Interesting math. One bag per week at $2.50 would be $10.00 not $36 per month. Since when do you mow your lawn EVERY WEEK from, what, April through October?
10 bags of leaves is $25.00, but where does the $277 come from?
I don't want this plan, but for heaven's sake keep your arithmetic straight.
I see now that I am not the sole public member of the commission. There are 3 members from the public, and one user of senior coupons. From the taxi industry, there is one owner of a taxicab company, one independent taxicab owner, and one taxicab driver.
I suspect that Mr Who Knows What??? and Confused and Dazed?? are one and the same, harping about NPV and NIMBY's and probably imagining my appearance on ECMC. (BTW I do not have a program or have been on ECMC other than a rare comment at a Council meeting.) Are you sure that is a real medicine you are taking?
I encourage Mr Who Knows What??? to have his own show, preferably between 10pm and 11pm, that should help diminish the need for Ambien. The rooster could find employment elsewhere.
Do you have something against Haiti, rabbis, or religion for that matter?
PBS no longer needed? My, my. Are you an arch conservative who wants to put liberal media off the air? What are children going to watch during the day? MSNBC?
You Tube? Donate your cookies for every possible pop up ad?
EvanstonNow, where people hide under cloaks of anonymous names, afraid of the sunlight or embarassment. Ann Rainey's 8th ward chat boards do quite well without that.
Just think, with some training at ECMC, you could have your own program to get your "message" out.
With a private service we will have to pay a two dollar sticker for a bag of grass.The bag itself cost 50 cents,the sticker is two dollars total is $2.50 a bag.
Small lawn one bag a week $2.50 a week,$36 dollars a month 7 months x 36 = $252 dollars a year
When fall hits you can have a avg of 10 bags of leaves which = 25.00 total season $277.00 dollars, and this is for a small home in Evanston. Average home will be paying over 300.00. I see were this is going...
Reply:
As it stands now the staff-recommended option is NOT to charge for the first "three bundles and four bags or two yard-waste carts" picked up from a house each week.
-- Bill
Hey Asbury Neighbors! Your "Indy" sign is on the 1700 McDaniel just north of Church Street. Apparently Evanston has a city-wide speeding issue...not to mention coveting neighbor's possessions...
Vito says:
"think about how many NPO's can and have learned video through ECMC, so they can get their message out."
So is that the point of ECMC? To teach people how to make videos?
And what worthwhile messages are getting out? I look at the Thursday schedule for ECMC: 'Haiti Vérité' (religious) , 'The Movie Squad', 'Taped with Rabbi Doug'..... am I supposed to be glad that ECMC is helping these people get their 'message' out?
Bafflegab!
I also see that 'NU News' has a half hour on Channel 6. Northwestern! It seems like this is an issue where the NU haters and Enquiring Minds can find common ground: let's abolish ECMC. ( Maybe I will apply to have my own half hour show on Channel , where I discuss NPV and the evils of NIMBYism. )
Enquiring minds want government meetings to be broadcast and archived on the web, and all public documents should be available on the City's website and easy to find. [It seems that the City updates its web content almost every day, so when you 'sort by date', everything comes up as being posted yesterday.]
There was a time when public access made sense, but NPO's no longer need cable to get their 'message' out. We have YouTube and EvanstonNow, where people can make their opinions known. Like PBS, ECMC is no longer needed.
"it will continue to change with multi-media to accommodate people's needs"
That's the point Vito! ECMC hasn't changed, nor has it accommodated anyone.
Public access should work by the people and for the people, but ECMC has failed to do that. I've seen you on the screen, Vito, but have you ever produced anything?
As far as your arguments:
1) A very low percentage of NPOs in Evanston have taken the time to learn TV production and have steadily produced anything. We're talking about five or so over the last ten years. 4 or 5 are churches or faith-based initiatives. This is a pathetic statistic. NPOs get their messages across on web sites now, not through public access.
2) I'm not advocating the elimination of municipal or educational access. Both systems are meaningless without content, and not much content is produced outside of regular meetings. The infrastructure is in place so that a trained monkey could get these precious meetings on the air.
