Happy New Year - 2022 recap sort of...

Found here

I spend most of this past year not posting here aside from one post by J.P. Paulus regarding the 2022 primary election for the 1st Congressional District seat which was won by Jonathan Jackson - who's brother Jesse Jackson Jr. served in Congress and his father was two-time Democrat candidate for President Jesse Jackson Sr. And then a few posts within the past two months which are more or less politically inclined and in reference to the 2023 municipal elections for Alderman and Mayor of Chicago.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is running for re-election. Ald. Roderick Sawyer had recently survived a petition challenge that was dropped by his opponent Willie Wilson to remain on the ballot in the 2023 Mayoral Race. That means Ald. Sawyer will NOT be running for re-election for 6th Ward Alderman. So there is one open seat on the Chicago City Council.

We can include in the many open seats on the Chicago City Council the 21st Ward Alderman. Longtime 21st Ward Alderman Howard Brookins has opted not to run for re-election. In the June 2022 primary he failed in his bid to become a Cook County Judge.

Another thing we have covered over the years on this blog and I think is a notable event that I'm sorry to have not written about it here is the closure of Whole Foods Market Englewood. After a store closing clearout the store had closed on November 13, 2022 having been open since September 2016. We were glad to see Whole Foods expand onto the south side as they announced in 2013.

Heralded as an oasis in the food desert the closure had been announced earlier in the spring of 2022, another Chicago store had also closed this year the DePaul location located steps away from the Fullerton Red Line station. Originally it was advertised as being designed to keep the prices of product down for the people in the community. It was certainly a well meaning experiment.

However, as a customer I have found that most of the time I went there the store was often empty. This is something that was probably appealing say if I go to other stores in the area it would be very busy. However, that's not conducive to keeping any business open small business or a national chain.

I got a souvenir shopping bag from the 2016 Englewood grand opening. I also had bought from there over the years a water bottle I can't find for the moment and another Englewood shopping bag. So I do have some memorabilia from the now closed store which had opened with some excitement. I'll give credit to RAGE, this was their vision and it was realized.

Who knows perhaps the fortunes of Englewood will turn around and as opposed to the small outpost they had for over six years, the neighborhood could one day be home to a flagship similar to the one that opened this past spring at Chicago & State. Something to look forward to as a vision for Englewood.

All the same as I had been sharing on this blog I will be doing more posting at Ninth Ward Chicago. Hopefully do more with regards to the 2023 city elections and especially look at the race for Mayor and perhaps some City Council contests. The Mayor of Chicago is said to be vulnerable however the residents of the city will make that decision as far as who they want for mayor.

I hope that 2023 finds you in better spirits. Happy New Years! 

Anyone looking for a 2023 #Ward06 elections page?

Remapped 6th Ward - adopted May 2022

The map you see above is of a remapped 6th Ward which was adopted in May 2022. This is the ward that candidates for Alderman will be running to represent.

At this moment I don't know if there will be an election page here which will be typical for this blog since 2011. I have shared again publicly the links for all local elections in 2015 and 2019 we covered multiple wards especially in light of the 2011-12 ward remap.

I don't know if there is any interests from the other bloggers here in other wards especially other than wards 6, 9, and 21. As you know there is some turnover as Ward 6 Ald. Roderick Sawyer is running for mayor next year and Ward 21 Ald. Howard Brookins is retiring from the city council. The only incumbent since 2011 that weve covered who's running again next year is Ward 9 Ald. Anthony Beale.

BTW, in shameless self promotion there is a 2023 Elections page over at Ninth Ward Chicago.

If nothing else if you would like to see a separate page here on at least the race to succeed Ald. Sawyer for Ward 6 Alderman feel free to drop a comment and let us know.

Just to let you know right now Worlee Glover at Concerned Citizens of Chatham has a concise list of candidates who want to succeed Ald. Sawyer in Ward 6.

And, yes I need to update with vote totals the 2019 page. Not sure why that didn't happen back then although if you're looking for 2019 results for Ward 9 you can check Ninth Ward Chicago. 

2023 Municipal Elections

 Did you miss this blog? I've been posting more at another blog I started called Ninth Ward Chicago, I expect to post there for the forseeable future.

