"Chicago uses mechanical street sweepers that operate year-round except during inclement winter weather. Each of the city's 50 wards has its own sweeper permanently assigned."
(www.cityofchicago.org)

If some people thought that the Chicago Aldermen who were against Mayor Daley's proposed reduction of the street sweeper fleet last week was really just about Aldermen losing their ward 'toys' and having to share, there is a deeper message to be considered.

The streets of Chicago are a very curious thing. They define who we are. When fellow Chicagoan's talk to one another they refer to their neighborhood first; 'I am from Wicker Park' and then refer to their street reference 'you know, by Damen and Chicago'. Streets come with their own personalities. Astor Street equals wealth. Rush Street equals socializing. Taylor Street equals great Italian food. Some people have given their lives for their street. Gangs use them as boundaries. A public property somehow becomes very personal and tragic. In the winter time we shovel our beloved streets and mark them with a cone, an old chair or, as I once saw, a dented Jesus, Mary and Joseph nativity set. Now who would steal that spot?

When the street cleaning signs go up the day before, the neighborhood kicks into gear. Neighbors who get home early from work or work from home quickly position their cars to the other side of the street. The late-comers might be out of luck and have to park a block down and over. You always know who the new guy is on the block. No one warns him though. It's like a rite of passage when he gets that ticket.
So when the Mayor touches the sensitive subject of streets, and proposes to change its current method of sweeping them, Aldermen will listen.
 

Last Friday in the Chicago City Council, Ald. Joe Moore from the 49th ward wanted an opportunity to discuss the Mayor's new proposal to eliminate the street sweeper fleet from 50 down to 40. The most concerning of this proposed change was to implement a new grid system and take the management and accountability of street maintenance out of the hands of the Aldermen. The Mayor's motivation for change was to help defray cost.

But Aldermen had questions. 'Who are the citizens going to call when the streets aren't swept?' Moore told reporters, '(residents) can call (their Alderman), but we'll say it's completely out of our control.'
Last Friday Ald. Moore stood up to discuss this topic but his microphone was mysteriously turned off. Even so Ald. Moore spoke up attempting to raise the issue and his many questions. He was quickly rebuked and referred to yet another ordinance that limits how much can be discussed in one city council meeting. He was told that a special session would be needed in order to discuss this additional topic. Friday's meeting was then adjourned.

With more questions than answers about this new proposed clean up system, Aldermen Moore, Willie Cochran (20th), and Ricardo Munoz (22nd) called for a special session to be held in City Hall to properly discuss last Friday's topic. These three aldermen were very ambitious and managed to get a terrific pool of equally interested aldermen to attend yesterday's special session. The mandate for a special session in the city council is that at least 26 aldermen must be in attendance in order to discuss the city's business. Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th ward) even took a break from his Florida vacation and flew in to attend Wednesday's special meeting. But despite these efforts a quorum could not be reached. Mayor Daley did not attend the meeting. As reported in the Chicago Tribune, just when it looked like there was a quorum of 26 members in attendance 'two aldermen left the chambers.' The special meeting was adjourned.

For your convenience I have listed the Alderman who did show up to discuss this topic. They are listed by their ward number and their name:
1, Alderman Moreno
2, Alderman Fioretti
3, Alderman Dowell
4, Alderman Preckwinkle
5, Alderman Hairston
6, Alderman Lyle
7, Alderman Jackson
20, Alderman Cochran
21, Alderman Brookins
22, Alderman Munoz
24, Alderman Dixon
28, Alderman Smith
30, Alderman Reboyras
31, Alderman Suarez
32, Alderman Waguespack
33, Alderman Mell
35, Alderman Colon
38, Alderman Allen
39, Alderman Laurino
42, Alderman Reilly
43, Alderman Daley
44, Alderman Tunney
47, Alderman Schulter
49, Alderman Moore
50. Alderman Stone

The fact that three Aldermen were able to organize this meeting so effectively in such a short time and get such an attendance is an interesting side note to the sweeper issue. When interviewed by the Chicago Reader, Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd ward) commented that 'The way it was handled (by the mayor) shows problems of ‘It's my way or the highway,' and that needs to end… when we have 25 people showing up at a City Council meeting called by an alderman, it sends a message to the administration.'

Ald. Moore expressed his concerns that they ought to be able to discuss changes before any decision is made rather than afterward. Moore says he can accept the cut down to 40 sweepers. Ald. Moore's efforts were not in vain. The grid system idea was abandoned and each alderman will remain in control of a street sweeper for four days out of the week for a total of 32 hours each week. The 25 Aldermen who bothered to attend this special session showed their civil servants hearts yesterday. They ought to be commended for looking out for our beloved streets. They deserve the democratic process of debating on issues before decisions are made. They deserve to be heard.

As we approach street sweeping season keep on the lookout for the street cleaning signs posted the night before your street is scheduled to get swept. As stated on the city of Chicago's web site:

To ensure curb-to-curb street cleaning, temporary parking restrictions are posted the day before the work is scheduled to begin on any street. Some arterial streets have permanently posted signs that
specify a once-per-week period when parking is prohibited for street sweeping.
The fine for violating a street sweeping parking ban is $50 and vehicles may be relocated to a nearby site by tow trucks enforcing this parking restriction.