Confidence vote for area transit; RTA official calls woes 'manageable'

Source: Chicago Tribune

The problems confronting Chicago-area mass transit are completely "manageable," the chief of the Regional Transportation Authority told city aldermen Thursday in a surprisingly upbeat assessment.

It clashed with dire budget warnings from the transit agencies about the effects of high fuel costs and lost revenue because of free rides now being provided to some passengers.

Regarding day-to-day service, a small boost in the transit subsidy that the state provided in January will provide stability "for years to come" in the operating budgets of the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, RTA Chairman Jim Reilly told the Chicago City Council Transportation Committee.

Fare increases will be required from time to time, Reilly said, but it is "way too early" to say whether the CTA or Pace will need to increase fares in 2009, he said.

Metra, which boosted fares in February, has already ruled out another hike next year. But CTA Chairman Carole Brown has made it clear the agency's budget challenges are severe and that a fare increase "has to be on the table."

Transit insiders said Reilly's portrayal Thursday of transit operations being on an even keel could be used against the CTA when the agency announces its next fare hike. Reilly said the biggest problem facing the transit system is that the state has not provided capital funding in four years.

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Posted by: ValBona Kokoshi

In Burnham's honor, city plans 'no little' celebration;

Source: The Oregonian

In Burnham's honor, city plans 'no little' celebration; Exhibits to highlight work of past, future.

The celebration of the regional plan that remade the face of Chicago and its suburbs will formally begin in June, highlighted by the unveiling of two temporary pavilions in Millennium Park designed by internationally acclaimed architects Zaha Hadid and Ben Van Berkel, organizers announced Thursday.
Hundreds of events -- exhibits, tours, concerts and building projects -- are planned in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Plan of Chicago, often called the Burnham Plan after its chief author, Chicago architect Daniel Burnham.

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Oregon City revising city's code for trees

Oregon City is working to protect more trees, revising the municipal code to expand the number of "heritage trees" as well as strengthening protection for trees on private property.

"We are working on developing a fully fledged tree preservation program," said Pete Walker, an associate city planner who has been spearheading the efforts.
Walker said the city, which is undertaking the first large revision of its municipal code in more than three years, hopes to create more tree-lined streets, improve air quality and increase the tree canopy.

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Posted by: ValBona Kokoshi

Sence of Place: "Everyday Sidewalk Poetry"

Source: Weekend America

A street party is getting underway here in St. Paul to celebrate a collection of poems by local residents that's been published on paper - and in cement. For the last few months the city has been implanting poems penned by St. Paulites in freshly poured sidewalks all over town. The public art project is designed to engage residents' artistic impulses and bring more poetry into everyday life.

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Posted by: ValBona Kokoshi

Event: Shanghai Transforming Exhibition

Exhibition Opening and Reception
Tuesday, October 14, 5:30-7:30pm

Guest Speaker
Iker Gil
Author, architect and curator

COST: Free
LOCATION: Chicago Architecture Foundation,
224 South Michigan Avenue

RSVP rsvp@architecture.org

In partnership with the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University

Shanghai Transforming explores the vast changes taking place in China’s most populous city. With photos and graphs, the exhibition provides a portrait of a city that offers unprecedented opportunities to architects and urban planners.

In contrast to new construction in the established cities of Europe and America, Shanghai’s new architecture and infrastructure challenges traditional spatial and social relationships. The exhibition asks us to consider the future of China—and of our rapidly urbanizing planet.

Architect and urban planner Iker Gil is curator of the exhibition. Photography is the work of Juan de Dios Pérez.

Alfonso Iannelli: Enriching the Prairie Spirit

Enriching the Prairie Spirit: The design studio of Alfonso Iannelli
October 16
As a college student in the 1950s witnessing the great "second wave" of Chicago architecture, Sam Guard would spend his weekends in Iannelli's workshop listening to this master craftsman recounting the building of Chicago during the Prairie School era. Hear Guard discuss Iannelli’s work in the Chicago area, including the history and current threats to his Park Ridge studios, whose associates included Bruce Goff and Edgar Miller.

Location: Chicago Cultural Center, 77 W. Randolph Street, Chicago Admission: FREE Time: 12:15 p.m.
For more Preservation Snapshots lecture information, go to www.landmarks.org.

