My aunt is a board member of a neighborhood advisory group–the entities that are supposed to be the “voice” of the neighborhood. But as is the case with most of these, they are mostly filled with developers, real estate agents, and campaign donors to the alderman; people with vested interests in zoning decisions made by the alderman.

This is why in Bucktown there are a couple of 3 million dollar single family homes around the corner from where I still own a condo; these behemoths sit vacant across from small rental apartments. Oh wait, the Tribune did a full story on just what I speak of:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-code-ove...

You ever see that place?? It may be aesthetically lovely but it sure don't belong on that street. Ridiculous.

Look, I'm on your side. I've been to meetings in Chicago where too many “common folk” think they know how to design buildings. That's not my issue. My original point was about aldermanic privilege and what kinds of results arise from this unfortunate system

Further, hizzoner Mayor FivePennies, is NOW the friend of the neighborhoods, whereas for so long he was cow-towing to developing having their way with our Emerald City.

No, we need something better. We need a more accountable system. Representation by district is the only way.

A coordinated effort to mandate change must happen.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews...

There is plenty of greasing going on in Chicago as well, but I can assure you it is not on the Design Boards. For one project in order to put up a small sign in a south loop building we were asked to contribute to a campaign. My personal favorite is when King Daley stated he had a right to go into private garages to see if the cars had city stickers to park on city streets.

Large committees like attorney's aren't put together to move a successful project forward. Nobody reading this can think of a committee they enjoy dealing with.

Finally, it's a place where the people are generally opposed to spending government funds on anything. Keep in mind it's the state where people with a straight face claimed they voted against a MLK holiday not because they were racist but because it supposedly would have cost too many tax dollars!

Think these folks get greased much by developers who “contribute” to their re-election efforts??? The results are very low oversight by community groups, poor or no planning and projects that do not fit with a neighborhood's character.

Now Aldermen are great if you have a problem and want to complain to them. They feel your pain, you feel like you've spoken to someone in power and maybe something gets done.

Mayor For Life Daley is only committed to flashy big things like Olympics and such…

See, when you air on apply more government, regulations and pointless oversight things take longer. If endless years and dollars are exhausted on environmental impact analysis and debate, rinse and repeat—–then what do you expect?

Nothing “progressive” about that approach…mostly its just regressive…

A plastic and rubber carpet rented by organized sports organizations seven days a week does not equal a “neighborhood park”.

I am a regular Metro user and have been for years. They seem fine to me and really there are more routes available than ever before.

You already figured it out – It's because Seattle really isn't progressive. Or rather the civic mentality is progressive, but the results aren't. This area has always had absolutely zero vision or identity for itself and what it could be other than “San Francisco Jr.”

Mass transportation is only one of the areas where this mindset shows.

Having lived in Chicago and Denver, I saw firsthand what a region that's really committed to providing effective, efficient mass transit for its citizens can do.

In Seattle it's just lip service to the electorate and then providing the absolute cheapest, crappiest solution possible at ridiculous expense to the taxpayer. For some reason the process itself is the result.

It's not that I “never set foot on a bus”, but I'm definitely not a fan. As for Boston and NYC their trains rock. Ditto for every European city I've visited. (I haven't spent much time in the bay area)

My wife commuted by bus in SF for three years and has nothing but contempt for that system.