Our fight continues
MLCA is taking legal action against the City of Evanston’s commercial rezoning of Northwestern University’s new Ryan Field.
In voting to approve the commercial rezoning of the new Ryan Field, “Mayor [Daniel] Biss and certain councilmembers cut a backroom deal in which they agreed to disregard applicable laws and evidence in exchange for monetary contributions from Northwestern,” the complaint states.
The law exists to protect us all, and it has to be applied impartially — with no exceptions for billionaires or powerful institutions.
Join us as we continue this fight.
Gown vs. Town, Chicago Magazine (5/17/23)
Rally Opposing Ryan Field Rezoning
On September 26, MLCA marched with the Northwestern Accountability Alliance from the NU President’s House to City Hall, with leaders of each organization making speeches along the way.
"We firmly and completely resist and oppose the commercialization of a residential neighborhood," said Community Alliance for Better Government President Lesley Williams.
“Equity is not about making one neighborhood equally as bad as another. It’s about doing the best for all neighborhoods,” said Darlene Cannon, chair of the Equity & Empowerment Commission.
MLCA is a founding member of the alliance, made up of community, labor, and student organizations fighting against rezoning and for a Ryan Field community benefits agreement.
More Press Coverage
“The audacity of the proposal and the spin Northwestern has put on it have undermined the community’s trust. But trust can be restored if the university sets aside plans for the live entertainment venue it wants and instead enters a meaningful community benefits agreement (CBA) for the football stadium it needs.”
— David DeCarlo and Lesley Williams: Northwestern should drop events, enter community benefits agreement for Ryan Field plan, Tribune (6/27/23)
“Hosting concerts has absolutely nothing to do with educating people, literally nothing. They are basically using their nonprofit status to run a business and then avoid paying taxes.”
— Parielle Davis, New town-gown alliance airs concerns about Ryan Field proposal, Roundtable (5/29/23)
“[Sonia Cohen] . . . came across a letter concerning a dispute 1,000 miles away in Massachusetts. It was written by Peter Barris, the chair of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees . . . His request: ‘Protect us from the unbridled development that puts at risk the very things that brought us here in the first place.’”
— It’s Northwestern vs. Evanston Neighbors, Wall Street Journal (3/29/23)
OUR MISSION
We’re focused on making Evanston the most livable city in America. We do that by promoting initiatives that advance the quality of life for all communities in and around our city and by advocating for equity and accountability in government policies and programs. As an all-volunteer non-profit founded by community members, please consider getting involved and making a donation.