Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Scott Waguespack

Richard Pallardy at the intersection of Wrightwood and Kimball, where he was struck by a hit-and-run driver last month. Photo: Jia Yue Yu

A Logan Crash Shows the Difficulty of Getting Justice After a Hit-and-Run

By John Greenfield | Mar 16, 2017 | 7 Comments

Richard Pallardy was relatively lucky. Unlike many crash victims, he survived. And yet his case is representative of Chicago's larger hit-and-run problem.

Raised Crosswalks Have Finally Come to Palmer Square

By John Greenfield | Jan 6, 2016 | 5 Comments

Thanks to advocacy from neighbors, the wide roadway on the north side of the Palmer Square green space has been calmed. Last month, the Chicago Department of Transportation converted two marked, mid-block crosswalks to raised crosswalks, aka speed tables. As a result, drivers are hitting the brakes on street where speeding was formerly the rule, […]

To Be Perfectly Frank, This Is A Dog of a Project

By John Greenfield | May 14, 2015 | 14 Comments

Does the idea of slathering the centrally located riverside land at Fullerton/Damen/Elston with asphalt make you red-hot? Let 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack know this traffic artery-clogging plan for the sausage emporium site doesn’t cut the mustard.

Residents: Car-centric Plan for Vienna Beef Site Doesn’t Cut the Mustard

By Brett Ratner | May 13, 2015 | 29 Comments

Last night at a hearing on Mid-America Real Estate Group’s preliminary proposal to redevelop the Vienna Beef hotdog factory site, local residents said they don’t relish the thought of valuable riverfront land being slathered with acres of asphalt. The community meeting, served up by 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, took place at the sausage emporium, […]

Hellish Big-Box Proposal Would Nix Traffic Flow Gains From Elston Reroute

By John Greenfield | May 12, 2015 | 48 Comments

There are many productive ways Chicago could use the hump of centrally located, riverfront land that’s becoming available for redevelopment as part of the reconfiguration of the Fullerton/Damen/Elston intersection. The space, currently occupied by the Vienna Beef factory, could accommodate another light industrial business, pedestrian-friendly retail space for local merchants, an apartment complex, and/or some […]

Advocates: Vast Majority of Palmer Square Residents Want Raised Crosswalks

By John Greenfield | Jul 28, 2014 | 20 Comments

Palmer Square neighbors who want to see the city install raised raised crosswalks by the park appear to greatly outnumber opponents, judging from numbers provided by both sides. Earlier this month, Streetsblog Chicago detailed how neighbors have been campaigning to convert the two marked, mid-block crosswalks on the north side of the park to raised […]

Cost Isn’t the Issue With Palmer Square Speed Tables, NIMBYs Are

By John Greenfield | Jul 17, 2014 | 22 Comments

Last month, a DNAinfo.com article drew attention to a new campaign to improve pedestrian safety at Palmer Square by installing raised crosswalks, also known as speed tables. Unfortunately, factual errors in the piece left the impression that raised crosswalks would be an expensive solution that doesn’t have the Chicago Department of Transportation’s approval. It turns […]

Rahm Blinks, Agrees to Restore Metered Sundays on Some Retail Strips

By John Greenfield | Mar 19, 2014 | 6 Comments

After ten months of stonewalling, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is bowing to pressure from aldermen, chambers of commerce, and business owners and finally making good on his promise to bring back paid Sunday parking in some commercial districts. The Sun-Times reports the mayor plans to introduce an ordinance at the April City Council meeting that will […]

Lincoln Park Chamber Asks Merchants to Lobby Against Free Sunday Parking

By John Greenfield | Mar 17, 2014 | 11 Comments

Kudos to the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce for taking a stand against free Sunday parking. As reported by DNAinfo, last week the chamber sent its members an email titled, “Call to Action: End Free Sunday Parking at Meters.” The message asks merchants to contact aldermen like Scott Waguespack (32nd), Michele Smith (43rd), and Robert […]

Waguespack Sends a Fear Mongering Email About BRT to Constituents

By John Greenfield | Dec 20, 2013 | 119 Comments

As I’ve written many times on this website, 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack has done some good things for the city, and he’s a likeable person. So it’s painful to see him take an increasingly reactionary stance against the CTA’s plan to create a more efficient and equitable Ashland Avenue by building a bus rapid […]

A Progressive No More, Waguespack Compares BRT to the Parking Meter Deal

By John Greenfield | Dec 10, 2013 | 60 Comments

Even when I’ve disagreed with him over his recent comments on transportation and public space issues, I’ve always used the word “progressive” to describe 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, but it might be time to drop that adjective. He has been an important independent voice at City Hall, most notably in his opposition to Richard M. […]

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