As we cope with streets pockmarked with potholes, crumbling sidewalks, and fear that the next heavy rain might have us again pulling up sodden carpeting from our basement floors, we might expect a competent city government to focus its attention and our money on true needs rather than mere wants – especially a “want” of such dubious value as a proposed extension of Cumberland Avenue under (or over?) the Metra tracks at Busse Highway. 

But the Administration of Mayor Howard “Let’s Make A Deal” Frimark has never shown itself to be long on competence or even common sense, which would explain why City staff is already circulating memos about a Cumberland extension and looking for yet another consultant to do yet another “feasibility study” that is virtually guaranteed to conclude that (Surprise!) such a project is, indeed, “feasible” – if we’re dumb enough to spend $10-20 Million on it.

Fortunately, grass roots citizen activism appears to be spreading in our community, as a new citizens group has sprung up to challenge this Cumberland extension project, much like another citizens group arose to challenge the zoning variances at Executive Office Plaza and yet another citizens group is currently challenging the PADS shelter at St. Mary’s Episcopal. 

Many of those anti-Cumberland extension citizens crowded into City Hall this past Monday (May 19) night to voice their concerns about this proposal at the City Council meeting.  They heard 1st Ward Ald. Dave Schmidt and 7th Ward Ald. Frank Wsol question both the project itself and the “feasibility study” – while Frimark alderpuppets Rich DiPietro (2nd), Don Bach (3rd), Jim Allegretti (4th), Robert Ryan (5th) and Tom Carey (6th) generally looked as if they wanted to be somewhere else, like in a dentist’s chair having a root canal. 

They also heard fellow residents Marcy Anderson, Brian Beauguraeu, Ann Chavie, John Gust and Pat Livensparger, among others, voice their concerns.    

Anderson challenged the notion that the feasibility study wouldn’t really cost “us” anything if it were funded with federal grants.  “It’s still our tax money,” she correctly noted, a statement that appeared to be a revelation to Frimark, who talks about federal grant money is if it were a ten-spot left under his pillow by the Tooth Fairy.  Anderson said she would prefer spending our money on “keeping our current roadways in acceptable condition.”  

We heartily concur with Ms. Anderson.  Not only is getting federal money for something this unnecessary a waste of our tax dollars (albeit our federal, rather than our state or our local ones), but it probably makes it tougher to get a subsequent federal grant for something that might actually be necessary and worthwhile.  

Gust expressed similar views, noting that the project would only add three more blocks to Cumberland before it dead-ended at Hinkley Park.  “You are changing, and I don’t know to whose benefit, the feel of the neighborhood,” he stated, prompting a burst of applause from the audience that, in turn, provoked a stern rebuke from Frimark, who branded such behavior “very inappropriate.”

We disagree, Mr. Mayor.  While such behavior may not be exemplary meeting decorum, the term “very inappropriate” should be reserved for things like your accepting of campaign contributions from Napleton Cadillac and then negotiating and voting to give Napleton a windfall of our tax dollars to clean up soil contamination on its old dealership site; or your accepting of campaign contributions from Bruce Adreani and Norwood Builders and then negotiating zoning variances for their Executive Office Plaza project; or your accepting of a campaign contribution from Mr. Allegretti and then, without disclosing the contribution to the City Council, appointing him to fill your unexpired aldermanic seat.    

On second thought, that kind of behavior would appear to be more “outrageous” or “unethical” than merely “very inappropriate.”  But that’s a discussion we can save for another day.

As for the Cumberland extension, irrespective of whether it includes closing off Greenwood at the tracks or keeping it open, we agree with those residents who believe that there are many better ways to spend our hard-earned “bread” than on yet another “circus” staged by clowns.