RE: Re: Opponents back Sawyer in 6th Ward runoff

In response to a posting over at Worlee's Concerned Citizen's of Chatham FB page where he linked to his own blog post entitled "The Rahm Team is Coming to the Sixth Ward" this is what Richard Wooten had to say:

This is truly ridicules; we have to stop the political machine from holding our ward hostage. It’s time for the people of the 6th Ward to speak up and let all interested parties know that we the people of the 6th ward will decide who we wa...nt to represent us in city council. It’s not going to be about who has the most money to spend on this campaign, so take the $10,000.00 & $50,000.00 donations because the people of the 6th ward is watching and listening …we are listening for the resolutions to saving and aiding our schools in providing productive means to advance the academics of our youth, we are interested in the social and economic services and strategies that would help improve the ills of our ward, and let’s not forget public safety; with roughly 102 Robberies, 91 Burglaries, and 4 Homicides thus far (compliments of CPD Clearmap). We need Change! I am so tired of talking to people who are not from the 6th ward trying to persuade me to vote for their agenda as if I’m confused and need help deciding. Enough is enough, I do realize the 6th Ward needs a change and I am asking all who supported me as a candidate join me now as a concerned citizen of the 6th Ward and cast your Ballot for Roderick Sawyer. Let’s give Roderick Sawyer a chance because we need a change. Yes this is my official Endorsement.

OK! So now Wooten endorses Rod Sawyer for 6th Ward Alderman. And as you will see Sawyer himself liked the comment. :P

Re: Opponents back Sawyer in 6th Ward runoff

Over at Worlee's FB page Concerned Citizens of Chatham, Richard Wooten wrote this comment yesterday about a press release from the Sawyer campaign about the other candidates backing Roderick Sawyer:

As a previous candidate I ran my campaign dedicated to keeping the people of the 6th Ward informed and not playing politics as usual. The people of the 6th Ward deserve to be informed appropriately when it comes to issues concerning the War...d, over the past couple of days I have been made aware of by concerned citizens as well as a reporter that I have Endorsed Mr. Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer and I have spoken on several occasions and we both feel that the 6th Ward truly needs a change. Understand that although Mr. Sawyer and I have similar concerns I have not made an endorsement for any candidate. If and when I make an endorsement I would do so only after I have given the courtesy of informing my supporters.

OPPONENTS BACK SAWYER IN SIXTH WARD RUNOFF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kenneth Sawyer (312) 420-6443

OPPONENTS BACK SAWYER IN SIXTH WARD RUNOFF

As Roderick T. Sawyer, candidate for Sixth Ward Alderman, heads into the April 5 runoff election, he has received the endorsement of four former opponents: Brian Sleet; Cassandra Goodrum-Burton; Sekum Walker, and Richard Wooten.

“We have a common goal and that is to help improve the quality of life for 6th Ward residents. Receiving the support of the other candidates in the February election, is one more crucial step in uniting the 6th Ward, and bringing real reform to the Chicago City Council. By improving education, economic development, and access to city services ,we will promote a cleaner, safer, and stronger community."

A response to Roderick Sawyer's press release

Kari Steele responds to the Roderick Sawyer press release about the incident when a campaign worker from Ald. Lyle's campaign allegedly assaulted a worker from challenger Richard Wooten's campaign. The comment was written at the Concerned Citizen's of Chatham page on Saturday:

This was truly an unfortunate incident that should not have occurred. Despite the taunting, verbal abuse and profanities that were directed at the Alderman, as she and her 80 year old father left their polling place, this type of behavior ...is unacceptable and not representative of the Lyle campaign. The Press Release prepared by the candidates' PR person however is erroneous because the Alderman was in the act of removing her volunteers from the corner when they were again accosted by the 'purported victim.' After the parties were separated, she gave them the address of the office where they could find the volunteer. She did not flee. We look forward to the return of civilized campaigning as the run-off election continues. :-)

Steele is herself a leader of the 6th Ward Young Democrats and a former candidate for Water Reclamation District.

Sawyer outraged over campaign scuffle...

