[BCNnet] Lincoln Park Advisory Council and Montrose Dog Beach

[Birdchris@aol.com]

On June 12, the Lincoln Park Advisory Council gave its endorsement to the 
proposal by MONDOG, the Montrose Dog Owners Group, to make Montrose a dog 
friendly beach during most hours in the winter and in the morning and evening 
in summer.

Despite LPAC's endorsment, I still believe the Park District will reject the 
proposal for permitting dogs on the beach in the summer given the Alderman's 
lack of support, the Mayor's opposition, a strong public outcry and a very 
successful phone lobbying campaign to the Mayor, the Alderman and 
Superintendent Doig. The BCN collected enough scientific data in favor of 
keeping Montrose dog-free to sink a ship from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, 
the IDNR, Manomet Bird Observatory, ornithologists from the Field Museum and 
others. All the bird clubs and other major environmental groups also are 
opposing permitting dogs on this one beach on the north side.

Notes on the meeting: 
Many many thanks to the many, many birders and environmentalists who attended 
the meeting and spoke against the proposal. You were persuasive, articulate 
and intelligent. Unfortunately, dog owners had stacked the LPAC deck with 
regard to LPAC voting. 
To become a member of LPAC, you need to pay $15 per year and attend three 
meetings in a 12-month period. There were 16 members in good standing, 
including COS, which is an organizational member. The vote was 10 for and 6 
against the motion. Eight of the 10 votes for were from dog owners, one or 
two Board members and one independent birder. The six votes against the 
motion were from dog owners, birders and independent LPAC members. 
MONDOG was smart enough to have a lot of its members join LPAC and thereby be 
able to vote. Had the vote been of the whole room or by consensus, the dog 
beach proposal would likely have been soundly defeated.

Now we're on to the next round. Thanks again for the support.

Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris@aol.com