On Monday, my column looked at the issues raised by Ald. Daniel La Spata's ordinance facilitating Chicagoans who want to turn in people who park in bike lanes. I thought I'd raised both sides of question, and did not expect my first email to be someone cancelling their subscription in protest.
Dear Mr. Steinberg:
I paused my Sun Times membership just now after reading your latest column while on a bus on South Michigan that was delayed because we kept having to weave in and out of columns of double parkers in our travel lane.
The sense of entitlement that you seem to share with so many drivers who think that they have some God-given right to block arterial streets is a major part of what makes this city more challenging and dangerous to get around in, whatever mode you might choose.
Maybe if companies suffered a financial penalty for breaking parking laws, they would reconsider whether cars and trucks are the best way to deliver items in dense neighborhoods. If the price was passed onto the consumer, maybe they'd think twice about ordering something for delivery instead of getting off their butt and walking to the store.
Nobody thinks every double parked delivery truck on a side street should be ticketed, but blocking main thoroughfares makes travel harder for all of us trying to get around the city. But then again, as you say, you live in Northbrook, so you're not really in the best position to opine on the subject, are you?
I look forward to resubscribing to the Sun Times when my money doesn't support tired old baby boomers who belong in the Journal and Topics or yelling during public comment at Northfield Township board meetings.
Sincerely,
John A.
The thing to do would have been to ignore it. But I'm not that sort. I replied:
Dear Mr. A.:
I like to think of bike riders as a bit more hardy than that. But if you want to punish yourself by avoiding the best newspaper in Chicago because I expressed an opinion not your own, that is your right. I thought I presented both sides of the issue before coming down against a silly law which will not stop packages being delivered by truck, as seems your goal.
I do plan to retire in two years, and would suggest it might be safe for you to return then, except it is quite possible that someone else might express another opinion that you don't like, and then you'd be right back where you are today. I've been on staff for 38 years, and dealt with all sorts of ruffled bigots. Typically, they have no idea they are expressing hatred toward a group, and I would imagine that ageists such as yourself are no different, even though [you] fancy yourself liberal-minded because you probably would not castigate a Muslim who flies a lot on airplanes or a Black person who likes the coal industry as holding those views because of their ethnicity or race the way you mock me for being 65. But trust me, it's just as unattractive, and indefensible, and if you are capable of reflection as well as outrage — an open question, judging from your note — I would encourage you to reflect on that.
That said, thanks for writing, and I hope you bike more carefully than you write. Still, as a kindness, when I post your email Tuesday, for the education of my blog readers, I will withhold your identity, to shield you from the contempt you rightly deserve.
Neil Steinberg
Not that all the emails were from loons. Most were sensible, and I'll include one, just as a reminder to what such reaction is like. It was one of many that took issue with Amazon; I thought that ship had sailed long ago:
Following up on your interest in traffic: Why don't we have speed camera enforcement on Lake Shore Drive? I have asked several Alderman and there is no response. It seems like a no brainer. It would raise money for a city that needs it and undoubtedly have some impact on the rampant speeding that currently leads to all too often accidents, some of them deadly.
Someone has "put a brick" on this common sense idea. Who?
Your fan and reader,
Andrew Davis
A colleague was intrigued with your question, and found — through an AI search, always dubious, but this answer has the tang of veracity — that the Chicago speed camera program is limited to "Child Safety Zones," aka, areas by schools and parks. Thus LSD (whoops, JBPDSLSD —his joke, but I'm going with it) is excluded. For now. There is legislation pending that would extend those cameras to expressways. Something to look forward to.
Yes, that other person is a close minded, ageist.
ReplyDelete"...ageists such as yourself...mock me for being 65." Kudos to you, Mister S for snarking back at this anonymous mofo. Ageism is the last truly acceptable form of bigotry left in this country, and as soon as somebody slaps down the "tired old baby boomers who belong in the...blah blah blah" card, I rip them a new posterior orifice.
ReplyDeleteGrizz posts in 30...count 'em...30...Farcebook groups. Which means, at 78, that I perform a whole lot of rectal surgery There are a lot of Boomer-haters out there. My standard reply to their hatred of me, for the crime of having had too many birthdays: "Not on my watch, pal. GFY...and GTFO of my wrinkled, sagging, jowly face."
Let the whippersnappers hate on me if they wish. I welcome their hatred and return it with interest. No more Mr. Nice Guy, in my geezer years? Never been one.
It is amusing that once vibrant men dont realize they have faded and continue to flex as though they could back up their words even though they probably even in their youth couldn't. Be thankful the ageists you often accuse of inexperience and naiveté aren't as bigoted as they might be and punch you in your wrinkled jowly face.
