CMAP Board recap.  At this past Wednesday's meeting, the Board focused its attention on two potential GO TO 2040 recommendations, tax policy and open space and parks. Following a brief overview from the staff explaining how the topic fits within GO TO 2040 and why it should be a priority recommendation, the Board engaged in a lively and spirited discussion on the direction we want to go in the Plan. Next month, we will focus our attention on transit and transportation finance.

Tinley Park honors.  For the second straight year, a town from our region has topped Business Week's list of the best communities for raising a family.  Congratulations to Tinley Park, which is #1 in the magazine's analysis that considers affordability, safety, school test scores, and other factors.  Last year's top U.S. community for families was Mount Prospect.

Homeowners resource.  The Regional Home Ownership Preservation Initiative (HOPI) has launched a terrific new website, www.regionalhopi.org, with stories, research, and data about efforts to limit foreclosure impacts in northeastern Illinois.  The Regional HOPI site also lists relevant events and other outreach to homeowners and renters who may be struggling to keep their homes.  CMAP is a partner in the initiative's extensive network of non-profits, housing counseling agencies, government agencies, private initiatives, and others on the front lines of helping our communities and their residents weather these difficult times. 

Foreclosure series. The Regional HOPI site was highlighted as part of Chicago Public Radio’s series “Facing the Mortgage Crisis,” which has a blog, features, and an online resource guide for homeowners in the Chicago area. This week, they covered a 27-unit condo building in Washington Park on Chicago’s South Side where most of the units are in foreclosure, along with several organizations' efforts to help the remaining owners. If you have mortgage or foreclosure questions, you can also share your own story with their panel of experts.

ARRA/CMAQ project news.  The Journal On-Line has a story about the Northwest Municipal Conference reconstruction project for Palatine Road between Smith Street and Northwest Highway.  The work will be funded by the Village of Palatine, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and CMAP's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ).

Census 2010.  CMAP is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to alert communities and residents of the need to respond to Census 2010, which is just around the corner.  Many government funding formulas are weighted heavily for population, so incomplete census tallies can literally cost our region and its communities millions of dollars per year.  And we at CMAP rely heavily on the accuracy of data that the census provides.  Starting next spring, the 10-question form will be mailed to all known U.S. residences.  Read some Census 2010 facts, or visit the website http://2010.census.gov. Read more about census data for the region at the CMAP Census page.

Plano planning.  The Plano City Council's meeting for November included a visit by Illinois Secretary of Transportation Gary Hannig and discussion of the important role that rail  transportation can play in that community, Kendall County, and the region.  The council also discussed the new workforce development strategy paper that was developed by the Chicago Jobs Council with support from The Chicago Community Trust as part of GO TO 2040.  Read more in the local news coverage.

Peoria talk.  I was delighted earlier this week to speak at the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission's transportation symposium in Peoria, and you can read about it in the  Peoria Journal Star.  It's great to see that region coming together to plan more effectively and comprehensively.  I'd like to thank Terry Kohlbuss of the Peoria MPO for the chance to describe our efforts here and hopefully to inspire them to plan boldly.

RTA budget hearings.  The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will host public hearings in December to discuss the 2010 budget and provide an update on the RTA Strategic Plan.  Click here for details. 

Photo contest continues.  All month long we're accepting entries to the 2009 Images of Northeastern Illinois Photo Contest. We're asking residents of Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry, Lake, and Kendall counties to pull out their cameras and capture what they value about the region. Two winners (a First Prize and runner-up) will be selected in each of the following categories, along with one overall contest winner and runner-up: Diversity, Community Vitality, Natural Environment, Architecture/Urban Design, and Transportation. More details and full contest rules are posted online at http://www.goto2040.org/photocontest. Please contact Lindsay Banks 312-386-8826 with questions or email photo@cmap.illinois.gov.

In the GO TO 2040 blog. We had a lovely sunrise photo from the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve in Lake County as our Monday Flickr Photo. CMAP’s Justine Reisinger wrote about a recent regional workforce development meeting where stakeholders shared ideas for the future of northeastern Illinois. And Anne Holub wrote about a talk given recently by the founder of Craigslist, Craig Newmark, and his opinions on internet innovations.

Local and regional cooperation.  Citiwire.net has a noteworthy editorial by David Warm.  It's titled, "Great Regions, Great Neighborhoods: Two Sides of the Same Coin?"

Burnham film on WTTW.  Mark your calendar for 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009, when the film "Make No Little Plans:  Daniel Burnham and the American City" will be aired on Channel 11. 

Economic development advocacy.  The Illinois Development Council (IDC) will host a governmental affairs training session and a social media presentation from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on December 2, 2009, at the Northwest Marriott Hotel, 4800 Hoffman Boulevard, in Hoffman Estates.  The morning will focus on how IDC can achieve promote statewide economic development and will include discussions with several legislators and their staff.  The afternoon centers is about how social networking can expand business opportunities.  Seating is limited, so register soon.