I got this flyer in the mail a few weeks ago. Don't have a feel for this race as Bill Beavers face off to retain his seat on the county board against Elgie Sims . All I can say about this race is that Rich Miller @ The Capitol Fax hopes Sims will pull this one out. Unfortunately this race may well be a low priority amongst other races that get more press! This next flyer was found in the Target parking lot on 87th and Cottage Grove. It reeks of a certain amount of desperation for Todd Stroger. For Todd Stroger a lot of people will say that the county is in better shape than both city and state governments.  This is a sign for him posted near Michigan and 98th Place.  This house is located between Wabash and Michigan on 95th Street. This home is almost run down and I'm uncertain that anyone lives there anymore, but it sure became a bulletin board of sorts for campaign signs. You see a poster in the above pic for Slyvester Baker. He hopes to unseat Sheriff Tom Dart . Unfor

First off Worlee at Concerned Citizens of Chatham offers a link to help you determine who will be on your ballot in your precinct! You can also go directly to the Chicago Board of Elections website to check out a sample ballot for your precinct! BTW, I want to share this article with you. The Defender reports that Ald. Lyle supports Pat Quinn for re-election as Governor. Lyle, who organized the endorsing group, said they began meeting in September about which candidate to back. They looked at each candidate’s track record in addition to conducting interviews with each. “We recommend Pat Quinn,” the alderman said. ... Lyle also chimed in on Hynes’ ad. “Friends fall out then they make up,” Lyle said, adding that Quinn and Washington remained friends. Ah the Hynes ad. It made him a contender almost overnight and Quinn is very much playing defense with robobcalls from prominent Chicago blacks from former Harold Washington aide Jacky Grimshaw (she sits on the CTA board current

Crain's : Unemployment in metropolitan Chicago edged higher in December to 10.6%, remaining close to a 26-year high. The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate rose from 10.3% during November in the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The local rate peaked at 11.3% in June 2009, the highest jobless rate since July 1983. Chicago was among the four metro areas to post the biggest year-over-year increase, the IDES report showed. The others on that list were Decatur, Peoria and Kankakee-Bradley. In Illinois the rate is at 10.8%.

This is Chatham Market the proposed location of the Chatham Wal-Mart (Defender) This is probably no big surprise to many who have read this blog during its brief existence. The Defender however recently revisits the resistance to a Wal-Mart located at 83rd & Stewart in Chicago's 21st Ward! It is long overdue for the community to put pressure on the aldermen who oppose another Walmart within the city’s limits, said Ald. Howard Brookins (21st). The South Side alderman has been heavily courting the Arkansas-based retail giant for six years to build a Walmart in his ward on 83rd Street and Stewart Avenue, but he failed to garner the support from fellow aldermen, he said. “There is significant resistance from South Side aldermen. Many jobs are needed. The people are struggling to support their families. Walmart can only help provide much needed jobs for the residents,” Brookins told the Defender. ... The issue is currently held up in the council’s Committee on Finance, c

Let's start with the Tribune : Joshua Bradley and Brian Brittnum, both 23 and of the 8200 block of South Throop Street, have been charged with two counts each of armed robbery in connection with the Tuesday night holdup at the Payless Shoe Source in the East Chatham neighborhood. The men, wearing ski masks, walked into the Payless, 8552 S. Cottage Grove, about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday and held it up with a fake gun that police described as a drill wrapped in duct tape. Police said the two were given an undisclosed amount of money and fled. As the pair made their escape, one of the people in the store was able to get the license plate number of their vehicle. Police traced the plate number to a residence in the 8300 block of South Ingleside Avenue. Soon thereafter when police went to the residence, the girlfriend of one of the suspects answered the door, police said. The girlfriend, to whom the vehicle was registered, gave police permission to search the residence, and Bradley and

Crain's : Walgreen Co. on Wednesday announced it plans to request a license from the City of Chicago to sell beer and wine at 18 of its 174 Chicago stores. The Deerfield-based drugstore plans to file its application with the city on Thursday, a spokesman said. Walgreen said in March 2009 that it would revisit selling liquor nationwide after abandoning the merchandise segment in the 1990s. The company already sells beer and wine at its Vernon Hills, Bourbonnais, Rockford and North Aurora store. It will begin selling liquor in Niles in about a week, said a company spokesman. “We’re responding to customers’ demand,” he said. “We’re trying to provide more of a one-stop shopping experience.” Yeah there were some Walgreen's stores in the neighborhood such as 75th & State or perhaps once upon a time 87th & Cottage that once had liquor sections. What would you think if alcohol sales returned to our community?