Though to be honest I do wonder about JP Paulus' thoughts on Congressman-elect Jonathan Jackson who was elected in the midterm election just last month. He discussed the race to succeed Congressman Bobby Rush of the 1st Congressional District from earlier this summer.

Well now that the gubernatorial and midterm elections are now over, we turn our attention to the municipal races in Chicago. We will be voting for the city council, city clerk, city treasurer, for people to serve on their police district boards, and of course for mayor.

One of the people running for mayor against the vulnerable incumbent Lori Lightfoot is one Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer. In 2011 we covered the race where Sawyer - the son of a former Alderman and Mayor in Eugene Sawyer - was able to defeat incumbent Ward 6 Ald. Freddrenna Lyle in a runoff. Now over a decade later, Sawyer hopes to be another son of a mayor to take the office on city hall's fifth floor.

A channel on YouTube called Next News Network which is a right ring channel takes a look at the mayor's race and quotes Ald. Sawyer who referred to Mayor Lightfoot as thin-skinned. [VIDEO]

Now with Sawyer seeking the mayor's office that means he must give up his seat on the Chicago city council and that means there are man candidates who want to succeed Ald. Sawyer. Worlee Glover at Concerned Citizens of Chicago shared a list of candidates for Ward 6 Alderman in 2023. Of course the deadline to submit petitions for the 2023 elections had passed on Monday and we're headed into the period of petition challenges.

We had one candidate for mayor to drop out in Ward 15 Ald. Ray Lopez who opted to run again for his seat on the city council.

Just to open the discussion here, who would be your preference for mayor next year? Would you give Mayor Lightfoot a second term in the mayor's office?

Also I have to ask about Eddie, he was a frequent commentor during the weirdness of 2020 through 2021. Where are you big guy? Let us know you're OK out there.

BTW, happy holidays to all.

Ward remap news

 I would like to go more in depth but I share this to state that so far the city council has failed to agree on a map and next June voters would have to choose a map. Here's a very interesting development out of the remap that affects the far south side:

The city’s ward remap process was led by Ald. Michelle Harris (8th), chair of the Rules Committee, political insider and attorney Michael Kasper and the Aldermanic Black Caucus, whose members said they fielded feedback from alderpeople across the city.

The city’s map includes 16 majority Black wards, 14 majority Latino wards, one majority Asian ward and one “Black influence” ward that isn’t quite a majority — the 27th Ward.

Under the proposed map, indicted Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) would be drawn out of her Far South Side ward. The longtime alderwoman said she’ll likely retire rather than run for a new term under the proposed map, which would move the 34th Ward into parts of The Loop, West Loop and Near West Side.

The maps I've seen out there show that what used to be Ward 34 would be largely taken up by Ward 21 a seat held by Ald. Howard Brookins. Again this remap appears to be a test of wills between the Black Caucus and Hispanic Caucus of the Chicago City Council. Hispanic Caucus want a few more wards drawn in their favor while the Black Caucus is contesting this.

Here's a draft map that was seen at a meeting of the city council yesterday Dec. 1, 2021 the deadline for Alderman to approve a map before voters must do so. If you have difficulty seeing it click on the tweet to enlarge. Perhaps later on I can find a much better copy of this draft map.

BREAKING: Here's what Chicago's new ward map could look like. https://t.co/fbaIgIy0R3 pic.twitter.com/teBQX2m60u

— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) December 1, 2021

It does appear what was Ward 34 would be taken up by the Ward 21 & 9.

Also I retweeted this yesterday Ald. Ray Lopez (Ward 15) doesn't seem that happy about this draft himself.

Uh, no thanks pic.twitter.com/eii2p2keGH

— Ald. Raymond Lopez (@RLopez15thWard) December 1, 2021

What are you thoughts on this remap? Excited about the opportunity to to vote on which city council ward represents you?

State Rep. Smith to be chairman of the Illinois House Black Caucus

 State Rep. Nick Smith was in Politico's Playbook yesterday. This is news from Springfield recently:

The Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus has formed a political action committee that will be chaired by Reps. Nick Smith and Lakesia Collins.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a few years, and it took some time to put it together,” Smith told Playbook of the Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus PAC.

