As a usually proud citizen of Chicago, I am writing to express my utter disappointment and disgust with City Hall attorneys who have stooped to an ultimate low. Instead of taking full responsibility for a tragedy that killed some of its very own citizens, the city has seen fit to attempt to minimize its liability by passing blame to those who have suffered unimaginable distress and even death for an avoidable disaster.
The porch collapse that took place in the early hours of June 29, 2003, was an event that should have never happened. The young, bright, model citizens of the community who gathered together on a beautiful summer night to take a break from their usually hectic schedules should never have fallen to their premature deaths because the porch they were standing on was negligently built.
Just like all the other porches that dot the back yards of every neighborhood in the city, that three-story porch was added to invite and attract young, eager and ambitious adults who have moved from all corners of the country to call Chicago home. That porch was built to enhance the marketability of the apartment, attracting partygoers–and large numbers of them. That porch was provided as an extension of the building for one purpose: to offer the tenant an outdoor area to entertain guests. There is no doubt that this amenity was included in the rent formula and was part of the apartment’s marketing presentation.
A porch properly built to accommodate dozens of adults would never fall because someone was jumping on it, and to say that it would is laughable at best. That porch fell because it was built in violation of city codes (and without a permit) and was carelessly inspected by those responsible for its safety.
It is my hope that the City of Chicago chooses to focus its resources and efforts on protecting its residents and seeing that tragic events like the one that occurred at 713 W. Wrightwood Ave. never happen again. I think it would be much more useful than childishly pointing fingers in senseless directions and hiding from a mistake that is blatantly its own.
