton Trustee Andrew Holmes has been accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit filed by a former Dolton employee. Henyard was named for being the person who allegedly tried to cover it up. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been tapped to investigate all the claims of malfeasance lobbed at Ms. Henyard (via Chicago Sun-Times): 

Dolton Trustee Andrew Holmes and the south suburban village's embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard were sued this week for an alleged sexual assault of a village employee in Las Vegas last year.  The civil lawsuit was filed Monday in Cook County by the now-former village employee and a Dolton police officer. It accuses Holmes, also a well-known community activist for victims of gun violence, of sexually assaulting the village employee. Henyard is named for allegedly trying to cover up the incident to protect herself and retaliating against the employee when she tried to come forward about the assault.  The lawsuit comes the same week former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was hired by the village's Board of Trustees to investigate Henyard, look into possible mayoral misspending and the allegations connected to the May 2023 Las Vegas trip. 

Ms. Henyard also serves as a supervisor for Thorton Township, which encompasses Dolton, where she’s also taking heat. With nowhere to go at a recent community meeting last week, Henyard tried to play the race card. The problem is most of the black residents weren’t taking the bait, audibly rejecting her attempt to pivot away from her alleged scandals (via WGN Chicago): 

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 11, 2024

Frustrated residents showed up in force at the Thorton Township meeting Tuesday, demanding answers from Tiffany Henyard about everything from spending to a sexual misconduct claim against one of her allies.  Grasping a gold microphone, Henyard faced questions she, for the most part, refused to answer.  “My comment is, it’s public comment,” she said.  Many at the meeting demanded answers and accused Henyard of hiding something.  “When you don’t answer questions, there’s something to hide,” Dolton resident Mary Avon said.  “No, ‘madam supervisor,’ we are not brainwashed. We are fed up,” South Holland resident Curtis Watts said. WGN Investigates reported earlier this year Henyard and her allies in the township wracked up more than $67,000 on travel in a several-month period last year. Many of the flights were first-class, and so were the accommodations  Henyard has never fully explained the spending and continues to say she’s the victim of vicious opponents and racism. 

I have a feeling that things aren’t going to end well for Ms. Henyard.

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[christone1]

Unlocking the Charm of Rental Homes in Illinois

Illinois, with its diverse landscapes and vibrant communities, offers an array of living options for individuals and families alike. Among these, rental homes stand out as a popular choice for those seeking flexibility, convenience, and comfort. Whether nestled in the bustling city streets of Chicago or the serene neighborhoods of O’Fallon, rental homes in Illinois present a compelling lifestyle proposition.

Rental Homes Illinois cater to a wide spectrum of preferences and budgets, making them an attractive option for various demographics. From modern apartments with skyline views to cozy suburban houses with spacious yards, there's something to suit every taste. In bustling urban centers like Chicago, rental homes offer proximity to employment opportunities, cultural attractions, and vibrant nightlife. Meanwhile, in suburban enclaves such as O’Fallon, rental homes provide a peaceful retreat without sacrificing access to essential amenities and reputable schools.

One of the key advantages of rental homes in Illinois is the flexibility they afford. Unlike homeownership, renting allows individuals to adapt to changing circumstances without being tied down by long-term commitments. Whether you're a young professional exploring career opportunities or a growing family in need of more space, the rental market in Illinois offers options that can evolve with your lifestyle.

Moreover, rental homes in O’Fallon specifically showcase the charm of suburban living. With well-maintained neighborhoods, abundant green spaces, and a strong sense of community, O’Fallon attracts residents seeking a tranquil yet connected lifestyle. Rental properties in this area often feature modern amenities and ample space for families to thrive, making them an appealing choice for those prioritizing comfort and convenience.

In addition to the lifestyle benefits, rental homes in Illinois offer financial advantages as well. Without the burden of property taxes, maintenance costs, and hefty down payments associated with homeownership, renters can allocate their resources more flexibly. This financial freedom enables individuals and families to pursue other goals, whether it's saving for a future home purchase, investing in education, or simply enjoying a higher quality of life.

In conclusion, rental homes in Illinois represent a compelling housing option for those seeking flexibility, convenience, and affordability. Whether in the heart of Chicago or the suburbs of O’Fallon, these properties offer a diverse range of amenities and lifestyles to suit a variety of preferences. With their ability to adapt to changing needs and provide a hassle-free living experience, rental homes continue to be a popular choice for residents across the state.

