Best Neighborhood Activist

Oh sure, Mark Esping goes to the Old Hyde Park neighborhood association's meetings. He takes part in crime watch walks on Saturday nights. But what he did this summer brought together more than just those people living in his immediate vicinity. He unified the whole city. It was such a simple idea, it's amazing no one thought of it before. Esping offered himself as a central point for e-mail correspondence (esping@oz.sunflower.org) detailing concerns among different neighborhoods. He then began compiling them in a single e-mail and passing them along to anyone who wanted the information. The result has been a citywide dialogue, where people can share their concerns. Pretty nifty idea.