For much of the past two years, residents in Chicago’s 45th Ward have been locked in a heated battle with their mercurial alderman, John Arena. At the center of the controversy is the 45th Ward strongman’s plan to build a seven-story, mixed-income housing on the site of a vacant lot at 5150 North Northwest Highway (5150). Despite passionate disapproval from residents opposed to increased density and a structure exceeding four stories, Mr. Arena barreled forward with the measure with a callousness which grew in harshness and scope. To achieve his goal, Arena lied at every stage, avoided honest dialogue, and pitilessly attacked residents on social media. The wind in their faces, 45th Ward residents in opposition to Arena’s scheming turned to Robert Martwick with the hope of gaining some support from their representative in the Illinois General Assembly.

Representative Martwick fades in.

To fully understand Mr. Martwick’s role in the development plan for 5150, it is a requirement to recall the empanelment of the Gladstone Park Corridor Study in 2015. A broad, two-year survey created to recommend future development possibilities for Milwaukee Avenue between West Carmen Avenue and West Albion Avenue, the conclusions drawn by the committee became a field guide for the future of revival for the neighborhood. Among the cast of city and state officials involved in the working group were Alderman Margaret Laurino (39), Alderman John Arena (45), State Senator John Mulroe (10th District), members of both the Gladstone Park Neighborhood Association and the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the City of Chicago’s office of Department of Planning and Development, and State Representative Robert Martwick (19th District).

Upon completion of the Gladstone Park Corridor Study’s research in January 2017, panel members reached a consensus that land use for development would “allow buildings up to four stories with upper story apartments or condominiums.” However, when exploring the use of land south of Northwest Highway between Milwaukee and Central, referred to as the “The Lower Third,” the panel determined “a mixed use development with residential may be appropriate” by virtue of the area’s vicinity with the Jefferson Park Transit Center. Altogether, the Gladstone Park Corridor Study resolved to preserve the character of the neighborhood. Thunderstruck at the raw expression of power in which Mr. Arena violated key tenets of the Gladstone Park Corridor Study’s conclusions, residents sought out Mr. Martwick in a bid to persuade him to join their crusade to protect their community.

Representative Martwick fades out.

While Mr. Martwick would have residents of the 19th District believe he is a reliable legislator who is steadfast in his commitment to safeguard the interests of his constituents, voters soon discovered the ease with which Martwick spurned all his obligations to the public by taking no stance on the 5150 issue. Despite the fact Martwick played a pivotal role in a comprehensive analysis to dictate the fate of 55,000 residents, close to half his constituency, Martwick abandoned residents and his official duties as an elected leader.

Challenged by residents over his absence regarding one of the most contentious issues to dominate the neighborhood in decades, Martwick cited his “principles” and in a begrudging comment to the Chicago City Wire, said:

“I haven’t taken a public stance on a zoning issue in over five years. I decided back then with me not being an alderman, it isn’t fair for me to influence the process. My stand is a principled one, and I’d rather lose an election than sacrifice on that. All those now attacking me over it are doing so for political purposes.”

However, Mr. Martwick chose not to stop there. Despite his name splattered all over the Gladstone Park Corridor Study and his presence at a meeting with homeowners at Associated Bank, during a fall 2017 meeting with residents expressing concern over Arena’s plans for 5150 hosted by the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, the 19th District legislator suffered a political lapse in memory which could shame John Arena. In a most precious and vivid memory captured on tape, a resident calmly inquired of Martwick whether he was involved with the Gladstone Park Corridor Study. Demonstrating he observes no boundaries or limits to lying, Martwick, with barefaced audacity, replied “no.” Pressed again by his interlocutor, Martwick continued down the primrose path and doubled down on his lie, replying “no.”

A fib so bold it prompted Martwick’s counterpart, State Senator John Mulroe, to recoil in shock, Martwick then proceeded to do as all those do when caught in making mischief: He stumbled over his words and dialed back his previous denials connected to the immutable truth over his role as a functionary with the Gladstone Park Corridor Study. While there is a difference between lying and shading, Mr. Martwick did both.

“His (Martwick’s) 2017 vote in favor of raising the individual income tax a staggering 32 percent was indefensible and the turning point for me. Months later, Martwick retreated from offering relief to residents earnestly appealing for his intervention in the 5150 plan. We soon discovered he considered us a nuisance to be treated with indifference,” said Ammie Kessem, who is seeking to oust Martwick in the 19th District race.

What are Mr. Martwick’s principles?

A man who has forgotten the venerated electorate-before-party ethos, Mr. Martwick’s refusal to weigh in and defend the interests of thousands of residents in his district demonstrates his fidelity lay not with the majority wishes of his constituents, but with Mike Madigan and John Arena. Inclined to understand political and policy goals in partisan terms, Mr. Martwick therefore sees himself as part of a team. His affiliation with Arena and Madigan motivates Martwick to labor to advance Arena’s and Madigan’s priorities because the trio share the same policy goals and preferences.

While Mr. Martwick appeared eager to be associated with the Gladstone Park Corridor Study at its creation, his failing memory revealed him as a man who is only interested in playing a leading role in community affairs when he can avoid unpopular measures or when he can reap the benefit of public exposure. Confronted by residents in possession of keen and tenacious memory over the nagging North Northwest Highway issue, Martwick showed he believes such meetings are merely an opportunity for others to listen to him to learn the error of their ways and to cajole residents to enlist in Arena’s and Madigan’s policy conventions.

But by remaining in the service to the causes of Arena and Madigan over the concerns expressed by his constituents, Martwick signaled he is uninterested in winning the trust of the public on governing matters, is willing to perpetuate problems rather than be instrumental in solving them, and, most important, uncovers how he is expecting success for Arena’s devious shenanigans to contribute to his own political benefit in the future. Worse, by refusing to take a position on the 5150 matter, Martwick allowed the 45th Ward to become deeply divided and turned into a partisan combat zone.

Instead of being a man with answers, Mr. Martwick’s remedy for an inconvenience was lying. Hardly a gesture which will score points with the electorate, Mr. Martwick’s role in the Gladstone Park Corridor Study and his subsequent actions send a powerful message to 19th District voters he is uninterested in performing the substantive work of elected office and a man not to be trusted.

[Photo courtesy rare.us] [aldermanlaurino.com] [chicagocitywire]