1979 4th of July Letters

In the following memo to fellow resident and attorney Matt Lydon, Russell E. Q. Johnson complains about the 4th of July celebration at the stadium, and raises the issue about the traffic impact of an event that has a smaller attendance than a football game.

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mr. Matt Lydon

DATE: July 9, 1979

RE: FOURTH OF JULY TRAFFIC - WEST OF DYCHE STADIUM

I walked around the area of Broadway, Eastwood, Jenks and Livingston about 8:45 P.M., Thursday, July 4, 1979. I had a small camera and took pictures of cars illegally parked across sidewalks, at corner intersections, down alleys, etc. I called the Evanston Police Department about 9:00 P.M. and told them the location of illegally parked cars on Jenks, Eastwood, Broadway and the McCulloch Park alley. I was told that the policemen were engaged in work at the stadium and that there were no available ones for ticketing cars, but they would be sent over as soon as they were not needed.

At about 10 P.M. I made the same journey and found that none of the cars referred to the police had been ticketed. Further, I never saw a policeman or even a police car in the area at any time that evening.

I also discovered that cars were illegally parked on Jenks between Eastwood and the alley along the parking lot, and that the traffic in the middle of the street had become hopelessly snarled because cars had to stop because they came together from different directions. There was no possibility of any fire truck or ambulance ever getting through that mob. The end of Chancellor Street was the same way.

I would consider this Fourth of July celebration as causing one of the worst traffic debacles in my 23 years in the neighborhood .... and to think that less than 25,000 people in attendance at the stadium caused this mess. Every year the traffic situation gets worse, not better.

I have pictures of numerous cars parked under "No Parking" signs. Though my camera is small, it did bring out the illegally parked cars sufficiently well.

R.E.Q.J.

Below see a letter to the Evanston Review regarding the impact of the stadium's 4th of July celebration on the homes near the golf course.

For later issues on the golf course see:

• 1995-2019 Golf Course Parking/Tailgating

July 26, 1979 Evanston Review

Resident decries 'rule by punks’

I have been reading with interest the many letters, articles, and city hall disputes (in the Evanston Review) concerning the drinking, drugs, loud music, verbal abuse, etc. from the young punks in Evanston.

I happen to own a home on the golf course (unfortunately) and will not forget evening of July 4th in a hurry.

It was "Mob Rule" outside of my house. My mailbox was blown off the wall with firecrackers (which are supposedly against the law in Illinois). Firecrackers were planted in the evergreens that border the house, and they were shoved under the front door.

To be perfectly honest, I was really afraid for myself and my house. The whole thing was unbelievable, in a supposedly civilized community. I thought of calling police, but I know from past experience that that is an exercise in futility. The hoodlums in this city know they can get away with anything, and in my opinion they are right.

For many years (long before I came to live in Evanston) the decent people have come to the golf course every July 4th to watch the fireworks display at Dyche Stadium. Now they come no more, for the single reason that they are afraid — afraid of the punks who take over and do completely as they like. I find it all very sad.

I am going to sell my house as soon as it is convenient to me and get the "hell out of Evanston." And, I don't mind telling you that Evanston needs people like me. People who take care of their property. People who make a good living and pay high taxes and take pride in the community.

But it is all for naught unless this city cracks down and cracks down hard on these hoodlums. All the decent people of Evanston must come forward and demand that all drinking must be stopped in the parks, golf courses, beaches and all public places in open areas.

If the present mayor and the police chief cannot do the job, then the people should demand that they both quit so that we can get two people in there who will bring some discipline to this city.

Lawrence C. Hanson