Black legislators have for years relied on the Black Caucus Foundation to help boost civic and philanthropic efforts in members’ communities. “We felt we needed something to support the caucus politically, too,” Smith said.

The goal, said Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Kam Buckner, “is to raise funds, mobilize volunteers, and have an effective apparatus to elect and re-elect members of the Black Caucus.”

Creating the PAC comes as the Democratic Party shifts its operations under new leadership. Party members can no longer rely on former House Speaker Michael Madigan to open the purse strings for campaigns. New party Chair Robin Kelly has created a separate fundraising arm for state and local campaigns, while she focuses on fundraising for federal positions.

“Speaker Welch is doing a great job but he’s focused on his entire caucus. And it’s too early to tell how the party’s local [fundraising] committee will do,” Smith said. “There’s a vacuum with Michael Madigan gone, and we see an opportunity to fundraise to help fill that hole.”

I found this via CapFax who further stated in reference to this story: "Smith is right. Also, If Rep. Buckner really does want to run for mayor, he’ll need some significant fundraising experience."

Bring it Buckner! Can't wait for '23!

Crain's: Dorms in the future for community college students

State Rep Nick Smith

I wonder if this legislation affects the City Colleges of Chicago. Closer to the south side imagine dorms at Olive-Harvey, Kennedy-King, or even Daley Colleges. This is an initiative of 34th District State Representative Nicholas Smith who has a history with two-year colleges.

Now that he’s a member of the Illinois General Assembly, Nick Smith isn’t embarrassed to say he struggled early in college. As he bounced back and forth between classes and his job, he spent little time on campus.

It wasn’t until Smith got a work-study job at Olive-Harvey College, a Far South Side community college, that things changed. “I started to feel immersed in the academic setting. I started to feel focused,” he recalls. After completing the two-year program, Smith went on to get a bachelor’s degree from nearby Chicago State University, and since 2019 he has represented the 34th District in the State Assembly.

With his personal experience in mind, Smith introduced legislation in Springfield this year that allows community colleges to add student housing for the first time. Signed into law July 9 by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the measure allows for residential projects to begin on or near campuses throughout the state starting in January.

The law is an empty vessel at the moment, expressing the ambition to do something new to address housing insecurity for people aiming to lift themselves out of poverty via a community college education. Nontrivial matters—most crucially, how the idea will be paid for—aren’t addressed in a piece of legislation that is only a few paragraphs long.

Here are some things specific to the city colleges:

At City Colleges, a network of seven campuses in Chicago, more than half of all students said they lacked stable housing in the last 12 months, according to a survey conducted in 2018 by the Hope Center for College, Community & Justice at Temple University. About 15 percent of students said they experienced homelessness in the same period. Black students, students identifying as LGBTQ and those who were independent of their parents or guardians in financial aid packages were more likely to experience needs insecurity, the report found. “Housing insecurity and homelessness have a particularly strong, statistically significant relationship with college completion rates, persistence, and credit attainment,” the report said.

City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado issued a statement to Crain’s saying the schools are committed to addressing students’ “comprehensive needs,” including housing and food insecurity, so attendees can focus on their schoolwork. The network looks forward to “exploring partnerships that would create affordable housing for our students, in particular the many City Colleges students experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity,” the statement said.

For students who are homeless and not connected to their parents, there’s a specific way their academic program is harmed, said Niya Kelly, director of state legislation at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Because of “the presumption in this country that your parents help you until you’re 23 or 25 years old,” Kelly said, colleges generally require a parent’s Social Security and other tax information.

Students who don’t have that “get dinged and have to go through an appeal process,” Kelly said, which results in “getting their packets later, which means registering for classes after other people and dealing with that uncertainty of not knowing whether they’re going to get to go back to school or not.”

Removing any of these obstacles, Smith said, “is adding to our students’ chances of succeeding” and using that college degree to improve their circumstances.

You know how could this affect the surrounding area. With Olive-Harvey and Kennedy-King for example could this be a good thing for the surrounding neighborhoods? 

Chicago Tonight: Efforts to Draw New Chicago Ward Map Getting Started

 

[VIDEO] If you believe Ald. Roberto Maldonaldo the priority of the city council's Latino Caucus is to draw a map that gives the Latino community better representation. Also discussions have already started among members of the City Council to start the process and that the city is also looking to make a purchase of map making software for the city's "maproom". Maldonaldo is also hoping that there won't be the same type of drama that took place during this time a decade ago with previous Mayor Rahm Emanuel. I hope so as well.

