Residents frustrated over proposed ward redistricting

The Multi Purpose Room at DePaul University, which held the 43rd Ward Remap Hearing, Jan. 11, filled fast as Chicagoans came to voice their opinions.

According to an email from 43rd ward Alderman Michele Smith, the MPR was packed by 6 p.m. and close to 100 people had to wait to enter until others left. Numerous citizens plead to city Councilman Richard Mell for stabilization of their thriving communities that they have known for 80 years.

After the 2012 census, which found that there are almost 2.65 million people living in Chicago, the City Council decided to restructure the 50 wards, or in other words, 50 neighborhoods, that make up the city. They developed a new map called For A Better Chicago. Many citizens are against the new map, especially those of the 43rd Ward, which is also known as Lincoln Park.

For A Better Chicago would split Lincoln Park into five different wards, and according to Ald. Smith, it is "devastating." Citizens are promoting another map, the Taxpayer Protection Map, which will keep the 43rd ward, along with other wards throughout Chicago, with very similar boundaries.

"What does Lincoln Park have to do with Logan Square? Well they are both being put in the second ward under [the For A Better Chicago] map. What logic puts these district communities together while politically ripping apart our long established neighborhoods that have worked together for years?" Ald. Smith said.

Not only will Lincoln Park have five aldermen with the For A Better Chicago map, but also three of these aldermen will politically butt heads when it comes to working with Children's Memorial Hospital. Due to the new hospital location, it is now split amongst three wards.

With the map vote being held as early as next week, angered citizens spoke to numerous aldermen and Councilman Mell, some even yelled at the board.

"I do not want a different alderman, I voted for Michele Smith," one passionate citizen said.

"I don't think we even need 50 wards or 50 aldermen. New York City only has 25 aldermen, and they are a much bigger city," said another.

One citizen was particularly upset by the fact that with the new map, their new alderman's office will not even be located in their ward.

Even Councilman Mell was left with an open-mouthed expression when one citizen said, "This makes me want to leave my favorite city for good."

Some citizens showed up with posters with sayings such as "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" and "Keep Alcott in the 43rd Ward." Even the University Commons paraded a poster around the MPR before the event started, reading, "Please don't split up our community."

Each and every protesting citizen asked the same question: Why do we need the change? And what does this mean for DePaul University?

"DePaul University has stayed in Lincoln Park for its stable community, but with this new ward system, DePaul will no longer experience one. This will affect Lincoln Park immensely for the next 10 years," William Singer, a citizen at the event, said.

For A Better Chicago will split the Lincoln Park campus into three separate wards. Part of the campus, up until West Fullerton Avenue, will be a part of the 43rd ward. The McGrath Arena and The Ray Meyer Fitness Center will be part of the second ward, and the new Theatre School will be located in the 32nd ward.

"DePaul University is one of the communities inside the [43rd] ward, and like any other community, fragmenting it will affect all aspects of daily life. When you think about all the ward services that DePaul students, and all of the residents, are dependent on, we realize that these services require significant coordination," said Emma Rosenberg, Director of Communications for Michele Smith. "The idea of different aldermen [in Lincoln Park] represents some pretty sizeable obstacles that the community, along with DePaul, will undergo."

Some citizens even question why a map is needed. Why is creating a map with 50 wards so important? Councilman Mell even suggested we might have a computer equally split Chicago into wards based on a squaring system. Overall, the citizens do not favor the ward system of For a Better Chicago.

"We should take the time to get this right and protect our constituents from the cause of a law suit. There's no excuse for throwing away taxpayer dollars because of political expands," Ald. Smith said.

In an email, Ald. Smith remarked on how much of an impact the meeting had. "It was made abundantly clear that Lincoln Park is united as a community and should remain united as a ward," she said.

So, Monday in the MPR was just another day of windy politics, with a lot of angry Chicago citizens ready to fight for the neighborhoods they are familiar with. For now, they wait to see what the City Council will consider.