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      <title>Comments On: A victory for the &quot;blighted&quot;
    
      by Ben Joravsky</title>
      <link>http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted</link>
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      by Ben Joravsky</description>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0600</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#963791]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#963791]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Sorry everybody
    
    Upon further review, I need to revise slightly this prognostication:
    
    Watch for it
    
    All or part of the disputed area, the east side of the 4800 block of N Western, will eventually be redeveloped, and the redevelopment will involve major Schulter campaign contributor Bill Platt of Access and/or major Schulter campaign contributor Tony Ruh and/or major Schulter campaign contributor Seymour H. Persky.
    
    You heard it here 1st.
    
    http://accessgroupchicago.com
    
    http://www.ruhrealty.com/
    
    http://parliamententerprisesltd.com/
    
    http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosur...
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:18:31 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#960615]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#960615]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Well...]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Primary Election is coming up, followed by the General Election this year.
    
    Yep, let's see if the voters will be resigned to take "...the SAME SHIT..." this time around, or, maybe, just maybe, the voters will.... wait for it......
    
    HAVE NO DOUBT and VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
    
    Maybe the voters will, this time.... Just Do It.
    
    It could happen, couldn't it?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Well...]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:20:27 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#967594]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#967594]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[You're FULL Of Shit]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[That TIRESOME mantra, But the SAME SHIT.....After they get elected, So SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!!!.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by You're FULL Of Shit]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:14:23 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#953053]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#953053]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[re MARY]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[We need individual citizens to discover the futility of waiting for a human, political savior to miraculously appear.
    
    We need the citizen/voters to embrace the beginning of political change, that beginning being:
    
    HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
    
    FIRST deny reelection to known corrupt and/or incompetent incumbents, THEN truly honest, intelligent and dedicated individuals will overwhelm the ballot, in numbers too great for the machine shills to overcome.
    
    Break the stranglehold this city and county's political machines have on it's fellow citizens.
    
    REGISTER TO VOTE
    
    VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION
    
    HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re MARY]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:55:08 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#971168]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[MARY]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[CHECK OUT SCHULTERS WEB SITE . HE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR HIS ELECTION....... WE NEED A CANDIDATE  SOMEONE PLEASE...
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by MARY]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:07:24 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#962380]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[The Fat Lady]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["3 - The further fact that Schulter, and his cronies, have no intention of giving up on the scheme, and scam, that has been temporarily delayed, by those citizens who have finally started to think, and, in thinking, see, and, in seeing, realize the nature of the pieces of shit they've elected, and, thus, empowered, to fuck them over for the pleasures and profits gained, is something best not forgotten." 
    
    Best Not Forgotten.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by The Fat Lady]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:10:18 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#950158]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#950158]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Watch for it
    
    All or part of the disputed area, the east side of the 4800 block of N Western, will eventually be redeveloped, and the redevelopment will involve major Schulter campaign contributor Bill Platt of Access and/or major Schulter campaign contributor Tony Ruh.
    
    You heard it here 1st.
    
    http://accessgroupchicago.com
    
    http://www.ruhrealty.com/
    
    http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:48:21 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#955049]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[Jake]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Will someone please run against this weasel(SCHULTER) I bet a monkey would beat him. NO one wants you, Schulter. Leave our city alone....
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Jake]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:37:25 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#947296]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[re Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[I look at it this way:
    
    1 - The fact that a 'sitting on his greedy ass' alderman is 'stimulated', to the point of acting out what he actually thinks of his constituents, is progress beyond anyone's expectations.
    
    2 - The sheer pleasure, that those citizens Schulter 'shared' his 'feelings' with, to be privileged to actually hear and see the little baby throw a tantrum, is something that no amount of money could buy.
    
    3 - The further fact that Schulter, and his cronies, have no intention of giving up on the scheme, and scam, that has been temporarily delayed, by those citizens who have finally started to think, and, in thinking, see, and, in seeing, realize the nature of the pieces of shit they've elected, and, thus, empowered, to fuck them over for the pleasures and profits gained, is something best not forgotten.
    
    4 - What is encouraging, albeit only mildly, is the fact that any citizens at all, other than those few directly effected by this eminent domain bullshit, showed up to give their weasel of an alderman a little hell.
    
    5 - The question that still remains is: 
    
    Will enough citizens finally realize that this behavior, on the part of Schulter, is the NORMAL behavior one can expect of his or her alderman, let alone the mayor, the county's officials, state legislators, judges, etc.? 
    
    These arrogant fucks act like this ALL THE TIME. 
    
    These arrogant fucks think like this ALL THE TIME. 
    
    These arrogant fucks actually believe they're ENTITLED to act and think like this, ALL THE TIME. 
    
    Even when a given alderman is speaking sweetly, saying the things he, or she, figures their constituents want to hear, they are ALL, with very few exceptions, THINKING the same things that, on this occasion, Schulter actually said.
    