Presented by: Parents for School Choice & the Chicago Public Schools What: A showcase of Chicago's newest public schools, including charter schools and Renaissance 2010 schools. New elementary and high school campuses created through Renaissance 2010 or pre-existing charter schools will be in attendance. When: Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:30am - 2:00pm Where: Soldier Field (Indoors) 1410 South Museum Campus DriveUnited Club Level One (indoors) What to Do: Meet new school leaders Apply to new public elementary and high schools Talk to other parents who are exploring the new schools Attend workshops such as: What Makes a Quality School, From a Parent's Perspective, and more! Participating Schools: For a full listing of schools participating in this year’s EXPO. http://www.parentsforschoolchoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=46 What to Bring with You: If you plan to apply to schools directly on-site at the EXPO, you

You can read the report about these two young teenaged ladies over at Chicago Breaking News . If you have any info on their whereabouts please call the Area 2 Special Victims Unit @ 312-747-8272. Hopefully they are found safe!

CPR : The first federally qualified health clinic is opening its doors in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. The Beloved Community Family Wellness Center had been operating in three rooms at St. Bernard Hospital. Beloved is moving to a new $2 million clinic on Halsted Street. The number of patients is expected to double to about 10,000. Margie Johnson is executive director of the center. JOHNSON: For year the Englewood community has gone without adequate healthcare and the individuals that reside in Englewood are what would be classified as low income. The majority of patients have no insurance there. The services offered will range from prenatal to senior care. This center is also connected to a church founded by US Rep. Bobby Rush!

From a Greater Chatham Alliance Newsblast SPECIAL ALERT........... It has come to my attention that the Chicago Police are not only patrolling our area for crime,  they are also patrolling for Vehicle Violations! Just letting you know that if your license plate is expired, you have no City Sticker, or you have 2 or Outstanding tickets, they are placing tickets on the windows and recommending the boot! This is just a warning so that you are aware of what is going on. The City Needs Money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May God Bless. Toya M Bey Chairperson for the Safety and Security Committee Greater Chatham Community Alliance

CBS2 : It's considered a long-shot, but a new push for tax reform in Cook County is set to be presented at a County Board meeting Tuesday. County Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-16th) is expected to present an ordinance to repeal what's left of the countywide sales tax increase the board approved in 2008. Commissioners already reduced 0.5 percent of the sales tax, cutting the total tax rate in Chicago from 10.25 percent to 9.75 percent. In doing so, they overrode a veto by County Board President Todd Stroger.

Photo by Zol87 on Flickr check out Lee Bey's Zocalo blog for more pics of KKC's old campus. Lee Bey's Chicago : The City Colleges of Chicago has awarded a $6 million contract to a Chicago firm to demolish the former Kennedy King College campus  and turn the site into green space, Lee Bey’s Chicago has learned. Brandenburg Industrial Service Company will be paid $6.276 million to raze the architecturally Brutalist 38-year-old campus at 69th and Wentworth.   The vacant campus, which straddles Wentworth, has been on borrowed time since 2007 when a new Kennedy-King opened at 63rd and Halsted.  A range of reuse plans for the old facility–including converting the school into a police and fire academy–were rejected, in part, because of the expense of modernizing the building, according to one city official. A report submitted during last month’s City Colleges of Chicago board meeting by interim chancellor Deidra J. Lewis announced the bid award and said the campus wou

Greg Hinz : Even before the economy crashed, just 15% of African-American teenagers in Chicago -- fewer than one in six -- was employed. That's among the starker findings of a new report on youth and jobs being released Tuesday by the Alternate Schools Network and the Chicago Urban League. Conducted by researcher Andrew Sum at Northeastern University in Boston, the study concludes that youth of all racial and socio-economic backgrounds increasingly do not work, but finds that the problem is particularly severe among minorities. For instance, nearly 48 out of 100 affluent, white teens in Illinois held a job in 2008, versus just 13 of 100 low-income black teens, and just 23% of Latino teens. Via CapFax morning shorts !

