CMAP Meetings. The CMAP Board will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9. Click here for the agenda and materials. Prior to the Board meeting, the Planning Coordinating Committee will meet at 8:00 a.m. Click here for the Planning materials. At 11:00 a.m. or immediately after the Board meeting, the Executive Committee will meet. All three meetings are in the CMAP offices, Suite 800 of Sears Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive in Chicago.

Legislative Update. The Governor announced this week that the General Assembly will convene in a special session on July 9 to address the revenue bills necessary to balance the budget, including the Illinois Works capital plan. The Governor also stated that if the House does not address the budget issues, he will take actions to eliminate the $2 billion budget deficit. At a press conference regarding the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, the Governor’s office unveiled program areas where funding would not be available due to the budget deficit in the legislation that passed the General Assembly. CMAP's Regional Water Supply Study is among the items identified as facing cuts. We will be monitoring the events next week and will do everything possible to ensure that these funds remain part of the state budget, but you should also make your General Assembly members and the Governor’s Office aware of your concerns about this potential cut in funding.

CMAP Board biosketches. Biosketches and photos of the CMAP Board members are now on the web.

IML session on GO TO 2040. This year CMAP has a prime program spot at the Illinois Municipal League annual conference. Our panel is at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, September 26, at the Hilton Chicago hotel. The topic is of course "The GO TO 2040 Campaign: metropolitan Chicago's first truly comprehensive regional plan." Panelists will include CMAP Board chairman Gerald Bennett (mayor of Palos Hills), vice chairman Rita Athas (executive director of World Business Chicago), Board member Zenovia Evans (mayor of Riverdale), and myself.

Who's the best MPO? In an admittedly unscientific survey of national transportation experts, according to Robert Dunphy of the Urban Land Institute, a pair of organizations were the clear choices as perceived "best Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)." They are the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). CMAP rated an honorable mention in the discussion, along with counterparts in Washington, DC, Albany, NY, and Las Vegas, NV. It's nice to be mentioned in that company, and I look forward to seeing CMAP move up the list.

Reminder: 2008 Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards. Nominations are due by July 16 for the 2008 Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards, which since 2000 have been offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness. This honor recognizes municipalities, park districts, and corporations that have successfully planted sites which are outstanding examples of the use of native plants in the landscape, and developers and communities that plan and construct residential or commercial developments which bring to life the principles of conservation development and sustainability. Applications can be submitted by corporations, including developers and not-for profit organizations, park districts, and/or local governments in the Chicago Wilderness region. See http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/awards.html for information and http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/landscapeaward2008.html for the on-line application. For help, contact Danielle Green (312-886-7594 or green.danielle@epa.gov) or Bob Newport (312-886-1513 or newport.bob@epa.gov).

The inaugural Double Duty Classic. After the past two weeks' heated crosstown battle, at last there's a game that both Sox and Cubs fans will enjoy. At 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7, U.S. Cellular Field is the site of the first-ever Double Duty Classic, celebrating the history and tradition of Negro Leagues baseball in Chicago and promoting the next generation of inner-city baseball players. This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the first Negro League's East-West All-Star game, played in Chicago at old Comiskey Park in 1933. Named after the legendary Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, the Double Duty Classic will recreate that historic event by showcasing the best inner-city high school players from across the Midwest in an All-Star game. Admission is free, and so is parking in Lot B (north of 35th Street). For more information, see whitesox.com or call 1-312-674-1000.