Also noted here is an independent commision the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Committee which is working on their own proposal for a new ward map.

State Rep. Nick Smith: "I don't have the key, either"

 

[VIDEO] To be fair I'm not always on the lookout for news about 34th district state Rep. Nick Smith, however, it's very cool to see him in a news story. In this case he was in a story that aired on a downstate station with regards to the General Assembly map room which seems like such a highly secure area.

You can see more about this story over at Capitol Fax, however, the story is regarding the process to redraw the state legislative maps. So Rich Miller even notes Rep. Smith's quote, "I don't make the rules. And I don't have the key either". Nice....

BTW, I'm pretty sure in the background holding the door open is state Rep. Marcus Evans which is interesting. I could be wrong on that but that looks just like him. It seems as if whoever was holding the door was telling Smith to come on.

What about redistricting?

 Just about a decade ago many residents in the 6th Ward especially were very concerned about the ward remap. We did see how the remap went in 2012, this time around who knows when the city will start to redraw the map for the next decade or so.

The state is gearing up as the Democratic House Caucus has created an online site for the public to propose their own maps. The process at least for Springfield might be different this year thanks to the changes in leadership especially in the House of Representatives so this should be interesting. Here's another site for the state Senate Democrats which also experienced a recent change in leadership with the same concept as the state house where the public can draw their own map.

Now we got to find out when the city will begin their ward remap process. While this is really old news since last year with the unprecedented global pandemic there were issues with the census and no doubt that fell behind. The remaps of wards, state legislative and congressional districts all hinge on the data collected from the once every 10 year US census.

h/t Illinois Review

BTW, here's a statement from the US Census Bureau stating all data needed for redistricting should be compiled and released to all states by Sept 21, 2021.

Also here's an update from WTTW, as of March 9, 2021 the city council nor the mayor has backed an independent process to redraw the city's wards so a independent groups have formed a coalition for that purpose.

The Vice President visits 75th Street on Tuesday

 Kamala Harris is a former U.S. Senator from California and recently made history as the first woman of color to become Vice President of the United States under the 46th President Joe Biden. It was in the news recently that she spent a little bit of time on 75th Street on Tuesday to visit Brown Sugar Bakery.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton met up with the new vice president at Brown Sugar Bakery on East 75th Street after Harris visited a nearby vaccination site. https://t.co/qvjvpYshis

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) April 7, 2021

Decision '21: Ald. Harris closer to the chair of D.P.I.

 Yeah been cribbing a lot from the CapFax as of late. Probably should do better but surely Rich Miller doesn't mind that much. He's a good source as far as what's going on politically in Illinois. If you have sources that I should look at for this state or in the city let me know.

Either way Harris is reportedly close to being the new state Democrat chairwoman she's gotten a few endorsements and that translates into weighted votes of the states Democrat committee-people two from each of the state's 18 congressional districts. She's got a slight edge over Congresswoman Robin Kelly.

Decision '21: Race for Democratic Party of IL chair

 It seems for now it's going down to Ald. Michelle Harris (Ward 8) and US Rep. Robin Kelly (2nd US Congressional District) a couple of updates for you on Capitol Fax. Just to let you know former IL House Speaker Michael Madigan quit that position earlier this week. It's strange to type that but things must change right?

To start, Ald. Harris picked up the endorsements from US Reps Bobby Rush and Danny Davis. So they didn't endorse their colleague in Robin Kelly I see....

Rush, Davis back Harris for state party chair https://t.co/NJSJgwH4P2

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 24, 2021

This was just posted today as Ald. Harris shared her endorsements, however, in Lake County prominent Democrats there have endorsed Rep. Kelly.

Harris announces some endorsements for DPI chair while some Lake County House Dems back Kelly https://t.co/3DbgynwDfk

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 25, 2021

Like I said some shakeups going on in this state with the changes in leadership. And it's interesting to see some of our local leaders begin to take on more prominent roles in Illinois.

Could Ald. Michelle Harris be the new IL Democrat Party chairwoman?

