Capitol Fax: Unclear on the concept

Gov. Bruce Rauner was at Chicago State University yesterday. In reality I know about this thanks to this tweet:

"Let's calm down, please" CSU Provost says after she introduces Rauner and the Chicago State crowd boos him

— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) May 11, 2017

And then today Rich Miller further opines on the scene at Chicago State yesterday.

We already know why though the budget stalemate has affected public universities in Illinois. We also know Chicago State has been struggling with or without the budget stalemate.

 I can only imagine if the CSU Faculty Voice has anything to say about Rauner's visit.

Vallas to run Chicago State University

On Friday over at the Capitol Fax we were given an idea on how Paul Vallas would run Chicago State University. Seems look a good plan.

Let's remember Vallas was formerly the CEO of Chicago's Public Schools and after leaving Chicago lead other urban school districts and came back to become former Gov. Pat Quinn's candidate for Lt. Governor in 2014. Unfortunately Quinn didn't win his bid for re-election.

Now as we consider the strong possibility that Vallas could run Chicago State there is opposition. A group of Black leaders expressed their opposition. For example 6th Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer spoke on this issue.

"I just don't know what value he adds to this university, that's my concern," said Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th. "I don't even know what a crisis intervention specialist means. I can understand it, but I would like to see a defined description of what that looks like and what he's supposed to do. Is he usurping the president's authority and powers? Is he adding to that? Has he got a specific task in mind?"

In the meanwhile it appears Vallas is coming whether anyone likes it or not:

Chicago State University trustees will vote on potential leadership changes at a Monday morning meeting, where it is widely expected ex-Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas will be given a top administrative role.

The board is convening for a special session, which was added to the schedule amid a frenetic week of rumors and political wrangling.

What exact responsibilities Vallas could assume are not clear. Nor is it known how any changes in upper administration will affect the job of interim President Cecil B. Lucy, who has led the university since September. But the shift comes as Gov. Bruce Rauner ramps up efforts to engineer a turnaround at the beleaguered Far South Side university by handing direct control over to his political rival-turned-ally.

I wonder what the good folks at the CSU Faculty Voice are saying about Vallas coming over to shake things up.

Here's one indication of what they think. Not in favor of Vallas, however, they want Chicago State to be treated as a state university not a political ward. I strongly agree!

Education protests today

A messge forwarded to us from Leslie Honore of Greater Chtrham Alliance. This ws originlly sent by Sharon Banks-Pincham Harlan High School LSC Member

Let us know of your own story or opinion about the state of education in our community.
---

Subject: ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR CITYWIDE DAY OF ACTION: FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016

Below is the plan of action for Harlan. 

This plan is being conducted in concert with many other unions who are
being effected by the political onslaught of Governor Rauner and Mayor
Emanuel to dismantle the union structure in the name of "balancing the budgets"

Over the next few days, you may be hearing about the actions on April 1st taking place across the City that emphasize the disrespect and disregard for;

Students from Pre-K to PhD by not providing a  fair funding formula for all students in Illinois to the withholding of MAP grant monies to state run university students. 

Fair wages for the workers at McDonalds, 

Moving of jobs from the United States to Mexico (Nabisco)

The building and expansion of prisons instead of schools in Illinois as well selling off public education to the private sector.

The lack of pension funding because City and State governments did not pay their portion and used the taxes  to fund those pensions with the promise to pay it back......over more than 20 years.........and never did. 

WE NEED EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS DAY OF ACTION.  IT EFFECTS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AND WE NEED TO STAND UP NOW!!!!!

The current plan for Friday April 1, 2016 is: teachers meet at 8 a.m.
at Harlan to picket for an hour; at about 9 a.m. teachers who are
physically able will walk to Chicago State; teachers who are unable to
make the walk will drive to Chicago State at 9:30; we will converge at
the Student Union Building at 10:00 a.m. for a rally at CSU; a teach
in will be conducted from 10:00 a.m. until just after 12 noon; CTU,
CSU faculty and community organizations (West Chesterfield, Rosemoor, etc.,)will rally at noon and march back to Harlan; Harlan teachers can get their cars and drive downtown (actually) the lot near Cermak and Wentworth is recommended with a Red Line ride to State and Lake;

others may elect to catch the 95th Street Red Line with CSU faculty to
go downtown; CTU and other unions will gather at the State of Illinois
(Thompson) building located at Randolph and Clark.

By the way, the Thompson building is a public building. There is a
food court on the lower level offering a variety of foods.

If you arrive a little early, grab something to eat. The food court
starts shutting down around 3p.m. The downtown "Shut Down Chicago-Fund Our Schools" rally at the Thompson building will run from about 3 or 4 until around 6.

