Chicago Public Radio recently covered the controversy that arose out of the painting over of a Bridgeport mural of Chicago Police Department blue light cameras and images of the crucifiction. The Department of Streets and Sanitation has recently taken blame for the mural’s disappearance, but the whole incident raises interesting questions about where officials draw the line between mural art and grafitti.
The whole thing reminds me of the painting over of the famed Virgin Mary salt stain under the Kennedy Expressway earlier this year.
So what do we think? Art? Miracle? Or simply defacement?
The AP is reporting that the Chicago City Council voted today to ban the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups containing BPA in Chicago. This is very good for babies.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn visited Donald Marquez School in Chicago’s Brighton Park community. The school, part of the United Neighborhood Organization charter school network, recently acheived Gold status LEED Certification.
Here’s one more reason to walk (not drive) to the corner store.
Multiple news sources are reporting on new efforts being taken to make streets safer for pedestrians and stricter for drivers.
WBEZ is reporting that starting today, Chicago Police will be going undercover as pedestrians to catch non-yielding drivers in the act. WBEZ quotes a police spokesperson as saying that drivers could be fined $50 to $500 for failing to yield to pedestrians.
The Chicago Tribune’s story also reported on state legislation that could further the pedestrian cause. The Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch wrote,
Meanwhile, legislation pending before the state Senate would go even further, strengthening the Illinois vehicle code by requiring drivers to not only yield—but stop—when pedestrians are in crosswalks.
Advocates of the measure, which was proposed by the Active Transportation Alliance, say the law requiring drivers to yield is too vague. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have “must stop” laws.
Violators would face a minimum $150 fine in Illinois.
Looks like a good time to be taking to the crosswalks.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced its findings yesterday that greenhouse gases are, in fact, harmful to public health. The EPA announcement linked greenhouse gas emissions to climate change and climate change to … Read the rest of this entry »
Mulitple Chicago news sources have reported that four area mental health centers have been spared from the chopping block for now with the help of federal stimulus money.
