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This week, Everything Evanston’s City Council’s Rapid Recap includes a discussion of ARPA’s funding and a new ordinance banning cashless businesses. We also dive into a story about a new environmental justice research initiative in Evanston.
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Mika Ellison: This is Mika Ellison from The Daily Northwestern. This is Everything Evanston, a podcast about the people, businesses and happenings of Evanston, Illinois. Today is the city council meeting on January 23rd. Then we’ll take a look at one of this week’s main stories at Evanston.
Mika Ellison: This week, the council has had everything from mentions of Billy Joel to lengthy discussions about local alcohol laws. We begin with a Council discussion on the allocation of remaining ARPA funds. The American Rescue Plan Act gave her $43 million to the Evanston City Council to address the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Interim Community Development Director Sarah Flax said the commission had originally overallocated funds.
Sarah Flux: Since that time, one of the biggest demands from the Reparations Commission has been withdrawn. So, in effect, it gives the Council some flexibility as to what to do with the remaining funds.There is an unallocated balance of $5,751,423.
Mika Ellison: In public comments, several Evanston residents made suggestions for the distribution of the remaining funds, such as using them to help small Evanston landlords.
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Mika Ellison: The city council was also scheduled to vote on an ordinance banning cashless businesses introduced in the previous city council. We covered it in the first episode, but to recap, the ban on cashless businesses has spread to other municipalities like New York, San Francisco, and Aldo. Melissa Wynne (3rd) said:
ALD. win: throughout New Jersey.
Mika Ellison: That is correct. Cashless businesses are banned statewide, but not in some or all.
Mika Ellison: One of the ordinance’s goals was to protect unbanked Evanston residents and other disenfranchised people who may not be able to pay without cash. Aldo. Chrissie Harris (2nd) spoke in favor of the ordinance.
ALD. Harris: There are a lot of disenfranchised people out there who aren’t homeless — they can’t have a bank, they can’t have a mortgage, they can’t have a checking account or a credit card because the interest rates are too high. So please be aware.
Mika Ellison: However, many of the council members who agreed with the purpose of the proposed ordinance expressed concern that there was not enough information about the impact of the decision on Evanston. Aldo. Tom Suffredin (6th) expressed the need for more insight into how the decision will affect his cashless business and Evanston’s economy.
ALD. Safreddin: I am trying to get as much attention as possible so that I can create the best legislation for the residents of Evanston.
Mika Ellison: After discussion by all nine MPs, motions were passed to move the ordinance to the Fairness and Delegation Committee and the Economic Development Committee.
Mika Ellison: Other highlights included public comment on the proposed reconstruction of Ryan Field and a presentation by economic development manager Paul Zalmazek on Evanston’s economic recovery, ‘We Didn’t Light the Fire’. .
Paul Zalmazek: Over the years, I’ve really been reminded of this 1989 song. Forgive me for another five minutes of earworms in my head.
Mika Ellison: A city ordinance banning public possession of opened liquor was discussed. Aldo. Devon Reid (8th) argued that the current ordinance could be amended.
ALD. Lead: If you have a bottle of wine or are leaving the Goddess of Wine, there will probably be a tasting event and if you open the bottle you will be allowed to walk down the street.
Mika Ellison: Sergeant Scott Sophie, a member of the Evanston Police Department, answered questions from city council members and explained that the police department uses the ordinance to enforce laws against public intoxication.
Mika Ellison: The Council voted to pass an amendment to the Alcohol Ordinance for introduction into the Council. That means it will be on the agenda at the next meeting. Stay tuned for our next City Council meeting the week of February 13, 2023. Serena Kuznikov is next for us with this week’s story.
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Serena Kuznikov: Janet Alexander Davis, who has lived in Evanston for 80 years, said she never understood why her neighborhood seemed to smell. That is, until I realized the smell was coming from the Waste Transfer Station on Church Street, a garbage dump in District 5. I’m Selena Kuznikov. After a delay of almost two and a half years since her original proposal, she learns more about Evanston’s initiative to conduct environmental justice surveys in the city, as In Focus editor Lily Carey tells her story. .
