Jun
8
Obama gave an animated speech in Chicago on Friday supporting the city’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics. For the Chicago Tribune coverage, click here.
He joked about living two blocks from the games, and making some money by renting out his house. He added:
“In the interest of full disclosure, I also want you to know that in 2016 I’ll be wrapping up my second term as president. So I can’t think of a better way than to be marching into Washington Park . . . as president of the United States and announcing to the world: ‘Let the Games begin.’”
A bold statement.
And there’s alotta lotta people who would kill to have Chicago win the Olympic bid. You have developers– their mouths watering over construction contracts. You have businesses– restaurants, bars, all itching to welcome a flood of tourist dollars into our city. You have the CTA, knowing that if we get the bid, any budget they ask the city for they’ll get. You have you and me, who– why the hell not? would love to be close to world-class athletes and feel the excitement.
But would having the Olympics in our city be such a good thing, environmentally?
Picture it: say the word tourist and suddenly you have the use of disposable goods skyrocketing. Public transportation would no doubt get a shot in the arm, although who knows, really, if the money would be spent wisely. And even though public transit ridership would definitely rise, so would the use of every other kind of transportation known to man. That means trailers, SUVs, limos, and taxis. That means trucks hauling in more goods to feed the beast of insatiable consumerism.
And economically, would it even be a good thing? It’s debatable. Let’s look at other cities in the world that have fought the bitter battle and enjoyed the sweet, ephemeral triumph of hosting the Olympics.
Many times, stadiums are slapped up with shoddy materials, and never used again. It’s a great time to hijack a city’s budget, and who says that everything will be OK?
Jun
8
It’s official. Obama’s on his way to the White House.
Maybe finally we’ll see some action on confronting global warming.
To hear Sen. Clinton’s speech backing Sen. Obama, click here.
Jun
8
I was working late, feeling exhausted. Dragged my feet up the stairs to the el platform. And waited.
I was half asleep when the train pulled up. I shuffled on with some other weird-looking people.
The car was half empty, and I slumped down into a seat. Just as the doors closed, I realized I was on the first car.
No!
My mental “To-Do” list fired up. You were supposed to NOT choose the first car. Images of the derailed first car of the green line blazed in my heard. Ya don’t want to be in the first car when riding on the CTA.
My eyes flashed front. Who knows what that conductor’s state of mind is. How do you know he’s not asleep, or drunk, or suicidal?
That, at least, was the lesson I took away from May 28’s train derailment after the operator went through a red light and continued to accelerate even after emergency brakes outside the operator’s control were applied.
For a play-back of CBS coverage of the event, click here. Fourteen riders were hospitalized. And if the el car had jumped the track the other way, instead of coming to rest on the elevated platform, it could have taken a nose dive into the street below, killing everybody.
And that was the second event invoking panic into el riders in the past six weeks. On April 15, blue line riders were forced to wait underground for more than an hour as the CTA personnel figured out a way to get the train out from below the Chicago River. If you missed that excitement, the Chicago Tribune has the story here.
But no need to be alarmed.
What are you, soft?
I told you taking Chicago public transit is an adventure.
But really. Lightening doesn’t strike twice–
–I mean three times.
Right?
Jun
8
Rain won’t drain
Filed Under Green Initiatives
Several days this week I’ve been crossing the street, minding my own business, when suddenly I am confronted by a moat around the sidewalk–the very one to which I have had the ambition to ascend.
What’s going on? Is it monsoon season?
It’s reminiscent of a few days I spent in Mazatlán, Mexico, a beautiful tourist destination with beaches and margaritas surrounded by a dirt poor city. I stayed with a friend in a down-and-out part of the city, that was too poor to have paved roads. When the rains came–and they come like clockwork during the summer months, you can practically set your watch to them– all the streets were just rivers of mud. After dodging across the railroad tracks in our flip flops, our feet were sucked down into the mud so powerfully there was no question that nature was the dominant force. After the rains, even crossing the street became an adventure.
And now I’m seeing something similar in Chicago. After a good rain, the water remains standing in the street for hours. Our sewer system can’t handle it.
The Mayor knows this, of course, which is partly why he pushed for more permeable paved alleys. The pavement allows rain water to seep through it and get absorbed by the soil below. Less run-off into our sewers, which means we have more of a chance at filtering the water that we eventually dump into Lake Michigan. Yes, that means the water from our sinks, toilets, and sewers, all of it gets released into Lake Michigan, whether we’re able to filter it first or not. And yes, we get our drinking water from the same lake.