2b) And as far as streaming - Hasn't this been an option for a long time now?
The real problem with ECMC is there is no real governance or accountability.
The city wants to raise our water bills by 43 percent, and switch responsibilities with the city crew and a private contracter, which would save about $675,000 a year.
So, it's the switch and raise bait.
However, "if the city got out of the garbage hauling business, it would save nearly $1 million in worker wages and benefits and nearly $900,000 in annual costs to repair and replace its fleet of garbage trucks and stock of refuse carts."
What I don't understand is why the city would collect recycling when it saves money now by hiring a contractor. The Council should vote to contract out ALL of the city's sanitation services, hauling trash and recycling. That way we save the most money. Other suburbs are doing it.
This is just another example of our elected leaders afraid of making fiscally responsible decisions that make sense. But instead, the Council chooses to placate the sanitation union at the expense of taxpayers.
If the Taxicab Advisory Board should be dissolved, a task force should consider:
1. Why there is no information on the Evanston city government website about how to start a taxi company in Evanston.
2. Why there is no information on whether increased competition is allowed. Most cities make it very difficult for new taxi companies to compete; they have to get the approval of existing companies. Imagine if you couldn't open a restaurant unless McDonald's agreed there was a need for one!
I was appointed as the sole public member on the Taxicab Advisory Board in May and we have yet to meet, and I have yet to receive any information. That's probably because the existing taxi companies who serve on the board only meet when they want to consider whether a rival company should be allowed to come into Evanston territory-NOT!
This is a shame. Recently, a taxi driver was arrested for kidnapping and sexually abusing a passenger. More competition would mean higher standards.
Denver ended its taxi oligopoly in 1994. For 47 years before that, the Public Utilities Commission had turned down every applicant who tried to compete with Denver's three taxi firms. Then Governor Roy Romer signed a law that allowed anyone who passed vehicle and driver-safety tests to get a license and allowed jitneys and van pools to run along fixed routes. The disabled immediately began to benefit as wheelchair-accessible vans began operating.
I hope a task force can find out what the situation is in Evanston.
The city spends money haphazardly, but this is one service that should not be cut.
I would mention two things:
1) The training. If one understands that web video is a part of the landscape, but if you don't know how to make a video... think about how many NPO's can and have learned video through ECMC, so they can get their message out.
2) All the meeting coverage that ECMC provides. Not just for City meetings, and not just Council meetings, but for school district meetings too. It is done multi-cam and can be streamed as soon as either entity wants it to be.
ECMC is a great resource that the community should be proud of and it will continue to change with multi-media to accommodate people's needs.
The 2009 2010 Comcast CABLE FRANCHISE FEE (revenue) to the city of Evanston is $890,000. Evanston expends $353,000 of this fee to the local cable operation which provides for public access to the residents, school districts and city.
Because the same loud annoying people cramming their opinions down your throat, sit on their board and make their programming. And they will all show up-- loudly to defend it.
I refer to the old phrase "Wealthiest One Percent", well in Evanston we have a "Loudest One Percent". Or fuzzy math. Or something. Anyway.
"So, as a message the new city aldermen, yes, let's cut ECMC funding. You can predict what will happen: they will call in lots of supporters to fill up a long public comment session during a budget meeting. Their arguments will be unsound. "
A small but vocal and well-organized band of zealots hijacking the council meeting - and using unsound arguments to promote their petty special interests?
No way! I can't imagine something like that happening in this town.
I agree that ECMC should find another funding source, yet I disagree with the OP's comments about the content of channel 6. You don't understand the public access model, wherein people from the community can produce whatever television programming they want for the cable subscribers in the community through a low-to-no cost mechanism via ECMC. If you don't like the religious tone of public access, produce a show!
ECMC's model of providing equipment, facilities and free broadcast time died with the arrival of cheap video recorders and the advent of YouTube five years ago.
ECMC operates from a grant from the city of Evanston. They receive over $400,000 annually from the city's general fund. Over 10% of that figure goes to pay their Executive Director, yet the brunt of that money goes to rent payments on their west-side studio space.
