CapFax: Chicago’s population plunge has stopped

I've thought about this in terms of the next ward remap. What you see over at CapFax is that the city is gaining over 10,000 people in the past decade. Rich Miller contends that the increase could be far worse given the past.

Probably something worth looking at for our new mayor.

Chicago’s population plunge has stopped https://t.co/N40oOBaDZp

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 23, 2019

Mayor Lori Lightfoot

[VIDEO] As of Monday Chicago has a new mayor in Lori Lightfoot. Last month she defeated county board president Toni Preckwinkle to occupy city hall's fifth floor as mayor of Chicago succeeding Rahm Emanuel.

Emanuel I hear already has a new gig as a contributing editor to The Atlantic and a contributor to ABC News.

Meanwhile we're already two days into Lightfoot's mayorality and is already busy putting her staff into place. She also attempting to chip away at Aldermanic prerogative.

Above is her inaugural address from Monday, which is one speech I never had a chance to fully follow. It's just about 40 minutes so it's a long haul to follow. I'm curious about her agenda as mayor for the next four years.

Curbed Chicago: Rahm Emanuel’s top accomplishments as mayor of Chicago

Rahm Emanuel is leaving office soon and last week Curbed Chicago wrote about some of his accomplishments. Of course they still look at some of the issues that remain.

With this said, best wishes to the new Mayor Lori Lightfoot as she tackles some of he pressing issues of our city. As always for the Windy City, hoping for the best!

Rahm Emanuel’s top accomplishments as mayor of Chicago https://t.co/EXkDUmB0ad pic.twitter.com/TAZtz4t4n5

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) May 17, 2019

Metra upgrades and slashing Metra Electric fares...

[VIDEO] As there is a bill being proposed in Springfield that would fares on the Metra Electric line in the city, perhaps I should share this story. This aired on CBS Chicago on May 9, 2019 and was shot at the Metra station at 115th Street or in Metra parlance Kensington. It illustrates the need for upgrades to Metra stations.

The aforementioned bill to cut fares to ride the Metra Electric line within the city limits is designed to make riding that route within the city a more attractive option and was introduced by local state representative Marcus Evans (D - 33rd District). From the Tribune on May 7, 2019:

The bill, introduced by Illinois State Rep. Marcus Evans, Jr., a Democrat, would set fares for Metra Electric trips within the city as equal to CTA rail fares, which are $2.50 at the regular rate. Metra Electric fares within the city currently range from $4 to $5.50 for a single ride.

South Side community activists have long discussed converting the Metra Electric line, which runs from downtown into the south suburbs, into a rapid-transit line with more frequent stops to make up for a lack of rapid transit options on the far South Side.

“It’s a quality-of-life issue,” said Linda Thisted, co-chair of the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric, which supports the bill. “A lot of people can’t afford Metra Electric fares so they take really slow buses. This could transform the South Side and the South Shore.”
...
Expansion of South Side service through Metra could be less expensive than a parallel expansion of the CTA’s Red Line south from 95th Street to 130th Street, which will cost about $2.3 billion. The CTA is planning the extension, though it does not yet have the money to pay for it.

Metra said it was willing to discuss the proposal, which also would allow Metra Electric riders to use the Ventra card to get on the train.

“We would look forward to working with Rep. Evans and others to determine whether doing this is feasible and affordable,” said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.

On The Table at Urban Partnerhip Bank THIS Tuesday

I apologize for this late post, as the information was sent much earlier.

But if you are able to attend, there is at least one open On The Table event in the Chatham area.

If you have additoinal #OnTheTable events, or want to report on yours AFTER the event, contact us at blog+blog@thesixthward.us

Here is the press release for the event

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Nonprofit Utopia, Providence Bank Invite Local Stakeholders to Write a Memo to the Mayor

Nonprofit Utopia, the ideal community for emerging leaders, and Providence Bank & Trust will host a meetup, On the Table: Memo to the Mayor on May 14, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at Urban Partnership Bank. The bank is located at 7801 South State Street in Chicago. Guests will write a memo to the Mayor, reflecting the results of each table’s conversation, including collective points-of-view; recommendations and ways the Mayor and her administration may address problems, make something better or otherwise follow up.

