Illinois Application for vote by mail ballot will be available for download on 8/5/2026.

If you have any questions feel free to ask here, thank you.

https://www.fotp.org/

Here are all the images if you want to see https://imgur.com/a/zmy3iUA

Here's the content of the email:

Chicago Lakefront Waste Bin Stabilization Proposal

The Problem

Unanchored refuse bins frequently topple in windy conditions between Montrose and Kathy Osterman Beach, creating two significant issues:

• Health and environmental hazard — Scattered waste is blown into parks and Lake Michigan
• Operational burden — The Park District requires extensive manual cleanup of debris

This problem will intensify as warmer weather draws larger crowds to the lakefront.

Proposed Solution

Primary Approach

A stabilized waste station concept utilizing existing city-standard hardware to secure bins at minimal cost.

Alternative Approach

No new post installation required. Bins can be tethered to already-existing poles using measured steel cable and a carabiner.

Technical Specifications

Key Benefits

• Cost-effective — Uses standard parts already in the city's inventory
• Safety — Prevents bins from obstructing the multi-use path or becoming wind-blown projectiles
• Dual-purpose infrastructure — Any post provides an immediate mounting point for clear signage to distinguish recycling from landfill waste, reducing contamination
• Efficiency — Drastically reduces the labor required for scatter cleanup, keeping the lakefront clean
• Future-ready — Bins can be distributed in predictable paired locations with one waste and one recycling bin side by side

How You Can Help

If you see bins knocked over on the lakefront, take photos and share them. Bringing attention to the pollution entering the lake helps build the case for this solution.

I think this is another good way to signal that it's a serious problem that needs action taken.

Here are all the photos I took on the windy day, and this WILL happen again the next time it's windy:

It took them 4 days to respond. I replied with clear details of the tools required and how to solve the problem at one location. The core content of my response was:

"I am happy to talk about my solution further, and I'm even willing to attempt to implement it at some of the most concerning locations myself. I have estimated that it costs between $5 to $10 per bin in each location. The tools required are a wire rope crimping tool kit, a stainless steel hose clamp kit, and a pack of small carabiner clip hooks for a total of around $100 capable of doing 20+ bins. The materials are all made of steel, very durable, and do not produce any further plastic pollution."

Basically you just use the existing signage and posts in the area, put a steel hose clamp around it which is like an extremely tight metal band, create a loop with the steel wire rope, then use that to loop through around the bin, created two small loops on the ends of the wire, and then carabiner to connect them for easy detach and reattach.

Now that the warmer weather is here, this trash is going to be blown all over the parks. These plastic bins can still be used, but we need steel cables and carabiners to tether them to posts. The amount of work it takes people to pick up the scattered trash is far more than it would take to tether these properly with a clip. I've seen these bins completely full get blown over by the wind, trash directly blown into the lake.

If you have any other ideas as to how to solve this please mention it. Another part of the solution is ensuring the bins are placed in more beneficial locations.

Adam Witt, Eat Local, and Poochie and Pang are ones I've watched. Given the algorithmic nature of YouTube I'm sure there are some I'm missing. I don't have TikTok so any channel recommendations there would be lost on me.

What are your favorites?

https://www.transitchicago.com/ and click the chat button in the lower right.

I’m trying to move off Reddit so giving Lemmy a shot. I’ve been on Mastodon for years so I’m glad to see other fediverse options grow. Anyone still ‘round these parts? Is there a different Chicago community to hit? Thanks