CBS 2: Homeless Shelter Shut Down After CBS 2 Exposes Disgusting Living Conditions

[VIDEO] I found this CBS2 report from this morning. A Little Bit of Heaven men's homeless shelter (11321 S. Wentworth Ave) was shut down after reports of appalling conditions for residents. It took an anonymous report to bring this to the media's attention and then ultimately the city followed up on other violations there were violations shown in this report that went back to 2018.

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

“Chicago has more lead on average than Flint, Mich., during its 2015 water crisis” https://t.co/FpHB716VNz

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 21, 2019

As an added bonus, there are issues with lead in University Park as also seen in a posting at CapFax on Monday.

CBSChicago: Disabled Woman’s $15,000 Van Wrongly Declared Abandoned, Sold For Scrap

[VIDEO] I'm sharing this story for everyone to be aware of this.

Leave your vehicle parked on a Chicago street for a week and it could be towed and even sold without you getting a dime. It is all part of Chicago’s Abandoned Vehicle Program. One family lost a $15,000 van with a customized wheelchair lift, then turned to CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini for help.

Stricken with polio at the age of five, and later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it is fair to say Lisandra Velez’s mother Andrea Santiago has had a tough life. Action by the City of Chicago has not helped.

“It’s just very infuriating,” said Velez. “The city to do that, with no regards to who that vehicle belonged to, is sickening. It’s absolutely sickening.”

Santiago owned a van with a $10,000 hydraulic lift for her wheelchair. It also had a handicapped placard, plates and an additional marking on the side of the van. The family parked it, legally, along their Jefferson Park neighborhood street for years. They never had any trouble.

In June, that changed. A Chicago Department of Streets & Sanitation investigator slapped an Abandoned Vehicle sticker on the van – warning if not moved in seven days, it would be considered abandoned and towed.

h/t Newsalert 

It's going to be hot out there this weekend...

Information provided by the office of 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer. Information you need to know on beating this heat. Also a listing of city cooling centers if it gets too hot for you at home and outside. Call 311 for the cooling center closest to you and of course if you're concerned about anyone during this heat request a well-being check for them.

It’s going to be VERY hot this 4th of July weekend. Please note the following cooling centers! For all emergencies be sure to call 911. For more info visit: https://t.co/ye5sGCZ8So #coolingcenters #6wardchicago #rodericktsawyer pic.twitter.com/zwnUfnpwQD

— 6th Ward Chicago (@6thWardChicago) June 29, 2018

City stickers sale on June 18, 2018 #Ward09

City stickers are on sale at the office of 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale. No only city stickers, also parking zone stickers and parking visitor passes. Here's the where and when:

When:

•  Monday, June 18, 2018
  From 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Where:

• 9th Ward Service Office
  34 E. 112th Place

Want more information give the service office a call at (773) 785-1100

Refer to flyer below.Refer to flyer below. Also visit the city clerk website www.chicityclerk.com to buy your city sticker online via EZ>Buy

City stickers sale on June 12, 2018 #6WardChicago

City stickers will be on sale at the office of 6th Ward Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer. No only city stickers, also parking zone stickers and parking visitor passes. Here's the where and when:

When:

• Tuesday, June 12, 2018
  From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Where:

• 6th Ward Service Office
  706 East 79th Street

Want more information give the service office a call at (773) 635-0006

Refer to flyer below. Also visit the city clerk website www.chicityclerk.com to buy your city sticker online via EZ>Buy.

Remember that bust of President Lincoln

Speaking of Englewood remember that Lincoln bust that was in Englewood that made national attention last year. Even shared a segment to Tucker Carlson Tonight on FOX News which I will also show here. [VIDEO]

Locally Ald. Raymond Lopez (Ward 15) brought the apparent vandalism of that Lincoln bust to the world's attention last year formerly located at the corner of 69th & Wolcott and lamented this act. Back in 2009, I had shared a basic history of this bust which at one point was near a business specifically a gas station. Though now, there isn't a business on that corner that could protect and care for this landmark.

Lately, the Chicago Tribune has an update on this bust which after the vandalism was removed by the city for safekeeping.

