📚 Taking a stand for Baby Libraries

You know what they are! [READER]( The Daily Reader November 7, 2023 Something got lost in the bedlam of the latest City Council controversy, which is . . . Did Alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa bully other alderpeople into not attending last week’s special council meeting? He said he didn’t. His haters, of which there are many, say he did. Nonetheless, he apologized and stepped down as Mayor Johnson’s floor leader and zoning committee chair. This is a controversy we’ll no doubt relentlessly discuss all week on The Ben Joravsky Show, so distinguished guests—get ready! Anyway, lost in all that news was the city council taking a valiant stand for Baby Libraries! Okay, no one calls them “Baby Libraries” except for me. Generally, they’re called Little Free Libraries or public bookcases. Or public book houses that resemble bird houses. I don’t care. Call them whatever you want. You know what they are! It’s only the inane protocols of journalism, hammered into my brain by countless editors, that makes me feel obligated to explain something that needs no explanation. At least for readers of this email. Back to Baby Libraries . . . Alderperson Raymond Lopez—or (as I refer to him) RayLo—had proposed to regulate them if they’re on the public way. You’d have to get a permit from the city to put one up. He argued that such regulation was needed because Baby Libraries were cluttering up the public way. To which I say: no offense, Alderperson Lopez, but give me a break! Of all the problems vexing Chicago—and there are many—I would not put Baby Libraries on a list of the top 1,000. In fact, I wouldn’t put them on a list of the top one million. Because I don’t view Baby Libraries as a problem. And, as such, they can’t possibly be on a list of problems, even if that list stretches for infinity. This is a position that even Alderperso Lopez can’t dispute. Though if anyone can, it’s RayLo—one of the Council’s great arguers. This matter illustrates the larger fallacy of measuring the efficacy of legislators by the number of bills they propose or pass. Number of bills proposed or passed is a standard I generally associate with the centrists who used it to condemn me for voting for Bernie over Hillary (talk about an ancient issue) with comments like the following . . . “Ben. I know you love your boy, Bernie, but how many bills has he passed?” To which I’d point out that most bills that get passed are things most people don’t want. As in . . . the [parking meter sale](. Whereas the bills Bernie tried to pass, like national health care, are for things that everyone needs but no one can pass. Not to go off on a tangent, but . . . The closest we came to passing a bill requiring free national health care was Obamacare. For which an outraged citizenry showed its appreciation by defeating dozens of Democratic incumbents and turning congress over to the Republicans. Proving that no good deed goes unpunished. I’m happy to report that at last week’s council meeting, Alderperson Lopez’s efforts to beat up Baby Libraries failed by a vote of 42-5. The aldermen who voted with Aldermen Lopez were . . . You know, I’ll spare them a public shaming. We all do dumb things from time to time for which we have regrets. For instance, there was a time during my early days of college when I walked around campus greeting people by saying, “Howdy.” Like I was a cowboy from Colorado. It’s a complicated story for another time—like never. Meanwhile, I’m going to deposit paperbacks into Baby Libraries all over town. Just for you, Alderperson Lopez. 🎙Listen to [The Ben Joravsky Show]( 🎙 [What Ben's Reading] [All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers]( a cheeky coming-of-age novel written years ago by Larry McMurtry. Actually, not really a coming-of-age story, as the narrator is in his early 20s. Whatever—it’s funny. Jack Riedy on [Sly Stone’s time in Chicago]( [Ben Joravsky]( on the time that Alderpersons Lopez and Ramirez-Rosa were temporary allies. [Best of the Ben J. Show]( Attorney [Adolfo Mondragon]( on former Alderperson Ed Burke’s trial Chicago Teachers Union organizer [Graciela Guzmán]( on her campaign for Illinois State Senator in the 20th District Roosevelt University’s [David Faris]( on the difference between a “humanitarian pause” and a ceasefire. [RICJ Racial Justice Writers’ Room Fall Cohort Concludes]( The six members of this season’s cohort celebrated, pitched story ideas to media professionals. by [Chicago Reader]( | [R]( → [All about their mother]( Teatro Vista’s ¡Bernarda! updates Federico García Lorca’s classic about a suffocating matriarch and her daughters. by [Emily McClanathan]( | [R]( → [Abstract language and sacred knowing]( Using her body as a writing instrument, Kameelah Janan Rasheed devises a new language. by [Rachel Dukes]( | [R]( → [Review: Fellow Travelers (Miniseries)]( This book-turned-limited series brings essential queer history to life. by [Lauren Coates]( | [R]( → [Illusion of Safety celebrates 40 years of sonic confrontation]( by [Bill Meyer]( | [R]( → There's still time to nominate! You've got until 11:59 PM to nominate your favorite Chicago businesses, sports teams, media personalities, and landmarks. Click below to cast your ballot today! 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