The city receives nearly $1,000,000 annually in franchise fees from Comcast, which are passed on to Comcast customers. (That means you've been screwed twice, buddy, both as a Comcast subscriber and as a citizen of Evanston.)
So, as a message the new city aldermen, yes, let's cut ECMC funding. You can predict what will happen: they will call in lots of supporters to fill up a long public comment session during a budget meeting. Their arguments will be unsound. You will find out that 90% of their programming comes from a very limited number of participating Evanstonians.
If the City is looking for ways to cut expenses, please cut funding to the Evanston Community Media Center.
Except for City Council meetings, the channel is clogged with virtually nothing but inane programming.
I've seen a number of stupid personal hobbies highlighted. For example, people singing who have no business singing in public and others talking about their cars ad nauseum. I've also seen people on camera using questionable language and drinking.
I also question whether the City should be subsidizing religious programming. I've repeatedly seen church services and one woman lecturing while seated. I question whether the City's subsidy of ECMC is legal, given the excessive amount of religious programming provided.
The City should pay only the cost of televising City programming. Programs highlighting people's personal pursuits, as well as religious lectures and services, should be broadcast only if those directly involved can pay for it.
Does anyone know which farmers sell at this market?
I pass by it on my way to the Downtown Farmers Market and it generally looks desolate and bereft of actual farmers!
Since the Downtown market is only 8 blocks away, there is no incentive to shop at this market.
Their website isn't very informative, either. I might be more inclined to visit West End if they held it mid-week, after my Downtown market supplies have dwindled.
Well it sounds like the market is ripe for a private garage to be built to support the demand for parking in this area. Maybe a mixed retail/commercial building plus 200 car garage to expand the business district and capitalize on 'reverse' commuters from the Metra who could work in the area. Not to mention the benefit to your clients.
Oh wait, you said Central Street? Nevermind, that would be a terrible idea totally wrong for the small charms of Old Town Evanston. You should move your place of business instead.
If anyone would be interested in marching in the Evanston Fourth of July parade, the Fourth of July Association could use your help! We need 6 people to march in the parade to carry a number of banners announcing bands and their sponsors.
Volunteers need to arrive by 1:15pm at Central Park Ave and Central Street. The parade route takes about an hour to walk, and the volunteer will be holding one side of an 8-ft banner with another volunteer on the other side.
Please email me at dons89@yahoo.com or call me at 847-708-6927.
Thanks!
Don Souhrada
Evanston Fourth of July Association
Make your gift to the Evanston Fourth of July Celebration today!
For major thoroughfares like Green Bay Road, I think the new LED lights are terrific. In addition to their technological benefits, they greatly reduce ambient light pollution. The mercury vapor lights can't be replaced quickly enough. (To whom at the City should feedback be directed?)
Reply:
Try Paul Schneider or your alderman.
--Bill
"As we all know, the most annoying NIMBYs in Evanston are on Central Street, and they don't want outsiders parking on the streets near the Central St. Metra station. Why? If there are no meter spots left (as often was the case, at least before the Great Republican Depression of 2008), then people should park on the street."
I disagree. The more annoying NIMBY's are the huge homes along Orrington near the NU Campus, who are magically able to get parking restrictions on both sides of that street. The rest of us peons who live further west are only able to get resident parking on one side of our streets.
The irony, of course, is that the closer you get to campus, the greater the demand for parking--an amenity which the university steadfastly refuses to provide to its own people on its own property. Note that the City of Evanston struggles along, but finds the means to subsidize parking structures. NU, with its multi-billion endowment, has built exactly one, and it's not enough.
So maybe NU is the most annoying NIMBY when it comes to parking.
Interesting math. One bag per week at $2.50 would be $10.00 not $36 per month. Since when do you mow your lawn EVERY WEEK from, what, April through October?
10 bags of leaves is $25.00, but where does the $277 come from?
I don't want this plan, but for heaven's sake keep your arithmetic straight.
