Wrigleyville as possible - local residents be damned.On Monday, April 13, The Bench ran photos of the outdoor cafe seating of Harry Caray's new spot in Wrigleyville, where Hi-Tops used to be (see Shame on Harry Caray's Restaurant). We called out 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney on it, too, since he should be on top of things such as this and working to correct it.
Looks like we had an effect, but not enough. Two days later, the configuration had been changed, but only slightly. The cafe fence might now technically fall within the city's six-foot requirement, but it most certainly violates the spirit of the law. That law requires "at least six feet of clear and unobstructed sidewalk space to allow for pedestrian passage," but it also says that operators of sidewalk cafes "shall be mindful of the rights of pedestrians traveling past their sidewalk café at all times during the operation of the café." (Source)
Harry Caray's Wrigleyville does not appear to be mindful of the rights - or safety - of pedestrians.You don't need to be an engineer to see that the zig-zag obstacle course that wheelchairs, old people, and baby carriages must go through is not "mindful of the rights of pedestrians."
So, The Bench will continue to watch this outrageous abuse of the public way, and will continue to call attention to the lame response by Alderman Tunney and the shameful conduct of Harry Caray's Wrigleyville.
