HAPPY BIRTHDAY HYDE PARK PROGRESS

posted by Elizabeth Fama

To me, HPP is a hangout spot where neighborhood folks can drop by, knowing that a mostly cordial discussion of local issues will always be underway.

Fittingly, I met Chicago Pop in cyber space in March of 2007. He had written a letter-to-the-editor for the Hyde Park Herald about the Solstice proposal that mirrored my sentiments exactly. In the biting tongue-in-cheek style that is his trademark, he invented the "Committee to Save the Cornell Parking Lot," and in signing off he mentioned that he was an alumnus of the U of C College. Cyber stalker that I am, I looked him up in the alumni directory and wrote him a fan e-mail. It's not often that a Herald LTE represents my opinion, after all.

In his reply, C-Pop made the mistake of using the words "Point consensus" in referring to the Save the Point group, and I promptly gave him a long lecture about the true history of the Point controversy. Four months later he wrote me an e-mail saying that he'd started this blog, and would I like to contribute?

"It'll never fly," I thought to myself, while typing my agreement to contribute posts. Thus began our friendship.

So let's raise a toast to Chicago Pop, the Man Who Dared. Thanks for starting the blog, C-Pop.

Front row: bloggers Peter R., Chicago Pop, and Elizabeth F. Back row: guest contributor, frequent commenter, and tireless community meeting attender, Richard G. (One year anniversary, July 25, 2008.)