I see now that I am not the sole public member of the commission. There are 3 members from the public, and one user of senior coupons. From the taxi industry, there is one owner of a taxicab company, one independent taxicab owner, and one taxicab driver.
Sheridan Road - FINALLY!
It's been a true embarrassment and irritant.
I suspect that Mr Who Knows What??? and Confused and Dazed?? are one and the same, harping about NPV and NIMBY's and probably imagining my appearance on ECMC. (BTW I do not have a program or have been on ECMC other than a rare comment at a Council meeting.) Are you sure that is a real medicine you are taking?
I encourage Mr Who Knows What??? to have his own show, preferably between 10pm and 11pm, that should help diminish the need for Ambien. The rooster could find employment elsewhere.
Do you have something against Haiti, rabbis, or religion for that matter?
PBS no longer needed? My, my. Are you an arch conservative who wants to put liberal media off the air? What are children going to watch during the day? MSNBC?
You Tube? Donate your cookies for every possible pop up ad?
EvanstonNow, where people hide under cloaks of anonymous names, afraid of the sunlight or embarassment. Ann Rainey's 8th ward chat boards do quite well without that.
Just think, with some training at ECMC, you could have your own program to get your "message" out.
You would get used to the mask or hood.
With a private service we will have to pay a two dollar sticker for a bag of grass.The bag itself cost 50 cents,the sticker is two dollars total is $2.50 a bag.
Small lawn one bag a week $2.50 a week,$36 dollars a month 7 months x 36 = $252 dollars a year
When fall hits you can have a avg of 10 bags of leaves which = 25.00 total season $277.00 dollars, and this is for a small home in Evanston. Average home will be paying over 300.00. I see were this is going...
Reply:
As it stands now the staff-recommended option is NOT to charge for the first "three bundles and four bags or two yard-waste carts" picked up from a house each week.
-- Bill
Hey Asbury Neighbors! Your "Indy" sign is on the 1700 McDaniel just north of Church Street. Apparently Evanston has a city-wide speeding issue...not to mention coveting neighbor's possessions...
Vito says:
"think about how many NPO's can and have learned video through ECMC, so they can get their message out."
So is that the point of ECMC? To teach people how to make videos?
And what worthwhile messages are getting out? I look at the Thursday schedule for ECMC: 'Haiti Vérité' (religious) , 'The Movie Squad', 'Taped with Rabbi Doug'..... am I supposed to be glad that ECMC is helping these people get their 'message' out?
Bafflegab!
I also see that 'NU News' has a half hour on Channel 6. Northwestern! It seems like this is an issue where the NU haters and Enquiring Minds can find common ground: let's abolish ECMC. ( Maybe I will apply to have my own half hour show on Channel , where I discuss NPV and the evils of NIMBYism. )
Enquiring minds want government meetings to be broadcast and archived on the web, and all public documents should be available on the City's website and easy to find. [It seems that the City updates its web content almost every day, so when you 'sort by date', everything comes up as being posted yesterday.]
There was a time when public access made sense, but NPO's no longer need cable to get their 'message' out. We have YouTube and EvanstonNow, where people can make their opinions known. Like PBS, ECMC is no longer needed.
"it will continue to change with multi-media to accommodate people's needs"
That's the point Vito! ECMC hasn't changed, nor has it accommodated anyone.
Public access should work by the people and for the people, but ECMC has failed to do that. I've seen you on the screen, Vito, but have you ever produced anything?
As far as your arguments:
1) A very low percentage of NPOs in Evanston have taken the time to learn TV production and have steadily produced anything. We're talking about five or so over the last ten years. 4 or 5 are churches or faith-based initiatives. This is a pathetic statistic. NPOs get their messages across on web sites now, not through public access.
2) I'm not advocating the elimination of municipal or educational access. Both systems are meaningless without content, and not much content is produced outside of regular meetings. The infrastructure is in place so that a trained monkey could get these precious meetings on the air.
2b) And as far as streaming - Hasn't this been an option for a long time now?
The real problem with ECMC is there is no real governance or accountability.
