Roseland Heights Community Association

Outcome of Committee Zoning Meeting

Jul 17, 2009

Dear Members,
The RHCA would like to thank all of you for the time you put in, letter writing, emailing, and most of all your petition work. Because of you we went to the meeting with over 400 signatures! Special thanks to Mr. S. Washington & Ms. G. Preston....over 100 signatures, A. Little, over 80, L. Lacey, M. Whitehead, U. Holmes (he made copies for us)J. Hiller and A. Reindorf. Thanks to you all.
Outcome;
There is some good news and bad news:
Bad News: The zone change passed. Council members voted 100% for/ none against.
Good News: A letter was handed to us, during hearing, from Chicago Public Schools stating ".......Pursuant to your request, we wanted to confirm that the proposed zoning amendment will only affect the Harlan High School grounds and does not change the zoning of any other surrounding property, including Abbott Park".
The letter ended.."Please feel free to call if you have any other questions or concerns. I can be reached at 773 553-2920. Letter was signed Pat Taylor, Chief Facilities Officer Cc: Ron Huberman. *If you have concerns do call her.
My Comment:
Why no letter from the lawyer, city of Chicago, Alderman, Board of Education, or the Chicago Park District? Could you have said this a week ago? All these agencies had been met with, written to or called and knew how to reach RHCA by Email and phone, but you hand us a letter just before we are to speak to city council.Had we not been speaking to the city council would we have this letter? What do you think?
Summary
The letter did not stop us from speaking. Ms Hiller questioned them on was the zone change really needed for work on Harlan.Council Chairman (who is in need of some serious "people skills") said it was. Mr. Tucker told them now promise to community was broken in the past and that BOE had taken or been sold park land. Even with letter from CPS RHCA still has concerns and will seek further documentation on park land not being built on or rezoned. Just a reminder, familiarize yourself with the Internet, without it RHCA would not have been able to fight this. We have won a battle, but the "War" is not over.
Thanks to the members who attended meeting July 8, and those who took time out of their busy day to go downtown yesterday. Don't think the 'powers that be" didn't take notice to the number of RHCA members that showed for hearing. Many voices can be heard better than One. WE ARE MANY!