All are welcome to call or email (sherry8750@yahoo.com) if there are questions or concerns.

Sharon Banks-Pincham
Harlen LSC Member

Community Job Fair April 8, 2015

We recieved this notice via e-mail from the office of State Representative Elgie Sims.

CTA Holiday Bus on King Drive THIS Saturday and Thursday

There's a rough schedule for the #3 route Holiday Bus!

12/6 – Sat*	#3 King Drive	10:30am from Ontario/Fairbanks 2:30pm from Chicago State U./95th 3:25pm from Ontario/Fairbanks Photo stop at 95th/Chicago State U. 12:15pm –1:15 pm
12/9 – Tue	#3 King Drive	12:30pm from Chicago State U./95th 2:25pm from Ontario/Fairbanks 4:45pm from Chicago State U./95th

JP Paulus & his family hope to be there!

More details at the CTA Holiday Bus web page!

Bronzeville & Lakeside cut from consideration for a Presidential library

44th President Official Portrait

Lynn Sweet at the Sun-Times lets us know two sites in Chicago - Bronzeville & Lakeside - are out of consideration to host an Obama Presidential library. That leaves Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago and the most likely candidate the University of Chicago. However, nothing on Chicago State University or even the Pullman neighborhood who also hoped to host a future Chicago-based Presidential library. Does anyone have an further information?

Important Community Meeting TONIGHT - 6pm at Chicago State

We just received the following e-mail from Michael LaFargue of the West Chesterfield Community Association. They are meeting TONIGHT, and the e-mail lists the details as to the importance of the meeting, and a crime where we need to be extra vigilant.

SEE THIS REPORT FROM ABC 7 CHICAGO regarding this incident - Levois

In addition with also have a community alert from the police, at this link -->  https://www.dropbox.com/s/07mgm0gyp5vf96o/CA-620-14-016%5B1%5D%205thDistrict%20CSA.pdf?dl=0

---

To: Community Leaders

From: WCCA1956

Re: EMERGENCY MEETING

Community Safety Alert Attached

As you are aware, a Chicago State University student was sexually assaulted at her automobile yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) at 98th and Indiana.

This occurrence is of grave concern to the community and Chicago State University.

I have been asked to contact Community Association presidents and other concerned leaders to a meeting in the office of President Wayne Watson to address this issue.

The meeting will be held this evening (Thursday) in the President’s office at Chicago State University, 9501 South King Drive at 6:00pm. (3rd Floor, Cook Administration Building.

Please adjust your schedule to attend and add your voice.

Thanking you in advance for your attention and attendance this evening.

Sincerely

Michael LaFargue

CSU Presidential Library Support Requested

We were aware of some meetings regarding the future Barack Obama Presidential Library as it pertains to Chicago State University. While Mayor Rahm Emanuel is encouraging a single bid for the city to become home to a library many sites in Chicago are seeking one especially the President's former employer University of Chicago.

You can check out Curbed Chicago's coverage of Obama's Presidential Library Chicago State's bid for the library. The contents of the e-mail you will see below.

Two meetings coming up today

I apologize for this short notice. I've been knowing about the meeting for the Red Line extension but have been seemingly slow on this trigger. I'm sure it was mentioned here, but if it wasn't then perhaps it wasn't at the forefront of my mind as I thought.

The information here was added with a note expressing the importance of showing strong attendance numbers. Hopefully that could make the news and even without that at least more people will know and talk about this project.

BTW, the Tribune made note of today's open house meeting so it's certainly getting some press. Perhaps more if people show up to it!

CTA - RED LINE EXTENSION ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN HOUSE MEETING

CTA is be ready to share their preliminary findings with the public at this Red Line Extension open house in May 13 2014.

 

After incorporating public feedback from the open house, the Draft EIS (Environmental Impact Study) will be published in 2015.

• Learn more about the proposed alternatives
• Hear about anticipated project benefits and impacts
• Have the opportunity to provide feedback 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Palmer Park Gymnasium

201 E. 111th Street

Chicago, IL 60628

 

http://www.transitchicago.com/redeis/

And Chicago State University has a meeting regarding their bid for President Obama's Presidential Library:

Please join a new dynamic in Community Cultural Exchange.

Chicago State University is bidding for a chance to bring the Barack Obama Library to
the Southside.

Presidential Libraries are traditionally housed in Universities and they bring amazing value.

CSU Needs Your IMMEDIATE INPUT!!

Our current President’s career as a Political Organizer began in Roseland.

CSU is in the footprint or president Obama's path from Roseland, to the Presidency of the United States of America.

THIS BID with YOUR INPUT could be worth $500,000,000 in improvements to our community.

