Ald. Toni Foulkes: Good first year, more work to do in ward

Chicago Defender:

The diverse 15th Ward, led by Thomas for eight years, borders the 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th Wards, and includes portions of Chicago Lawn, West Englewood and West Lawn.

“Our diversity mirrors Hyde Park, except we don’t have the money they have. The ward’s ethnic makeup is Black, Hispanic, Polish and Lithuanian,” Foulkes told the Defender during a recent ride-along through the ward.

Foulkes’ first few months in office were spent fielding residents’ requests for speed bumps, improved street lighting and just basic cleanliness of the ward.

“When I call with a request about things needing to be done about the lights being out, or the trees needing to be trimmed, she always answers. The former alderman was the same way, so I hope she continues being available,” resident Leeora Thomas said.

The alderman is currently working on maintaining the “family” pride the community has taken in various parts of the ward, hoping it will spread to those areas that need additional attention.

“The residents help out a great deal because I can’t be everywhere all the time. They are my eyes and ears. They care about the community just as much as I do. I could not have done it so far without them,” Foulkes said.

While her constituents “keep the yards clean and beautiful,” Foulkes said that has not kept the foreclosure beast out of her ward, or shed the crime-riddled image that West Englewood has endured for the last few decades.

“Last year, we had about 230 foreclosures in West Englewood alone. That's too many,” she said, adding that during her quarterly community resource meetings, information is available about avoiding the pitfalls of foreclosure.

Another story about an aldermanic winner from last year.