Broad Shoulders Update

McHenry County shows support for bicycle and pedestrian travel

According to a Northwest Herald article from July 7, 2010, McHenry County Board voted to retain a 10-foot-wide, multi-use path as part of the ongoing Walkup Road project.  In addition, the County will pay one half of the required local match for the construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge over Rakow Road at Pyott Road, along the McHenry County Prairie Trail, which was funded in large part by a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant.

Walkup Road plans include a multi-use path running from Route 176 north to Pleasant Hill Road, which will provide access to Veteran Acres Park and the Prairie Rides Conservation Area. The County is again using CMAQ funding ($11.8M) for both the sidepath and the $23 million road project.  The cost associated with maintenance of the path will be the responsibility of the Crystal Lake Park District.

The pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Rakow Road is estimated to cost $856,000.  The bridge will be constructed as part of a project to widen Rakow Road – one of McHenry County’s most congested.  The bridge lies along the McHenry County Prairie Trail, which runs for twenty-six miles from Kane County (in the Village of Algonquin) to the Wisconsin border.

The County Board will pay half the required twenty percent local match – $85,600 – for the bridge.  The McHenry County Conservation District, who maintains the Prairie Trail, will pay the other half and the remainder will come from CMAQ funds.

The Walkup Road project is expected to be completed next year.  The $32 million Rakow Road project is expected to begin late this year or early next year and is planned to last for two years.

East Village Association membership meetings are scheduled on Aug. 2, Sept. 13 and Oct. 4 to account for the Labor Day holiday.

All membership meetings are at 7 p.m. in the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott. Here is the tentative schedule:

Aug. 2: The annual EVA member barbecue. Bring a side dish and RSVP to bbq@eastvillageassociation.com.

Sept. 13: Jamie Simone of Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area 33 and Karin Sommer of the Metropolitan Planning Council present the about-to-be-released report on Polish Triangle renovation.

Oct. 4 LaSalle II Magnet School Principal Suzanne Velasquez-Sheehy.

The murder of journalists is going uninvestigated in post-coup Honduras, creating “a climate of lawlessness that is allowing criminals to kill journalists with impunity,” according to a new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Meanwhile local activists who travelled to Honduras to observe protests on the one-year anniversary of the coup on June 28 met with a Honduran journalist who visited Chicago in March, and who has received numerous death threats.

The CPJ report looks at the killing of seven journalists between March 1 and the middle of June this year, most of them “clearly assassinations carried out by hit men.”  It identifies motives related to the journalists’ work in several cases.

A New York Times article on the CPJ report mentions an official truth commission investigating the coup.  You have to read In These Times to learn that human rights groups are sponsoring an alternative truth commission.

The official truth commission is restricted to issues surrounding the coup itself, and is not charged with looking into human rights violations, according to Victoria Cervantes of La Voz de los de Abajo, a local solidarity group.  Only the alternative commission is investigating the killings, abductions, and torture that have followed in the wake of the coup, she said.

There is continuing “death squad-type activity” that is “very targeted, very deliberate, very specific,” Cervantes said.  And “there is no investigation, no action.  There is total, absolute impunity for violence against journalists and against resistance activists.”

Cervantes was part of the La Voz delegation in June, consisting of a dozen human rights activists, mainly from Chicago.  She said that despite violence, the movement resisting the coup continues to organize, forming neighborhood committees and assemblies in Tegucigalpa and other cities.

At least 100,000 Hondurans marched in protest on June 28, the anniversary of the coup, she said.  (See Kari Lydersen’s report from Honduras on the anniversary protest at In These Times.) In addition to demonstrations in smaller cities, protestors in the countryside blocked highways for hours, she said.

The Chicagoans visited Father Ismael Moreno (known as Father Melo), director of Radio Progreso in a small northern city.  The Jesuit priest has received several death threats – including a call on his cell phone telling him his head would be cut off – and no longer travels alone or at night, Cervantes said.

Moreno visited Chicago in March (see previous post).

Reports from the La Voz delegation are at the Honduras Resist blog.

