Blues on the Blue Line
By Thomas M. Howard
773-247-0428

Two civic projects, totaling near one billion dollars in investment, have dominated headlines in recent weeks. First in the loop, Millennium Park ($475 million) was opened for public consumption in a thunderous 3-day opening ceremony. This project makes economic sense---keep the Loop attractive for businesses and tourism.

Nearing completion after 7 years on the west side we find The Blue Line Restoration Project ($482 million). This project seems to make no common sense, as weekend service has not been reestablished and plans are now being made to completely cut off service to the loop.

Why the dichotomy? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the bottom of garbage cans on the near west-side, where one can find empty Starbuck’s coffee cups and Jewel bags full of dog poop. It seems that the only ones getting the City’s attention these days are areas where enough residents are willing to pay $5.00 for a cup of coffee, have high paying jobs, and sport 2 dogs and no kids.

The CTA and the Daley administration are crystal clear on their rational for supporting cutting out downtown service for the poorer west-side residents—the newer near west-residents, whom are enjoying a massive revitalization boom, need speedier service to downtown via a connection to the Lake Street “L” tracks.

Back on the west side, trash cans in Douglas Park are full of empty Dunkin Doughnuts or Champuarrdo cups and the dog doo-doo on the grass. Here residents struggle to pay their rent, working long hours for little pay. A friend of mine, for example, is a security guard. On weekdays she rides the train to work, but on weekend is forced to take a $20 cab home, eating up more than 2 hours of her paycheck. My friend tells me that she has not received a raise in six years. With the help of her three sisters, her mother, and the Holy Spirit, my friend’s family faithfully miraculously pays their mortgage each month.

Now that the ones who count have their new park (complete with it’s heated bike garage, valet parking service and personal attendants for bike riders, hot showers and private swipe card entry all for a mere .50 a day), it is time for the west-side working poor to be taken into account. Scrap the Blue-Green Line plan and reestablish full service on the Blue Line. Public transportation should be available for all of Chicago’s residents, especially the working poor who are dedicated to making a better life for themselves and their families.