She thought it was important

While working on the staff of 48th ward Alderman Marion Volini, a resident of a high-rise on Marine Drive called to report that groups of young people were walking back and forth in Margate Park, across the street of her building.

“What are they doing?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I replied.

“Well, aren’t you going to find out?” she wanted to know.

No, I hadn’t planned to find out, but now that she asked, I had to.

But before I could check on the situation, she called to tell me she had found out why they were there. She had glimpsed a sign hanging on a tree that announced it was a school fund-raiser. It was a walk-a-thon of some sort.

The caller was satisfied and I was happy not to have to deal with something that I didn’t think was a problem in the first place.

(Exerpted from “An Inside Job: A Frank Recollection of 48th Ward Happenings”