    These are the individuals who we, the public, voting and non-voting alike, elect, or allow to be elected, to our public offices.
    
    6 - Which brings up the question:
    
    What the fuck are we thinking?
    
    Or, are we thinking at all?
    
    Thinking about who these people we elect, or allow to be elected, actually are.
    
    Thinking about what results we expect, when we elect, or allow to be elected, this kind of manipulative, deceptive, arrogant, self-serving sub-human beings, who present themselves as honest people, but prove to be everything but.
    
    Thinking about what we, as citizens, can do, to ensure the highest probability of our electing honest, respectful, fair-minded, intelligent, ethical individuals to public offices, be they Executive, Judicial or Legislative.
    
    7 - At the end of the day, it is we citizens who have to be held accountable for who we elect, or allow to be elected.
    
    
    HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:21:45 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#956178]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#956178]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Condemnation, the latest tool or controlling development. Maybe we should condemn the whole city, put the alderman in the driver' seat, force developers to grovel to the alderman with their checkbooks open and pen uncapped.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:34:58 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#964774]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#964774]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[This is priceless, a slice of life in Chicago's wards, must-listen audio.
    
    EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: LINCOLN SQUARE PROTEST AT SCHULTER'S OFFICE
    
    Alderman Eugene Schulter yelled at his constituents and threatened to have the police haul them away.
    
    http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/2007/12/exclusive-audio-lincoln-square-protest.html
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:37:39 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#958760]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#958760]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[More coverage
    
    Schulter pulls eminent domain ordinance
    
    http://blogs.suntimes.com/neighborhoods/2007/12/breaking_news_in_lincoln_squar.html
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:33:27 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#949234]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#949234]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[More coverage
    
    Schulter derails eminent domain
    
    December 12, 2007
    
    By LORRAINE SWANSON Pioneer Press news-Star Staff Writer
    
    Alderman Eugene Schulter, 47th, backed down from a plan to condemn privately owned businesses on the 4800 block of North Western Avenue and hand them over to private developers--sort of.
    
    http://www.pioneerlocal.com/newsstar/news/691241,SN-EminentDomainLatest-121207-s1.article
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:31:12 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#970419]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[Hugh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["47th Ward alderman Gene Schulter was seeking public funds to keep private development out -- at least a certain kind of private development. Schulter contended that the commercial strip, ... was starting to attract the interest of big-box chains. By beating the big boxes to the punch, he said, his plan would actually protect small businesses and help keep the community free of too much traffic and congestion."
    
    The justification Schulter has repeatedly been offering for this land grab is patently absurd. If keeping big box stores out is the justification, there's much simpler ways than condemnation. The alderman is Zoning Czar in Chicago. Schulter could have down-zoned the area on Western in a few weeks with little or no public scrutiny. Why not simply rezone the area as B1-1 or even R1 or something? That would keep big-box stores out. Of course that may be totally inappropriate to the current uses, but it would hardly be the 1st time non-conforming zoning was used to control development.
    
    After all, two terms ago Schulter himself methodically went through his ward and down-zoned vast areas to prevent tear-downs, making many large apartment buildings "non-conforming" in the process. 
    
    The real explanation for Schulter's behavior lies in an examination of his campaign contributions.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hugh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:15:23 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#973216]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[most likely....]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["HOW IS HE GOING TO RETURN THE PAYOFF TO THE DEVELOPER?"
    
    Very, very, very, very carefully.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by most likely....]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:23:42 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#947331]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[blaster]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Ald Schulter didn't look well wednesday,when i observed him and two of his aids rushing back to the council meeting. HOW IS HE GOING TO RETURN THE PAYOFF TO THE DEVELOPER?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by blaster]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:04:50 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#956992]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[re bridgeport bob]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["To live in a stable environment, we must sometimes get up some of our rights."
    
    Spoken like a true Nazi sympathizer.
    
    Are you of Irish or French descent?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re bridgeport bob]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:42:28 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#961555]]></link>
    
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    <author><![CDATA[Carter]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[All it would take it is one single case of an upzone granted to a private property owner who received said property by an eminent domain seizure to warrant the Feds tearing City Hall open top to bottom as far as I'm concerned.  
    
    And obviously, this is exactly what was going to happen here.
    
    I often argue with people who don't understand this simple concept:
    
    Upzoning is the City giving someone free money.
    
    It's not debatable.  In a City where every square inch has been regulated, changing the rules with regard to any chunk of it in that fashion is creating wealth out of thin air.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Carter]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:24:59 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#969714]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#969714]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[re Carter]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Alderspeak rears it's ugly head, again:
    
    Schulter: ".....there's no market for land the city can snatch at will."
    
    Perhaps, but there IS a market for land that the city HAS snatched, isn't there?
    
    And there IS a market for sweetheart deals, for the prearranged purchase of land, 'snatched' at below market value, by the city abusing the power of eminent domain, and sold to those playing the game of 'pay to play' so expertly perfected here, in our very own City That Works (for crooks) and our own, very special County of Crooks.
    
