What follows is a true story about how the city of Chicago, or at least the 35th ward, managed to screw up the democratic process for hundreds of people on the most-anticipated election day in decades.
It all began more than three weeks ago.
On October 12, the “NO PARKING from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.” signs were posted on Palmer Blvd between Kedzie on the west and Sacramento on the East. The parking ban was in effect weekdays from Oct. 14-17, so that the badly pockmarked, potholed Palmer Blvd could be resurfaced.
For three days, hundreds of residents had to find somewhere else to park when they arrived home from work in the afternoons. Unless, of course, they wanted to get out of bed at 5:50 the following morning to move their car before the tow trucks arrived. (Click the image above for a better view … everywhere there is a green line is where no one in the neighborhood could park for the better part of a month.)
Not the end of the world, and worth it if the street is resurfaced. Right?
Well … things are just never that simple in Chicago. From Oct. 14 to Oct. 17, the road crews completed only the first step–grinding up the old surface, leaving the boulevard looking even more unsightly (but actually easier to drive upon).
The following Monday, Oct. 20, the signs were updated: “NO PARKING from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21-24.” So, another week when residents had to relocate their automobiles, sometimes blocks away from their homes. A lot of fun when you have two small children and all of their gear to transport from car to house.
Here’s the great part: nothing was accomplished that week. Nothing. The street crews and their equipment NEVER SHOWED UP. So we were all displaced for absolutely no reason at all.
Guess what happened next? Yes, you’re catching on. New, updated signs went up the following week, indicating there was no parking on the boulevard through November 6.
And it gets better.
The street crews actually resurfaced the westbound side of Palmer on Thurs/Fri last week. They began resurfacing the eastbound side today. Great, right?
Except for the fact that a major polling place (St. Sylvester school) sits at the corner of Palmer and Sacramento. Now, not only is there no parking available for residents, there is no parking available for people who will show up to vote. And–here’s another kicker– the side streets (Albany and Whipple) that are normally accessible to/from eastbound Palmer today are blocked off with orange cones and tape with steamrollers doing their thing. So, even if voters want to park on a side street, good luck with that.
When I left for work today at 8 a.m. it was already an unholy mess. People circling the block, backing up in the middle of streets, making U-turns, etc., to no avail.
Thanks Chicago. Thanks Alderman Colon.
You had nearly four weeks to complete the most basic of city services, and you choose ELECTION DAY to resurface a major street in front of a polling place, while blocking access to/from the side streets. During that time, there was at least a six-day stretch in which nothing happened. Job well done.
There’s so many other ways this could have happened. Here are some ideas:
1. How about moving the parking ban from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. or 8 a.m? That way, residents can park in front of their homes at night and can get up at a decent hour to move their vehicles.
2. How about displacing people only when you know work will actually happen? Seriously, why was there a parking ban for a week when absolutely nothing happened?
3. How about resurfacing a street in front of a polling place ANY DAY BUT ELECTION DAY?
Sheesh!
Don’t even get me started on the disgrace that is Palmer Square Park.
