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Happy Friday. Recovery from last night's storm continues as thousands in the area are still without power and trees are down across the city and suburbs. In the meantime, we've got a heartwarming story on an ambitious Chicago teen doling out free makeovers to classmates, plus a costly update on everyone's favorite parking meter deal. |
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(Patty Wetli / WTTW News) |
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Patty Wetli: At this week’s meeting of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, the majority of the agenda was dispatched in roughly 30 to 45 minutes. And yet the meeting ran for more than two hours, thanks to one item on the docket: People in the Parks.
This is the public comment portion of the monthly board meetings, and board president Marlon Everett always says it’s his favorite part.
It’s mine, too, and not just because it’s produced some interesting stories, like the construction of an illegal building in Humboldt Park. Yes, this is where grievances and complaints are aired, but People in the Parks also illuminates the profound relationship Chicagoans have with their green spaces, emphasis on “their.”
You see it in the people who turn out month after month — usually at an inconvenient time, at an inconvenient location — to ask for more attention, more resources, more programming for their home park. Quite often, the board meeting is the equivalent of a Hail Mary, people having exhausted all other avenues of communication.
In a lot of ways, these folks remind me of patient advocates, people confronting a large bureaucracy and asking officials to love their park — not the Park District writ large — as much as they do.
Where it gets tricky is when people love the same park for different reasons. You want a dog park, I want a community garden; you want a place to spread out a blanket and read a book, I want a soccer league; you want a revenue-generating concert, I want to go bird watching.
The battle over Riot Fest’s continued presence in Douglass Park is perhaps the highest profile instance of such competing interests, but I promise you, it isn’t unique. There are lower stakes skirmishes taking place all over the city.
Each of us has a vision for “our” green spaces — I, for one, would like people to stop feeding geese at mine. But there’s the rub. On the one hand, parks belong to all of us, but on the other, they belong to none of us. |
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A Chicago parking meter is pictured in a file photo. (400tmax / iStock) |
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City lawyers are recommending that Chicago taxpayers pay $15.5 million to the private firm that leases the city’s parking meters to compensate the firm for taking parking spaces out of service during the stay-at-home orders issued by city and state officials to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Some backstory:
A much-loathed 2008 deal requires the city make “true-up” payments to Chicago Parking Meters to compensate the firm for lost revenue when meters are removed, temporarily taken out of commission with the city’s permission or used by motorists with disabled parking permits.
On March 18, 2020, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that tickets would “only” be issued for safety reasons and specifically said that parking at an expired parking meter did not represent a public safety threat. Lightfoot told drivers they should still pay to park at meters.
That order was in effect for two and a half months and cost the firm $2 million in direct payments from motorists, according to the claim filed against the city by the parking meter firm.
What’s in the deal?
A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson called the $15.5 million settlement a victory for the city secured by “tough and effective negotiations.”
The city earned more than $25 million from citations issued at disputed parking meters, according to the mayor’s office. The deal also calls for “one year of enhanced parking enforcement” and an agreement to share data between the city and the parking meter firm, officials said.
Initially, the parking meter firm demanded $322 million from the city, according to the mayor’s office. |
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North Lawndale College Prep student Jessica Thurmond styles a classmate's hair. (WTTW News) |
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For many Black people, getting their hair done can be a costly ordeal. But Jessica Thurmond, a student in North Lawndale, is trying to alleviate that. She’s styling her classmates’ hair for free in her school’s bathroom stalls just in time for class. Now that small act of kindness is turning her into a viral social media star — and a budding entrepreneur.
The 17-year-old North Lawndale College Prep junior spends time between classes styling wigs, braids, curls and locs. She posts her work on TikTok, drawing as many as 4 million views. Thurmond said she enjoys helping students who can’t afford a professional stylist.
“Jessica’s act of kindness allows for another young lady to smile,” Principal Kyera Bradley said. “Because now she doesn’t have to worry about the bully or the like, ‘Can I wear a hood? Can I wear a hat?’ She’s alleviated some of those issues in my building. I would be crazy not to thank her versus punishing her.” |
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More From WTTW News |
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Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who was just elected to serve a second term, announced he's running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (9th District).
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With CPS CEO Pedro Martinez set to exit in June, six months after his abrupt termination, the Chicago Board of Education is hosting a series of public meetings as part of its search for the next chief.
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Back in the Day: May 16, 2020 - Protest Held at Thompson Center Against COVID-19 Health Measures |
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On this day five years ago, state officials announced 74 Illinoisans had died the day prior from complications with COVID-19, and a group of protestors congregated at the Thompson Center to protest pandemic-related restrictions. The rally included a roster of conservative speakers, including radio host Erich “Mancow” Muller; demonstrators held signs that read "Jesus is my vaccine" and "right to go to church." At the time, Illinois had barred gatherings of more than 10 people and several state churches planned services in defiance of the order. A few protestors caused controversy with signs that compared Gov. JB Pritzker, who is Jewish, to Adolf Hitler. For his part, Pritzker said most Illinoisans had been following his guidelines, and referred to the protesters as “outliers.” |
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Every Friday, WTTW News science and nature reporter Patty Wetli highlights the best ways to get outside.
A couple of weeks ago we encouraged people to get out and take part in the 2025 City Nature Challenge. Well, the results are in and folks in the Chicagoland region turned in more than 13,500 observations. The top five most observed species: red-winged blackbird, Canada goose, common blue violet, Virginia bluebells and prairie trillium. Great work!
Here are some ways to enjoy nature this weekend.
Calling all paddlers: The annual canoe and kayak marathon on the Des Plaines River is happening Sunday. Choose between the full 18.5-mile course or the 5.25-mile Minithon. Registration is still open.
Have you ever wondered how people can tell one piping plover from another? It’s the bird’s leg bands. Learn all about this process, Sunday, 10 a.m., at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont.
Tulip season is over and you know what that means — tulip bulb giveaways! The Chicago Community Gardeners Association keeps people posted via Facebook on the city of Chicago’s free giveaway; Cantigny sells its bulbs, 25 for $10.
Speaking of plants, Chicago Botanic Garden is giving away free seeds and plants for vegetable gardens, through September. This weekend, it’s tomato plants. Note: paid admission to the garden is required.
A new outdoor exhibit, “Vivid Creatures,” opens Saturday at Morton Arboretum. Look for the larger-than-life animal sculptures — up to 22 feet tall! — throughout the arboretum’s grounds. |
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What was your reaction when you heard the new pope is from Chicago? |
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what you had to say:
"Peppers or no peppers on his beef sandwich?" -@victoria_may_art
"Daaaa Pope" -@jaw1489
"Excellent" -@kathleenreads.bsky.social
"🤯 surprise and pride" -@solipsistica
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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