Here’s what happened: The bust of Lincoln was removed last August by the Chicago Department of Transportation, at the request of Ald. Ray Lopez of the 15th Ward. Though the statue is located in the 17th Ward, Lopez said he stepped in “only after it became obvious that nobody but myself was concerned about the health of this statue.” (The 17th Ward alderman, David Moore, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)

Lopez contacted the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which contacted CDOT for removal. He said he became concerned after the statue was vandalized twice last August: A resident called to say the statue was painted black; soon after, it was set on fire. (Lopez said the vandals used tar and roofing paper.) “It was around the time of the Charlottesville (Va. white nationalist) marches. A lot of hate-filled things were said, and I’ll be the first to admit this statue had seen a lot of wear and tear — of youthful indiscretions — but two acts to happen about that same time? It just felt like something else happening.”

He offered no evidence of who might have vandalized the statue, and though no one has since been arrested for the vandalism, or claimed responsibility, Lopez noted that nearby Marquette Park had been a stronghold for Illinois Nazis. He wasn’t comfortable leaving the statue on 69th, vulnerable to more attacks. He told the Chicago Sun-Times in August that President Donald Trump’s (widely condemned) response to the violence in Charlottesville had emboldened white supremacists; Lopez sent a letter to Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Mark Kelly, concerned that, as left-leaning groups called for the removal of Confederate statues, right-leaning groups could seek revenge on monuments to the Great Emancipator. Soon after, the bust at the corner of 69th and Wolcott was removed, without ceremony or a timeline for when or if it might be returned.

This is a pretty good and long article. It further discusses the history and who placed this bust on 69th Street. It also illustrated the changes in the neighborhood over the years with "white flight" to it's current status today. If anyone is expecting the bust to come back to its original location got some bad news for you.

The statue will never return to 69th and Wolcott.

Its eventual home is the West Englewood Library.

Should you care to remember Philip Bloomquist’s legacy the way it was, before its eyes were blackened and body scarred, visit 69th and Wolcott on Google Maps. An old street-view image is still there, the bust cracked and ghostly. “This doesn’t need to be a loss,” said Vergara. “Maybe what comes out of everything is a new memorial. Let the neighborhood replace its Lincoln, with something that lends an identity, and gives that corner a new meaning. Then the story continues, and Lincoln was never lost at all.”

Lincoln will remain in the Englewood community as for that now vacant spot where his bust now stood, there's an opportunity. If the community want another work of art at that location what should it be. Could be reflective of the people who live there or their historic figures? Better yet perhaps we can create a sculpture of Black Panther and strive to make that area a real life version of Wakanda.

Here's a street view of the bust where it once stood.

How long does it REALLY take to get a garbage can in Chicago?

So how long does it take to get garbage cans in Chicago?

In Chatham, in the homes southwest of 79th & King, one neighbor has been waiting since April 3 to get a set of garbage cans.

Now, to set the stage...In September of 2015, the building went into foreclosure. In 2016 , new owners were renovating the building.  By the end of the summer, 2 black garbage cans mysteriously disappeared. I assumed they had been used by renovators to haul garbage from the building to the alley (as they had earlier in the summer), but it turns out they were missing.

One of the new tenants (who moved in by March), on April 3, 2017, called to request new garbage cans.  The request number is 17-03567043.  I called the city again on May 31 .  A couple of days later, I passed that info onto Alderman Rod Sawyer's office. It's now the end of June. 3 full months have passed. Not ONE extra garbage can in the whole city? Really???

And this is costing the city money, as apparently there is a special pick-up due to this situation. (The recycling isn't "ruined" due to "contaminated" recyclables, as we have heard on the news).  Wouldn't a couple of cans be much cheaper than constantly brining out "special forces" to take care of this mess?

Can someone from WBEZ, DNAinfo , Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times or some other news source get some public data from the city, and see how long it takes a request for garbage can to be fulfilled. I really wonder if Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, South Loop, Mt. Greenwood or Hyde Park has these issues. I would expect that wait time to be AT LEAST 66% shorter.

Streets and Sanitation has gone to a grid system, so apparently Aldermen don't have the clout anymore to get things happening.

Please let us know what you have experienced, and let's hold our city accountable.