CSU needs you on their Executive Advisory Community Board.

Let’s bring the Barack Obama Library to the Southside.

Please join us for a lite working supper:

Tuesday May 13, 2014 at 6 p.m. Chicago State University New Academic Library 4th Floor Auditorium 9501 South King Drive at St Lawrence Ave Entrance

RSVP: Wanda Wright –email: wwright @ csu.edu  

( Parking will be provided to those that RSVP only. )

Again sorry for the late notice of these events, however, I hope that you would be able to attend one if not both of these very important meetings this evening.

CapitolFax: GOP Leaders are “Nay” to Obama library

CapitolFax.com

We've been talking about a presidential library for Pres. Obama for quite a while now. At that point all we know is that if Chicago will be home to an Obama library he wants a unified bid. We don't yet know where this library will be located although a number of sites are seeking to be the home especially Hyde Park, Pullman and even Chicago State University.

Now there is a debate in Springfield regarding this library. House Speaker Michael Madigan wants to appropriate state funds for the library, however, we learned that Republican members of the General Assembly are opposed.

Crain's: Race for Obama library gets serious

We've been writing about this for a while. The library could very well find it's way to Hyde Park which is the Obama's home neighborhood. As stated before it would be cool for it to be located at Chicago State University and they also want to be the site of the library. Time will only tell however. Via Crain's

The bidding war for President Barack Obama's presidential library is expected to formally get underway next week.

Chicago, where the president spent his early career, is vying to put it somewhere on the South Side. New York, where he went to college, and his birthplace of Hawaii are also contenders. Like other presidential libraries, it's expected to be a big draw for tourists and create other economic spinoffs.

House Speaker Michael Madigan underscored Chicago's thirst for the project with a bill introduced yesterday that would steer $100 million in capital development funds to help build the library and museum.

The first step, a request for qualifications, was supposed to be issued in February and is said to “imminent,” now targeted for release by the end of next week. The RFQ will explain the basic elements and criteria for the site selection process, according to the library's organizers.

“This process takes longer than you might think,” said a spokeswoman for the Barack H. Obama Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit headed by three longtime friends and advisers the president appointed in January to raise money for the library.

After qualifications are submitted, the foundation plans to select recipients of a request for proposal coming out in May, with announcement of the winning bidder in early 2015.

AP: Multiple groups vie for Obama's Presidential Library

President Barack Obama

The AP has a story about the many groups here in Chicago who are vying for their particular insitutions or neighborhoods to become home of the President's future library. Those sites include Bronzeville, Chicago State University, University of Chicago, Pullman, and even that former US Steel site on the southeast lakefront. In the case of Chicago State and Pullman:

There are also two potential bids on the Far South Side, one led by Chicago State University and the other by a group promoting the historic Pullman neighborhood. It was in those areas that Obama established his earliest roots in the city as a community organizer in the mid-1980s, setting up job training programs and defending the rights of public housing tenants.
...
The Far South Side is a longshot given its distance from downtown, lack of transportation options and the gang violence that persists there.

And presidential libraries aren't guaranteed to lift the local economy.

So far the main competitors are:

The main point of tension is between the University of Chicago, where Obama spent 12 years as a constitutional law professor until his 2004 election to the U.S. Senate, and a group advocating for Bronzeville, the city's historic center of black culture, business and politics.

"They think that they can get whatever they want," Bronzeville organizer Harold Lucas said of the university. "If you compare the cranes in the sky and that opulent growth of this university to the surrounding, predominantly African-American community, it's a travesty. It's a clear tale of two cities."

Lucas and other critics of the university's bid say the school has been secretly working its White House connections at the expense of a plan that would benefit more of the city and honor the black community's role in electing the nation's first black president.

For its part, the university says it wants to work with neighbors on a plan to build the library off-campus in a part of the South Side where it can spur development. A university spokesman declined to comment beyond the school's previous statements. 

We already know that Mayor Emanuel wants to submit only a unified bid for Obama's Presidential Library so the various groups need to come up with a good bid. And bear in mind one point of this article, "presidential libraries aren't guaranteed to life the local economy". That being said the library could easily either go to Hawaii where Presient Obama was born or to New York so time will only tell if Chicago will eventually succeed in its bid.

SUN-TIMES: Chicago to make unified bid for Obama presidential library

Well this is a great idea to post a single bid, however, that means the many universities or neighborhoods who are vying to be the site for a Presidential libraries would have to make their own pitches. It sounds fair of course, but then hey there's no guarantee it'll be in Chicago anyway.

