Ald. Sawyer urges Target to reconsider closing of South Side stores #6WardChicago

A press release sent to us tonight regarding the impending closure of Target. Let's see if this makes a difference.

• Ald. Sawyer urges Target to reconsider closing of South Side stores
  Says corporate divestment will harm South Side community
  
  CHICAGO (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)--Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6), chair of the Black Caucus of the Chicago City Council, denounced in harsh terms the announced decision to close Target’s two South Side stores. The stores are located in Chatham and in Morgan Park.
  
  “Target’s closing of the Chatham store will be a devastating blow to our community.
  
  “This closing will cost our area at least 120 jobs. Although the employer states that employees will be offered the chance to transfer to another Target location, there is no guarantee of employment, and certainly no guarantee that a job with the company will be anywhere near our community.
  
  “It is ironic that these stores will shutter in February, while the chain is putting finishing touches on two new stores on the North Side, in Logan Square and Rogers Park, both of which already have nearby Target stores. Once the Chatham and Morgan Park stores close, the nearest remaining South Side Targets will be at least 5 miles from this community.
  
  “It is disappointing that this giant corporation is not willing to address the serious management issues at this store, and to give our community more time and investment in order to continue the economic recovery and to increase its store’s profitability.
  
  “For all these reasons, I urge Target Corporation to reconsider what amounts to a racially imbalanced policy of development and investment, and keep the South Side Targets in place, rather than abandoning your investment here for the greener pastures of the North Side.”
  
  ###

I also wanted to share this story from CBS 2 with regards to the recently announced closures. Ald. Roderick Sawyer is seen in this video commenting on the closures of the two "Black Target" stores. [VIDEO]

6th Ward Alderman: Bait Truck Sting In Englewood ‘Unacceptable,’

Ald. Roderick Sawyer is chairman of the city council Black Caucus and seem to be very busy. First last weekend's violence, now police using bait trucks to catch offenders:

The chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus denounced a sting operation that used “bait trucks” to try to catch thieves in Englewood, saying it was an “inappropriate use of police resources” and a hearing should be held to get answers.

Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer (6th) called Chicago Police and the Norfolk Southern Railroad on the carpet for the joint operation, which was revealed when video shot by activists went viral this week.

“This bait truck operation is an unacceptable and inappropriate use of police resources,” Sawyer said in a statement. “In a moment where police capacity is clearly under extreme strain, these sort of tactics are the last thing we should be spending manpower and energy on.

“This initiative serves only to undermine already fragile efforts to build trust between law enforcement and the community, and to reinforce counterproductive policies that have contributed to the mass incarceration of Black youth in our city.

More about the viral videos:

One of the two viral videos was shot by activist Charles Mckenzie, who posted it on Facebook. Sawyer personally thanked the 29-year-old Englewood activist for filming the sting “so that it could be laid bare for the public and news media to examine.”

Here are one of those videos which I found in this Block Club Chi article where the police defended their tactics.

Capitol Fax: The Black Caucus response to the city’s mass shootings

Well in addition to Monday's post where the Capitol Fax shares a number of tweets and quotes about the past weekend's gun violence toll he also shares with us a press release from the city council's Black Caucus. The CapFax post was also updated with Crain's Chicago Business Greg Hinz interviewing a few members of the Black Caucus and the chair - being 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer - was quoted by Hinz.

The Black Caucus response to the city’s mass shootings https://t.co/J09mMeiDwf

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 7, 2018

My intention was to post this far earlier, but was away from my computer today and caught up in today's rain!

Although this is worth sharing in this same vein. State Rep. LaShawn Ford was on FOX News yesterday and he wants President Donald Trump to help with the violence in Chicago [VIDEO]

Is it time to bring in federal help for the gun violence in our neighborhoods?

Ald. Sawyer new chairman of the city council Black caucus

6thwardchicago.com

This press release was shared by Aldertrack this afternoon. Here's Ald. Roderick Sawyer's goals as the new chair:

Sawyer said his primary goals as Black Caucus Chair are to increase the percentages of African-American contractors doing business with City government, to improve community-police relations, and to ensure fair access to high-quality public schools in every neighborhood.

 Also consider that this past Monday Rahm Emanuel and the other elected city officials in addition to the city council had been inaugurated. I'm definitely looking for the many changes and realignments on the city council now that everyone is officially in office.

Alderman Sawyer votes no on re-map, but it passes anyway

From Alderman Sawyer's Facebook page (sent via Twitter) on January 19, 2012 @ ~ 11am

I voted No on the map 41-8 #ChiCouncil

So though our alderman voted against it,  it passed anyway (40 alderman were needed to make it happen).

