Group provides "charm offensive" to voice concerns about CTA

The "group" is neighborsproject.org. Their "manifesto" states, in part: "It is 2006, and fear is polarizing America. From exurban McFortresses to inner city wagon circles, Americans are increasingly wary of living around people they haven’t always known. Scared neighbors are moving away from each other as quickly as possible, barricading themselves in their fortified houses and cars, and kicking up dust to keep the unknown off their city blocks." Apparently nobody has wished them a "Happy New Year" yet. They still think it's 2006. It continues: "Except the urban generation. We, hungry for human contact, are on a charm offensive against our unwelcoming neighbors. As they try to flee from reality, we are slipping through their expert defenses and into neighborhoods in order to engage the living face-to-face and on the Internet. Victory is the sound of millions of Americans talking, debating, blogging, discussing, e-mailing, negotiating." The "group" might have more human contact if they weren't on a "charm offensive against" anybody. Wait, wait, don't get me wrong. I'm sympathetic to the "group" (how many are there?). They just need to lighten up on the paranoid dialectics. I believe that their intentions are good. But the CTA Tattler already has a web site - a much better web site - on which CTA riders can voice their complaints and concerns, not to mention post pictures and tales of finding love during their commutes. Unlike the "group," the CTA Tattler isn't, well, frightening. See, if the "group" had human contact, they might know what year it is, for some fellow human might point out that their manifesto has last year's year on it. And what is a "charm offensive," anyway? Can something offensive be charming? Can something charming be offensive? Seems an oxymoron, actually. Is it like waging peace? Can one wage charm? Must one have graduated from charm school to engage in such activities? Such dark images the "group" paints, so gloomy. But through it all - please stay with me, I actually do sympathize with them - through it all comes a ray of hope, of "Americans talking, debating, blogging, discussing, e-mailing, negotiating" their way to "victory." Lofty, but I like it. See the Crain's Chicago Business article. Below is an excerpt. "(Crain’s) — Frustrated Chicago Transit Authority riders have sent e-mails to elected officials as part of a campaign by a neighborhood group attempting to improve what it calls the agency’s “deteriorating service.” "Via a text message or the group’s web site, CTA riders can submit their names and zip codes to generate an e-mail expressing their concerns to the mayor, city council representatives and state senators and representatives..." Of course, you could also contact Chicago Alderman Joe Moore, who has lately positioned himself as the Reformer and Saviour of All Things Transit. He's always happy to hear from voters. Moore's contact info: 7356 N. Greenview Chicago, IL 60626 Phone: 773-338-5796 Fax: 773-338-5989 Email: ward49@cityofchicago.org