Is the Niles Township Government Building really an official warming center?

You wouldn't know it if you walked by--or ran by as I did--the place, but the Niles Township Government Building in Skokie has been designated by Cook County as an official warming center.

There are no signs on or outside the structure informing residents of the building's status. Pity the unfortunate cold homeless person who passes by.

Niles Township Government Building, Skokie, IL, this morning

Of course township government is an arcane relic, particularly in urbanized counties such as Cook. Chicago dispensed with it decades ago. Yes, township governments run food pantries, but such endeavors can easily be absorbed by other public entities.

Township government--at the very least in the Chicago area--needs to be abolished.

Now that's a hot idea.

It was -2 degrees when I took that picture.

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