Quote:
Originally Posted by Prairie Avenue
I would love to know the basis upon which you believe the 2nd ward will lose large chunks of the S. Loop?
Also on your Pat Dowell speculation that she would pick up areas there now in the 2nd Ward, do you have any basis for that statement?
The most likely re-districting of the 2nd ward would be to shorten the boundaries out west and south, not to shrink the south loop area. Every alderman looks to consolidate their power base in re-districting, if Fioretti's comes from the South Loop he isn't going to give that away.
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No basis, as ward boundaries are extremely arbitrary, and traditionally set on demographics and population, of which there has been a large shift. There is no demographic basis anymore for the old rationale of the current L-shape boundary and with the population growth the ward must shrink quite a bit. Naturas lost a huge clip at the south end of the 42nd ward, and with Fioretti living out on the west side, I don't see anything keeping parts of the South Loop in his ward, should the boundaries shift. He can leverage power all he wants, but he really doesn't have that much say in the final determination of ward boundaries. Pat Dowell in the 3rd ward on the other hand, has lost all of the CHA high-rises along the Dan Ryan and has parts of Englewood that continue to bleed population, so it is likely this ward will grow, and it already has a big presence on the Near South Side including Dearborn Park south of 15th Street.
Really its anyone's guess as to what may happen and how that will influence future development, and Bob may very well rule the South Loop for the next 20 years. That is my take on what may happen.
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