The Evanston Board of Ethics dismissed a complaint filed by Evanston resident Peggy Tarr against Ald. Steven Bernstein (4th), saying issues raised by Tarr either were outside of the board’s jurisdiction or failed to warrant sufficient merit.
“It was groundless going in,” Bernstein said. “I’m glad they did what I thought they should do.”
Tarr’s complaint dated back to a dispute with Bernstein from last fall over a mural painted on the north wall of the Metra underpass on Greenleaf Street.
Tarr said Bernstein used his influence as an alderman to select the mural’s artist.
Both Linda Dean and Louis Cutler presented their ideas for the artwork before the Public Arts Committee last fall. When Dean was awarded the job, Tarr said she would file a complaint stating that Bernstein and the director of Evanston’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department helped Dean bypass the committee. Tarr said Bernstein showed preferential treatment in selecting the mural’s artist.
But both Bernstein and the artist said Bernstein had no influence over the decision, which fell to Metra and the city’s Public Arts Committee. Last week the board agreed with Bernstein.
The complaint also concerned remarks made by Bernstein about Tarr at meetings of Nichols Neighbors. Both are participants in the Fourth Ward community organization.
Bernstein said the group could meet at the Democratic Party of Evanston Headquarters, but Tarr said Nichols Neighbors’ bylaws prohibit the group from having any political affiliation.
Also addressed in the complaint were remarks that date back to November 1998. Most recently, Tarr said Bernstein accused her of making anti-Semitic remarks and his wife accused Tarr of distributing anti-Semitic literature.
Bernstein denied the accusations and said the complaint “was not really subject matter the board can address.” The board agreed and decided not to rule on the issues in the complaint.
Bernstein also referred to the complaint as “sour grapes” after Tarr lost the April 3 election for Fourth Ward alderman against incumbent Bernstein.
But Tarr said Bernstein’s claim is not true because she filed the complaint on April 2 to avoid such accusations.
Tarr was disappointed by the board’s dismissal, but she said she was warned that her complaint would not be effective.
“I wasn’t depressed,” Tarr said. “It wasn’t anything I didn’t expect.”
Tarr said she is looking into a possible appeal of the complaint and plans to file further complaints against Bernstein.