Last month 27 members of Congress, including Representatives Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, and Jan Schakowsky, wrote Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling on the State Department to investigate continuing human rights violations in Honduras (pdf).

The letter notes that nine journalists have been killed and others “have been tortured, kidnapped, and suffered death threats.”

Far from pressing for human rights improvements, the U.S. has been pushing for reinstatement of Honduras’s membership in the Organization of American States, which was suspended after the coup.

Cervantes said an OAS vote slated for this week may be postponed because other Latin American countries continue to oppose reinstatement.

West Side entrepreneur gets by while making rap videos....

B Cycle made it official today. Chicago is now a bike-sharing kind of city.

See the Sun Times report here.

And read Active Trans' take on the new venture here

While the Promise Neighborhoods program is based on the lessons learned by the Harlem Children’s Zone — in the heart of America’s most urban city — the program itself has focused on helping rural and tribal communities, as well.

Below is a list of the 69 applicants (out of 339 total) from rural and tribal areas. And look at the geographic spread of these applicants! (map and data via the Dept of Education’s terrific data.ed.gov website)

Applicant	Location	Absolute Priority	Applicant Type
Advocates for Community and Rural Education	Dermott, AR	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Altoona School, Inc.	Altoona, FL	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Arizona Board of Regents for Arizona State University	Apache County, AZ	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
Berea College	Clay, Jackson, and Owsley Counties, KY	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
Blackfeet Tribe — Blackfeet Tribe, Po’Ka Project	Northwestern Montana, MT	AP3: Tribal Communities	Other
Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation	Northern Cheyenne Reservation, MT	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Carthage Community Service Inc.	Carthage, AR	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska	Southeast Alaska, AK	AP3: Tribal Communities	Other
Central Louisiana Community Foundation	Rapides Parish, Grant Parish, and Avoyelles Parish, LA	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Cherokee Nation — Education Services	Adair County, OK	AP3: Tribal Communities	Other
Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc.	Tucson, AZ	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
City of Pahokee — Parks and Recreation	Canal Point and Pahokee, FL	AP2: Rural Communities	Other
Clement Smart Memorial Scholarship Fund	Hooper Bay, AK	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Clemson University	Estill, SC	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
College of Menominee Nation	Menominee County, WI	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
College Success Network of New Mexico	Espanola, NM	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Communities Collolaboration for Economic Development, Inc.	Towns of Lecompte, Cheneyville, Glenmora, Forest Hill and Poland, LA	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Communities In Schools of Mancelona	Antrim County, MI	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, Inc.	Santa Barbara County, CA	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Cornell University	Otsego County, NY	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
Delta Health Alliance, Inc.	Indianola, MS	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Eastern Kentucky Child Care Coalition, Inc.	Jackson, KY	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Eastern Sierra Foundation	Bishop, CA	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
ERCEGI	Suwannee County, FL	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Family Service Association	Riverside County, CA	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Fort Peck Community College	Fort Peck Indian Reservation, MT	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
Galveston County Communitites In Education	Galveston County, TX	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Georgetown County First Steps	Georgetown County, SC	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Glenville State College	Braxton County, WV	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
International Educational Services, Inc	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District and Santa Maria Independent School District, TX	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Iowa State University Extension-Woodbury County	Sioux City, IA	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods	Del Norte County, CA	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Lenoir-Greene County Partnership for Children	Lenoir County, NC	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Little Big Horn College	Crow Indian Reservation, MT	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
Lummi Nation	Whatcom County, WA	AP3: Tribal Communities	Other
McGehee Desha Alumni Community Center, Inc.	Arkansas City, McGehee, Reed, Tillar, Watson and Winchester Communities, AR	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Mesalands Community College	Quay County, NM	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
National Community Education Association	Kensal, LaMoure, Cooperstown, North Dakota and Penasco New Mexico, ND	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Native American Youth and Family Center	Portland, OR	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Newaygo County Community Services	Lake County, MI	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Newygo County Regional Educational Service Agency	White Cloud and Hesperia, MI	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Nollie Jenkins Family Center, Inc.	Holmes County, MS	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Northwest Educational Service District 189	Ferndale, WA	AP2: Rural Communities	Other
Oglala Lakota College	Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
Ohio University — Kids on Campus,Health Sciences and Professions	Trimble Township, OH	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
One Economy Corporation	Bertie and Hertford Counties, NC	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Osage County Interlocal Cooperative	Osage County, OK	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, Inc.	Watsonville, CA	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Quitman County Development Organization, Inc.	Quitman County, MS	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Regents of the University of California, University of California, San Diego	Imperial County, CA	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
S2AY Rural Health Network, Inc.	Yates and Schuyler Counties, NY	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Samford University — Alliance for Leadership in Education	Perry County, AL	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People	Santa Barbara County, CA	AP3: Tribal Communities	Nonprofit
Sealaska Heritage Institute	Southeast Alaska, AK	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Shared Opportunity Service, Inc.	Kent County, MD	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Southeastern Louisiana University — College of Education & Human Development	Hammond, LA	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
Southern Bancorp Capital Partners	Phillips County, AR	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Taos Community Foundation	Taos, NM	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	Alice and Mathis, TX	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System	Montello, WI	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
The Center for Appalachian Philanthropy	Carter and Lewis Counties, OH	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
The Pinon Project	Cortez, CO	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
Tuskegee-Macon County YMCA	Macon County, AL	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
United Tribes Technical College	Bismarck, ND	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
United Way of Tulare County	Lindsay, CA	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit
University of California	Burney, CA	AP3: Tribal Communities	IHE
University of Kentucky Research Foundation — Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling, College of Education	Harlan and Perry Counties, KY	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
University of Tennessee	Scott County, TN	AP2: Rural Communities	IHE
Westside Housing & Economic Network	Western Fresno County, CA	AP2: Rural Communities	Nonprofit