The city wants to raise our water bills by 43 percent, and switch responsibilities with the city crew and a private contracter, which would save about $675,000 a year.
So, it's the switch and raise bait.
However, "if the city got out of the garbage hauling business, it would save nearly $1 million in worker wages and benefits and nearly $900,000 in annual costs to repair and replace its fleet of garbage trucks and stock of refuse carts."
What I don't understand is why the city would collect recycling when it saves money now by hiring a contractor. The Council should vote to contract out ALL of the city's sanitation services, hauling trash and recycling. That way we save the most money. Other suburbs are doing it.
This is just another example of our elected leaders afraid of making fiscally responsible decisions that make sense. But instead, the Council chooses to placate the sanitation union at the expense of taxpayers.
If the Taxicab Advisory Board should be dissolved, a task force should consider:
1. Why there is no information on the Evanston city government website about how to start a taxi company in Evanston.
2. Why there is no information on whether increased competition is allowed. Most cities make it very difficult for new taxi companies to compete; they have to get the approval of existing companies. Imagine if you couldn't open a restaurant unless McDonald's agreed there was a need for one!
I was appointed as the sole public member on the Taxicab Advisory Board in May and we have yet to meet, and I have yet to receive any information. That's probably because the existing taxi companies who serve on the board only meet when they want to consider whether a rival company should be allowed to come into Evanston territory-NOT!
This is a shame. Recently, a taxi driver was arrested for kidnapping and sexually abusing a passenger. More competition would mean higher standards.
Denver ended its taxi oligopoly in 1994. For 47 years before that, the Public Utilities Commission had turned down every applicant who tried to compete with Denver's three taxi firms. Then Governor Roy Romer signed a law that allowed anyone who passed vehicle and driver-safety tests to get a license and allowed jitneys and van pools to run along fixed routes. The disabled immediately began to benefit as wheelchair-accessible vans began operating.
I hope a task force can find out what the situation is in Evanston.
The city spends money haphazardly, but this is one service that should not be cut.
I would mention two things:
1) The training. If one understands that web video is a part of the landscape, but if you don't know how to make a video... think about how many NPO's can and have learned video through ECMC, so they can get their message out.
2) All the meeting coverage that ECMC provides. Not just for City meetings, and not just Council meetings, but for school district meetings too. It is done multi-cam and can be streamed as soon as either entity wants it to be.
ECMC is a great resource that the community should be proud of and it will continue to change with multi-media to accommodate people's needs.
The 2009 2010 Comcast CABLE FRANCHISE FEE (revenue) to the city of Evanston is $890,000. Evanston expends $353,000 of this fee to the local cable operation which provides for public access to the residents, school districts and city.
ECMC will never die:
Because the same loud annoying people cramming their opinions down your throat, sit on their board and make their programming. And they will all show up-- loudly to defend it.
I refer to the old phrase "Wealthiest One Percent", well in Evanston we have a "Loudest One Percent". Or fuzzy math. Or something. Anyway.
"So, as a message the new city aldermen, yes, let's cut ECMC funding. You can predict what will happen: they will call in lots of supporters to fill up a long public comment session during a budget meeting. Their arguments will be unsound. "
A small but vocal and well-organized band of zealots hijacking the council meeting - and using unsound arguments to promote their petty special interests?
No way! I can't imagine something like that happening in this town.
I was all set to campaign for her opponent, whomever that may have been.
I agree that ECMC should find another funding source, yet I disagree with the OP's comments about the content of channel 6. You don't understand the public access model, wherein people from the community can produce whatever television programming they want for the cable subscribers in the community through a low-to-no cost mechanism via ECMC. If you don't like the religious tone of public access, produce a show!
ECMC's model of providing equipment, facilities and free broadcast time died with the arrival of cheap video recorders and the advent of YouTube five years ago.
ECMC operates from a grant from the city of Evanston. They receive over $400,000 annually from the city's general fund. Over 10% of that figure goes to pay their Executive Director, yet the brunt of that money goes to rent payments on their west-side studio space.