Janet Alexander Davis: When I finally realized there was no reason for this dump to be within walking distance of nearby businesses, homes, and high schools, I, along with many others, started picketing and trying to get rid of it. that. And before I knew it, I couldn’t get rid of it.
Serena Kuznikov: A waste transfer station operates in Ward 5 despite its proven negative impact on air quality levels in the predominantly black surrounding area. Residents of Evanston, especially those living in historically red-lined areas, have faced disproportionate health disparities for decades.
Janet Alexander Davis: A lot of the time we realize that we have rights that we don’t actually use and that there are ways we can solve the problem within our communities if we understand what’s going on. People don’t know.
Serena Kuznikov: The city seeks to rectify these inequities by launching an environmental justice inquiry. Mayor Daniel Bis said the purpose of the study is to provide the city with a roadmap and benchmarks for achieving environmental justice, and to map data on environmental injustice using geographic information system mapping tools. said.
Daniel Bis: It’s not clear how long it will take. Therefore, I think it is important for us to develop a solid and thorough professional plan and start moving as soon as possible to actually implement it.
Serena Kuznikov: The city worked with Environmental Justice Evanston (EJE) in planning the survey. This is a local environmental advocacy group, Citizen’s Greener Evanston Chapter. EJE co-chair Jerri Garl said many of the injustices she discussed with other chair members were based on the lack of public involvement of the black community in the decisions being made by the city and developers. said there is.
Jelly Girl: It affects their neighborhood and affects the quality of life in that neighborhood. , was to clarify some of its programs, policies and procedures.
Serena Kuznikov: According to the 2022 Evanston Project for the Local Assessment of Needs report, Ward 5 residents face more adverse health effects than residents in most other parts of the city. Garr said he hopes EJE will incorporate residents’ experiences to accurately assess urban environmental injustice.
Serena Kuznikov: EJE member Robyn Hurtig said the EJE is conducting listening sessions with residents of Wards 2 and 5 to increase public engagement.
Robin Hartig: We want to hear the voices of Evanston residents who don’t usually hear them. So I’m looking for these guys to make sure they have a voice and to make sure they’re recording that voice.
Serena Kuznikov: The city government has pledged to make sustainability a top priority going forward after receiving criticism from residents for inaction in its climate action and resilience plans early last year. The city has allocated $100,000 for the investigation in this year’s budget. The city uses the money to hire facilitators and increase listening sessions.
Jelly Girl: As the mayor said in the press release, we will continue to have listening sessions, continue to work together on mapping tools, and continue to work together to help shape this research. But it is up to the city to take action. am.
Serena Kuznikov: That’s it for this week’s City Story. We’ll be back in three weeks for another look at Evanston city politics.
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Mika Ellison: This is Mika Ellison from The Daily Northwestern.
Serena Kuznikov: My name is Selena Kuznikov. Thanks for listening to another episode of Everything Evanston’s Rapid Recap. This episode was reported and produced by me and Mika Ellison. Lily Carey contributed to her report. The Daily Northwestern’s audio editor is Erica Schmitt, digital managing editors are Joanne Haner and her Olatunji Osho-Williams, and editor-in-chief is Alex Perry.
Mika Ellison: For more episodes like this, subscribe to The Daily Northwestern podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or SoundCloud.
Email: [email protected]
twitter: @MikaEllison23
Email: [email protected]
twitter: @selenakuznikov
Related story:
— All about Evanston: City council quick rundown discusses proposed plastic bag tax, 5th Ward schools and cashless business ban
— All About Evanston: Quick Recap: City Council Discusses Crisis Emergency Response Program, Evanston Parking Lot Findings
—Everything Evanston: Edible Evanston’s commitment to growing gardening
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