[starckre]

Finding Your Ideal Home: Exploring Homes for Sale in Bloomingdale, IL

Nestled in the heart of DuPage County, Bloomingdale, Illinois, offers a serene suburban lifestyle with easy access to urban amenities. Its picturesque neighborhoods, excellent schools, and abundance of recreational activities make it an attractive destination for homebuyers. If you're considering purchasing a home for sale in Bloomingdale IL, this guide will walk you through the housing market, amenities, and everything else you need to know to find your dream home.

A Snapshot of Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale is a charming village located approximately 25 miles west of downtown Chicago. With a population of around 22,000 residents, it offers a tight-knit community atmosphere while still providing access to the bustling city life. The village is known for its well-maintained parks, top-rated schools, and diverse housing options, making it an ideal location for families, professionals, and retirees alike.

Housing Market Overview

The housing market in Bloomingdale caters to a wide range of preferences and budgets. Prospective buyers can choose from condominiums, townhouses, single-family homes, and luxury estates, ensuring there's something for everyone.

Condominiums and townhouses are popular choices for individuals seeking low-maintenance living. Many of these properties offer modern amenities such as fitness centers, swimming pools, and community spaces. They are particularly appealing to young professionals and empty nesters looking to downsize without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Single-family homes in Bloomingdale come in various styles and sizes, from cozy ranch-style houses to spacious two-story residences. These homes often feature generous yards, perfect for outdoor activities and entertaining. With well-established neighborhoods and tree-lined streets, single-family homes offer a sense of privacy and tranquility.

Luxury properties in Bloomingdale cater to buyers seeking upscale amenities and high-end finishes. These homes often boast custom designs, gourmet kitchens, lavish bathrooms, and expansive outdoor living spaces. Whether you're looking for a sprawling estate or a prestigious mansion, Bloomingdale has luxury properties that exude elegance and sophistication.

Neighborhoods and Communities

Bloomingdale is home to several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and amenities. From family-friendly suburbs to bustling urban centers, there's a neighborhood in Bloomingdale to suit every lifestyle.

The Stratford Square area is a vibrant commercial and residential hub, offering shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Residents enjoy easy access to the Stratford Square Mall, which features popular retailers, restaurants, and a movie theater.

For those seeking a more tranquil setting, neighborhoods like Indian Lakes and Westlake offer peaceful surroundings and scenic views. These communities boast well-manicured parks, serene lakes, and recreational facilities, providing residents with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation.

The Bloomfield Club is a prestigious gated community in Bloomingdale, offering resort-style amenities and upscale living. Residents of the Bloomfield Club enjoy access to a clubhouse, swimming pools, tennis courts, and walking trails, creating a luxurious and exclusive lifestyle experience.

Schools and Education

Bloomingdale is served by several highly-rated school districts, making it an excellent choice for families with school-age children. Students in Bloomingdale attend schools in either School District 13 or School District 15, both of which are known for their academic excellence and extracurricular offerings.

Notable schools in Bloomingdale include Erickson Elementary School, Westfield Middle School, and Lake Park High School. These schools prioritize student success and provide a supportive learning environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

In addition to public schools, Bloomingdale is home to several private and parochial schools, offering families a variety of educational options. These schools focus on providing a well-rounded education grounded in academic rigor, character development, and community engagement.

Recreational Amenities

Residents of Bloomingdale enjoy access to a wide range of recreational amenities and outdoor activities. The village is home to numerous parks, playgrounds, and nature preserves, providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation.

Notable parks in Bloomingdale include Springfield Park, Circle Park, and Westlake Park, all of which feature walking trails, sports fields, and picnic areas. These parks are popular destinations for family outings, community events, and outdoor fitness activities.

Bloomingdale is also home to the Bloomingdale Park District, which offers a variety of recreational programs and facilities for residents of all ages. From youth sports leagues to fitness classes to cultural events, the Park District provides year-round entertainment and enrichment opportunities for the community.

Conclusion

With its picturesque neighborhoods, top-rated schools, and abundance of recreational amenities, Bloomingdale, IL, offers an idyllic setting for homebuyers. Whether you're searching for a cozy condominium, a spacious single-family home, or a luxurious estate, Bloomingdale has a diverse range of housing options to suit every taste and budget. With its welcoming community and convenient location, Bloomingdale is more than just a place to live—it's a place to call home.