But apparently the permeable paved alleys aren’t proving enough. Or else why do I have to skirt each city corner until I find a spot I can make the leap up onto the sidewalk?
Jun
8
I bring you the third installation of stories from the public transit:
As I jumped on the bus at Michigan Avenue and Huron, I noticed many of the front seats normally reserved for senior citizens and people with disabilities were taken by young men and women.
But the bus was mostly empty anyway. I took a seat behind the last row marked with a handicap sign.
In the next few stops along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, six or seven people boarded the bus. They must have been in their eighties or just about, but you couldn’t tell by their faces, which were giddy and full of smiles. They were really having a day on the town. Radiating summer and youth, they were all dressed to the nines.
At first I thought the young people occupying the front section of the bus were not going to relinquish the seats. I mean, there was no question as to who had more energy. But quickly the young people got up and moved to the back of the bus, which was a relief to me– though it be an urban jungle, Chicago has not forgotten etiquette.
As the old folks bantered back and forth, I drank in the stately appearance of one elderly woman in particular. Her make-up was flawless, her eyes clear and focused. She was dressed smartly, with a red jacket fanning out behind her neck, which had quite a regal effect on her appearance as a whole. Her wrists were laden down with bracelets of elaborate design and of no doubt great expense. I pictured how long it had taken her in the morning to carefully and systematically fasten the necklace she had around her neck, to put each of those heavy rings on, and to choose the exact earrings that would match her mood.
And as I watched them talking excitedly back and forth, I found myself thinking enviously, I hope when I’m their age I’ll still want to take that good care of myself. And I hope I’ll enjoy having the extra time to be able to take a whole morning just selecting what brooch will set off my outfit just right.
We really don’t change much from the time we’re in elementary school. Choosing our friends, feeling connected. Talking about things that seem to be the most important to us at the time.
One woman leaned across the aisle of the bus to ask one of her friends something I couldn’t quite catch. She was gesturing to her own purse.
The man replied, “I’ve got it in my pants.”
Another woman said, “He’s got what in his pants?”
The woman beside her said, “What do you think?”
They all burst out laughing. Even I started laughing.
“My wallet, my wallet!” the man said in self-defense.
Sometimes there’s nothing old about old people.
Jun
8
Get ready…naked bike ride!
Filed Under Cycling, Green Initiatives
It’s time for the annual World Naked Bike Ride.
Happening Saturday, June 7 to protest oil dependency and promote positive body image.
Be there!
Jun
8
Green Ride
Filed Under Cycling, Green Initiatives
Got up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday. Yup.
Why?
Because twenty other people were also getting out of bed to meet at the Waveland Clock Tower. We went riding together to different spots in the city involved in green initiatives.
A grocery store that sells local produce and has a green roof…a school that turned some of its concrete play yard to a wild prairie field…a lush, secluded refuge next to the Chicago River overgrown with wild flowers.
Jun
6
World Environment Day
Filed Under Green Events
World Environment Day was June 5, and cities all over the world used it as an opportunity to call attention to the future of the planet.
Check out this YouTube video.
It’s a show that shamelessly showcases energy-saving technology, such as an indoor compacting system, a portable solar-powered iPod charger and housing insulation (what could be sexier on a morning news program than that.)
Many people say businesses are against fighting global warming because it would put a dent in their profits. But getting environmentally-friendly is a cash cow if you ask me. Just look around at all the businesses that have popped up over the last five years that cater exclusively to the “environmentally-conscious” consumer.
And if you need more incentive to watch the video, they talk with Australian accents.
Jun
6
Chicago homes going solar
Filed Under Green Initiatives
Watch the video my friend Kevin J. and I made on a couple of houses going up on the northwest side.
The difference between these homes and every other home being built in Chicago?
Check it out. Solar panels.
John Berton, a leading figure in solar panel technology, who recently started his own installation company, discusses solar energy. We also hear from Kevin Friend of Balance Development, LLC., who is building these “green” homes.
Jun
6
Green Ride — this Saturday!
Filed Under Cycling, Green Events
Wanna bike around Chicago and see what’s green?
Kathy Schubert is organizing a Green Ride this Saturday, June 7 that will wind all over the city, visiting various green initiatives.
If you want in, be at the Waveland Clock Tower at 8:30 a.m.
Any questions, contact Kathy at (773) 248-5499 or e-mail her at kangarookathy@yahoo.com.
See you there.
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