Calls for issue-oriented campaign

Roderick T. Sawyer, candidate for Sixth Ward Alderman, said he is outraged about a fight that emerged recently over political signs that left one campaign volunteer hospitalized and a Lyle campaign worker charged with battery at a polling place on the South side.

In response to the incident, Sawyer said: “It is unfortunate that the incident resulted in a citizen being injured and another arrested. I was disappointed that instead of squashing the incident Lyle fled the scene.

“These actions do not represent the issues-oriented campaign that I’m running as I go forward with this runoff election,” Sawyer continued. “I’ve run an ethical campaign targeting real issues impacting Sixth Ward residents and anyone who would insinuate otherwise is just projecting.”

Sawyer said that he is committed to an issues-oriented campaign and welcomed his opponent to join him in condemning the violence. “A campaign focused on the issues would help to ensure that the run-off will not be marred by reckless participants,” he concluded.

You might have heard about this incident from the Chicago Sun-Times the day after the municipal elections.The article, posted on our FB page, involved a Wooten campaign worker and the Lyle campaign worker on the night of the municipal elections. That night this incident was alluded to on Wooten's FB Page.

We recieved this release from the PR person for Sawyer's Aldermanic campaign. Although Worlee beat me to this release on his blog.

Campaign activity

Concerned Citizen's of Chatham (CCC) blog wants to know more about activity in the ward since this campaign is about to wind down here in the 6th. Worlee noted activity from the Wooten, Sawyer and Lyle campaigns.

On our FB page a neighbor noted that a worker from SEIU dropped off some campaign materials at her doorstep. BTW, this note may be irrelevant the SEIU in fact sponsors the Progress Illinois website who wrote about the 6th Ward race on Friday.

If you were on Wooten's FB page you saw that their campaign movement almost in real time as they moved around the ward throughout the day. Mainly along King Drive. It was even alleged that the Alderman attempted to stop Wooten's campaign motorcade.

Oh yeah Worlee's CCC FB page got a comment from Ay-Sha who said there were no reported sightings of 6th Ward candidates in Englewood at all yesterday. Ald. Lyle chimed in by saying that she was in the 6th Ward portion of Englewood yesterday.

While Wooten was out campaigning he wrote a note which tagged both our FB page and CCC FB to respond to a comment Ald. Lyle posted to the CCC page. Alderman Lyle put out yet another response to this via e-mail.

Brain Sleet also has a parting message for the final weekend of this campaign. I hope he was out here like Sawyer, Lyle and Wooten.

OK on that note that's it for the round-up. Are there any other last minute campaign events coming up before people go to the polls on Tuesday?

Campaign test -- 1 week results.

On Monday Feb 7 (Monday after the blizzard), my wife and i began an experiment. We either sent e-mails or left voice messages asking each of the 6 campaigns to send us material to help us determine if we should vote for them. The separate requests either asked for the material to be sent to our home, or to a 60619 P.O. Box.

We received 2 e-mail acknowledgements, and a promise that material would be sent soon. This was from Cassandra Goodrum-Burton and Brian Sleet.

But as of Wednesday afternoon, neither the P.O. Box or our home mailbox had any specific mail form the campaigns. We did receive material, but it looks like it was part of the registered voter database. There didn't seem to be anything specific to us (i.e. it's like no one took the time to make sure we had everything to help us in our decision).

Now, it COULD be a problem with the post office...a Medill School of Journalism (Northwestern University) grad student will be publishing a story on our recent problems with the post office...but after all this time, can just the post office be blamed? Is it true that none of the campaigns actually sent us the material we asked?


In 2007, i had varied responses:

Fredrenna Lyle's office had a packet dropped off at our door within days, which included newspapers articles, brochures, etc. (This was after either a call or e-mail)

Karin Norington Reeves conversed with me via Facebook

When I stopped by Eugene Davis' campaign office, they only had an old newspaper with an article. I left my contact info, and found out that they had signed me up to be a volunteer -- thought at that point, i simply wanted to LEARN more about him as a candidate.

I received no response from Thelma Andrews.

For 2011, I was hoping to get a better response...not a "no response"

GCA Mayoral forum on CAN-TV - *this* WED and FRI morning!