ReplyDeleteElderly people get more just for being from the government and businesses than anyone else. and do the most complaining. relax boomers
Gosh Toby, why the buzzing bee up your Millenial rump this morning? Those are harsh words, son. Why all the rancor? I see only one reason why you might be so darn touchy toward Boomers. We stuck you guys with loser first names like Tobias and Braden and Justin and Colton and Colston and Morgan and Murphy and MacGregor. We are guilty of sticking it to you guys in that regard. No argument there. So you could always change your name to Phil or Lou and let bygones be bygones. A thought, fella.
DeleteHonestly, Tobias expressed himself so poorly that I didn't really process what he was saying when I posted it. Seeing it's a self-own — reflecting poorly more on the writer than the subject of his ire —I'll leave it be. The "back up their words" parts stinks of the playground. That's all I do, write. All I've ever done. I don't then go and start ... well, whatever it is Tobias imagines should be done. The "often accuse of inexperience..." is pure whimsy. I do one of those ecstatic Zorba the Greek dances whenever I encounter a reader under 50, not caring WHAT he says.
DeleteHi, Tobias. Nice to hear from you. I'd like to make a few points to clear up your confusion. 65 is not elderly. Neither is 67, which I'll be on my next birthday. Second, the government doesn't "give" us anything. I've been paying into Social Security and Medicare since I was 16, so for 50 years now. And I will soon be receiving that the benefits of that 50 years of investment and tax paying. You are also paying into those systems and if we uphold the societal contract of this system, you'll also receive those benefits. Don't let technocrats and the idle rich fool you, there's plenty of money for Social Security and Medicare if we continue taxing them. Third, you are presumably continuing to age, unless you're Dorian Gray, and you too will get older and you will find that people will no longer take you seriously because your older than them. They will believe you to be enfeebled because what could a person THAT old possibly know about anything. It's really fun with tech sometimes. I remember the last time I went into a computer store to look for a new computer and the "helpful" salesperson who asked me if I needed help, and was this computer for sharing photos of my grandchildren, etc. I had no grandchildren and I wanted to upgrade my equipment because my business was in web development. I left without spending a dime and now I forego the presumptuous sales people and order straight from the manufacturers' websites. And finally, I am thankful that most bigots are too cowardly to be violent against older people. But you can still make other people's lives harder. My theory is that they're angry at their parents and are taking it out on people who look like their daddies. Honestly, they all need therapy.
DeleteTobias means God is good in Hebrew.
DeleteThe reply was mainly to grizz.
The national debt is what 40 trillion dollars.
Leaving that to your grandchildren a point of pride?
If people live to about 80 40 is middle-aged late sixties is elderly they remind you of this every time you buy a ticket to go see the movies.
Keep telling yourself you're going to live forever doesn't mean you will
WTF, Neil! Retire in two years??!! Just another example of journalism selfishness. I suppose you'll be joining that other slackard, Eric Zorn, on the Minsing Rascals. Are none of you thinking about me??!! I wonder what Kass would say about your exodus. (PS: Loved "Not that all the emails were from loons.")
DeletePissed you off enough that you want to punch me in my old face?
DeleteThanks for sharing that, Tobiass. Another keyboard warrior heard from.
I'd call you an a-hole, but no need. You've already labeled yourself as one.
To Anon 10:05
DeleteJust because someone does not consider themselves elderly, does not mean they think they're going to live forever. To me, elderly is more a state of being rather than a chronological number, unless you are truly old. I work in a hospital and see people everyday all hunched over and frail, and a lot of times, they're in their 50s, maybe. But it's just another one of those things people won't understand until they experience it.
I'm confused which is fairly normal
ReplyDeletePackage delivery services should be allowed to obstruct traffic wherever they choose at whatever time they choose because they perform some valuable service to consumers?
The bicycling alderman is acting inappropriately by suggesting that we could take a picture of said vehicles for some kind of enforcement ?
Ticketing is already a thing there are various entities with the power to ticket.
The police don't do much of it anymore except for moving violations which the parking actually is it's not just a parking ticket.
Bicycle lanes are a bad idea and basically you shouldn't be encouraged because it slows traffic including public transportation.
Where I am here on the West side maybe the streets are wider but there's a dedicated bus lane a bike lane not always on the same streets but at least the city planners are trying
And one of the things that they're really trying hard to do is to make sure bicyclists don't get killed unnecessarily
Does everybody understand what the white painted bike is it's a memorial to someone who was killed on the roads biking
So bicyclists a noble breed of which you were once a member are defined completely by the aggressive young men who are making good time down a congested Street because they chose to ride instead of drive?