CMAP Media Coverage
July 14 to 27, 2010

July 18, 2010
Traffic deaths decline due to safer roads, vehicles by Jon Hilkevitch
Published by:  Chicago Tribune
Topic:  Transportation
The Getting Around column featured results of a report by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning analyzing Illinois Department of Transportation highway traffic safety data.  The report showed a substantial reduction in fatalities and serious injuries since 2002.  CMAP's Tom Murtha and Parry Frank were quoted in the article.

July 16, 2010
Chicago draws up plan to prosper in 2040 by Tom Hundley
Published by:  The New York Times
Topic:  GO TO 2040
This article is about GO TO 2040 and includes an interview with executive director Randy Blankenhorn.  This article was also reprinted on the websites of The New York Times and Chicago News Cooperative.

Ride geared toward city cyclists by Marissa Bruno
Published by:  My Suburban Life - Glen Ellyn
Topic:  Transportation
This article is about a special event for city cyclists to bike outside the city.  CMAP's Lindsay Banks is quoted in the article.

July 15, 2010
Regional plan aired at city plan meeting by Brittney Wong
Published by:  Evanston Now
Topic:  GO TO 2040
This article is about a GO TO 2040 presentation given to the Evanston Plan Commission.  CMAP's Erin Aleman is quoted in the article.

City ordinances to support pedestrian safety

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a request for consultant letters of interest in conducting a synthesis to document the regulatory, financial, and administrative tools used by communities to create vibrant pedestrian networks. Letters of interest are due August 13, 2010, and must be submitted using the Synthesis Consultant Letters of Interest web portal. Additional information on the submittal process is available online.

[NCP in the news]

Jana Estell has watched helplessly as two full-time grocery stores have closed in her Ashburn neighborhood in the last 10 years, leaving her and her family with a gasoline station for a corner store and limited-selection grocers within driving distance.

"Recently, the gas station put bananas and oranges on the counter, but buying a gallon of milk there costs $3.99," said Estell, a community organizer for the Healthy Chicago Lawn Coalition.

So Estell jumped at a chance to order groceries from online delivery company Peapod, the 21-year-old company that got its start in Skokie and is now a subsidiary of Royal Ahold of the Netherlands.

Peapod started delivering groceries to the 60652 ZIP code in the spring, and Estell placed her first order June 23.

