Pop tax in Cook County: Oak Park, IL

So in the area of Cook county, encompasses Chicago, and the neighboring suburbs like Oak Park, Il. Recently the Cook county board tried to put a county tax on sugary drinks to cover a big hole in the county budget. First, it was blocked by local businesses who took the local government to court then crook county won on appeal to have the tax go into effect. This tax increases .68 cents on each 2-liter bottle of soda pop, etc and so on.

Everyone from the crook county commissioner Toni Preckwinkle to that jackass Rahm Emanuel all is championing this tax to fill the holes in their pay to play budgets. There is usually not a day goes by that I see Rahm talking about some new after-school program when the state education budget is not set. Or some other shady ass move like Rahm using tif funds for the renovation of Navy Pier.

I mention all this because even though I am an avid water drinker if I have a party or company over and need to have pop (even for mixed drinks). I have to go far out my way to either will or Lake counties to get my needs satisfied. Meaning that all the local businesses that stated they would lose customer dollars in Cook county are actually correct.

People in Oak Park, Il, for example, are paying for the stupidity of voting for “the machine” that simply does not give a fuck about the taxpayers here. It just adds to the stupid shit people in Oak Park, Il like myself have to deal with from dietary changes, to party supply adjustments, to budgetary eliminations, all so unnecessary if these career politicians were required to balance the budget of our local governments. All of it unnecessary if these career politicians were voted out.

Ps: I have made signs, wallpapers for anyone who agrees. Have fun printing them out and showing everyone how you feel.😉

Parking in Oak Park, IL is made to be more complex that it should be.

The crazy thing is, with parking in Oak park, Il is that the village and residents make it more complex than it needs to be. I have scanned a set of directions that the village gave me for parking in the area in which I paid a permit for. Once you paid for the village sticker and the three-month area sticker, they gave you instructions that seemed like some type flight or video game instructions. It just makes things way more complicated why not just have posted signs in the area?

It is bad enough you have to move your car after 10 pm and park in the depot, then move it back to the main area after 8 am. Which if you work second shift anywhere you are in hell, why not just let people who paid for the sticker just stay there?

Then you got residents that act like the village has not pimped out that area in the first place. Coming out and “claiming” parking areas that the permission for parking has already been sold to other parties. Instead of raising hell with the drivers who only rent there, as a permanent resident, it makes sense to raise hell with the village.

Not with people who have no ties to the area, and who hold a grudge like forever. Take a look at the crazy instructions for a good laugh, although other burbs and downtown Chicago have parking rules not as bad as Oak Park, Il.

Oak Park, IL -Fourth of July: Best place for actual fireworks in this area is in Berwyn, not Oak Park, Il

Oh Man, I as I said in a previous post I hope Oak Park, Il had a better fourth of July parade. Mainly when you think of Fourth of July you think of “fireworks” that is not in the competencies of Oak Park, IL. The video I posted on youtube.com should show it is great for kids and that is about it. Not for drivers, adults (well maybe pedo bears) but not the explosiveness display most people like to see. Well, I did not go this year because of that, in fact, I went to my friend Sarah’s place in Berwyn, because Berwyn, Il has fireworks!

We were on the rooftop of her apartment building watching a clear view of the fireworks from Morton High School on Harlem Ave. I think she took video stingy ass. I was getting lit and trying not to fall off the damn roof. But it was a better alternative than running all the way to downtown Chicago or being with a ton of kids and pedos trying to get my drink on.

Therefore if you want to see a really Fourth of July celebration and see fireworks but do not want to get shot in Chi-Iraq I recommend this avenue of celebration INSTEAD of the one in Oak Park, IL if you are of the grown-up variety, Got kids though? stay in Oak Park, IL

Please note: I do know Oak Park, IL has fireworks at their high school as well, but I am factoring in also the times that were given: 7 pm (Berwyn) vs dusk-ish (Oak Park, IL); then adding the factors of traffic and transportation and things to do in that area afterwards. Oak Park, Il is really lacking in those areas I have mentioned in the latter.

Happy Fourth of July from Oak Park, IL

Happy 4^th of July! I will be taking suggestions of what to write and I will blog further and comment upon articles about Oak Park, Il on other websites in which I have previously commented on. I think that after starting this blog and the multiple web pages regarding the negative underbelly of Oak Park, IL I thought I would be a singular voice but alas I am not! I have found multiple voices out there ranting about the same thing(s) that I usually am.