WBBM-AM : Lenard Myles, 17, of the 8100 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, was charged with aggravated assault of an officer and unlawful use of a weapon, according to police News Affairs. About 4 p.m. Saturday, a Calumet Area saturation team on patrol in the 7900 block of South Langley Avenue approached a male suspect in an attempt to interview him, police News Affairs Officer Gabrielle Lesniak said. The man fled on foot and officers followed on foot. During the chase, the man turned and pointed a weapon in the direction of one of the officers, Lesniak said. An officer fired his weapon at the suspect, but did not strike him and did not cause any property damage, Lesniak said. Myles appeared in bond court Sunday. Same story as reported on Sunday!

Another idea from the CAPCC blog : Wouldn't be a great idea if comedy clubs popped up and down 79Th Street in Chatham to give people a fun place to go and venues for upcoming talent and the community to free itself of the blight?  People in Chatham needs some entertainment. How about The Original Kings of Comedy come into Chatham to make us laugh? People would come from all over to see them. Of course parking might be an issue if we have comedy clubs operating into late night! BTW, I really wish I can find an image from HBO's Def Comedy Jam or any black comedian performing at a comedy club. That might make this idea a lot more appealing!

Sun-Times : A quirk in the Chicago Public Schools' new enrollment system puts children from parts of some economically better-off neighborhoods such as the Near North Side, Albany Park, Rogers Park and Uptown in the same category as children from the city's poorest areas, such as Englewood and Lawndale. That's because the new system is designed to emphasize economic -- rather than racial -- diversity, and it assumes that where you live determines how well-off you are. Some, however, fear that wealthier families living in census tracts classified in the system as being "poorer" will now be able to "game the system" for admission to elite schools. Studies have shown that test scores closely track with income, and students from wealthier families will likely have an edge if they test against poorer students. Likewise, poor students who are members of some of the last remaining low-income families in recently gentrified neighborhoods now classified by

Sun-Times : The incident occurred around 4 p.m. when a Calumet Area saturation team on patrol near the 7900 block of South Langley Avenue approached a male suspect in an attempt to interview him, police News Affairs Officer Gabrielle Lesniak said. The man fled on foot and and officers followed on foot. During the chase, the offender turned and pointed a weapon in the direction of one of the officers, Lesniak said. Due to this action, an officer fired his weapon at the suspect, but did not strike him and did not cause any property damage, Lesniak said. The offender was taken into custody and no charges had been filed as of early Sunday. Calument area detectives and Independent Police Review Authority are investigating. The IPRA investigates all police-involved shootings!

Chatham Avalon Park Community Council blog got the scoop on us on this one... "Afternoon Social & Line Dancing" Census Information Early Voting Information Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 Place: Captain Smith’s Hard Time Dining 436-440 East 79th Street Chicago, Illinois 60619 Time: 12 noon until 3pm Line Dancing Stepping Raffle Donation: $10.00 per person Refreshments Sponsored by: The U.S. Census Complete Count Committee & Weorganizeit4u, Gifts, Consulting & Event Planning Captain Smith’s Hard Time Dining For more information please contact M.Drake at (773) 620-4578 or Mrs. Josephine Wade at (773) 487-2900. If you've been to Captain Hard Times...you know this is a great venue for an event like this!

UPDATE 2:22 PM Here's a video story from FOX Chicago on the 11.1% unemployment facing our state! AP : Michigan's December rate was 14.6 percent, compared to 11.1 percent in Illinois , 10.9 percent in Ohio and 10.7 percent in Kentucky. This article seemed to talk about unemployment in Indiana which was only 9.9% last month. In November of last year it was 9.6%. Still they aren't as high as our state! More on this story from Crain's : Unemployment in Illinois jumped to 11.1% in December, according to state figures. The state jobless rate rose from 10.9% in November and is up from 7.2% in December 2008, the Illinois Department of Employment Security reported. The three-month average also increased to 11% from 10.8%. “The statewide unemployment rate reflects persistent weakness in national job growth as our country wrestles toward economic recovery,” said IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell in a statement. “Given the depth of this recession, consistent and sust

Tribune : Vincent Hampton, 52, who may be homeless, was found at 400 block of East 87th Street in Chicago and pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. this morning., according to the spokesman. Autopsy is pending in this case to be schedule on Saturday. Here is some info on cold weather shelters!