    What 'problem' did Schulter see, concerning this particular part of his ward?
    
    The possibility that the rightful owners of these real properties might decide to sell, for their true market values, their real properties to a buyer or buyers that would honestly pay true market values?
    
    The likelihood that he, Schulter, wouldn't be 'involved' in the decisions made by these private property owners?
    
    And, thus, wouldn't be able to influence, and profit from, the potential financial transactions?
    
    All this assuming that the owners of said real properties were interested in selling same to anyone?
    
    All anyone needs to say to Alderman Schulter on this issue is: "Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire."
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re Carter]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:12:01 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#965255]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#965255]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Carter]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["Schulter contended that the commercial strip, with its booming residential base, was starting to attract the interest of big-box chains. By beating the big boxes to the punch, he said, his plan would actually protect small businesses and help keep the community free of too much traffic and congestion. Sure, in this case protecting small businesses meant threatening them with government seizure of their property. But the declaration of eminent domain alone would help keep the Best Buys at bay: there's no market for land the city can snatch at will."
    
    If anyone really believes Schulter was trying to save the neighborhood from Big Box stores, I have a new shipment of bridges coming in I'd love to discuss selling with them.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Carter]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:31:31 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#972805]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#972805]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[historian]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["I'm glad Alderman Schulter heeded the public response on this issue."
    
    Swell.
    
    One time out of a thousand, an alderman 'heeds' his constituents desires.
    
    Only AFTER said constituents have had to make extraordinary efforts to get his 'attention'.
    
    And this 'heeding' is only temporary, as 'the city' has 'reserved their right' to abuse eminent domain, 'if it becomes necessary'.
    
    This is what we get when we elect 'rulers' pretending to be representatives.
    
    It's a matter of perspective.
    
    Those who actually vote, miniscule in number as they are, perceive those they elect to be genuine representatives.
    
    The elected perceive themselves to be 'leaders' and define leadership to be the same as rulership.
    
    Thus, we're back to square one, 230+ years of American Democracy down the drain.
    
    It is true, that thing about history repeating itself.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by historian]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:04:26 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#971350]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#971350]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Olly McPherson]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[As a "curious local," I'm glad Alderman Schulter heeded the public response on this issue. The city doesn't need to be abusing eminent domain to craft a sweetheart deal for condo developers.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Olly McPherson]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:51:32 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#951464]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#951464]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Joh nPowers]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Ben,
    
    The mainstream media has been covering this issue.  The hacks at the Sun Times, the Tribune, Channel 2,5,7,9,11, FM 91.5, AM720, AM780, AM890 etc have ignored it.
    
    JBP
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Joh nPowers]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:42:01 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#955285]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#955285]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Abraham Lincoln]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[I love it, you media hacks are so predictable.
    Here&acirc;&#128;&#153;s a recipe for a story.
    You take a handful of local merchants, a couple of curious locals, oodles of malcontents from Uptown and Rogers Park , a dozen or so media hacks and a few professional protesters from Boston. These are what we&acirc;&#128;&#153;ll call Residents.
    Now we create a Villain.
    You put out a lot of baseless information about how the Evil Politician plans to stick it to the hard working Store Owners and give it to the Politically connected Insiders. These are your Villains.
    You mix everyone up and you simmer on the blog echo chamber (alot of cut pasting and linking) for a week or so and ta-da you have a story serve hot. 
    The truth is the 4800 block of Lincoln / Western is a dump. 
    I&acirc;&#128;&#153;ve lived in that neighborhood all my life and can&acirc;&#128;&#153;t remember the last time I had a reason to walk down that strip of sidewalk (sorry not a Soccer fan).
    I&acirc;&#128;&#153;m not saying the property owners should take a loss, but that block could use an improvement.
    So to keep the condo-mad developers from buying it up piecemeal and building by right the brakes were put on. 
    Now the community process can start and I&acirc;&#128;&#153;m sure something will be worked out. That&acirc;&#128;&#153;s why they call it a process.
    So cut out the rhetoric.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Abraham Lincoln]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:39:29 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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    <title><![CDATA[Re: A victory for the "blighted"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#958088]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2007/12/12/victory-blighted/#958088]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Bridgetport Bob]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[vote the incumbents out i am glad you toned it down a bit. I noticed all the people yelling and shouting about land acquisition and payoff for  alledged police torture. I even observed a clown,   attempting to denigrate our Mayor  by wearing an orange jump suit. Mayor Daley has the council still eating out of his hand. I love the way Mara  George out was able to keep the Mayor's critics at bay. Some people are against progress,the city needs to acquire land for growth,and development. How long are we going to pay for the sins of the past. The 20 million dollar settlement is ridiculous. The Machine keeps order and prevents chaos.Without the so-called Machine you wouldn't be able to walk down the street.To live in a stable environment, we must sometimes get up some of our rights.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Bridgetport Bob]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:16:15 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
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