Old people are discriminated against young people are denigrated and somehow this was connected to the orange one as per usual.
So you're going to retire in a couple years man I don't know if letting your employer know that is a good idea you might not get to choose when you retire that way they realize that you're heading out the door and they give you a big push.
Are you protected by the Union do you actually get to choose your retirement date?
Is this just as a columnist or will your blog end as well?
No more books?
I hope there's at least a party
Well, that's a lot to unpack Franco, but I'll try to answer your questions, pointing out at the offset you seem to be adding a few things I didn't say. People pull over to the curb all the time — to let out grandma. To deliver a pizza. Now it happens a lot, because package delivery has gone crazy. The solution would be to stick a delivery drop-off space on every block, but that doesn't seem to be on the table, for reasons mysterious. Maybe it makes too much sense. I never said bicycle lanes are a bad idea. Yes, I'm in the union, and can retire at will. The blog will probably put along, but if I've learned one thing, it's that the future is uncertain and not in my control. No more books because nobody cares to publish any of mine. If it helps, it's an adjustment for me too. As for parties ... how would that work?
DeleteI'm not sure that all of Franco's points were addressed to things you wrote, NS. Yesterday, Clark St. and I both complained about bike lanes on major streets, so he may have been referring to that. Or not.
DeleteAside from that, you're not writing another book? I thought you referred to your working on the next project at least a couple times here on the blog. Perhaps I misinterpreted your comments.
I haven't lived in Chicago since 1957. i lived on 79th and Essex on the south side. And I am trying to imagine where you would put a drop off spot. I just googled the street. They must have taken the photo when every one was at work as there was plenty of space to park an Amazon truck. I haven't been on a side street in Chicago in years. We go to a Cubs game once a year and take the EL. But I have driven there a few times in the past on a week day and evern then it is next to impossible to find a parking space. No doubt a lot of space taken up people going to the game. On those days it has to be impossible for an Amazon Truck, Fed Ex or UPS to find a space to drop off packages. I am wondering where you put a drop spot there. I am just a little confused as to where on those streets would you put drop off spot.
DeleteSo as a clueless baby boomer myself, maybe I'm missing something. When this person says he is pausing his membership, I guess this means digital? Even that would surprise me if he's a younger person. But it's been ages since I've seen someone sitting anywhere reading an actual newspaper. And the rare times that I do, they are always in the boomer club. That was a tradition I was so sad to lose. A pot of coffee on a Sunday morning, and laying out the sections of my Sun Times; reading them down to the comics and coupon cutting
ReplyDeleteYou can support Chicago Public Media with monthly donations. Feeling Ald. La Spata's unsubmitted ordinance is not a good idea seems an odd hill to die on. But such is the realm of the fanatic.
DeleteI didn't know that you could actually smell a sense of entitlement until l read John A's comment.
ReplyDeletePhew!
I wonder who pays for the parking tickets - the corporation or the delivery driver?
ReplyDeleteI think LSD should be car free forever, man. It's a public menace!
ReplyDeleteBill Savage here, but don't have a google account. My understanding is that LSD doesn't have speed cameras because, like the expressways which are also full of speeders and lack speed cameras, it's formally under control of the State of Illinois. And as for entitlement: any attempt to make a designated delivery parking zone on every block would mean (shudder) taking away one parking space from the local residents. As every fight over bike lanes or other changes indicates(as does the evil practice of "dibs")if there's one thing Chicagoans feel entitled too, it's parking on the street.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of your Bluesky photos and commentary, Mr. Savage. And you're certainly right about folks feeling "entitled" to parking on the street. (While also being a pedestrian and a bicyclist, as a driver, I'm guilty as charged of that, alas.)
DeleteI point this out occasionally, to no avail, but a person doesn't need to have a google account to post their name with a comment here. When you click on "Reply" there are actually 3 choices for commenting. "Anonymous" just happens to be the one that shows up. If one clicks on the little triangle to the right of that, you can select "Name / URL," then put in whatever name or pseudonym you wish. There's no need to have a URL. FWIW!
I must admit that I've gotten used to the common sense of Grizz in the newsletter comments. Franco and Tobias provided some surprise entertainment, but if their goal was to make this boomer feel old and stupid, they did not succeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused about why you seem to regard John A as a bicyclist, as he describes himself a riding on a bus.