Crain's : New figures show passengers took a combined 521 million rides last year. That's down about 5 million rides, or 1 percent, compared to 2008. CTA President Richard Rodriguez says 2009 ridership numbers are better than expected given the recession. He says the modest decline during hard economic times shows how much people value public transportation. CTA rail ridership was just over 202 million for 2009, an increase of around 2 percent. Bus ridership in 2009 was about 319 million, a nearly 3 percent decrease. I would like to refer you to Worlee's Concerned Citizen's of Chatham blog to take a lot at the service cutbacks by CTA that is set to commence on February 7th. ALSO, read this piece from Greg Hinz regarding City Hall's weakness on addressing the needs of the CTA. UPDATE 11:03 PM State hasn't paid the RTA since July according to Chicago Current! The state of Illinois has not paid the Regional Transportation Authority since July and now

Uptown Update is a little upset that they get more news about what's going on with TIFs in the 46th thru our Alderman's Oct. 2009 newsletter ! BTW, here is this month's Aldermanic newsletter from Ald. Freddrenna Lyle.

According to this article from the January 13, 2010 edition of the Chicago Citizen . And I like the fact that the 45-year-old bank is finally seeing a young generation of customers banking there. Of course the article offers that Seaway has always had customers who are 40 and up banking there. The article discusses a banking financial series hosted by the Chatham Business Association . While you're at it, check out this page at the official Seaway Bank & Trust website! The benefit of banking locally, especially this one that should catch our attention: Dollars deposited in Seaway circulate 5 to 6 times in the community. Seaway sees steady growth in spite tough economy

Southtown : A woman was shot in the abdomen and critically injured and two men with her were also wounded during a late Wednesday attack that left the car they were in riddled with bullets on Chicago's South Side. The three were sitting in a vehicle at 11:20 p.m. at 558 E. 76th St. when three men walked up and at least one of them fired into the vehicle before they ran away, police officer Hector Alfaro said. All three people in the car were wounded, he said. A source said they were in a late 80s car that was "shot up and riddled with bullets." After the shooting, the victims drove themselves to East 75th Street and South Cornell Avenue where the Chicago Fire Department responded, Alfaro said. Police are still investigating but as of yet, there is no motive in this incident.

Elgie Sims & Commission William Beavers will face each other for the position of 4th District County Commissioner. Those two posters were near 95th & Forrest.

We missed this earlier. 11-year-old Aston Wise was a student at Ruggles school. The incident happened this past December 11, but the story was published December 23 Man charged in fatal shooing of South Side boy :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime

Sun-Times : A new Chicago Public School anti-violence campaign is sending the bulk of $30 million in federal stimulus dollars this school year to 38 high schools identified by officials Tuesday. Roughly 80 percent of CPS students who were shot or killed in the last five years attended classes at one of these locations, CPS officials say. As a result, the schools are producing plans to bring a "culture of calm" to their campuses. They will be hiring community groups to provide mentors, truancy workers and citizen patrol squads. Other local high schools in addition to Harlan and Robeson include: Chicago Vocational, Simeon, Corliss, Julian, Hirsh, TEAM Englewood, Bowen Campus, and South Shore Campus.

For more information contact: Monique Bond CPS Office of Communications Phone: 773-553-1620 Fax: 773-553-1622 Website: http://www.cps.edu/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2010 Chicago Public Schools Officials Announce 2010 Proposed School Actions New Student Bill of Rights Criteria Guides Process Chicago Public Schools officials today announced a series of proposed school actions that are designed to improve educational opportunities for students at low-performing schools and create operational efficiencies by closing school buildings that are under enrolled or in poor condition. CPS Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman and Chief Education Officer Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins said the proposed actions call for the turnaround of five schools, closing four schools, consolidating four schools and phasing out one school. "Our primary obligation is to assess the performance of schools and provide the best possible educational opportunity for s

