Saturday, August 31, 2019

IL Channel: Can Mayor Lightfoot Find a Way to Save Chicago?

[VIDEO] From our state public affairs network Illinois Channel. Executive Director Terry Martin & the host of cable TV's Public Affairs Jeff Berkowitz talk about Mayor Lori Lightfoot's recent state of the city speech. One of the more talked about aspects of her speech is regarding the city's budget deficit. Vid duration is about 30 minutes.

You can read a couple of posts about that at CapFax

This one from yesterday
And this one from Thursday

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Jalen Shelton from Morehouse College has been found safe

I got wind of this missing person's report on the radio yesterday WBBM-AM radio. Then saw this post from AUC Cam on ig.
The good news is that according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution Mr. Shelton has been found safe. He was said to be unfamiliar with the Chicago area and it was reported that he left Morehouse just as the school year was starting in Atlanta to take a sudden flight to Chicago. The reports above noted the he wandered from his father's home near 72nd and Ashland.

Either way glad he's been found safe.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Sexual assaults in Greater Grand Crossing #6WardChicago

[VIDEO] The report you see above is Jim Williams of CBS 2 in Greater Grand Crossing at 77th & Langley talking about a string of sexual assualts in the area. Here's more from the Tribune:
Investigators believe one man may be responsible for all of the attacks, said Cmdr. Ozzie Valdez of the Area Central detective division. In each attack, the man lured the women to a secluded area. There was a conversation between the assailant and each woman before the assaults took place, Valdez said. During each assault, the assailant took out either a gun or a knife and stole the woman’s personal property.

“What we do ask is that everyone be cautious when they are out in that area … if they have to be out that they should be out with others and not be alone," Valdez said. They should try to be in areas that are well lit, and just be cognizant of their surroundings.

The attacks occurred on the:

• 7700 block of South Langley Avenue about 2 p.m. Friday.
• 7400 block of South King Drive about midnight Aug. 6.
• 7400 block of South Vernon Avenue about 5:30 a.m. July 25.
• 7600 block of South Evans Avenue around 5 a.m. July 12.

The man was described as African American, with black hair, 20 to 30 years old, 5-foot-8 to 6-foot-3 and 130 to 160 pounds. The man was last seen in the 6700 block of South Prairie Avenue, wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts and gym shoes, according to police, who did not specify when he was seen on that block.
The first time I got wind of these assaults was from the instagram page for Alderman Sawyer. Great way of getting some necessary immediate updates.




A post shared by 6 Ward Chicago (@6wardchicago) on

Monday, August 26, 2019

Mayor Lightfoot's first 100 days

[VIDEO] She discusses her first 100 days in office with this video from the Sun-Times. She made her comments at a press conference at a west side elementary school this morning.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Sun-Times: Why tearing down Englewood to save it hasn’t worked

Sun-Times:
From 2008 through 2018, 861 buildings were razed in Englewood. In West Englewood — Racine Avenue is the dividing line for the two neighborhoods that together make up what’s known in the area as Greater Englewood — the number was 829.

Those are the second- and third-most demolitions of any community area in Chicago. About 74% of the structures that came down were owned by the city.

The only area with more demolitions in that period was West Town, with 933.

But West Town also saw 1,400 new-construction permits issued over the past decade — far more than in Englewood and West Englewood, which together had just 140. The number of permits in greater Englewood accounted for less than 1% of all that were issued citywide.
There's a video to this also [VIDEO]
Karl Mables, 30, who has lived in the 6400 block of South Honore Street for most of his life, discusses the number of vacant lots in his neighborhood, Englewood, on the South Side, Wednesday, July 3, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Capitol Fax: “Chicago has more lead on average than Flint, Mich., during its 2015 water crisis”

Basically it started with testing of homes on Chicago's south side that has lead service lines connected with their homes. Check it out on CapFax
As an added bonus, there are issues with lead in University Park as also seen in a posting at CapFax on Monday.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Chicago Tonight: DJ Booth at 95th Red Line Station Offers More Than Free Music

On Monday, Chicago Tonight did a story about that DJ booth located within the massive newly reconstructed 95th street red line terminal. I've seen it in action and heard the music with a DJ performing their craft. What do you all think of the booth? Do you stop near the booth and dance before continuing your journeys to and from the terminal.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Who else isn't running for re-election? #twill

It seems we've had two significant political stories this week. One of which is certainly more immediate and important the other not so much.

Dorothy Brown is the circuit court clerk who attempted to run for mayor earlier this year and even participated in some candidate forums. Unfortunately she was knocked off the ballot due to petition challenges. Also it doesn't help when authorities have been looking at the activities of her office.

Regardless she won't be running for re-election next year. In the post at CapFax we not only see a story about her stepping down after 2020, we see a comment by a former challenger Jacob Meister. I wonder if he's running again...
I also wanted to share this exit interview from CBS 2 of Dorothy Brown [VIDEO]

Probably not as important and it hasn't so far been mention by Rich Miller who runs CapFax involves Jesse White. White has been our Secretary of State for over 20 years. The last two elections it was "teased" that he might retire only to run one more time.

