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The Chicago Reader’s Daily Harold blog today points out the moral confusion that can result when a corrupt government goes green. As a fairly staunch supporter of Mayor Daley, I’d argue that his green cred is genuine. And I can’t say enough for his green roofs program. If you haven’t already, check out the city’s green roofs Web site, which contains a how-to guide, work permits – even maps of the city’s green roofs.
The most notable project, City Hall Rooftop Garden, completed in 2001, has received numerous awards and according to the Web site keeps the temperature of neighboring rooftops 7 degrees cooler throughout the year and up to 30 degrees cooler during the summer.
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This just looks dumb – like an upscale “sod house” from the pioneer days! If you insist on having plants on a roof, do it by arranging some flowerpots, etc. into a nice garden-like arrangement with other rooftop amenities like picnic tables and bbqs!
Anon – this roof isn’t meant for public meandering – it’s closed to the public – and it isn’t visible from the ground, so aesthetics are beside the point.
I applaud the green roofs. It’s great that Daley’s found a way to keep rooftops from absorbing extra heat. Now if he could only find a way to keep corrupt city officials from absorbing bribes and to keep crooked contractors from absorbing tax dollars and to keep organized crime figures from absorbing city jobs, we’d be a much greener city.
Of course, our recycling program would still be a sham. Overhauling it should be the next green priority, and the best place to start recycling, as in the case of the green roof movement, is the mayor’s office.
Of course, there are those of us who would say that the steady flow of funny money throughout Chicago’s history makes this a very “green” minded city indeed!
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