Volunteer Opportunity: Common Threads

Common Threads Needs Your Help!




If you enjoy working with children and appreciate learning about cultures from around the world then this will be a great opportunity for you to help fulfill Common Threads’ mission!!!

Common Threads is a Chicago based non-profit organization that educates children on the importance of nutrition, physical well-being and cultural diversity through cooking. Through the simple process of preparing and sharing a nutritious meal, children who participate in our programs learn to connect with their bodies, their neighbors, and their world in bite-sized lessons. And we need your help to assure that this experience is a safe, fun and an invigorating one for all!

Here’s a glimpse of what we do:

WHO: There are currently 875 children enrolled in our program, ages 8 to 12.

WHEN: Mondays through Thursdays during after school hours for 12 weeks.

WHERE: We are established in 12 sites in Chicago including Humboldt Park,
Englewood and Chinatown.

If you are interested in being a part of this wonderful experience while giving back to your community please contact Mary Ann at maryann@commonthreads.org or at
312-752-2688. You can also check out our website: www.commonthreads.org for more information!

Job Opportunity: Assistant to the Dean of the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs

Assistant to the Dean
UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs

Duties: To provide high level and effective administrative and management support for the Dean related to the operations and activities of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) by coordinating and implementing, through the exercise of discretion and independent judgment, designated fiscal, personnel, grants, facilities, academic, technology, and /or general administrative and service functions under the direction of the Dean and in cooperation with the Associate Dean(s) and Assistant Dean(s).

Required: Masters degree in planning, public administration, communication, education, or related field; one year experience in education or other administrative setting; advanced written and spoken communication skills, with demonstrated capability as a writer; good knowledge or capability to master word processing, e-mail, spreadsheet, databases, purchasing, communications, Internet and related software to share in departmental management; comfortable with multiple cultures and diverse approaches to problem solving. Multiple languages preferred, but not required. Candidates must be available to begin full-time appointment in Chicago on 11/16/08 or earlier.

For fullest consideration, submit CV or resume with three references listed (e-mail transmission to cuppa@uic.edu greatly preferred) by 10/24/08, to:

Albert Schorsch, III
Chair, CUPPA Assistant to Dean Search
College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs University of Illinois at Chicago
412 S. Peoria, Rm. 115, M/C 350
Chicago, IL 60607-7064
cuppa@uic.edu

Message from the UPPSA President

MUPPS,

First, someone paid their UPPSA dues in cash. UPPSA does not accept cash.
I have no idea who you are (one of the reasons it is bad to pay in cash).
Please let me know if you paid your UPPSA dues in cash and we will get your money back to you. Since you made an attempt to pay your dues before the deadline we will accept a check or money order.

Second, for people who have paid dues, turned in their registration form and have not gotten blackboard access - I will say this again - UPPSA had trouble with their Blackboard site and was unable to enroll members until a couple of days ago. Now that this problem has been cleared up it will take a little while to process the paperwork. Please be patient and you can expect to have access by the end of this week or the beginning of next.

Third, you are able to enroll as a student for the IL-APA state conference. You do NOT need your APA member # - you do have to create an account but it is not contingent on getting your official APA member # - it says all of this on the IL-APA website. It seems like some people were under the impression they needed their APA member # and have been waiting to get them before they enrolled for the conference. Based on this UPPSA will extend the deadline for FREE accommodations (you are able to book your own hotel at your convenience) to Oct. 10.

Best,

Angela Larsen, J.D.
Masters Candidate Urban Planning & Policy Graduate Assistant, Office of Sustainability UPPSA President
816.456.9491

Position Available: Graduate Hourly Research Assistant

The Urban Transportation Center is seeking an hourly graduate research assistant for up to 20 hours per week to work on the Seniors Ride Free project for the Regional Transportation Authority. The position entails identifying, obtaining and analyzing senior ridership information from CTA, Metra and Pace. The scope includes a survey of existing seniors who are registered for the free ride and reduced fare program. This not only an opportunity to undertake engaged research on a topical transportation issue but could be an academic Master's project as well. The assignment will begin in mid October and last until March 2009. There will be no tuition waiver. Interested individuals should contact Joe DiJohn at 312-996-1458 or at joedi@uic.edu.