 

Whether it is parking issues, ignorant neighbors, irresponsible dog owners, etc., there are people out there that do not accept the craziness given to them by Oak Park, IL and have exercised their free right to freedom of speech on the internet. Many have sacrificed to allow people like me to have the right of dissent and to break down areas of pure bullshit like Oak Park, IL and the idyllic stupidity or atmosphere they are trying to display for the masses.

 

I wish all of you a happy 4^th of July, and hopefully one day we will all be able to park anywhere we want in Oak Park, Il not because common sense will prevail, but because this is America!

 

Below is a link to some patriotic music (I do not own) on youtube.com that’s can stir the patriotic juices.

 

America the Beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA2Bcl_V_VY

Happy Birthday, America!

 

American flag wallpaper from: wallpapercave.com

Gay Pride Parade Chicago (2017) was awesome but no pics :(

Went to the Gay Pride Chicago parade I had a good time, however, no usable pictures because every time I tried to take a picture I got flashed! No, not by just the ladies but guys as well. LOL, Therefore I had a good time but had to decide quickly that I was not going to keeping taking pictures of private parts that would mostly get me in trouble online if I posted them. I am still going through them to see if my friend Sarah who went with me took any good ones, but I doubt it because they were flashing her too! HA!

Although it was a good time, it still put across the point of celebrating another community within our equally diverse area. That is still dealing with their fight for rights, that will still show up and be determined to be seen and heard. But in the meanwhile, will still have a good time no matter what. Like I said hopefully, I can get some usable pictures off the phone, but if not I will just wait for next year.

PS: It was great to be in my old stomping grounds again, Lakeview, I sorely miss it. I think I would give up this one bedroom shitty “vintage” apartment in Oak Park, IL for a studio any day! I miss the shops (I will not lie), the nightlife and most importantly the overwhelming diversity and acceptance of individuals from all walks of life in the area. Something Oak Park, IL as liberal as they want to say they are, can never be.

JAYCAGO: Calling out foodies in Orlando, Florida!

JAYCAGO: Calling out foodies in Orlando, Florida!: Living in Chicago most of my life with a short stay in Pittsburgh early on, you think that all cities have the same restaurants, food specia…

Just reposting a blog post from someone I follow on Blogger.com/Google Plus!

My disdain for Oak Park will never leave

Being a student of psychology, I hate to use labels and psychological terminology. But having lived and escaped from Oak Park, I swear I experience some sort of Post-Traumatic Stress whenever I come close to this town or have to drive through it.  For those who may think that statement goes too far, I beg to differ.

My heartbeat accelerates, my eye begins to twitch, I sweat, I curse, and my anger is stimulated.  All of this, as a result of living in Oak Park.  They say that life experiences can change you.  Well living in Oak Park changed me.  And not for the better.

For as long as I can remember, living out south in my youth, I always looked at Oak Park, through the lenses of an immature child. The full trees, along with the manicured and immaculate lawns, almost always drew me in. Well until I actually stepped out of the car, and begin to walk and experience the streets of Oak Park.

If the stress of avoiding dog poop, like landmines that are almost everywhere are not enough, try living near elderly white women who approach other’s like it is their duty to direct the village. Or how about digesting on a daily basis the name of Ernest Hemingway or Frank Lloyd Wright, whom this town utilizes in every marketing ploy imaginable.

Having had the opportunity of living there, I also experienced the lack of parking (I had to move my car at least two or three times a day to abide by the various parking restrictions), news reports on individuals from neighboring towns (the west side of Chicago) coming to this “precious” area to break into homes or cars, or businesses opening up one day, to be shut down the next (damn I miss Falafel).

It is not the hippie-loving easy going atmosphere that I presumed it to be.  It is overly congested, overly populated (with people and dogs) with know it all’s that embrace a very sheltered form of living.

The idea of “vintage” is actually a management’s office way of not updating the apartments. From my experience, painting already chipped “lead based” walls is not the same as updating the apartment.  But if you like to use the word “vintage” like Oak Park almost always does, keep in mind you may have old broke down living arrangements.  Thanks “Green plan management”!

There are many other great suburbs or towns to live in, that are not far from downtown.  After living in Oak Park, I opted out for one of these calmer cities that do not evoke my anxiety to levels of rage. You may want to do the same or at least consider it if you are thinking “No Park” I mean “Oak Park” is the way to go.

 

Busy at the beach, enjoying the weather, enjoying that it is not OakPark, IL!