Estell stuck to Peapod items on sale, and came away with savings of $45 on her order, which totaled $130. The order included two 4-pound bags of Valencia oranges for $9.98, two gallons of milk for $3.98, four 3-ounce packages of Starkist tuna for $5.32, and 18 eggs for $2.49. The delivery fee cost $6.95.

Estell has decided to "mix in" her Peapod ordering with her regular grocery trips.

The Peapod entry came in the nick of time, Estell said, since her 11-year-old daughter, Taylor, had just started expressing an interest in using her allowance to buy a Pepsi and a Honey Bun at the corner gas station.

Estell, who also has 16-year-old twins, Maya and Kayla, is increasingly aware of the need for her family to eat fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods, due largely to the publicity about Chicago's food deserts and about childhood obesity nationally.

"I recently said, 'No more pop,' " Jana Estell said, noting that her family eagerly eats fresh fruit and healthy foods when she puts them on the table.

Estell also has become aware of the need for the community to have access to healthy foods and fresh produce through her work. The Healthy Chicago Lawn Coalition has set as a goal giving residents greater varieties of options for fresh fruits, produce and other foods.

That's where Neighbor Capital, a two-year-old, for-profit social enterprise based in Chicago, came in. Neighbor Capital asked Peapod to help fill in Chicago's food deserts -- primarily African-American neighborhoods where few or no major grocery stores operate.

Said Neighbor Capital founder John Piercy, "We can fill a big gap that occurs between charities and for-profit companies in low-income communities by helping businesses reach new customers and enable those customers to transition onto the Web."

Peapod, whose regular delivery service overlaps half of the food desert area, commissioned a study by Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group, known for its food-desert analyses, to find out where children are most affected by lack of access to fresh fruits, vegetables and other groceries.

The study, released in June, shows that children most affected live in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, and that the biggest food-desert impact for all residents -- children and adults -- occurs in the Ashburn and West Englewood neighborhoods.

As a result, Peapod in May started taking orders for its "best of the season" fruit bags -- 10 pieces of Peapod's freshest fruit of the season -- at four drop-off sites in food-desert neighborhoods. The fruit bags sell for $2.99 each for those who order at the drop-off sites -- $2 cheaper than the regular $4.99 retail price.

Two of the sites do their ordering internally, while the other two are open to the public. The two open-order sites are at Hope House at Lawndale Community Church, 3827 W. Ogden, and at the 71st and Sawyer Block Club.

Shoppers bought more than 1,500 fruit bags between May 4 and mid-June.

Peapod is opening six more drop-off sites this summer, including those open to the public at Tarkington Elementary School, 3344 W. 71st St.; Breakthrough Urban Ministries, 402 N. St. Louis; the West Thomas and North Campbell Block Cluster, and the Knock Box Cafe, 1001 N. California.

Neighbor Capital takes orders from residents at the drop-off sites and calls in a single, consolidated order to Peapod. That makes the process more efficient and cost-effective due to Peapod's truck-routing technology and ability to pick and pack the orders at a single distribution center.

Scott DeGraeve, general manager at Peapod, said Peapod's focus is to reach families in the food desert with attractive values and good food.

The long-term goal is to lessen the rates of diabetes, childhood obesity and high blood pressure in food-desert neighborhoods. Further, more residents are expected to go online as the Obama administration's universal broadband initiative brings greater Internet access to inner-city schools and public spaces.

DeGraeve said Peapod plans to expand the number of drop-off sites in the food desert, aiming to set up as many as 50 sites by fall.

Tania Unzeuta and other Chicago-area undocumented youth who were arrested last week in civil disobedience at the U.S. Capitol building, demanding action on the DREAM Act, will speak about the action, their experiences, and what’s next for the immigrant rights movement, at a press conference at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 27, at Plaza Tenochtitlan (18th, Loomis, and Blue Island.)

The protest was the second time undocumented youth have risked deportation to pressure legislators – focusing on DREAM Act supporters – to move the bill.

More on Tania here; more on last week’s action – including the reaction of Senator Richard Durbin, chief sponsor of the DREAM Act – here; also see coverage at Chicanisima.