According to the Sun-Times : Ruggles Elementary, 7831 S. Prairie Gillespie Elementary, 9301 S. State Deneen Elementary, 7257 S. State You'll see that in the left column of the article along with other schools around the city that are either being closed, turned around,consolidated or otherwise phased out! Let's get to the article itself! Storied Phillips High -- where Nat "King" Cole once walked the halls -- and basketball powerhouse Marshall High School are among 14 Chicago public schools expected to face massive shakeups, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. Fewer than 4 percent of students at both schools passed their state exams last year, putting both Phillips and Marshall on the radar for a "turnaround'' in which schools are re-staffed but kids stay in place. Both predominately black schools have faced major overhauls in the past, with little academic success. ... The shakeup plan under discussion Monday called for the closure of Las Cas

Gaper's Block Mechanics has a post regarding neigborhood stabilization money. A group of community activists & community groups seek a city council hearing by sending a formal letter to Ald. Ray Suarez, chair of the Chicago City Council's Committee on Housing and Real Estate. There is a map there I post that here. At the website http://www.chicagonsp.org/home.aspx and there is a post there which shows all the neighborhoods slated to get money. Of those communities Chatham and Englewood are listed. Justifications include high foreclosure rates and areas where homeowners took subprime loans.

This residential building built in 1879 (not sure if it's a house or an apartment building) is located on the southeast corner of 66th & Union. Photo by Curtis Locke and posted onto Flickr.

Sun-Times : Mayor Richard M. Daley Saturday again stressed the importance of a Wal-Mart in the Chatham neighborhood, but would not say he would grant administrative approval for the retailer. “You don’t want to push something down someone’s throat,” said Daley, speaking at a community policing event on the South Side Saturday. “Nothing happens then. You have to educate people and that’s what this is all about.” He made his remarks while standing with Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), who has supported bringing more Wal-Marts into minority communities. Daley said that the public must be educated about the importance of bringing a Wal-Mart to the South Side. He stressed, as he has done on many other occasions, that the Wal-Mart fight is “all about jobs and economic development.” “I’m not blaming any unions,” Daley said. “The blame game is over with. We’re going to work with everybody and we’re going to come up with a solution.” I would rather this issue be hammered out than for there t

Tribune : The crash happened at about 3:30 a.m. when the driver of a Chevy Tahoe headed south near 95th Street tried to swerve across several lanes of traffic, said Master Sgt. Gregory Coate. The SUV went out of control and flipped over, ejecting the driver and three passengers. None was wearing a seat belt, police said. The driver was most seriously hurt and was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was on a ventilator, police said. The passengers suffered minor injuries and were also taken to local hospitals. Preliminary investigations indicated that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, Coate said. Please don't drink and drive out there people!

You may have seen Shelter Deli on this blog already. It currently sits vacant but amazingly enough there is a campaign sign for Kari Steele in the windows for both the lounge and the deli. This is the picture of one of them. The sign is in the window for the lounge. A poster on a tree is fitting since being a commissioner at the Water Reclamation District is considered something of an environmental position. This is on 87th & St. Lawrence. Look who has a poster up on 87th. A certain west side state senator is seeking his party's nomination for Lt. Governor in this year's February primary. These next posters are of people running for judge This is on the block on 87th between Rhodes & St. Lawrence looking East. This is on the corner of 87th & Vernon. This is on the northeast corner of 87th & King Drive These signs of judicial candidates, Lt. Governor, and Water Reclamation Districts are on the northwest corner of 87th & King Drive. Cam

Chicago Public Radio : The city of Chicago is getting $98 million from the federal government to buy foreclosed properties. It will go to help stabilize hard-hit neighborhoods. Chicago got more than any other city in the country except for Los Angeles. The money comes from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency. Chicago already received $55 million last year in the first round of the so-called Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Ellen Sahli is with the city’s Department of Community Development. She says they’re getting a better sense of the market as they buy more foreclosed properties. SAHLI: I think we assumed that the housing stock would be in a little bit better shape or quality than I think we’re seeing now as we’re getting into homes and outlining the specifications to rehab them. That means the dollars won’t stretch quite as far. With the new money, the city plans to target neighborhoods it expects to bounce back quickly, like Albany Park and Logan Square. The cit

