Newcomers Too Often Have 'Us vs. Them' Mentality

It appears to me that the newer Prospect Heights residents seem to share a dangerous “Us vs. Them” mentality. “Them” can be anyone who is not homogonous to themselves. I personally thought our country had outgrown that phenomenon in the 1960’s. Obliviously not.

There was a to discuss traffic and transportation issues in Prospect Heights. Newer residents wanted dominance over their predecessors and daytime transients such as employees and people simply traveling through. Bikers felt that motorists believe themselves to have a superior position and remided motorists that driving is a privilege and not a right. Mass transportation riders believed they should have more considerations for themselves then any other group. The DOT's newly ratified will begin  implementation this June. It will include bike lanes, loading zones, muni-meters and a safety island. Cross walks will be repainted. Streets will be remarked.

In order to replace lost parking spaces resulting from this plan, some side streets will have metered parking near their intersection with Washington Avenue. Some residents felt that these provisions favored merchants. Some bicyclists felt finally empowered.

My point is simply that we cannot stretch the streets. All of us who live, work and travel here must recognize that we do so in a commercial/residential zone. No one group should take dominance over the other.

I respect the opinions of my neighbors and only hope that we can figure out how to do this together.

What's your view?