Setting A Dangerous Precedent—Harris Meyer

Chicago Tribune Letter To The Editor:

As a Jew who abhors anti-Semitism, I was surprised and angered that the Tribune’s Sept. 2 editorial accused our group of anti-Semitism because we oppose the Fern Hill/Emanuel Congregation's proposed high-rise development on the lakefront in Edgewater.

We all want Emanuel Congregation to find a continued home in Edgewater. But the Fern Hill project is not a good solution for the community or the city as a whole because it sets a dangerous precedent for development that limits public access to the lakefront.

Our group of community activists never has and never will tolerate anti-Semitism. We had nothing to do with the objectionable newspaper article your editorial cited.

48th Ward Alder Leni-Manaa-Hoppenworth made the false and defamatory allegation that we are trying “to erase the synagogue, its history, and its people from our community.” Making false claims of anti-Semitism like this undermines the important fight against genuine anti-Semitism.

To quote your editorial’s headline, the “whiff of anti-Semitism” permeating this lakefront high-rise debate unfortunately comes from your editorial and the 48th Ward alderman.

--Harris Meyer