Article From Alderman Lyle's facebook page Is Wal-Mart Killing Your Business? Caitlin McDevitt , On Wednesday December 23, 2009, 6:09 am EST When small retailers see the blue big-box giant Wal-Mart moving into town it can be a scary thing. Wal-Mart has a powerful presence, especially now, as customers are drawn there for their legendary low-prices and wide array of offerings.According to a recent study from Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, the entry of a Wal-Mart does significantly impact sales at other local establishments. After observing the effects of seven Wal-Mart openings, researchers saw a 40 percent sales drop at nearby mass merchandise chains and 17 percent sales drop at supermarkets .Kusum Ailawadi, the professor of marketing who led the study, was interested in not only the impact of Wal-Mart's entry, but in how different retailers reacted."In their reactions, retailers did a mix of everything," she says. "In general, they tended to reduce the

UPDATE 4:32 PM Click here to find out how YOU can support relief efforts in Haiti! Below this article see the story about Cook County Nurses going to Haiti for the relief efforts! Tribune : At home in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood, Marie Auguste and her family have been crying nonstop since they learned of terrible news: A relative in Florida heard they had lost four loved ones in a matter of moments in the earthquake that devastated Haiti. "Everybody is going through hell right now," said her son, Darryl. While the family's tragedy was relayed through a rare phone connection to the island, most other Chicagoans who hail from Haiti or have devoted their lives to helping the needy nation were enduring a different sort of hell Wednesday, as a nonstop series of telephone calls and e-mails was met with sickening silence. The earthquake may have triggered a massive, 21st century relief effort. Appeals for help were going viral on the Web. On-the-ground dispatc

Sun-Times : The two were found dead at 1:24 p.m. Tuesday on the first floor of a home in the 7600 block of South Prairie Avenue, according to police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala. Responding officers found the woman’s body in bed with covers over it. When detectives arrived and looked under the covers, the man’s body was found, according to police who said both were shot. Martha Byrd, 52, and Ralph Linder, 62, were found dead in Byrd’s home at 7603 S. Prairie Ave., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. Linder, of 7555 S. Prairie Ave., died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled a suicide. Byrd died from multiple injuries from an assault and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office. A note found on the scene indicated the deaths occurred because of an “infidelity,’’ according to police, who said the man may have been the woman’s boyfriend.

First a debate between Ald. Emma Mitts who hosts the city's only Wal-Mart in her ward (37th Ward) and UIC Economics Department Chairman David Merrimam on Chicago Tonight from Jan. 4th, 2010. Duration of this vid is about 9 minutes. Also from Clout St. Mayor Daley makes his comments about getting more Wal-Marts into the city: Chicago should open its arms to Wal-Mart just as the suburbs do, Mayor Richard Daley said today. “These questions are not debated in the suburban area,” he said. “They are never even talked about.” The mayor was responding to a failed attempt by Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, the influential Finance Committee chairman, to force the mega-retailer and other smaller operators to pay a higher minimum wage in the city if they receive any type of city subsidy. Most retailers receive such subsidies, either directly or indirectly, when they open stores in new developments. Daley was addressing for the second time in recent weeks a long-standing stalemate in Wal-Ma

REMINDER: The January Monthly Ward Meeting is Thursday, January 14, 2009 6:30 PM at New Bethlehem Church, 8850 S Cottage Grove Ave. For further information about any of these events, call the 6th Ward Service Office at (773) 846-7006. January 6th Ward community meeting

I recently got this message from a representative of the Roseland Heights Community Association, Clevan Tucker. A lot of issues going on there: Dear Members, Let's start the New Year right by keeping the changes we are delivering for Roseland Heights going and the hope we are bringing for a brighter future for our community. I hope there are none of you who may prefer to return to the failed policies of years gone by of doing a little or nothing and hoping it works. You have proven by attending meetings and with your calls & emails that no attack by any special interest agency can stop us from getting the services we deserve. Make no mistake about it: city special interests are going after whatever we have to offer. They have opposed the care of our park, enforcement of RHCA rules, and plans to keep this community safe. They are trying to block financial reform and accountability for how the "city money" is spent in our community. Like the gamblers who nearly wr

