March 12 Meeting & March Newsletter

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

March comes in like a very cold lion…. It should be in the 30’s by the 12th.

MEETING AT A GLANCE

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019
ATHENAEUM THEATRE
2936 N. SOUTHPORT

6:30pm – Member socializing
7:00pm – Meeting begins

  • Newly-elected Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen
    In keeping with SLN’s commitment to have on-going, interactive meaningful relationships with our elected officials, the Board has invited our new County Commissioner Bridget Degnen to introduce herself to the membership and give her insight to the upcoming year. It is possible that after the mayoral election, there will be a different President on the Cook County Board.
  • State Rep Ann Williams – legislative update
    Unfortunately, Rep. Williams has had to cancel due to meetings scheduled in Springfield.
    Our State Rep. Ann Williams is scheduled to appear and discuss newly passed and pending legislation under recently inaugurated Governor J.B. Pritzker. Had to look it up but the Governor’s legal name is Jay Robert.
  • Ashland Ave. Development Changes relating to the TOD Expansion Ordinance
    32nd Ward’s Chief of Staff Paul Sajovec will provide information relating to the expansion of the TOD Ordinance that was recently passed by Chicago City Council and how it may affect future development along Ashland Ave. and the nearby neighboring streets. This is a major change to the existing TOD.
  • SLN By-Laws Voting Issue – 60 day waiting period
    In recent general elections, citizens can register and vote on the day of election at their Polling Place. However, SLN still withholds the right to vote on an SLN issue until a newly joined person is a member for 60 days. Article III-Membership, 3rd paragraph. This by-law was put into effect in March 1993. At time, all votes were done by a hand vote. It was hard to control who was actually a member on voting issues. It was not unusual that a Developer would bring their entourage or friends to a meeting and have them participate in the hand vote. At that time, it was felt the that 60-day waiting period would help prevent inaccurate votes. In recent years, SLN has adopted a private paper ballot. All members are checked in before receiving a ballot. Those non-members within the flyering area (generally one block) of a zoning issue are required to prove their residence before receiving a ballot. The result of this change is that a non- member, non-neighborhood person cannot vote. So, the SLN Board has agreed to have a brief discussion on this voting restriction and determine if there should be an announcement and vote to change the By-law at the April or May meeting. FYI – A By-law may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3).

In the Newsletter

At the February meeting

  • Candidate Dropins included Garry McCarthy, Jerry Joyce, Lori Lightfoot, Bob Fioretti, and Paul Vallas
  • A special use permit for the St. Alphonsus convent, approved by a vote of 47 – 16.
  • BelRay Apartment expansion, approved by avote of 25 – 7

Detailed explanations are in the newsletter.  Click on the word ‘newsletter‘ to read it.