Time for city sticker sales

It's that time of year again for your city of Chicago sticker sales and you can buy them at an Alderman's office for example according to this calendar from the Chicago City Clerk on Tuesday you can purchase your city sticker at the offices of Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer (6th ward) and Ald. Tom Tunney (44th ward).

As a matter of fact Ald. Sawyer's @6wardchicago ig page shared an announcement:

Don't forget that city vehicle stickers will be available at our office tomorrow!

A post shared by 6 Ward Chicago (@6wardchicago) on Jun 12, 2017 at 10:11am PDT

9th ward monthly community meeting

This notice was e-mailed to Ald. Anthony Beale's e-mail list over the weekend regarding the next 9th ward community meeting tomorrow Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at the Pullman Presbyterian Church @ 550 E. 103rd Street. And of course if you attend you would hear updates from representatives of  city departments and agencies.

Flyer itself is below

Could we do this with some of our potholes?

I saw this piece of art near the intersection of Michigan/Ohio in downtown Chicago. It was formerly a pothole and then recently saw that a piece of mosaic artwork has been embedded in this pothole. My comments on ig was basically in support of such activity by an artists. Surely there are other parts of the city that may not get the services it should get where someone who cares about the community can do something such as this.

 Sooner or later unfortunately the city will probably destroy this piece, the artist Jim Bachor is not sanctioned by the city to do this. It's probably a wonder that Bachor hasn't been arrested by authorities for his activities and doing such a bold thing but going to such an active part of town to fill in a pothole with his materials.

I know there are more creative people in our communities who could do this with our potholes. Knowing this can only cost money if the businesses and residents of our community was able to do this with our potholes. Our IG post on this is below

I would like to see the creative people in our community do things like this for our potholes. Very creative indeed. This former pothole is located at Michigan/Ohio near the Guess store. #art #creative #publicart #streets #chicagogram #michiganavenue

A photo posted by The Sixth Ward (@thesixthward) on Nov 13, 2015 at 2:48pm PST

Senior Resource Fair this Thursday!

 Via the office of Alderman Anthony Beale

• 9th Ward Senior Resource Fair
  Thursday, September 17, 2015
  10:00 am - 1:00 pm
  Victory Center of Roseland
  10450 S Michigan Ave.
  
  9th Ward Anthony A. Beale
  34 East 112th Place
  Chicago, Illinois 60628
  773.785.1100

Refer to flyer below for more information as to who the service providers are.

Tribune: Chicago to sell 306 more lots for $1

I first caught wind of this program when it was first unveiled in the Englewood neighborhood. Now finally this program has expanded to the Roseland & Pullman communities.

Chicago's Large Lots program, in which city residents can apply to buy designated vacant lots in their neighborhoods for $1, is expanding to the Roseland and Pullman neighborhoods, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Friday.

Applications for 286 lots in Roseland and 20 lots in Pullman will be accepted, beginning Tuesday through Oct. 31.

The Large Lots Program is open to individuals and nonprofits (like block clubs) that own property on the same block as city-owned vacant residential lots. The city determines which lots to put up for sale after seeking input from neighbors and aldermen.

Buyers must agree to maintain the lot and pay property taxes, which typically run a few hundred dollars a year. If the lot is not adjacent to the buyer's property, it must be fenced, which helps deter criminals. Buyers must hold the land for at least five years before they can sell it.

If you want more information on this program visit largelots.org.

Reminder: Street Sweeping app can help you avoid tickets!

This is NO April Fool's joke...The following is a re-post of our blog post from April 10, regarding The Sweeparound.us app. This app will help you schedule your parking, so you can avoid street sweeping tickets. Enforcement for Streetsweeping starts tomorrow, April 1.

Chicago Public Radio recently mentioned this a web/mobile service that can help remind you of street cleanings.  Click this link then scroll down to find the story on SweepAround. (Sidenote: Dennis Haynes of Chesterfield Community Council was also featured in another segment of that day's Afternoon Shift).

SweepAround.us is a website that can provide dates as well as free text reminders to move your car.

As an example, check out

http://sweeparound.us/ward-6/area-6/

The next ones are April 15 and 16 for the shown area.

As a suggestion, no matter where you live, be a good neighbor and help add some spaces. Pull all the way up to/back to (but not crossing) signs such as handicapped parking.