The city receives nearly $1,000,000 annually in franchise fees from Comcast, which are passed on to Comcast customers. (That means you've been screwed twice, buddy, both as a Comcast subscriber and as a citizen of Evanston.)
So, as a message the new city aldermen, yes, let's cut ECMC funding. You can predict what will happen: they will call in lots of supporters to fill up a long public comment session during a budget meeting. Their arguments will be unsound. You will find out that 90% of their programming comes from a very limited number of participating Evanstonians.
If the City is looking for ways to cut expenses, please cut funding to the Evanston Community Media Center.
Except for City Council meetings, the channel is clogged with virtually nothing but inane programming.
I've seen a number of stupid personal hobbies highlighted. For example, people singing who have no business singing in public and others talking about their cars ad nauseum. I've also seen people on camera using questionable language and drinking.
I also question whether the City should be subsidizing religious programming. I've repeatedly seen church services and one woman lecturing while seated. I question whether the City's subsidy of ECMC is legal, given the excessive amount of religious programming provided.
The City should pay only the cost of televising City programming. Programs highlighting people's personal pursuits, as well as religious lectures and services, should be broadcast only if those directly involved can pay for it.
Hmm... who is playing the blame game - you just contradicted yourself with your reply about Reagan.
Ever heard of falling on your own sword?
It is happening.
The only difference is, the things we will blame Obama for will be catastrophic.
Does anyone know which farmers sell at this market?
I pass by it on my way to the Downtown Farmers Market and it generally looks desolate and bereft of actual farmers!
Since the Downtown market is only 8 blocks away, there is no incentive to shop at this market.
Their website isn't very informative, either. I might be more inclined to visit West End if they held it mid-week, after my Downtown market supplies have dwindled.
Well it sounds like the market is ripe for a private garage to be built to support the demand for parking in this area. Maybe a mixed retail/commercial building plus 200 car garage to expand the business district and capitalize on 'reverse' commuters from the Metra who could work in the area. Not to mention the benefit to your clients.
Oh wait, you said Central Street? Nevermind, that would be a terrible idea totally wrong for the small charms of Old Town Evanston. You should move your place of business instead.
The young women on unicycles are members of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble. "Learn to Fly."
If anyone would be interested in marching in the Evanston Fourth of July parade, the Fourth of July Association could use your help! We need 6 people to march in the parade to carry a number of banners announcing bands and their sponsors.
Volunteers need to arrive by 1:15pm at Central Park Ave and Central Street. The parade route takes about an hour to walk, and the volunteer will be holding one side of an 8-ft banner with another volunteer on the other side.
Please email me at dons89@yahoo.com or call me at 847-708-6927.
Thanks!
Don Souhrada
Evanston Fourth of July Association
Make your gift to the Evanston Fourth of July Celebration today!
http://www.evanston4th.org/volunteer.asp
For major thoroughfares like Green Bay Road, I think the new LED lights are terrific. In addition to their technological benefits, they greatly reduce ambient light pollution. The mercury vapor lights can't be replaced quickly enough. (To whom at the City should feedback be directed?)
Reply:
Try Paul Schneider or your alderman.
--Bill
"As we all know, the most annoying NIMBYs in Evanston are on Central Street, and they don't want outsiders parking on the streets near the Central St. Metra station. Why? If there are no meter spots left (as often was the case, at least before the Great Republican Depression of 2008), then people should park on the street."
I disagree. The more annoying NIMBY's are the huge homes along Orrington near the NU Campus, who are magically able to get parking restrictions on both sides of that street. The rest of us peons who live further west are only able to get resident parking on one side of our streets.
The irony, of course, is that the closer you get to campus, the greater the demand for parking--an amenity which the university steadfastly refuses to provide to its own people on its own property. Note that the City of Evanston struggles along, but finds the means to subsidize parking structures. NU, with its multi-billion endowment, has built exactly one, and it's not enough.
So maybe NU is the most annoying NIMBY when it comes to parking.
Perhaps Bill Gilmore should subscribe to the EvanstonNow.com daily news feed to stay up to speed with regard to his bar and Evanston news!