Friday, August 31, 2012

September 6th Ward Community Meeting


6th ward map

Here is a partial listing of upcoming community meetings
 
West Chesterfield Community Association
Saturday
September 8, 2012
Clean & Green
8:30am
West Chesterfield Community Fieldhouse
9351 S Michigan

 Park Manor Neighbors Community Council
Monday
September 10,2012
St. Columbanus( Glass House)
 317 E. 71st

 
Chatham Avalon Park Community Council
Monday
September 10, 2012
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Northern Trust Bank
7800 S. State Street
Topic: Community Issues

 
Greater Chatham Alliance Community Organization
Saturday
September 15, 2012
11:00 am to 1:30 pm
St. James Lutheran Church
8001 S. Michigan
Topic: Community Issues

  Rage logo
Resident Association of Greater Englewood
Tuesday
September 18,2012
Location: TBD

Chatham/Avalon Park Community Council: CHATHAM MOVES FORWARD


Chatham/Avalon Park Community Council: CHATHAM MOVES FORWARD

If only there was a "Like" button for this posting at the CAPCC blog. Hopefully it could be a lot of likes and views! This is their response to the recent violence over the past weekend:
Chatham is strong, Chatham is resilent and so are it’s residents. Chatham moves forward with new Education , Health & Wellness , Conservation , Economic Development plans,& a new “ NOT ON MY BLOCK “ campaign that has been instituted to inspire our Chatham residents to accept nothing less but a decent standard of living. (Quality of Life) which we all deserve. It is not where you live, it is how you live there.

Chatham Moves forward, what will you do? Will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? MOVE FORWARD & WORK TOWARD PEACE. Participate in your block club, don’t have one start one. Chatham Avalon Park Community Council hosts a Block Club Boot Camp every month at various locations in Chatham.

If you would like to volunteer for a Chatham Avalon Park Community Council Committee or participate with our “Not on My Block Campaign” please contact the CAPCC Officeat 1-866-272-1215. Stay informed and visit the CAPCC blog daily for community updates.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

1974: Jewel-Osco Grand Bazaar 87th & Dan Ryan

We were alerted to this photo of our neighborhood Jewel-Osco store as it had appeared back in 1974 from a representative for Jewel-Osco.
Long-time southside residents may recall this JEWEL-OSCO Grand Bazaar (photo above) that was located at the Dan Ryan Expressway and 87th Street, as shown in a 1974 photo. Today, a more modern JEWEL-OSCO is located at the same location. While OSCO Drug formerly had its own freestanding stores, in the early 1960s, the company began to open combined grocery and pharmacy stores under one roof, a novel idea at the time.

2012 marks the 75th anniversary of OSCO Drug, and today there are 173 JEWEL-OSCO Pharmacies located across the Chicago area, and elsewhere in Illinois, Iowa and Northwest Indiana. Current and former OSCO Drug employees recently attended a special event held in the Chicago area to celebrate the milestone.
The photo credit was given to Dave Alford of the Pleasant Family Shopping blog. You can find the picture above in this post!

GCA Announcement: Free dental screenings

Here are some brief details about this event but refer to the flyer below
  • The Chicago Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, Traveling Dental Bus is coming to Chatham:
    September 1, 2012
    10 am - Noon
    8245 S. King Drive
    For school age children: 5-12
    Each child will receive a take home oral health bag with educational handouts and fun tips.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

West Chesterfield Back to School Event



WCCA Back to School w Fr Pfleger - A Photo Report - Photos by Les Outerbridge 773.842.8390 (1)

Meetings about the improvements to 95th/Dan Ryan

Conception of the new 95th Street
Two are scheduled for next month. This meeting is not with regards to the closure and upgrades to the Dan Ryan branch of the CTA Red Line, it's only about the upgrades planned for the 95th Street terminal that will begin not long after the Red Line is reopened next year.
The CTA is holding a meeting about 95th Street station improvement plans from 5-7 p.m., Sept. 11, at Harlan High School, 9652 S. Michigan Ave., and 6-8 p.m., Sept. 13, at Palmer Park, 201 E. 111th St.
RELATED: Tribune: CTA gets $20 million grant for project at 95th Street terminal

Monday, August 27, 2012

Concerned Citizens Of Chatham : How to Keep the "Terror Town" Violence From Spreading: Zero Tolerance

My recent post from Chicago Now
Just hours after the end of Peace in the Park After Dark, and an afternoon where several groups were doing their back to school rallies and parties, the "Terror Town" violence found its way to my community. These beefs between posse's with multiple gang affiliations are out of control and have found their way out of the far southeast side and moving to other communities throughout the southside. This past Friday night was one of the most violent http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-woman-teen-wounded-in-east-chatham-shooting-20120824,0,5211283.story . Then Saturday afternoon violence erupted again http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-3-reported-shot-in-chatham-20120825,0,1971776.story.

The terror town retaliations are out of control and have to be stopped. I wrote a blog post last year and here is an excerpt I have called for allowing the Chicago Police Department to institute a Zero Tolerance Policy. Many have said "be careful for what you wish for because you might just get it", but at this point the Chicago Police Department, Roderick Sawyer, Alderman of the 6th ward, Chatham area community based organizations and concerned citizens have to make a strong statement. "NOT HERE AND NOT ON MY BLOCK". Over the past several years their have been some high profile incidents and the fact is the perpetrators are coming into or through the Chatham community. This must stop, the fear of being arrested must be put on the minds of those who think they can run through and pillage and Chatham is not a "hangout" spot. Some will say that zero tolerance will not work, will cost the city money settling lawsuits and violates civil rights. But I ask them do you want to be political correct or safe? The zero tolerance and once we stand up and say I'm sick and tired of this $@^%!, then and only then will the senseless violence stop.
The complete post at  http://www.chicagonow.com/concerned-citizens-of-chatham/2012/08/how-to-stop-the-terror-town-violence-from-spreading-zero-tolererance/

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Authorities: 2 dead, 1 wounded in Chatham shooting

An shooting at 79th & ST. Lawrence has left 1 dead and 2 injured. And this happened in broad daylight.

From Chicago Breaking News:
Two assailants wearing masks opened fire this afternoon leaving two people dead and a 17-year-old girl hospitalized in serious condition in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side.

The shooting happened about 1:15 p.m. in the 7900 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, fire and police officials said.

Two men wearing masks shot three people: a 20-year-old man who was dead on the scene, a 17-year-old girl in the lower back, and an 18-year-old man in the leg and lower arm, according to police.

Christopher Spraggins, 20, of 348 E. 76th St., was pronounced dead on the scene while the male in his late teens was pronounced dead at 2:14 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police said the teen girl was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Kevin MacGregor, she was in serious condition.

The gunmen ran eastbound after the shooting and fled into a car, police said.

No arrests have been made this evening, according to police News Affairs Officer Daniel O'Brien.

Four people were killed and at least 14 wounded in shootings in Chicago between 4:15 p.m. Friday and early Saturday morning.'
Authorities: 2 dead, 1 wounded in Chatham shooting

...And from our Facebook page:
Jan M. Hooks My nephew was the young man who was killed. Please keep his family and those who were wounded in your thoughts and prayers. We need to do something about the violence in this city and especially on the south side of Chicago
Ms. Hooks also added that there was another shooting a few hours later at 79th and Prairie.

My wife read this news, and stated to me that she wants to leave Chatham at our first opportunity. How do we combat the fear that drives away good citizens?

Friday, August 24, 2012

Ward Room: Deadline Day is Friday for Jesse Jackson Jr.

Will he or won't he? Embattled Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has until the end of the day Friday to decide whether he'll remain on the November ballot.
I'm not so sure he's just going to remove himself from the ballot in November. We do know that he's being treated at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder. In whatever he chooses to do we do wish him well.

Concerned Citizens of Chatham: What to do this weekend?

Worlee notes seven events, two of them are ongoing events. There are two back to school events to be shared here hosted by a local church and by the West Chesterfield neighborhood.
 West Chesterfield's their back-to-school event from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday at their community center 9351 S. Michigan Ave. Rev. Michael Pfleger is the keynote speaker with appearances by the Principal of Harlah High School and 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer.

Also on Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM New Covenant MB Chicago located will host their own back-to-school fest to take place in the church's parking lot at 77th & Cottage Grove. It will feature free school physicals, dental check-ups, book bag giveaways, etc.

And of course those are not the only events taking place this Saturday. Refer to Worlee's posting!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

CTA RELEASE: CTA Continues to Move Forward with Red Line South Project

Posted to the official CTA website on Tuesday and quoted below are the words of a representative from the Chatham Business Association:
Community meetings will continue throughout the remainder of 2012, providing project updates and the opportunity for additional feedback about the project as it moves forward.
“We have been pleasantly surprised at the significant outreach that CTA has done regarding the Red Line South project, not only to the community-at-large, but to the small business community,” said Melinda Kelly, Executive Director of the Chatham Business Association (CBA). “CBA is encouraged by the serious commitment CTA has shown to getting the word out through its presence at community meetings and the four meet-and-greet sessions it has held between disadvantaged business enterprise subcontractors and potential prime contractors.”
BTW, thanks to the project to close, rebuild and then reopen the Dan Ryan portion of the CTA Red Line there are still job opportunities available. They particularly still need bus drivers for the shuttle buses:
The CTA will host two more job fairs for part-time bus operators needed for the project: August 28 at the National Teachers Academy and September 15 at Kennedy-King College, as well as three upcoming meet-and-greet sessions for contractors interested in the station work component of the project.
Again if you've been to any meetings whether hosted by CTA or meetings within your own respective neighborhood organization please share your thoughts with us or whatever was said at these meetings. Our e-mail is blog @ thesixthward.us, write on our FB page, or send us a tweet @thesixthward.

Bungalow for sale in Roseland Heights

For $59,000 you can have this 5623 sq ft home that was built in 1918:
1 Story, Bungalow - CHICAGO, IL 

Your Vision, Your Dream Your Design + This Solid BRICK 3 bed Bungalow w/ EXTRA WIDE lot....on the PARK = Abundance!!! Estate settlement is your opportunity w/ Newer windows, Parquet floors,cabinets and remodeled bathroom. Sold "As is" for convenience of family.
And again since this is Roseland Heights the L is nearby, Abbott Park, Shedd School branch, Harlan High School, and Chicago State University.

Photo of Abbott Park sexual assault suspect

We had a hard time getting this photo on the blog, but here is a photo of the sexual assault suspect.

And here is the news story from the Chicago Tribune:
Police issued a community alert this afternoon warning of a sexual assault in Abbott Park on the South Side in the city's Roseland neighborhood.



A woman was waiting for the bus on the 9500 block of South Michigan Ave between the hours of 2 to 6 a.m. on Aug. 18, A man approached her from behind and pulled her into Abbott Park where she was beaten and sexually assaulted.
Please be careful out there, but also watchful, so we can catch these crimnals!

Here's a description:
The man was described as black, between the ages of 24 to 33, between 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, police said.

He has a medium complexion with brown eyes and a low cut Mohawk, police said.

He was last seen wearing a black long sleeve shirt and dark blue jeans.
If you have any info please contact Area South Bureau detectives at 312-747-8271.

Cops questioning man in Chatham sexual assault

Chicago Breaking News (from the Chicago Tribune) reports another story of serious crime in our area:
Chicago police were questioning a man following a sexual assault on a woman this morning in the city's Chatham neighborhood.

The 23-year-old woman was attacked at about 12:15 a.m. in the 200 block of East 87th Street, according to authorities.

Early reports indicate that the attacker first attempted to rob the woman at gunpoint before sexually assaulting her then fleeing on foot, police said. The woman's husband called 911 to the assault.

Officers in the area quickly took the man into custody and were questioning him at Area South headquarters, said Officer Ron Gaines, a police spokesman.

The woman was taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital for treatment, authorities said.

This morning's assault is about a mile north of where a woman was sexually assaulted in Abbott Park while waiting at a bus stop late last week. Police issued a community alert and a composite photo of the attacker.

Police weren't saying whether they were questioning the man in custody about Saturday's attack.
Cops questioning man in Chatham sexual assault

Please be careful out there. Walk in groups (especially at night) and report suspicious activity.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

NBC Chicago: Growing Up In Englewood


View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

[VIDEO] I had written about this entry into the Art Institute of Chicago's Black Harvest Film Festival earlier this month. Our local NBC affiliate had picked up on this film and posted this story about it recently.

AGAIN: This film will be shown at the Siskel Film Center on August 17th at 8:30 PM and August 23rd at 8:15 PM. Refer to the Black Harvest page for more information on the other films to be shown there during the film festival.

Well, the 17th has passed but you have another opportunity on the 23rd. BTW, who out there saw The Curators of Dixon School?

2 shot near Deneen elementary school

Chicago Breaking News (from the Chicago Tribune) reports this story:


3:34 p.m. CDT, August 22, 2012

Two people were taken to a hospital in good condition today after being shot on the South Side near an elementary school.

The shooting happened on the 7200 block of South State Street at about 3 p.m., according to Chicago Fire Department officials.

The victims were both taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition after receiving basic life support, fire officials said.

Chicago police were on the scene of the shooting and did not have any further information.

The shooting occurred near Deneen Elementary school, 7257 S. State St.



If you've been to State Street, you know there are definitely suspicious individuals that walk up and down that strip of stores nearby.  I am sure they have driven away much business, making the arrea even worse.  (The owner of Chan's Chinese thinks of my family as a breath of fresh air compared to some customers)


Hopefully changes can be made to make the area more vibrant and less attractive to gangbangers and loiterers.
Here's the link to the story.


2 shot near South Side elementary school

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

WBEZ: Red Line ridership is up, but not on South Side

Chicago Public Radio station, WBEZ (91.5 FM) just published a story regarding CTA ridership on the Red Line.

Here's a segment relevent for us:

The above holds true for total ridership over the past decade, though all North Side stations have seen ridership improvements from their 2001 levels. The biggest improvement across the Red Line came from Lake, which gained nearly 1.5 million riders from 2001 to 2011. This was enough to push it from the third most popular Red Line station in 2001 (behind 95th/Dan Ryan and Chicago) to first in 2011.

95th/Dan Ryan, 2001’s most-used station, dropped to fifth-most used in 2011 (behind Lake, Chicago, Fullerton and Belmont). It is one of only five stations to see ridership declines in the past decade – all are on the city’s South Side. The others are 87th, 69th, 63rd and Garfield.

These are five of the nine South Side stations that will be closed for five months starting in spring 2013 as part of a $425 million CTA track replacement project. The closure will impact every station from Cermak-Chinatown through 95th/Dan Ryan.

Click here for details, and to see the charts of Red Line ridership by station, since 2001.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Northern Trust Bank sells their Chatham branch to Urban Partnership Bank

7801 S State Street Chicago, IL
Earlier this month it was in the news - via WBEZ & Crain's - that Northern Trust Bank is selling their Chatham branch located at 7801 S. State to Urban Partnership Bank. Urban Partnership Bank which is the successor to the failed ShoreBank also has a branch nearby on Cottage Grove and the future of that building is in question although it is assumed that it will remain in operation.

Worlee noted that the Monroe Foundation had raised an objection to this sale with the FDIC - who regulates the banking industry for the federal government - that is expected to be completed at the end of the year. Other than that what are your thoughts on this development?

Sunday, August 19, 2012

CTA: Public input helping shape Red Line South reconstruction project

This CTA Press Release was published on August 16th, I wonder if anyone disagrees with it.
Public feedback received at a series of recent community meetings is helping shape and improve the CTA’s plans for the Red Line South reconstruction project in 2013.
Feedback from CTA riders and community residents has been incorporated into plans for several elements of the project, from service levels to community outreach. Since announcing the Red Line South project in early June, the CTA has held three large-scale public hearings along with numerous smaller community meetings in neighborhoods throughout the project area. CTA has also worked closely with elected officials to solicit community feedback and better understand concerns.
"The Red Line South is an investment in our future that will revitalize communities and create jobs," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "It is crucial that the voices of South Side residents are heard throughout this process and I'm encouraged by the incredible turnout we have seen thus far."
“These meetings have provided a productive forum for everyone who will be impacted by the work to ask questions, share their concerns and offer suggestions,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool. “We very much appreciate the ideas and thoughts we’ve received. We’ve listened closely, and we’re using all the feedback we’ve received to refine our plans to make sure the project proceeds as smoothly as possible.”
I encourage you to read the entire press release, but feel free to share your thoughts on this process. Feel free to email us at blog @ thesixthward . us, send a tweet @thesixthward, or write on our FB page wall http://facebook.com/thesixthward.

Also please share with us any meetings your neighborhood organizations have held with regards to this project.

Hat-tip chicago-l.org

Need Your Help: The 6th Ward Resource Guide


In the 6th ward there are a number of  non profits, church's and individuals who are operating afterschool school programs such as karate, wrestling, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc. Also, there are organizations who are receiving tax dollars based on grant proposals that state they service the 6th ward or communities within the ward.

What we would like to do is create a working document that list these organizations and their programs. This  resource guide will be available for use by community organizations, block clubs, and individuals. Also, it will also tell us who is taking our tax dollars and not delivering services as promised.

If you know of organizations in the 6th ward who are offering programs open to the public, please email the organization, contact person and program to ccchatham@sbcglobal.net.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

6th Ward Republican plays role in Chick-fil-A complaint publicity

Photo by Katie Sosin/Windy City Times
The picture above is 6th Ward Republican Committeeman Darnell Macklin. He was part of the delegation of Chicago Republicans who filed a complaint against 1st Ward Ald. Joe Moreno for violating our state's human rights law by alleged "discrimination on the basis of religion".

Here's a brief write-up on Mr. Macklin's role from the Chicago GOP blog:
I'd like to say thanks to 44th Ward Committeeman Scott Davis, who had the original idea for the complaint, 47th Ward Committeeman David Ratowitz, who wrote the complaint and did all the legal work, 49th Ward Committeeman Suzanne Devane who made much of the media blitz happen and delivered the message at the conference, 6th Ward Committeeman Darnell Macklin who spoke about Human Rights and gave us credibility, ChicagoGOP Chairman Adam Robinson, who took a risk and got behind the effort, and those committeemen (Carl Segvich, Bill Delay), who showed up and brought people to make it clear that yes, we're here, and we've got something to say.
That same post has a series of links of all the press coverage the city Republicans got for this event. The photo above is from a Windy City Times article. Those events took play on August 1st and it seems the excitement over the response to Chick-fil-A's CEO stated stand on gay marriage is now old news.

My response still stands, Chick-fil-A would be welcome on this part of town. If Ald. Moreno doesn't want your business on his part of town, come on down to the south side!

BTW, I would be very curious to see Mr. Macklin's remarks. There were no quotes from him in any of those links provided by the Chicago GOP.

RELATED

 

Growing Home, INC Open House on August 25

This information is from a press release that was e-mailed to us:
Nonprofit organization Growing Home, Inc. will open its doors to the public for a free open house on Saturday, August 25, 2012, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at its Wood Street Urban Farm and Honore Street Farm at 5814 S. Wood Street, Chicago IL 60636. The open house will offer tours of Chicago’s first and only USDA Certified organic local farms within city limits. Also available will be a fresh-picked farm stand, cooking demonstrations and samples of fresh produce, gardening workshops, and activities for children.

Alex Kotlowitz writes in the July/August issue of Mother Jones, “Growing Home has altered the landscape of the neighborhood [Englewood]- and it employs local residents, many of whom because of past indiscretions have trouble finding work elsewhere.” Growing Home was honored on May 1, 2012 by the Cook County Board of Commissioners with a resolution honoring the organization’s 10th anniversary.

In 2012, Growing Home is expanding its farming operations to a new site, the Honore Street Farm, which is expected to triple production capabilities to 50,000 lbs. of local organic produce grown annually in Englewood, a recognized food desert on Chicago’s South side.
Here's a flyer below where you can find more details:

Izola's 90th birthday include fundraisers

NOTE: Click on images for a larger resolution! 

There is a 90th Birthday celebration for Izola White on the weekend of September 8-9., 3p-7p Sunday's celebratiuon is open to the public. Saturday's celebration requires a minimum contirbuition of $250.

It's a fundraiser to help Ms. White live at her own home rather than a nursing home.

Here are the details from Facebook

Come and be a part of an iconic celebration honoring Ms. Izola White and watch a community come together for a woman who has given so much to so many. Izola has done so much for others in her over 50 year history as owner of the restaurant. Through her misfortune, she was forced to close her place due to illness and financial problems. She now faces being placed into a nursing home if her living expenses aren’t met. this fundraiser will help relieve her of this worry and allow her to enjoy her home as she ...turns 90 years old. The effort will also bring a possibility of keeping her dream alive as the new ownership takes place at this location. PLEASE come out and show your support, you won’t regret it!


Key Note Speaker: Jesse Jackson Sr, Alderman Sawyer, Dorothy Brown, Spencer Leak Sr, Greg Hinton, Herb Kent, Emil Jones


Saturday, Sept 8th 3:p.m to 7:p.m dinner reception, live jazz Band, special guest speakers, picture auction (Photos from the restaurant ) and raffles. Minimum donation $250.00

Sunday Sept 9th 3:p.m to 7:p.m is community and Seniors citizens Day in the parking lot of Izola’s Restaurant Live Band, Food & Drinks ,Guest Speakers, Raffles. Open donation( Bring your Chair , Chairs are limited)





Let us know here at The Sixth War if you have further details, or have other comments regarding Izola's.

Note: the many photos on Izola's wll will be auctioned off, such as this one from Bernie Mac.




Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Open letter from Ald. Sawyer on voter registration cards...

You should have seen some news on this recently. Especially a brief blurb on this blog before the cards arrived in your mailbox. Here's Ald. Sawyer's statement, his position is largely unchanged from since the new map had been enacted earlier this year.
Click for larger resolution
Here's a printable version on scribd!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

More on using eminent domain on foreclosures...

Steve Bartin of Newsalert writes this recent piece over - entitled "New Chicago Machine Scam In the Works: Eminent Domain Seizure of ‘Underwater’ Mortgages" at New Geography, with regards to using eminent domain on foreclosures:
If this passes, the potential for corruption will be unlimited in Chicago. Alderman Burke controls Chicago’s tax code. But, the conflicts are even more pronounced. Alderman Burke slates all the judges in Cook County which means a Burke-slated judge will hear the property seizure case. Even that’s not all; Alderman Burke's day job is running a property tax appeals tax firm. Being a client of Alderman Burke’s probably will be a good way to avoid a ‘takings’. Expecting a fair appeal, in court, on the seizure? Alderman Burke’s wife, Anne, is a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court. Expecting help from the Illinois state legislature to clamp down on Alderman Burke’s conflicted lifestyle? Alderman Burke’s brother, Daniel, is Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois General Assembly.
Calling Black Talk Tony!

RELATED

Tribune: Delays mark CeaseFire's partnership with city

What do you think of CeaseFire partnering with the city to curb violent crime:
A new pilot program that calls for the anti-violence group CeaseFire to partner with the Chicago Police Department in curbing violent crime has struggled to take shape this summer, the group said Monday, because the organization didn't have assurances that its workers would not act as informants for criminal investigations.

It wasn't until Aug. 7, about a month after the pilot program was to have started, that both sides officially agreed in a memorandum of understanding that CeaseFire's "violence interrupters" and other workers would not be required to serve as police informants, according to the group executive director, Tio Hardiman.

"You have enough confidential informants. You don't need CeaseFire in that role," Hardiman said of the police. "The police are doing the lion's share of the work, but at the end of the day we're playing a valuable role."

CeaseFire has secured its funding in the past from the state and county and through federal grants. But its partnership with the Police Department is being funded by a $1 million grant from the city, an unprecedented step in Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Garry McCarthy's efforts to reduce Chicago's homicide rate.
If you want to learn more about CeaseFire here's their official website!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Concerned Citizens of Chatham: Will EZ Pawn Find 8th Ward Residents EZ

Worlee had these comments with regards to the possibility that EZ Pawn may want to find their way back to this part of town:
The 8th ward is represented by Michelle Harris, who is the president pro-tem of the city council. The 8th ward is also the home of the deposed Stroger regime that has recently seen several top lieutenants indicted on corruption charges. The City of Chicago requires the following :post a $1,000 bond with the city, pass a background check, fork over a $1,200 annual fee, and make sure you're located in a building with high-intensity retail zoning. EZ Pawn is feeling pretty good about themselves as the Pawn industry has recruited political insiders from the Hispanic Democratic Organization to grease the way through the city licensing maze. Also, EZ Pawn and competitors have proliferated in Logan Square(http://chicago.everyblock.com/announcements/feb27-pawnshops-boom-logan-square-4776716/#comment-102323). Logan Square went from zero to six in a matter of 2 years. EZ Pawn currently has 7 locations in the City of Chicago, primarily in Hispanic and African American communities.

 While some will argue that pawn shops are innocent businesses, there is a report from a University of Chicago professor that shows emperical data that crime increases as pawn shops increase in a community http://www.law.umich.edu/centersandprograms/lawandeconomics/workshops/Documents/Winter2008/miles.pdf . What do you think? Well, we will find out what 8th ward residents think on Thursday, August 16,2012 at Alderman Harris's community meeting.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Meeting coming up regarding EZ Pawn

Looks like they're trying again in the 8th ward and it's the subject of a meeting with Ald. Michelle Harris on August 16th. Also another meeting to attend a zoning board of appeals hearing on August 17th. Refer to flyer below for more details. Remember last year they sought to move into the former site of the Chatham Pancake House which had been demolished this year.

Hat-tip Greater Chatham Alliance.

2City News: Activists Stage Anti-Violence Book Tour in Englewood

Zack Issacs reports on an event where young people in that community got a free set of books. They even met the author of one of the free books they got!

Using eminent domain to fight foreclosures...

Consider this post a follow-up to a previous post regarding a proposal by Ald. Ed Burke with regards to using eminent domain on those foreclosed properties. I would like to refer you to a comment on this from Black Talk Tony who is a frequent commenter. Do you agree or disagree?

Below is a graphic found over at the Chicago's Woodlawn Community FB page. It shows how eminement domain would be used on foreclosures. Apparently this solution is being proposed in the California cities of Sacremento and San Bernardino. Do you think this is what's needed in Chicago? Black Talk Tony has his opinion, but we're also interested in other comments as well.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Festivals this weekend

Today, (Saturday, August 11) from 10am -4pm, Greater Insitutional A.M.E. Church  at 78th & Indiana has their "God on the Block" festival.




Tomorrow (Sunday, Agust 12), Chatham Feilds Church at 81st & St. Lawrence will hold their own fest from 12 noon to approximately 3pm.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Tribune: Aldermanic power wasting away under new grid garbage system

I suppose this will come to our part of town at some point:
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's move toward the citywide garbage grid threatens to take much of the ward-level garbage control out of City Council members' hands.

The effort was launched in June in a handful of North Side wards then was expanded July 30 on the Northwest Side. Emanuel expects to save $20 million this year by freeing garbage crews from matching their routes to the often twisting borders of the wards.

But aldermen have been loath to give up one of their key powers.

Complicating matters further on the 4500 block of North Kostner is the fact that with the new map that officially takes effect in 2015, the street will become part of the 39th Ward, which Ald. Margaret Laurino represents.

In some cases, aldermen already have begun serving the people whose votes they need in their next election, but Arena said he plans to keep working to make sure the garbage pickup goes smoothly in his entire ward. The grid system, Arena pointed out, should make the ward irrelevant for trash collection purposes.

"We've only had a handful of complaints, and I hope that by next week we'll pretty much have the kinks with the new routes ironed out," he said.
Read the whole thing and then let us know what you think!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

CBS Chicago: Man Shot At 95th Street Red Line Terminal

95th CTA Red Line terminal
How could I have missed this? This pic to the left is from CBS Chicago:
The busy 95th Street CTA Red Line terminal on the city’s South Side turned into a crime scene overnight.

Ninety-fifth Street is the last stop on the Red Line, and it was the scene of a shooting just before midnight Monday night.

A 36-year-old man was shot in the buttocks. He was reported in stable condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
For those of you on the night shifts riding the L, I hope you all are being very careful! Stay safe!

Hat-tip Chicago-L.org!

The Atlantic Cities: A Greener, Safer Empty Lot

Site of the former Rhodes Theater Fall 2009
 Something to consider with vacant lots in our area: 
Vacant lots in neighborhoods can mean trouble. Often overgrown and kind of creepy, these places can be magnets for crime, with tall grasses and bushes that can conceal criminal activity or serve as hiding places for weapons. They may even be good places to stash a body.

But not all empty lots breed crime. New research suggests that vacant lots that are cleaned up and maintained see reduced crime in their immediate surroundings. Cleaning and greening empty lots can even make people feel safer, according to the study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, published this week in the journal Injury Prevention.

The research is based on two separate clusters of vacant lots in Philadelphia – one set that was eventually cleaned up and maintained and one that wasn't. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society helped by removing debris from some sites, planting grass and trees, building fences and doing maintenance every two weeks. The researchers analyzed police records for these areas for the three months before the empty lot greening and the three months after and found a decrease in total crime as well as drops in assaults with and without a gun. Residents living near the greened lots reported feeling significantly safer than those living near the untouched empty lots.
Read the rest!

Ward Room: Voter Cards Reveal Residents' New Wards

Have you all recieved your new voter registration cards?
New voter cards, some indicating new wards and precincts, were mailed Wednesday to about 1.3 million Chicago voters.

It’s one of the first concrete side effects from this year’s ward re-mapping, approved earlier this year. The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said about 300,000 registered voters will be effected and see a change on their cards.
Also:
Since the new City Council was sworn in last May, re-districted Chicagoans may spend three years and three months represented by an alderman for whom they were unable to vote.

The map was not scheduled to take effect until 2015 when aldermen are sworn into office, but residents get an early peek at their new wards as they will be used in the Nov. 6 General Election.
UMMMMMMM, when is the new map supposed to take effect. Ald. Beale who will get more territory when the new map takes effect interrupted Ald. Sawyer at a meeting of the West Chesterfield Community Association back in February with regards to when the map will take effect. Granted the incumbents need to know where they need to campaign or which ward they need to represent. There's still some confusion with when it's supposed to take effect.

Also, there must be no news on any potential legal challenges.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Is there a move to replace Jesse Jacskon Jr.? Maybe or maybe not...

A New York Post article I found via The Ward Room:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. wants his youngest son to succeed his oldest son in Congress, family sources told The Post.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been recovering from depression at an inpatient facility since June 10 — and if he isn’t up to running for reelection in November, the elder Jackson is laying the groundwork for son, Jonathan, 46, to run, sources said.

Jesse Sr., the civil-rights leader and former Democratic presidential candidate, has also taken control of Jesse Jr.’s congressional office, managing media inquiries about the congressman’s health, the sources said.

“The Reverend and Mrs. Jackson have an agenda that may not be Jesse Jr.’s . . . return to Congress,” one source speculated.

“The reverend is getting older and less and less relevant and he wants his legacy to live on in his son Jonathan. He doesn’t control Jesse Jr., who’s very much his own guy. He thinks he’ll have more weight with Jonathan in the position.”
The very same post at Ward Room noted in an update:
Update: Congressman Jackson's spokesman Rick Bryant called the Ward Room this morning and tells us everything in the New York Post story is categorically false.

Reverend Jesse Jackson said: “It’s such a total fabrication ...
“He’s under sound medical treatment ; he is responding.”
Guess what? I found more at The Grio:
Speaking to theGrio on Wednesday, the Jackson camp put on a full-court defense, calling the story “false,” “absurd” and “a fabrication.”

“The story in the Post is false,” the congressman’s chief of staff, Rick Bryant, told theGrio. “Congressman Jackson is running for re-election. He won a primary. He is gearing up to run. All of his supporters are still behind him 100 percent.” Bryant also pushed back against the Post’s sources, who claim Rev. Jackson is essentially running his son’s congressional office.

“They’re so off base, I don’t know where to begin,” Bryant said. “Reverend Jackson has not taken over [Jackson, Jr.'s] office, he’s not managing our media. He has nothing whatsoever to do with running our office. The whole thing is totally absurd.”

Regarding the Post, he added: “I have no idea who their sources are, but they are totally unreliable [and] misinformed.”
You know, there's a lot more mystery here that probably won't be seen in the press.

The Cole Park Classic is back...


This year it's actually known as the Ben Wilson Cole Park Classic. Ben Wilson was the standout Simeon High School star who was murdered during his senior year of high school in 1984. Read more about this event over at Worlee's Concerned Citizen's of Chatham blog. Also for more information refer to the flyer below.

Shooting in Park Manor...

Full report from the Tribune:
A 21-year-old man was critically wounded tonight in a shooting on the South Side in the city's Park Manor neighborhood.

The shooting happened about 7:22 p.m. on the 6700 block of South Langley Avenue, said Police News Affairs Officer Dan O'Brien.

Preliminary reports said the man was standing outside when a van pulled up and someone sitting in the rear of the vehicle opened fire, O'brien said.

The man, who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg, was taken by someone at the scene to the University of Chicago Hospitals where he was listed in critical condition, O'Brien said citing preliminary information.

As of 8:26 p.m., no one was in custody for the attack and police were investigating.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Ruggles PTA casino fundraiser


You are invited to pay a visit to the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan on August 25, 2012. Proceeds will benefit the Ruggles School PTA. Refer to flyer below for more information.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Elgie Sims is sworn in as State Representative

State Rep. Elgie Sims
You might have heard about this because Worlee posted about a reception for newly appointed State Rep. Elgie Sims on our FB page Friday. He replaced Constance Howard who was retiring after the end of her term next but retired suddenly before the end of her term last month. Here's an article from the Examiner:
Residents living in the Illinois’ 34th District, which includes the South Side of Chicago, got a new state representative on August 3.

Democratic nominee Elgie Sims, 41, was sworn into office on Aug. 3 to fill the remaining term of Democratic state Rep. Constance Howard, who abruptly resigned July 9. Howard was already set to retire January 2013 when her term would have expired.

Sims, who is running unopposed, will be sworn to a full, two-year term after the November election. For the time being though, Sims plans to get a head start addressing issues facing his South Side constituents.

“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to complete the term of Representative Howard, who has done so much for Illinois,” Sims told Examiner.com. “There are issues going on in ‘our’ community that needs to be addressed immediately. Those issues are drugs, crime and better education for ‘our’ children.”

And residents use to going to Howard’s former office at 8727 S. State St. will not have to travel far to meet with Sims. He recently moved into her office along with state Sen. Donne Trotter (D-17th District).
Read the rest!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Rev. Jackson: Son has no plans to retire from Congress - Chicago Sun-Times

This was news yesterday and probably a good retort to the report from Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported from CBS2 as was seen on this blog Friday. Certainly many of us can believe Congressman Jackson isn't ready to hang up his political career yet.

Rev. Jackson: Son has no plans to retire from Congress - Chicago Sun-Times
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is not planning to retire from public office as a result of his depression, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday, a day after his daughter-in-law told the Sun-Times the congressman has been “debilitated by depression.”

The elder Jackson icon also said that no time line exists yet for his son’s recovery at the Mayo Clinic. “I can’t chase rumors,” Jackson said after his weekly broadcast at Rainbow PUSH Saturday morning.

Ald. Sandi Jackson told Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed in an exclusive interview Friday that her husband is “completely debilitated by depression.”

“They are now trying to find out if his depression, which has not yet been diagnosed as a bipolar disorder, is connected to the weight-loss surgery. We don’t know,” she told Sneed.

Lights out along 95th Street...

Perhaps this was the result of strong storms from Saturday afternoon. It was quite dark along this stretch this evening. Most of these shots were taken along 95th between Wabash and Michigan Avenue. The street lights were out between State and Indiana.
Looking East near 95th/Wabash

Looking south on 95th towards Abbott Park
Looking west to 95th/State near Michigan Ave
Looking towards Indiana Ave at 95th/Michigan

Friday, August 3, 2012

Home for sale in Roseland Heights

A listing on Trulia for the house above listed at 9820 S. Michigan. It appears to be next door to Jones Hamburgers:
This is a Single-Family Home located at 9820 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL. 9820 S Michigan Ave has 1 bath and approximately 1,106 square feet. The property has a lot size of 3,125 sqft and was built in 1965. The average list price for similar homes for sale is $69,843 and the average sales price for similar recently sold homes is $105,584. 9820 S Michigan Ave is in the Roseland neighborhood in Chicago, IL. The average list price for Roseland is $64,053.
This place is considered by the real estate industry as Roseland, but in fact this area is Roseland Heights. Not to be nitpicky but there are some who are upset that well to many outside of this area no one knows Roseland Heights exist. Also this home is down the street from Harlan High School.

Events for tomorrow

There are two events tomorrow if you know about anymore events for this weekend please let us know. Place a comment in this post, send us an e-mail at blog @ thesixthward.us (or find our e-mail address in our sidebar to the right), send a tweet @thesixthward, or write on our FB page wall.


CBS Chicago: Rep. Jackson Has Considered Ending Political Career

What do you all think of this? Is it time for Jesse Jackson Jr. to give it up and focus on his health?
As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Jackson has not been seen publicly for almost two months. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., says he is there being treated for depression and abdominal issues, and according to a source who talked to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed, Jackson has thought about ending his political career.

The source tells Sneed that Jackson is “very aware his re-election bid is in November,” and is “under intense pressure to make a statement personally about his situation.”

The source also said Jackson’s wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) is under pressure to return to work, Sneed reported.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

"Englewood: The Growing Pains In Chicago"


[VIDEO] Worlee posted onto our FB page about another film which just so happens to be a documentary about one of our local elementary schools entitled The Curators of Dixon School. Information for which I just so happened to post about at one of my other blogs.

Anyway, the Dixon School documentary and this film set in the Englewood neighborhood is to be featured at the 18th annual Black Harvest Film Festival to be held through the month of August at the Art Institute's Gene Siskel Film Center located at 164 N. State Street (click this link on how to get there). Here's more info on this film:
ENGLEWOOD (THE GROWING PAINS IN CHICAGO)

2012, William L. Cochran, USA, 94 min.
With David Cowan, William L. Cochran

The urgency of BOYZ N THE HOOD gets updated to the 2000s and transplanted to the Chicago neighborhood of Englewood in William L. Cochran’s powerful directing debut. Cochran boldly blends humor, romance, tragedy, and hope in this tale of three friends struggling to get through their last year of high school amid street violence, peer pressure, and family dysfunction. Cochran himself tackles the main role of Dennis, whose antisocial behavior conceals a talented poet. His new girlfriend Toya can see through his thug exterior, but her encouragement might not be enough to steer him past disaster. Digital video. (MR)

Director William L. Cochran will be present for audience discussion at both screenings.
This film will be shown at the Siskel Film Center on August 17th at 8:30 PM and August 23rd at 8:15 PM. Refer to the Black Harvest page for more information on the other films to be shown there during the film festival.

Alderman wants to explore fighting foreclosures with eminent domain

From Crain's Chicago Real Estate:
Under a controversial plan pitched by a San Francisco-based investment firm, municipalities and counties would use their eminent domain authority to buy up mortgages that are “underwater,” or exceed the value of the homes securing them. The governments would then reduce the principal owed on the loans and sell them to private investors.

Officials in Southern California and in New York already are considering the idea. Now, Chicago Ald. Edward Burke (14th) wants a joint committee to convene by mid-August to consider whether the city should pursue such tactics.

“This is something that's starting to percolate in all major cities around the country,” said Mr. Burke, the powerful chair of the council's Committee on Finance. “I'd like Chicago to be the first if it's beneficial.”

Mr. Burke and Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) introduced a resolution at the City Council meeting last week calling for a hearing on the matter. A spokeswoman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the mayor's office is reviewing the resolution.
Do you think this is a good idea?

Hat-tip Curbed Chicago.