When you ignore using these signs and leave several feet in front or behind you, you essentially destroy a parking space for your neighbor. That is especially difficult on families with young kids or elderly parents.

Check this link for the official City of Chicago street cleaning schedules and maps.

The 6th Ward's schedule is here.

Hutson: South Side residents lefted stuck in the snow #chiberia

Recently we've had ourselves a snow storm. This article shows not many are really happy with the city's response to the snow on some parts of Chicago's South Side. What do you think of the city's preparedness for the recent blizzard?

BTW, before Worlee jumps in it's noted that 6th ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer will be challenged in this month's election by Richard Wooten who was quoted in this article.

CPS classes are cancelled for Thursday January 8, 2015

In addition to the info above you may also find this information embedded below via CPS' twitter page. Feel free to retweet if you have a twitter account. The information is primarily regarding city warming centers during the current cold snap. Of course as always there's 311 for any info on city warming centers.

All six @ChiFamSupport Community Service Centers are serving as Warming Centers from 9a-8p. pic.twitter.com/GvR1CYJ5RH
— ChicagoPublicSchools (@ChiPubSchools) January 8, 2015

Was your garbage unemptied last week?

I live the area between State and King, 83rd to 79th.  Our scheduled garbage pick-up is Wednesday, and Recyclables had recently been changed to Thursday.

However, the garbage was NOT picked up on Wednesday (Christmas Eve). I understand our recyclables not being picked up on Thursday due to Christmas. But since they hadn't been picked up the week before, I would have expected it to be done on Friday, Saturday at the latest.

Of ALL the weeks to NOT have service, this would be the worst. Due to boxes and wrapping paper, this would be the "ideal" time for recyclable pick up. And of course, garbage would increase, due to meals, preparation, and the like.

Is the garbage here still privately managed? If so, it's time for a new service!

And what will happen since a SECOND holiday is happening exactly a week later? Will they skip us again, or come today?

Please let us know if you have not had your garbage picked up, or if it was, did they come on time?

9th Ward community meeting . . . TONIGHT!

Now there is no mistake, it's TONIGHT! :P

For those of you who reside in the 9th Ward tonight is Ald. Beale's monthly community meeting. It was posted to our FB page and is worth sharing here on the blog as well:

• 9th Ward Alderman Anthony A. Beale and City Department Representatives present a 9th Ward Community Meeting
  
  Tuesday, June 24, 2014
  6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  
  Pullman Presbyterian Church
  550 East 103rd Street
  Chicago, Illinois 60628
  
  For More Information: Please Call the 9th Ward Office at 773.785.1100
  
  Thanks to Rev. Eddie L. Knox, Jr. and Pullman Presbyterian Church for their community support!

6th & 9th ward offices city sticker sales...

The flyer above was sent to us from 6th ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer's office. Consider this post a re-iteration of information posted last Friday.

• Alderman Rod Sawyer's 6th ward Service Office, 8001 S. King Drive
  Thursday, June 26, 2014, 9am -3pm

Also in last Friday's post we posted information on 9th ward which is coming up this Satuday

• Alderman Anthony Beale's 9th ward Service Office, 34 E 112th Pl
  Saturday, June 21, 2014, 9am-2pm  

The information for Ald. Beale's office was found directly from the City Clerk's Google Calendar. You can also check out dates & times for stickers sales at other city ward offices.

9th Ward community meeting NEXT TUESDAY!

UPDATE JUNE 18, 2014 @ 3:21 PM: I erroneously wrote in the title that the community meeting was on Tuesday night which was June 17th. My apologies for the confusion, we were alerted to this mistake via e-mail. The rest of the post is correct as the meeting is on June 24th, which is next Tuesday!

For those of you who reside in the 9th Ward tonight is Ald. Beale's monthly community meeting. It was posted to our FB page and is worth sharing here on the blog as well:

• 9th Ward Alderman Anthony A. Beale and City Department Representatives present a 9th Ward Community Meeting
  
  Tuesday, June 24, 2014
  6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  
  Pullman Presbyterian Church
  550 East 103rd Street
  Chicago, Illinois 60628
  
  For More Information: Please Call the 9th Ward Office at 773.785.1100
  
  Thanks to Rev. Eddie L. Knox, Jr. and Pullman Presbyterian Church for their community support!