Chicago is going to make one unified bid for President Barack Obama’s Presidential Library and Museum, with the University of Chicago and other city schools not making solo plays, Mayor Rahm Emanuel told me Thursday.

“We are going to run a process. But my goal is to have the City of Chicago, with its major educational institutions, have a single proposal,” Emanuel said.

“I don’t expect us to win this based on some sentiment toward the city,” Emanuel said.

As for his pitch to Obama, “I will remind him about his roots in Chicago, but I expect us to be as a city and as university systems competitive and to be very competitive in our proposal to have it come to Chicago.”

I have handicapped Obama’s library/museum as the University of Chicago’s to lose given its very close ties to the Obama family and its long list of wealthy potential donors in the Obama orbit.

With Emanuel moving to consolidate the city’s resources for a bid, University of Chicago has little choice but to forge an alliance with Emanuel, because it brings Emanuel’s own formidable fundraising abilities to the package.

City Hall has already been working internally on the project, Emanuel said. “Let me say this. It is important for the city to have the president’s library in his hometown, and we will be very competitive in our proposal, and we have put a lot of thought into it.”

According to this AP write-up from where I found the link to the Sun-Times, here are the groups who want the Presidential library:

 The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago State University, and the University of Chicago have all expressed interest in being home to the library. So has a group from Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood that's promoting a lakefront site at a now-closed hospital.

OK, University of Chicago is a logical choice. And so is putting this library in Bronzeville at the site for the former Michael Reese Hospital. It would be cool if it was on the south side at Chicago State University. Have anyone else heard that the Pullman neighborhood was interested as well? It appears they're not even a blip on the radar now.

Oh yeah as for that Bronzeville site:

City Hall considers the former Michael Reese Hospital site at 29th and Ellis — close to downtown and an easy trip for tourists — as too big and too costly to develop.

Tourists can take a bus there or we could build an IC - oh I'm sorry Metra Electric - stop nearby to that site. Still it probably isn't as beneficial if it costs money to develop.

ALSO consider they mentioned fundraising. So UIC and Chicago State may not get the library because they may not have the fundraising ability of UChicago. In addition to that if Mayor Emanuel gets behind UChicago that will be a bid that's hard to beat.

Where do you think President Obama's library should reside?

Shedd School a satellite location for Chicago State...

Shedd School in spring 2012

Back in September I wrote about my ideas about what to do with the closed Shedd School building. As of the current school year Shedd branch was closed and all students will be attending class at Bennett School.

A persistent report from the Roseland Heights Community Association (RHCA) was that Shedd School could ultimately become an annex for the nearby Chicago State University. So at least plans are being made to utilize this building, but I do need to ask some questions so I may have to get back to the RHCA about them.

For example will Chicago State own the building or will it remain a CPS owned property?

A question that no one could possibly answer is whether or not in the near future could Shedd School be used for the neighborhood children if enrollment changes for the better. That is if Bennett School exceeds their expected enrollment (and as stated in that earlier post Bennett School had been experiencing enrollment declines) could it re-open for students.

All the same stay tuned for any updates on this development.

Sun-Times: Urban violence summit held at Chicago State

Recently a summit was held at Chicago State University and the Sun-Times did a report on it:

More than 200 people assembled at Chicago State University Friday to discuss urban violence in Chicago and other areas across the country, and ways to prevent it.

The gathering, billed as the “Emergency Summit on Urban Violence,” was attended by Rush, and other Illinois Democratic Reps. Danny Davis and Robin Kelly; Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel; the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“With all due respect to Newtown and Arizona and the mass murders, we need to have voices for the urban areas and for urban violence,” Kelly said.

Officials said they know it’s a complex issue.

“There are so many things that impact the presence of violence in our society,” Davis said. “It’s poverty, it’s school closings, its a lack of good education opportunities, it’s a lack of jobs and opportunity to work, it’s the need for parenting, it’s need to rebuild the infrastructure and so all of these things become a part of the comprehensiveness of violence.”

The gathering not only allowed concerned residents hear the politicians speak, but also offered them an opportunity to share their own ideas. It’s what the organizers wanted.

“The people themselves are gathering around tables and in rooms and they are discussing not just the problems, but they are coming up with solutions and I fully expect that when we gather [later] ... that we’re going to have some creative and insightful solutions — a ways out of this violent dilemma and violent episode that we are witnessing throughout our nation and every urban center in America,” Rush said.

Rush said he and the other members of Congress at the summit intend to follow up on the ideas offered.

Here's another report from the Chicago Tribune.

Was anyone else able to attend? Feel free to share your thoughts on this issue. Hit the comment line or send us an e-mail accessible in the sidebar to the right.

