As more people are communicating electronically, both privately and through social media, the absence of facial expressions and vocal intonation can cause misunderstandings. Furthermore, complaints over social media to people who are not tasked with the solution can quickly escalate, as those whose job it is to respond are not informed of the problem in a timely manner or perhaps ever.
If you have a question, concern or complaint about a City service or bill, please check the City website first. Many questions are answered there, and you may save yourself time. You can contact the City directly at (847) 432-0800. As your Councilmember, I am always happy to help residents solve city-related problems or answer your questions and concerns – just email me and I will connect you to the right staff person to address your issue.
Month: May 2023
Community Vibrancy
Community vibrancy is one of the core priorities of the City of Highland Park. People often ask how we can make sure that we have thriving businesses in our downtown, and why some storefronts are empty. Earlier this spring, I had the opportunity to travel to Spain. The streets were filled with people — dancing, shopping, dining, walking and biking. On our first day, we encountered groups of people dancing in parks and plazas in four separate locations. Bike lanes were incorporated into larger streets, while the older and narrower streets were filled with pedestrians. Shops and restaurants were thriving. We felt safe walking around in the evening, as shops were open and streets were vibrant and full of people strolling, dining and shopping.
How can we learn from what is working elsewhere to make our community more vibrant? If e-commerce has destroyed retail in the United States, why is retail doing so well in other countries? Walkability has been shown to benefit health, community and the economy. The Superblock is a concept from Barcelona that prioritizes people over cars. The Woonerf is a shared street concept that originated in the Netherlands. You can see woonerfs in action in the western suburbs and Chicago’s Argyle Street. These creative concepts have revitalized neighborhoods by bringing people to the area who patronize local businesses.
While we are not proposing a Superblock or a Woonerf in Highland Park (yet), we have begun the process of updating our vintage 1986 streetscape. You may have noticed the new trash and recycling bins and bike racks around the downtown area. The City has also hired a consultant to recommend updates to Second Street, and to provide a more permanent concept for The Lot, our new outdoor event space. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations once they are presented to City Council, and am always open to your input for what you’d like to see in downtown Highland Park.
Spring Clean Up
Spring trash pick ups continue for two more weeks in Highland Park. There are many items that end up in the landfill, but could have been recycled or donated instead. Click here for ideas on how to better dispose of items that you may not need anymore. For those whose primary trash pick up is on Thursdays or Fridays, the next two Saturdays are your spring clean up dates. Remember, you don’t need to save up for spring clean up. You may put one large item out with your trash on your regular trash day anytime during the year.