ReplyDeleteMy wife pointed that out. I guess the vehemence of his opinion made me assume he was a bicyclist riding a bus, as opposed to a ritual bus rider upset about his chariot having to veer around delivery trucks. As a bus rider myself, it seemed an incomprehensible qualm otherwise.
DeleteToday is one of those days when some of the comments remind me of the Emo Philips quote - Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
ReplyDeleteReading this lively debate reminds me of a favorite line from the film "Apollo 13" during one of their many in-flight problem-solving sessions (paraphrasing): "[Y]ou're telling me what you need. I'm telling you what we have to work with [...]"
ReplyDeletePreventing Amazon et al from blocking the roadway during a delivery would be great for traffic flow, but where are they to go instead? They're street-legal vehicles doing short-term delivery stops (less than a minute in ideal circumstances). You cannot simply wish them away. They are a part of the modern landscape and the modern urban environment.
I get that they can be a major annoyance, especially when two or more are stacked up on the street, but the more useful discussion to be held would be how to solve the problem without penalizing either side. For example, having a Delivery Zone for short-term parking (5 minutes or less) might work, though it would involve more walking from truck to doorstep for addresses further down the block, and drivers in a hurry would probably still do a flying stop in the middle of the lane regardless. They would know that 20-30 seconds outside the exact address is going to be quicker for them than parking in a Delivery Zone and hoofing it the rest of the way.
I appreciate all of the responses and feedback from my comments yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoy the wise words and educated/informed retorts.
Clark pointed out that the city grid was designed for horse and carriage use. While that does go nicely with love and marriage, it does bring me back to the argument that we operate our infrastructure in a modern way but it was designed for a very different reason. we're parking in places that were designed for dropping people off. we're driving where street cars where supposed to be.
Every generation wants the advances that were promised to them without compromise. But they are not willing to advance beyond that.
again, sometimes its more important to give something up for the greater good. I still believe uber and amazon are those things to give up.
Nothing in this world is permanent. Just wait, drones will be delivering packages soon.
ReplyDeleteDuSable LSD runs almost continuously through city parkland where children bike and play.
ReplyDeleteit is patrolled by CPD not the state police.
speed cameras are not posted along its length because? why?
One thing's for sure. If one wants to bash "tired old baby boomers who belong in the Journal and Topics," this is not a very like-minded place to do so. But, as someone who's a little older than our genial host, I take such criticisms with a mountain of salt. There's plenty of prejudice, revivified by the Fuhrer and otherwise, flying around this benighted nation. IMHO, ageism isn't unique in that regard.
ReplyDeletePlus, many of those who are now on the receiving end used to be on the dissing end of the spectrum. I don't think we boomers in the '60s were known for our gracious attitudes toward our elders at that time. What goes around comes around, as they say.
There -- that ought to be a popular observation! 😉
Guilty as charged. I was 21 when Nixon was elected, and he was turning 56, and I know I hated him for that as much as for anything else.56 was OLD to a Boomer college kid who fancied himself a radical, and at that age, one can't see down the road very far...and thinks he will stay young forever.
DeleteGerald Ford was also 34 years my senior.
But he seemed like a nice guy, so I liked him.
Go figure.
By the time Reagan came along, I was not a kid at 33 and had (presumably) acquired a few more smarts. Reagan was about to turn 70 and was the oldest man ever to become POTUS. Didn't hate him for his age, just for his politics, and for his record.
Unfortunately, Nixon and Reagan...and even Bush 43...look a lot better now.
Thanks for the friendly reply, Grizz.
DeleteI've never understood how so many of my peers, age-wise, morphed from being wise-cracking, leftish young people to either being MAGA-types or folks who are willing to vote that way. (Or NOT VOTE, for that matter.) Could not have imagined that the decades-long anti-government rhetoric which Reagan mainstreamed and Fox News amplified would sway enough people to get us where we are today. I really thought, when Obama was reelected, that a better world was going to be possible. Oops. Did not anticipate the severity and effectiveness of the backlash that followed.
How sentient adults could live through the nightmare of the orange felon's first term, witness his refusal to concede the 2020 election, see how corrupt and vindictive he was, and still decide "Yeah, let's have some more of that" is mind-boggling. But the even bigger shock has been how almost the entire Republican establishment has completely abandoned so much of what they used to stand for and let this criminal get away with whatever he wants to do. It's disgusting.
While they look somewhat better in comparison, Nixon, Reagan and Bush 43 paved the way for this outcome.
Worked for Obama. Twice. Know what victory feels like.
DeleteAlso thought we'd turned a corner, into a better and post-racial world.
Sadly, it was merely a dark alley...full of thugs, muggers, and thieves.
(Oh, but they're cool people...)