Thursday, May 26, 2011

311 YOUR BLOCK, FOLLOW UP WITH SeeClickFix, and Call your Alderman's Office with your CSR# !!!

311 YOUR BLOCK, FOLLOW UP WITH SeeClickFix, and Call your Alderman's Office with your CSR# !!!  BEAUTIFY YOUR BLOCK......

311 YOUR BLOCK  



Five months ago I began posting to a site called http://www.seeclickfix.com   My intent was to call attention to a problem I have been experiencing at my home for several years.  

Some one began digging in the street in front of my home about six years ago.  One location during the summer and in a different location the following summer.

After the second summer of digging, I began taking on water in my basement when ever it rained.  It was sewer water and it also created a very unpleasant odor to say the least.  

I repeatedly called 311 and detailed that there was no problem until the city began digging in the street in front of my home.  I spent thousands of dollars on plumbers and numerous city inspectors came to my home on several visits and determined the problem not to be the cities responsibility even though there was no problem until the city began digging in the street.  No city department will take responsibility for the digging.  I was told maybe IDOT did it.  No one has followed up with me and the vibrations continue, my sidewalk is sinking, the parking lot across the street caved in and still no response or resolution.

I commend the Alderman's Office for approving Private Drain work in 2010 when the Water Department Inspector finally agreed it was a city problem.  I imagine If Sandi had done the work herself it would have been done right.  The city has no money.  Where do they find money to do work wrong and come back to do it right?.  Who is watching this?

Below you will see the correspondence I have initiated with http://www.seeclickfix.com.  There have been 485 viewings of this issue.  If you travel U.S. Route 41 you know the state of disrepair we are forced to endure while new roads are being constructed for Chicago Lakeside.  South Shore is a gateway community to this new and wonderful development and should not be neglected.  More importantly, the existing residents deserve equitable treatment.  

For decades we have been ignored.  We also have been invisible because we do not call 311 to lift up the needs in our community.

Alderman Jackson has encouraged us to call 311 and make our needs know.  We should call for every crack in our side walks, water in our basements, trees that need trimming, street lights that are out, pot holes, rodent control, street vibrations, (your house shakes when traffic comes by), vaulted sidewalks to name a few issues.  

Because we don't call, our neighborhoods our not the beautiful pristine well manicured and maintained Camelots that they could be.  

Let's get on the stick and start calling 311 in mass.  If you see an issue on your block call.  Start a phone tree and ask your neighbors to call as well.  We want our neighborhood to be a destination not just a place one drives through or around as they motor to Chicago Lakeside.  We are the Gateway Community.

It is our responsibility to hold each other accountable to speak up and do our part.  Doing our part also includes helping our Police Department keep our streets safe.  You know what to do...call 911.  That's another conversation. 

Please read my postings and vote to get South Shore Drive repaired before July 1, 2011.  Our homes depend upon a stable infrastructure.

Every time you call 311 please get CSR number, Customer Service Request.  We are the customers of the city.  Let's do this together.  Post on http://www.seeclickfix.com, include your CSR #.  Call the Alderman's Office and give them your CSR #.  This is what Alderman Jackson has asked us to do.  

When you call, everyone on your block should call as well.  Everyone who lives on or travels South Shore Drive, visits South Shore, loves South Shore, and believes that the current residents deserve safe streets and secure homes free from Street Vibrations and soil erosion needs to:

CALL 311 AND ASK THAT SOUTH SHORE DRIVE BE FIXED BY JULY 1, 2011 BEFORE THE MINI LALLAPALOOZA FEATURING DAVE MATTHEWS FURTHER DESTROYS OUR ROADS, CAUSING MORE SEWER CAVE INS, SOIL EROSION  AND DESTABILIZATION OF OUR HOMES.







#72091 The entire street is structurally unsound and in need of repair.

