Skokie residents urge reversal of Elm Street permit-parking decision, citing flawed process

Jordan Campania, a resident of the 5000 block of Elm Street, told the Skokie Village Board on Jan. 5 that the village should reverse its decision to establish permanent permit parking on his block because the petition process produced a misleading result. Campania said the original petition had 20 signatures, but after outreach six residents called to object and three people who had signed asked to have their names removed, reducing active support to 17 — below the petition’s stated majority threshold of 19.

"Residents were told that permit parking required a majority of support from the block," Campania said, arguing the village later treated silence as consent and focused on a lack of majority opposition rather than whether a majority actively supported the change. "This is not simply a disagreement about parking ... The real issue is that this decision has been framed as what is best for the block despite absence of majority support, which has left all the residents feeling unheard." He asked the board to reverse the decision, pause enforcement, and require future action to reflect an informed majority.

Michelle Saran, another resident, described conversations with Police Chief Jesse Barnes about unrelated fireworks concerns, then said she "fully support[s] Jordan's comments," adding that many residents learned belatedly about permit fees and guest limits and requested that the village follow up. Matt Shereen, who also lives on the 5000 block of Elm Street, said some signers said they were told signs would be applied only to the east side of the block and said one signature had been provided by a non-homeowner; he said active support was therefore 16 of 35 homes and asked that signs be removed.

Campania said he provided the board photos showing available curb space on typical weekdays and asked the board to review the materials he submitted. The board did not take immediate action during the meeting; after the public-comment period the mayor closed comments and the meeting proceeded to the manager’s report. Campania said he would welcome further discussion.

What’s next: Residents asked the board to pause enforcement and to have staff review the petition and notification process. The transcript records requests and evidence presented by residents but does not show a formal follow-up directive from the board during the Jan. 5 meeting.