An update to JP Paulus' post I didn't catch it on Monday morning. GCA offered an updated scheduled showing of the forum for 8:30 AM Wednesday on Channel 21 and of course one more on Friday morning at 10 AM on Channel 19. This is for those who are able to recieve CAN-TV on their cable services. If you have satellite you may not have CAN-TV.

Also it appears that GCA will offer a link to the 6th Ward Aldermanic forums to be shared whether on blogs such as this one or on social networking websites such as Facebook. Also from the e-mail...

However, Shawn Bell, the cameraman is offering a link that you can use on your website and Facebook page that connects you to his server.

This will allow folks who do not have Comcast to see the entire forum via your website and Facebook page.

He is charging $20 for the link connection to offset his hosting the entire video on his server.

You can pay him in cash or a money order.

How's that for sharing? I should pay the money, but I would imagine it's just easier to find a website such as YouTube, Blip, or even Vimeo to host the video. I admire the videographer for working with GCA to distribute his work but if he reads this post,  I'm posting my ideas. Hopefully this won't corrupt the footage as the GCA e-mail claims that putting the forum on DVD would.

If you want the information to get into touch with Bell e-mail the blog I can forward that information to you if you're not on the GCA distribution list.

An updated release for the update airings of the Aldermanic forum is here!

GCA 6th Ward Aldermanic forum on CAN-TV Feb 14 and 18

Greater Chatham Alliance just announced the CAN-TV schedule of the 6th Ward Aldermanic debate, held at Kennedy-King College on January 22nd

here is their press release:

Did you miss attending the 6th Ward Aldermanic Forum sponsored by the Greater Chatham Alliance Community Council?

Well, here's your chance to get a closer glimpse at the platforms and perspectives offered by the candidates running for the 6th Ward Alderman seat.

GCA would like to thank again the following community groups for their participation at the forum: Sustainable Englewood Initiatives, Park Manor Neighbors Community Council, Roseland Heights Community Association and the West Chesterfield Community Association.

CAN-TV channels can only be seen on the COMCAST Cable Network

Unfortunately, satellite companies like DISH Network and DIRECT TV don't carry it.

Program Schedule

Monday, February 14, 10 a.m. on Channel 21

Friday, February 18, 10 a.m. on Channel 19

Be sure to tape the show if you are working during those dates.

And please-- email, or call your friends, neighbors and family members who live throughout the ward and alert them to this schedule.

6th Ward communities include: Chatham, Chesterfield, Englewood (a section), Park Manor, Roseland Heights and West Chesterfield.

Remember Early Voting ends: Thursday, February 17

Election Day is: Tuesday, February 22

An informed community is an educated community.

The press release states that CAN-TV can only be seen on Comcast. Can TV should be on other providers such as RCN, WOW and others. (AT & T may not have it).
 
Let us know your perspective.

VIDEO: Ald. Lyle and Richard Wooten

I wanted to post these videos last month and I wanted to post them individually, but today I had to do something different. These two videos related to two subjects. Restaurants and the Chatham neighborhood. Wooten has less time in his video to talk about them as Ald. Lyle who had roughly a 30 min. video to talk about a variety of subjects in addition to restaurants & Chatham.

The only reason I hadn't rolled them out soon was that it was kind of hard for me to really focus and transcribe quotes from Ald. Lyle's video. So now this is a case of compare and contrast today. Although what I would have you do is relate that to the news as far as restaurants here in our communities such as Army & Lou's.

First is Ald. Lyle on Issue Forum

Click To Play

In this video, her and host Kristopher Anderson (who's affiliated with the Young Democrats of America) would cover topics such as why people should move to the 6th Ward or Chatham. She especially explains the value of houses in our part of town. In addition to the eateries in our community she spouts out such as Five Loaves, Brown Sugar Bakery, Army & Lou's, as well as Captain Hardtime. In addition to that the new shops that have opened at Chatham Village Square in addition to towards the end a discussion of the Chatham neighborhood.

Below is Wooten's video, "What's wrong in Chatham"

This roughly one minute video almost exactly follows this write-up you can find over at Wooten's campaign website:

Crime! Foreclosed housing! Newer neighbors lacking respect for traditional community values! Lower property values and a declining business sector are the major ills affecting Chatham. Add to this an Alderman not recognizing that Chatham won’t be able to attract new families to an aging community if most of the schools are on probation, or that Chatham’s small business district isn’t growing.

