Bernie's wall

The City of Evanston approved a strip mall along its southern border in 1993. 50th Ward Alderman Bernard Stone, whose Chicago ward bordered Evanston, did not like the fact that he had no formal input in that decision.

So, he used discretionary funds granted him by the Chicago City Council to erect a two-block long barrier down the middle of Howard Street to prevent access to the mall from the Chicago side, making it difficult for Chicago residents to get to the Jewel, Target, and Best Buy located there.

To thwart a court order to tear down the wall in 2011, Stone changed Kedzie Avenue, which fed into the mall, to a one-way street away from it. 50th ward residents complained and that action was reversed less than a week later.

Today, the wall is long gone. And Jewel offers a full line of kosher food, serving the large Orthodox Jewish community in the 50th ward.

And Stone was defeated for re-election in 2011.