Staticmap?center=41
Street Address:
7300-7358 U.S. 41 Chicago
IL 60649, USA
South Shore
Reporter: Street Smart Sharon Louis
Posted: 5 months ago
Viewed: 485 times
Status: Open
Several patched areas in the street directly in front of 7334 S. South Shore Drive. I am experiencing street vibrations and my home is shaking due to these vibrations when buses or cars pass my home. We need help to ensure that all of US 41 is repaired and our homes, families and neighbors are safe traveling this route. This is an emergency situation. Repairs performed in June 2010 are caving in.
There is a sewer cover in front of 7340 S. South Shore Drive which is in need of a restriction device to manage storm water. All other recently repaired drains have restriction devices allowing water to pool at the curbs and gradually enter sewer system.
We need help.
Thanks for your Attention
  • The problem continues. However, I am optimistic that help maybe on the way. The Water Department and CDOT are scheduled to meet with the residents of the 7th Ward at the request of Alderman Sandi Jackson. There are also informational meetings being held at the USX site. There is said to be a comprehensive plan to prepare the infrastructure for the influx of traffic expected during the mini music festival this summer in July.
    This is such a wonderful time not only for the 7th and 10th Wards, but for the entire South Side of Chicago. The residents are so proud, engaged and hopeful. We are trusting and verifying that our needs will be met as Chicago Lakeside moves toward a brighter future for all.
    Keep the Faith
    Sharon Louis
    No-avatar
    Sharon Louis (Guest)
    23 days ago
  • I am sorry to say that this issue has not yet been fixed. I am hopeful that the Water Department and CDOT, who will be visiting the residents of the 7th Ward at the request of Alderman Jackson, will detail their plans to protect the residents of the 7th Ward and all who travel these routes. The problem is much worse than anticipated. Most recently, on a stretch of South Shore Drive between 67th and 71st streets, the pavement caved in and a garbage can was placed in the whole to divert motorist over a weekend until the Water Department could come on Monday to fix the problem.
    I am quite concerned and hope that there is s comprehensive plan to fix Route 41 prior to the influx of traffic that the mini Lalapalooza featuring Dave Mathews will bring, 70,000 are expected. There are pot holes along the curbs that allow water to infiltrate and escalate the existing soil erosion which is destructive for the home owners resulting destabilization of the ground on which their homes stand. The city has a responsibility to fix the streets properly so this does not occur. The resulting street vibrations can be catastrophic.
    The quality of the most recent roadwork on 71st and Coles is regrettable. The tax payers dollars are being wasted with substandard repairs. Motorist cars and lives are put in danger needlessly. They are required to swerve to navigate these areas. Accident are bound to happen.
    I am hopeful that something will be done once the magnitude of the problem is highlighted.
    We need help.
    We remain optimistic that the "City That Works" will work for us too.
    Mayor Daley, as he is leaving, says that the city workers work for the citizens. Mayor elect Emanuel says the same.....
    No-avatar
    Sharon Louis (Guest)
    about 1 month ago
  • This Issue is growing. The stretch from 71st Street to 78th Street is indeed still in need of repair. There are plans to host music events at the USX site. Music usually hosted at the Taste of Chicago is being rerouted to USX site. This is a good thing, bringing traffic to the South Side of Chicago.
    The hope of the residents is that the streets will be adequately prepared to avoid the structural compromising devastation caused by Street Vibrations. This is an URGENT matter.
    Some work has been done selectively. I guess you have to know somebody. Chicago 311 at it's clout driven best.
    Sharon still crusading for the cloutless.
    In all fairness, Alderman Jackson's office responded to the need with the private drain program in June of 2010. For some clout ridden reason, our Ward did not get what were promised, adequate repair. After several days of very expert work by Pan Oceanic Engineering, the problem remains and is escalating. I was informed by Pan Oceanic, and witnessed with my own eyes when the street was opened, that there was no connection between my house and the city sewer. I called several years ago and informed 311 that ever since the city began digging in the street that I was getting sewer water backing up in my home. After repeated visit from plumbers and city inspectors I was repeatedly told that the problem was not with the city. 5 plus years later and significant damage later I watched Pan Oceanic work, six men for eight hours the first day. I was made aware that the city sewer had been lined and my house was not reconnected. I was told that this was a very serious problem and that they would make it right. I was told that it was a bad situation very, very serious.
    The street is sinking in front of my home, soil is and has been eroding for years since the work was done and my home was not reconnected. The city says they have no record of the work being done. Rouge workers digging holes in the street undermining the structural integrity of homes. At who's request? Why and how could this happen. How many others have had their homes impacted by unauthorized work and resulting damage.... Street Vibrations?
    As evidenced by the sink hole at the point of presumed repair, I doubt that I am connected to this day. A similar issue, destructive water back-up, happened with another home on the block several years ago. The repair job was massive. Who owns that house? How was it repaired? When was it built?
    I could go on and on.
    Long story short... the problem has not been fixed... I have not received response to CSRs coded as urgent. Some other funny things have happened.
    I am hoping that our new Mayor brings much needed reform to the management and dissemination of city services by Ward and by individual.
    Clout should not be the measurement for delivery of service in a non-malicious homestead preserving way. Why should one be maliciously be driven from their home due to the actions of unscrupulous workers doing the bidding of whom ever greases their palm. This is a real life example of the TV program, Chicago Code.
    Accolades to Alderman Jackson for trying. As evidenced by the shameless politics of snow during the 2011 Blizzard, she did not have the clout to get her Ward rescued from the snow until she challenged the deployment of equipment. Thank heaven's the voters could see through the tired Balandic/Byrne move. Here's hoping the new administration will work with us not against us here in our beloved 7th Ward.
    No_photo
    Sharon Louis (90 civic points)
    3 months ago
  • The problems continue to 78th street.
    No-avatar
    Anonymous User
    3 months ago
  • This issue has not yet been fixed. The parking lot directly to the east of this location, 7337 S. South Shore Drive, has begun to cave in. There are cones and a warning sign in the hole to warn drivers and pedestrians. I know we are living through the blizzard of 2011. However, this is a very serious matter. HELP!!!
    There are plans to discontinue music at the Taste of Chicago this year and relocate the music venue to the USX site due south six blocks. This will increase traffic tremendously. We need to prepare this road US 41 to ensure the safety of the attendees and the stability of the housing. This is an area with historically significant structures which should be preserved.
    No_photo
    Sharon Louis (90 civic points)
    3 months ago

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