This was submitted via e-mail to the blog today. A Tribune column by Steve Chapman titled " Chicago's stupid war on Wal-Mart ": In most places, the arrival of a new Wal-Mart is occasion for happiness or even excitement. When one opened in Provo, Utah, last year, the local paper reported, "It was a time of celebration in Cedar Hills early Wednesday morning. The newest Wal-Mart Supercenter opened its doors there on the corner of 4800 West and Cedar Hills Drive at 8 a.m., to a very eager crowd." But the Chicago City Council would sooner welcome a cholera epidemic. Since 2004, the company has wanted to build a new store on the South Side, and since 2004, aldermen have been blocking the way, with the strong support of unions. Ald. Ed Burke was trying today to break the deadlock by offering a "living wage" ordinance requiring many larger companies to pay at least $11.03 an hour. But even that wasn't enough to satisfy opponents. What on earth is goin

There are 4 candidates running for the 1st Congressional District, US Representative, including the incumbent. Harold Bailey Friends of Harold Bailey 645 E. 87th Street Chicago, IL 60619 Phone: (708) 268-4900 email: info@haroldbailey4congress.com http://www.haroldbailey4congress.com/ JoAnne Guillemette 4541 S. Vincennes Ave. Chicago IL 60653 Bobby Rush PO Box 7292 Chicago, IL 60680-7292 http://www.myspace.com/137914382 Fred Smith Fred Smith for Congress PO BOX 428543 Evergreen Park, IL 60805 http://fredsmithforcongress.com/

You can read the initial reports from yesterday regarding the potential Wal-Mart vote by Ald. Ed Burke's Finance Committee which was postponed. Starting with Crain's : Legislation that could pave the way for a second Wal-Mart store within Chicago has been stalled once again. The city’s Finance Committee, led by Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), on Monday also postponed considering a revived “living wage” ordinance that would require retailers that receive city subsidies — directly and indirectly — and employ more than 50 people to pay workers at least $11.03 an hour. It’s a broader-based measure than the “big-box ordinance” that stirred up controversy more than three years ago and prompted Mayor Richard M. Daley to issue his first veto since he was elected in 1989. But the Finance Committee postponed a vote on the measure until Wednesday, before the full Chicago City Council meets. More from the Sun-Times : The living wage would not have applied to the proposed Chatham Sup

Via Curtis Locke on Flickr of two boarded up houses on the 6900 block of Normal! From the 6th's EveryBlock Feed.

The Faith Community of Saint Sabina will host a showing of the movieInvictus.  This movie tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forceswith the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knew his nation remained racially andeconomically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he could bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandelarallied South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they made an unlikely runto the 1995 World Cup Championship match. Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:30 p.m.ICE Chatman Theater 210 West 87th Street SPECIAL DISCOUNT PRICE - $6.00 (FREE POPCORN WITH THE PURCHASE OF A SODA/POP) Name ________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________Email__________________________________________________________________________________________ Number of Tickets ______________ Money Enclosed _______________ FIRST COME FIRST SERVED Rev. Mi

FOX Chicago . The video above has comments by Ald. Brookins of the neighborhing 21 Ward who will be the home of the new Wal-Mart: There was a new setback today for supporters of a second Walmart store in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago. A planed discussion at City Hall was canceled this morning by finance committee chairman Ed Burke. ... The finance committee has yet to reach a resolution about the proposal, which has been stuck in committee for months. No substantial agreement has been met. Critics of the proposal, like the labor unions, suggest that these new jobs will come at the expense of surrounding businesses and they do not pay a living wage. These unions have influence on city aldermen like Ed Burke of the 14th ward. Kori Chambers reported that an ordinance will force Walmart to pay all of their employees no less that $11.03 an hour, which equals living wage. Supporters flooded City Hall today, in an attempt to get the committee to reach a decision. Residents and

This story from the Sun-Times was posted on January 9: The developer of a former Chatham industrial site that was supposed to house Chicago's second Wal-Mart and first Supercenter that sells groceries is facing foreclosure after falling four months behind on loan payments. The default -- and Archon Group's behind-the-scenes threat to file a $30 million lawsuit against the city if it loses the property -- turns up the heat on City Council Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) to break the log-jam that has prevented Wal-Mart from building as many as five Chicago Supercenters in impoverished wards stuck in "food deserts." An amended redevelopment agreement to pave the way for construction of the first of those mega-stores -- at 83rd and Stewart -- has been stuck in the Finance Committee since July. ... Late last week, Burke met with Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon and Ron Powell, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers