Found this via CapFax with the comment: "If you want to see a prime example of a Chicago politician who doesn’t
understand that new jobs and development on the West Side are vitally
important, click here"
Now what is Rich Miller talking about? Off to the article itself:
Declaring that kids are more important than developers, Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin today moved to at least temporarily block plans to rebuild the old Cook County Hospital until the county finds more money to prevent gang violence.So is Boykin an example of a grandstanding politician? Or is he doing the right thing here?
But County President Toni Preckwinkle immediately vowed to press ahead with the massive, $500-million-plus proposal to bring a hotel, apartments, shops and more to the Near West Side, a top priority for her administration. And Boykin hinted that he's not interested in obstructing the project as much as using it as leverage to fund things like summer jobs for unemployed youth in his West Side District.
In a news conference attended by several dozen chanting protestors, Boykin said if Preckwinkle can find the time and energy to get the hospital plan under way, she also can get the money needed to help keep young people out of trouble.
"I don't have any problems with redevelopment. But we had 50 people shot and eight killed this last weekend" Boykin said. "Our house is on fire. . . .It's a question of priorities."
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