The target communities for discussion include Chatham, Avalon, Auburn-Gresham, West Chesterfield, Park Manor and Greater Grand Crossing. Guests will break out into 4 groups to discuss issues of concern as they relate to how Mayor Lightfoot can implement policies for individuals around investment and wealth creation; economic development; job creation and affordable housing and related policies.

"Every idea is important", said Valerie F. Leonard, the Founder of Nonprofit Utopia, LLC. "Therefore, our memo will take into account all the ideas shared On the Table". Depending on the pleasure of the group assembled, the memo can be made up of words only; it might include a photo; a vision board; it might even include a poem. It is the guests' opportunity to cast a vision for their local community.

On the Table is sponsored by the Chicago Community Trust, and is a daylong civic conversation involving thousands of people all across Chicago and neighboring communities. All events will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at times convenient to local groups. Friends, co-workers and even strangers gather that day for mealtime conversations about topics that matter to them. This year’s theme is Memo to the Mayor.

Learn more about Nonprofit Utopia at https://nonprofitutopia.mn.co and www.nonprofitutopia.com.

Learn more about Providence Bank & Trust at https://www.providence.bank. Providence Bank & Trust is a Member of the FDIC and is an Equal Housing Lender.

Learn more about On the Table events at http://onthetable.com.

Photo: Hurley Green, III

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-the-table-discussion-with-nonprofit-utopia-and-providence-bank-trust-tickets-60304042013

On the Table Discussion with Nonprofit Utopia and Providence Bank & Trust Tickets, Tue May 14, 2019 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite Eventbrite - Valerie F. Leonard presents On the Table Discussion with Nonprofit Utopia and Providence Bank & Trust - Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at Urban Partnership Bank, Chicago, IL. Find event and ticket information. www.eventbrite.com

On the Table Discussion with Nonprofit Utopia and Providence Bank & Trust Tickets, Tue May 14, 2019 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite Eventbrite - Valerie F. Leonard presents On the Table Discussion with Nonprofit Utopia and Providence Bank & Trust - Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at Urban Partnership Bank, Chicago, IL. Find event and ticket information. www.eventbrite.com

Valerie F. Leonard 

Founder, Nonprofit Utopia

Phone: 773-571-3886

E-mail:   valeriefleonard@nonprofitutopia.com Website: https://nonprofitutopia.mn.co

Podcasts: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nonprofitutopia

Coming Soon: Capacity Building Blocks Online

Capitol Fax: Lightfoot, Rush appear to move on from the past #ChiMayor19

Lightfoot will take her place on city hall's 5th floor on May 20, 2019 and we're already seeing some indication of her relationship with some of Chicago's US Congressmen (or Congresswomen). Today we talk about her future relationship with 1st Congressional District congressman Bobby Rush who made some very racial incendiary remarks about Lightfoot before she won last month's runoff election for mayor.

Read about it at CapFax

Lightfoot, Rush appear to move on from the past https://t.co/Dx7uMlYTGd

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 9, 2019

Rant: Community Organizations and the 6th Ward

Worlee Glover shared this rant on Concerned Citizens of Chatham yesterday. Is there truly a disconnect in the 6th Ward between say the western part of the 6th Ward and the eastern part? Basically between say Englewood & Chatham?

Capitol Fax: Senate income tax roundup

This was posted to the CapFax yesterday. A roundup of coverage for the state senate passing Gov. Pritzker's plan for a graduated or progressive income tax. How many of you know that Illinois' income taxes are flat? I never realized the political implications of attempting to insure a graduated or progressive income tax in this state.

The flat rate had been increased in this state in 2017 and earlier in 2011 which was allowed to expire in 2014. And if you've followed Pritzker's campaign for Governor last year he's always talked about insuring that the high-income earners - or the rich - pay their fair share in this state.

BTW, it should be noted to change the flat tax to a graduated tax on income. It requires a constitutional amendment so one of the bills that passed the state senate allows whether or not to change the constitution for this will go through the state house and ultimately we'll see it on the ballot in the next election. The curiosity is what will the state's voter's decide on this issue.

Senate income tax roundup https://t.co/lb8QdcKvtm

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 2, 2019