AP: Black caucus members focus on Chicago gun violence

Will the Congressional Black Caucus provide leadership on this issue? What do you think?

Provoked by continued gun deaths and shootings in Chicago, several members of the Congressional Black Caucus said Thursday they would gather in the city for an "emergency" summit on urban violence.

Illinois Democrat Bobby Rush said in a news conference at the Capitol that the intent is to bring together national and local minds to address the causes of shootings that have become a focus of the national gun debate.

But Rush said participants also will look beyond Chicago to other urban centers besieged by gun violence. The announcement comes after a Fourth of July weekend in which 11 people were shot to death in Chicago and several dozen more were wounded.

The members say they will hold the summit on the Chicago State University campus on July 25 and 26 and the event is open to the public.

"We must not stand silent in the wake of all this this violence that occurs not only in Chicago, but in every major urban area in this nation," Rush said.

Sarah Hamilton, spokeswoman for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, did not know if an invitation had been extended yet to Emanuel to participate.

Jacoby Dickens RIP

[VIDEO] Thanks to a status message posted by JP Paulus to our FB page, we learned that entrepreneur Jacoby Dickens passed away over the weekend. He had been the majority owner and was Chairman of the board of Seaway Bank since 1983. Here's an official press release that has information on funeral arrangements provided by Seaway Bank.

You may have seen Jacoby Dickens in the above video from FOX 32 that originally aired back in February 2010 and had been posted here at that time. He spoke with anchor Robin Robinson about the history of Seaway Bank in his capacity as chairman. The video above had been downloaded to YouTube by me from Seaway's website.

Dickens was a significant figure on this side of town who had largely made his money in a number of ventures from real estate to ultimately bowling alleys in addition to being a majority owner at Seaway. He is the namesake of the Jacoby Dickens Center on the campus of Chicago State University. In 2006 I took this snapshot at Chicago State of a piece of street art with Dickens' image painted on it.

Condolences to Mr. Dickens' family!

What's happening In The 6th Ward April 2013

 There are plenty of events going on in the community that are FREE or nearly free.

Saturday
April 6, 2013
10:30am
6th Ward Meeting
Greater Salem Baptist Church
215 W 71st Street

Saturday
April 6, 2013
10:00am
Chicago State University TIF Seminar
   Chicago State University
    9501 S King Drive

Tuesday
April 8, 2013
Time: TBD
Chatham Business Association Seminar
Legal Aspects of Starting A Business
8441 S Cottage Grove

Saturday
April 13, 2013
9:00 am
Expungement Seminar
Ruggles Elementary
7831 S Prairie

Saturday
April 20, 2013
All Day
6th Ward Clean and Green
Various Locations

 










Saturday
April 20, 2013
10:00 am- 1 pm
Illinois Service Federal Shred O Rama
8700 S King Drive

Saturday
April 20, 2013
10:00 am- 1 pm
Chesterfield Community Council Home Expo 2013
90th S King Drive

Saturday
April 27, 2013
1:00 pm -4 pm
Cole Park Unity Day
Nat King Cole Park
361 E 85th Street


 Movies and Music

Thursday
April 4, 2013
6:30pm
Free Angela Davis
Chatham 14 Theaters
210 W 87th
Free: Must RSVP at Eventbrite

Friday
April 12, 2013
6:30 pm
Black College Dance Exchange Concert
Chicago State University
9501 S King Drive
Admission: $10

Monday
April 22, 2013
Time: TBD
Chicago State University Community Band Concert
Chicago State University
9501 S King Drive

 

CSU President statement to the community

Dr. Wayne Watson

Dr. Wayne Watson, President of Chicago State University, had sent this statement to the university community about the news that broke this week about him stepping down from his post. It seems he doesn't plan to leave his post beyond his sabbatical.

TO THE CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY:

“There have been some statements in the media regarding my position at Chicago State University that I wish to correct.

Several days ago, I requested approval of an administrative sabbatical by the CSU Board of Trustees. During the proposed sabbatical, I would first and foremost, be able to better help my 96 year old dad whom I feel has suffered most from my current 24-7 commitment to the University. I would also have more time for the level of academic research and writing I wish to achieve as president of a major American University. I have not resigned as CSU's President and no date is set for the sabbatical to begin, if approved. Even though press reports have included some inaccuracies, I am grateful for the thoughtful remarks about our turnaround at the University and my part in it. Clearly, our work continues.”

Recap of a Civic Discussion held on January 26th, 2013

This recap below came from the desk of West Chesterfield Community Association President Michael LaFargue. I'm sorry that I didn't put a lot of effort into posting about this although you may have seen a flyer for this on my scribd account. Did anyone else go and would like to offer their thoughts on this event?