Did any non-aldrmanic citizens get a chance to see the map before it passed?

What are your thoughts, and how does it affect us?  Any way to appeal it?

Edit -- Here are some comment updates on the Facebook post . In addition, Chief of Staff Brian Sleet will send us an official statement in the near future to the blog, and we will post it as soon as psossible.

JP Paulus Thank you for taking the courageous stance. i wish just 2 other alderman had the guts to do so. Was the new map even available to the public to view before the vote???
about an hour ago · Like.


Kenny Williams Why did you vote no?
about an hour ago · Like.


JP Paulus Another question -- how does it affect the ward now?
about an hour ago · Like.


Darlene Perkins Tribue ‎18African American Wards, 13Hispanic, 2Asian,17White. Fioretti voted out out of his ward. It passed.41 to 8 according to ABC news. Is this correct?
about an hour ago · Like.

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer ‎Kenny Williams I voted no because the process was completely disrespectful to me and to our residents.
10 minutes ago · Like.

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer ‎@Darlene yes that is correct... JP we still were not given a full picture of the ward but a part of chatham was removed at the last second.
8 minutes ago · Like

Alderman Sawyer added these tweets ~ 2pm today

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer  I have been, and remain, a public servant and if you need service, I am still available to you.
Like · · @RoderickTSawyer on Twitt · 6 minutes ago via Twitter · .


Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer  I want to be clear, despite the vote on this map, I still represent the traditional communities of the 6th Ward and welcome my new residents

Also, Joe Lake on Facebook (of the Chicago Chatham Connection group) provided a link to the City Clerk's office regarding the legislation. There is a pdf attachment that includes a wordy description of the borders, and a vague map that gives you a general feel, but it is difficult to see exact streets, and how this affects ward block-by-block

Why It's Time for Chatham to Reach Out and Make Friends With Republicans.

Concerned Citizens of Chatham:

So my strategy to stop the dismantling of the 6th ward, by the Black Caucus is to reach out to the Republicans and hear their proposals. Since the Black Caucus is hell bent on saving a couple of slack alderman who may or may not support them in a tight vote( Remember Ike Corruthers). The rogue community groups on the western end have probably already reached out to the Hispanic Caucus. Do we have a chose? Why won't the Black Caucus sacrifice a couple of districts and move on. Frankly, if the person is someone who should be an Alderman their constituents irregardless of race will support them. Alderman Walter Burnett and former Alderman Thomas Murphy proved my point. Maybe after the Black Caucus sees the Republicans are interested, maybe they will come to their senses.

Very interesting possibility. Worlee even admits Republicans in Chicago aren't particularly significant in fact there are none on the city council currently. Unless, they look at the numbers and see that the very southern edge of this ward has the vote numbers (as Ald. Sawyer has stated numerous times) perhaps they may pay attention.

Suggested Ward Map revealed by Black Caucus

Fomer 6th Ward Alderman Fredrenna Lyle posted on her Facebook page a link to Maze Jackson's blog which announced the news of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus' proposed ward re-map.

What is noted is that 1 black ward was lost in the process.

A quick reading of the map showed some interesting things:

• The 6th Ward (which this blog covers) now has up to 5 wards with influence in the Chatham community area
• Englewood will be represented by "only" 5 wards (Thanks to RAGE for the heads up)
• Also, in regads to Englewood, more of it would be represented by the 6th ward
• Northeast side wards such as the 46th, 48th, 49th & 50th retain as only one community area as their main base (Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge, respectively).

This is the link to the blog entry.

here's a picture of the re-map

What are your thoughts on the proposed re-map? How would things change for you?

Black, Latino aldermen press Quinn to sign casino bill

Chicago Breaking News (of the Chicago Tribune) posted this news story

Latino and African American aldermen today prodded Gov. Pat Quinn to sign legislation that would allow Chicago to get a casino.


The City Council members said a casino would help create badly needed jobs for the city’s minorities because it would provide immediate construction work and eventual gambling jobs. And it would create other jobs over the long haul, they said, because Emanuel has promised to pump the casino’s profits into upgrading the city’s water mains, CTA lines, schools and roads.

More at...  Black, Latino aldermen press Quinn to sign casino bill

While the SEIU greatly exaggerated Alderman Sawyer's response to a questionaire in the many many pieces of propaganda, how strongly is he in support of this? How about our state representatives and senator?

And how much are YOU in support of gambling in Chicago?

Look for an opinion piece on this soon.