Even though the next election for that office is in 2022, it's already being "teased" that he won't run again. Since it's relatively early to discuss election plans for 2022 and knowing that he may change his mind and run again - although he's in his 80s - I get the feeling that this report isn't being taken very seriously.

Although who knows, I'd like to know who'd be willing to take on that role after White's long tenure over among other parts of state gov't issuing our driver's licenses...

Monday, August 12, 2019

Tribune: Blue Cross to bring 550 jobs to South Side, with opening of new center in former Target location

It's great to see one of the two Target stores that closed earlier this year will soon find a new use:
Blue Cross has leased a nearly 130,000-square-foot space that formerly housed a Target at 119th Street and Marshfield Avenue in Morgan Park, the health insurance company announced Monday.

Part of the facility will be offices for Blue Cross workers, and part of it will be used to help people in the community — and not just those with Blue Cross health insurance — such as by offering free yoga or nutrition classes.

The new center is expected to open in the first half of next year.

“It makes us more accessible to our employees who live across Chicagoland and Cook County,” said Jill Wolowitz, vice president of government relations and community affairs at the health insurer. “It makes us more visible and accessible to our members who live throughout Chicago, and we’re looking forward to providing some economic stimulus in a significant South Side neighborhood.”

Most of the 550 jobs will be new ones, but the company is still working out what type of jobs will be included, Wolowitz said.

The company plans to recruit for many of those new jobs from the surrounding communities, through job fairs and other local opportunities, she said.

What do you think of Mariano's?

I'm posting this because over the years some people on the south side whether in Englewood (before the Whole Foods Market opened) and perhaps even residents in South Shore were looking for a Mariano's to come in. I wonder if there is a change of perception as far as Marino's now that they now owned by Kroger's as explored in this roughly 20 min podcast from Crain's Chicago Business:
And here's another article from Crain's:
Many of the changes reflect Kroger's efforts to boost profitability and meet a new challenge from Amazon, which in 2017 acquired Whole Foods, a rival to Mariano's in the premium grocery market. Mariano's changing profile also reflects the influence of former parent company Roundy's, a Milwaukee-based operator of low-end stores like Pick 'n Save.

For a while after Kroger took over, the Milwaukee and Chicago chains continued to operate autonomously, with former Mariano lieutenants Don Rosanova and Don Fitzgerald overseeing the Mariano's stores. That changed in September 2018 when Kroger consolidated leadership teams in the Wisconsin-based unit in a cost-cutting move. Fitzgerald and Rosanova were both gone by year-end.

"If there hadn't been the pressure from Milwaukee, the business could have been run better," Bishop says. "They are subject to the budgetary pressures of the folks in Cincinnati."

"Mariano's continues to innovate and lead in this space, and the larger Kroger organization is bringing elements of our programs into other banners to accelerate their Restock Kroger initiatives," a Mariano's spokeswoman says.
How many of you still want to attract a Mariano's store to other parts of the south side? Also note that Food 4 Less is also part of the Kroger family along with Mariano's.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Capitol Fax: President Trump “I’m thinking about commuting [Rod Blagojevich’s] sentence very strongly”

While Rich Miller is actually on break right now he's been following the major news stories affecting Illinois. I felt the need to mention this since we did follow Blagojevich's impeachment and removal from the office of Governor.

Who knows how popular this might be for most of you, but would you be OK with President Trump possibly commuting Blagojevich's federal sentence for corruption?

78th & Halsted back in 1911 #tbt

Photo via Chicago History Today

It's really fascinating to see some of the locales on the south side and how they used to look years ago. This time we look at 78th & Halsted which should be across the street from the Gresham District police HQ.

The above photo is from Chicago History Today which stated:
 In 1911 the Auburn Gresham neighborhood was Irish American.  The commercial building on the left side of the photo houses a pharmacy and a tailor.  Across 78th Street another commercial building has a first-floor tavern.  Down the block the tower of the new St. Leo Catholic Church is visible.
And of course as happens things change and while you may see some of the buildings remain from the photograph today, you see what has changed. I'll let you go to see the change and read what John Schmidt writes about the changes.

It's safe to say that the police HQ which he doesn't note was very new having been built in the last decade.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Dr. Carl Bell R.I.P

Though not mentioned in the linked article from WTTW, Dr. Bell was head of the now closed Community Mental Health Council. He sought to do research on the affects of witnessing violence on children. Now that he's gone, who will carry on his necessary work? He fulfilled a need that was necessary.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Back to School event -- for ADULTS!!!

Some information from The SIxth Ward blog's friend, Zack Isaacs.

We want to announce a back to school event -- but not for the kids. Rather, it is for adults who need to finish their education, whether for high school, associate's or bachelor's degree.

Meet at the Greater Grand Crossing Libaryary, 1000 E. 73rd Street (73rd and South Chicago).

The tme and date is Saturday August 3, from2:30pm to 4:30pm.

Contact Zack with questions or to RSVP at 708-629-1933 .

More information at www.facebook.com/giftedtree


We hope you can make it out there!