 Things are changing at a rapid pace right now. First Michael Madigan is no longer speaker of the IL House of Representatives, then just last week he resigns his seat and was able to install his successor an Edward Guerra Kodatt. 

Then yesterday Madigan resigns his longtime chairmanship of the state Democrat Party. He's been in that role for over 20 years.

Madigan resigns chairmanship of Democratic Party of Illinois https://t.co/qQRRD09S3A

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 22, 2021

Karen Lewis R.I.P.

 

Karen Lewis as President of the Chicago Teacher's Union was very controversial and stepped up to the mayoralty of Rahm Emanuel has died. CapFax has a round-up of stories:

Karen Lewis https://t.co/sZ4Xj2nzQV

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 8, 2021

I was looking through this blog's mentions of Lewis, she was part of an event with the Greater Chatham Alliance back in 2014. Then mentions of her illness which she was diagnosed that same year. And to note she was looking into running against then Mayor Emanuel.

Condolences to Ms. Lewis' family. 

Capitol Fax: Rep. Thapedi to step down

Rich Miller has more about the resignation of state Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-32) on his blog yesterday. As you know this was reported on Sunday evening.

Rep. Thapedi to step down https://t.co/9Huw4GVFMD

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 1, 2021

Not to go too negative on this, but the comments to that post well a few of them discuss how they hate that an incumbent gets elected to their legislative seat then turn around and resign. Some call for special elections to state legislative seats. Especially for house seats.

There should be some discussion on this at the very least. Perhaps even special elections for Alderman upon a resignation, removal or death. 

State Rep. Andre Thapedi resigning from the state house

Found this on twitter just now and best wishes to Rep. Thapedi

Capitol Fax: “The legislature is back in business”

 Not exactly breaking news, but earlier this year the IL House of Representatives elected a new speaker. Michael Madigan is out and replaced by Emanuel Welch who is the first Black speaker of the IL state house. He represents the western suburbs of the 7th state house district.

Rich Miller's syndicated column discusses how under Speaker Welch, the legislature is now open for business. Give it a read.

Speaker Welch: “The legislature is back in business” https://t.co/IKuzRxjVA7

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 25, 2021

Ever seen these Kim Foxx is a crook flyers around?

 Over the summer, actually back in July I actually did see a flyer like this on a bus shelter on 95th Street. 

There was not a lot of context to that. Perhaps a random flyer with an unfair charge. Of course on social media it was noted that these were seen throughout the south side. I may have seen a bus shelter with a flyer like this on Cottage Grove over the summer.

And then in December I found a similar flyer at a bus shelter in the Sloop at Roosevelt & State.

Congrats to the Cook County State's Attorney

 

[VIDEO] Kim Foxx successfully fended off a seemingly strong challenge to her office from Republican Pat O'Brien on Tuesday night. Here's the story from CBS Chicago about her declaring victory for a second term as Cook County State's Attorney.

I just have to add 2nd City Cop isn't happy.

Early voting starts tomorrow

 We will have a different election than we had in our history so far. This is due to the ongoing pandemic as the rage for now is to vote by mail instead of voting in person or even waiting until Election Day and going to your local precinct which is what I plan to do.

On Oct. 14, 2020 - tomorrow on Wednesday - early voting around the city will begin. You can register and cast your ballot at designated locations within all 50 wards and at the Loop Super Site located at 191 N. Clark St. or at Clark/Lake.

Here are the locations for wards 6, 9 & 21

• Ward 6 - Deneen Elementary School, 7257 S State St. 
• Ward 9 - Curtis Elementary School,  32 E 115th St.
• Ward 21 - Turner - Drew Language Acad.,  9300 S Princeton Ave.

These are the operating hours for early voting until Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 for all sites throughout the city and at the Loop Super Site

• Early Voting sites in all 50 Wards - plus the Loop Super Site
  Monday-Friday - 8:30 am-7 pm
  Saturday-Sunday - 9 am-5 pm
  Election Day, Nov. 3 - 6 am-7 pm

Here's a notice from Ward09.com - Ald. Anthony Beale's constituent webpage about the early voting at Curtis Elementary on 115th Street

If you want more information check out the Chicago Board of Elections page on Early Voting.