Break The Gridlock!

The 2nd Break The Gridlock unHappy Hour on July 21st, 2010 from 7:00pm to 9pm at Quenchers Saloon at 2401 North Western (at Fullerton).

Featured speakers:

• Jason Rothstein, author of the new book Carless In Chicago,will speak about his book and car-free Living

• Update! Julie Dworkin, Albany Home Zone project leader (and resident) will discuss the Home Zone and where the project stands.

Download a 4-up flyer for this event.

The unHappyHour is Break The Gridlock's bi-monthly social event seeking to bring together those interested in BTG's mission to reduce automobile dependency.  Each event will start with short presentations followed by unstruct can come together, hear short presentations, and discuss Chicago's growing Appropriate Transportation movement.

No RSVP is necessary.

On April 20, 2010, one of approximately 4,000 oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico failed, killing 11 humans and disastrously polluting a body of water that is geographically about the size of the Midwest and ecologically as vast and important as a national park.  Oil pollution from this disaster is changing the course of life in and around the Gulf and Atlantic coastlines for this generation and beyond.

See: IL HB0043: http://tinyurl.com/pedsrock

Thanks to House Representative Luis Arroyo and other members of General Assembly, Illinois now joins 11 other states in support of human rights in the public roadways.

No longer will motorists be legally allowed to trump pedestrians who attempt to cross in a crosswalk.  The automobile rein of the road is eroding.

Dear Gridlock Breakers,

Bike Boulevards Now! is a brand new advocacy group in Chicago forming to discuss how to get Bike Boulevards started in Chicago.  Bike Boulevards Now! is a provisional member organization of Break The Gridlock.

Watch this space for more information soon about this group.

There are people in this city who believe, in spite of an abundance of opposing evidence and logic, that cars belong.  They are dead wrong.

ANSWER Chicago ("Act Now to Stop War and End Racism") is a generally progressive group that has been one of the main organizers of anti-war and pro-immigrant demonstrations in Chicago in the last few years.  They unfortunately have become yet another example of accidental and misguided pro-car activism.  Recently, they opined on the issues of parking and parking rates:

http://www.chicagoanswer.net/ParkingMeter.htm

Today, the date the General Motors bankruptcy was announced, Michael Moore released letter entitled "Goodbye, GM ...by Michael Moore". In the letter, he recognizes the problem the private automobile is having on our society. Micheal Moore says of cars: "To continue to build them would only lead to the ruin of our species and much of the planet." He then editorializes on his suggested changes to national policy on in the wake of the event.

Break The Gridlock is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a 501c3 designation by the I.R.S. This designation allows us to now accept charitable donations on behalf of our Member Organizations. Additionally, we can now begin our Individual Membership program allowing those who have a philosophical agreement with Break The Gridlock to add their voice to ours and provide us with the financial support necessary to continue and expand our service offerings to our Member Organizations.