I have been busy with the weather and enjoying it haha! When you want to enjoy the weather, of course, you have to go downtown to the beach, because there is nowhere for adults to enjoy the weather here in Oak Park, IL. I mean unless you are a freak or a perv, think about it who wants to go in shorts or a bikini to a park to “enjoy” the water selections at the local parks with all those kids around?

I mean there are tons of kids at the Lake Michigan beach but there is an understanding that adults use this beach as well. Therefore, going to a park in Oak Park, IL in a bikini is just crazy town because all the parents believe that the parks in the area are for “families” and their children, not for everyone else in this Godforsaken hellhole who pays taxes.

But the beach was amazing I did NOT take pictures however because I did not want to get jumped for my iPhone or my digital camera! Pictures of the lake or selfies are not worth getting my ass whooped by a bunch of teenagers for a phone in the heart of the city, in front of a bunch of strangers looking on, as I get smashed into the ground! Meanwhile, everyone will be thinking “she should have known better..” Ah, nope they are not getting me! But trust me it was crowded but the water was great I did shower when I got home because there is nothing like submerging yourself in a body of water that a thousand plus people are also submerged in.

It is too bad Oak Park, IL does not have the facilities to meet this type of demand, again, Oak Park, IL is losing out on another Positive business-community venture. Something that would make common sense also in the long run, but as most suburbs, they rather leave such opportunities to the major cities they are connected to and then wonder how to raise funds for next year’s budget! It is kind of hard (that’s what she said!) to get the dollars that can be made from this opportunity if you do not even try to be a part of it, or let someone else just “gangster” it.

Oh well, Oak Park sucks anyway, and I will be enjoying the sun and contaminated water of Lake Michigan in Chicago, peace out!

PS: Do not talk to me about those shitty little kiddie pools like at Ridgeland and Lake. Not what ADULTS want to swim in it all at –Thank you!

Chicago’s “The Cost of Segregation” impacts Oak Park, IL

The Chicago area that includes Oak Park, IL “has the fifth-highest” out of 100 big city areas in the country with a problem with a socioeconomically issue that is racially based. A report created by the University of Illinois in Chicago “The Cost of Segregation” this report talks about how the racial lines in the Chicago land area impacts the crime rates, the businesses that are invested in those areas, and how this all impacts everyone in the area.

Now how does Oak Park, IL get involved well in all this? Well the problems of Chicago, IL does overflow into this suburb especially since they share a similar boundary of Austin Avenue. Therefore, the ideal suburb must deal with the backlash of failed policies (economic, political, etc.) of the major metropolitan body it is connected to, and denying that Oak Park, IL is being impacted by it is just absurd.

Getting worried about a Taco Bell entering the area or that the Village board selling out creating high-rises downtown, is nothing compared to everyday issues that the people in the most segregation areas dealt with on a daily basis. Their problems of low economic opportunities sometimes translate into crime, that crime does not stay in that area.

It also creeps into Oak Park, IL, ignorance is not bliss, and partnerships across the borders of Oak Park, IL in the less opportune areas could help stymied crime bleeding into this area. Even Though Oak Park, IL does not seem to have a ton of crime it is best to keep abreast of the issues that impact the area. You can read more about these issues below.

The study from UIC regarding the racial disparities: https://news.uic.edu/new-report-details-chicagos-racial-ethnic-disparities

The Chicago tonight article:

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/03/28/report-segregation-costs-chicago-residents-billions-annually

The Cost of Segregation:

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites/default/files/article/file-attachments/mpc_cost_of_segregation_web_EMBARGOED.pdf

The Oak Park Housing Center sucks

I went to this “housing center” and signed up, waited, and a few people came in after me.

There was this single white chick who signed up as well (the same time I came in) and a black dude trying to fill out the paperwork (for two hours).

When it came to calling people to talk one on one about finding a place (of Course) the chick was called first after we both sat there for 45-minutes. As she was leaving I saw her Oak park area print out was of the inner Oak Park area, you know, Lake street and Ridgeland, tons of circles. I managed to see it because she was standing in our way talking on the phone about to her mum as it was our turn to go in!

When we were called and were rushed through (no sh*t) the process in about 15 minutes and given some crappy listings on Austin Avenue. Really?

The area that is borderline Chicago?

Who goes into a housing Center for Oak Park to be given listings basically in Chicago?

Well, we did not go back. Now fast forward, I get an email from them wanting to know how our search is doing “the information will help their non-profit” really? MONTHS LATER???

Plus they GAVE ME a DEADLINE to get back to them! LOL

Please pass this up and do the work.

I got me a better place on my own than with this place!

 

Contributor: Omir