A Way To Support Our High Rise Neighbors in the 2012 Budget

Because I ran for Alderman of the 43^rd Ward which has many high rise buildings, I proposed to create a High Rise Advisory Council and that effort would have made a big impact on the 2012 City of Chicago Budget. Although I would have strongly disagreed with the elimination and the eventual reduction of the refuse rebate, I believe a compromise could have been reached. Now proposed at a reduction to $25 per owners, our condo owners and high rise residents would be less likely to feel the sting of the reduction if the City Council would restructure the Life Safety Ordinance. I  would have brought a proposal to Mayor Emanuel and the entire City Council featuring a “New & Improved Life Safety Ordinance.” Current enforcement is costing some of our high-rise residents hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes needlessly.  The elimination of the high rise refuse rebate could have been an easy sell if the City Council created a better plan for making high rise buildings meet outdated codes, especially when it comes to façade updates and mandated communication improvements that will be outdated shortly after their installed.