In this video Wooten notes that Chatham is a "restaurant desert". Although I would like more info as to how he had come to his conclusion.

Some compare and contrast. Ald. Lyle may well indicate that we're not a restaurant desert while Wooten says something different. Although yeah we've heard that Army & Lou's had closed for the time being. That's very unfortunate news for this community.

WOOTEN: "Chesterfield & West Chesterfield, here's what's wrong"

In this brief video Wooten examines Chesterfield & West Chesterfield. This write up applies for both neighborhoods:

Foreclosed homes blemishing the beauty of this once, sought after single-family home area. Quickie drug deals and burglaries are disrupting the tranquility of this well-established community and certain types of families have started to ignore the time-honored values that this community is known for. This community also asks: why can’t they have the kinds of small and big businesses you expect to see in Northside areas? Should that still be a wish or a reality?

In this one he doesn't veer from the script at all so nothing new here. You should read his PDF editorials there isn't much difference between the two, only that well he changes Chesterfield for West Chesterfield and vice-versa:

Today, if you don’t o er our youth the options of being engaged in after school programs, you leave them vulnerable to bad in uences. Volunteering with our youth and mentoring young men in the ward has made that very clear to me. So my administration will work with our churches, schools and community groups to implement programs that allow kids the chance to stay focused on a positive future. Should we succeed in securing a grant from the Illinois Violence Prevention Agency, jobs would be created in the community aiding in the establishment of neighborhood patrols to report criminal and suspicious activities. Most people have no idea how the city’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) works! What some of us do know is that it was intended to improve poor communities. But the mayor abused it. Englewood and Park Manor would be on the top of my list! If we don’t stabilize the hardest hit areas rst, the spill over e ect will topple the best parts of West Chester eld.

So he wants to work on the destabilized neighborhoods of Englewood and Park Manor in order to protect that best parts of Chesterfield and West Chesterfield. Does this make sense?

Wooten: What's wrong in Englewood?

Well you know the videos for the neighborhoods of the 6th from Aldermanic candidate Richard Wooten I've just decided to post them individually. Here's the video for Englewood which takes up only a small portion of this ward in the northwest corner. Here's some text to follow although it's not exactly word for word:

There are so many things wrong with Englewood that it’s no wonder some residents feel hopeless! Crime across the board is rampant! Vacant, deteriorating and abandoned properties are everywhere! A lack jobs and job training for our young and out-of-work middle-aged adults. Plus, there’s a huge need for affordable housing and more health clinics/ facilities. In addition, this area needs more homeless shelters and battered women safe houses.

I'll hand it to Officer Wooten, he is attempting to diagnose the issues of the individual neighborhoods here in the 6th.

What wrong in Roseland Heights: the video version from candidate Wooten.

This video was based upon the written version I found at Wooten's campaign website over the weekend. There are videos from his campaign for this ward's other neighborhoods as well.

What's Wrong in Roseland Heights?

I'm excerpting this from a page from Richard Wooten's revamped campaign website. Most of the other information isn't much different from the other pages dedicated to neighborhoods throughout the ward:

Poor police response time! Unstable property values, due to foreclosures and vacant land, are cropping up in the area. Slum landlords!  Lack of new housing!  And this community wants more Alderman accountability regarding Roseland Heights’ infrastructure. Plus, they want to know why they can’t have more direct interaction with the Alderman to influence the decision-making that affects their community. Should Roseland Heights have the right to express how their taxpayers’ money is spent?  You bet! Further adding to the dysfunction of our ward is the inability of the Alderman’s office to instantly address the problems and–– identify programs that can effect change. My years of service to my country and community have taught me that you are only as good as your team. I want a qualified staff that is continually trained in customer service and communication skills. I want a staff member with grant writing experience to help consult the ward’s community groups and neighborhood businesses. This person will identify grants and programs that groups and businesses can pursue to help restore core values back to Roseland Heights.

For the other pages for the neighborhoods of Chesterfield, West Chesterfield, Chatham, Park Manor, and Englewood the first paragraphs are different. The rest of the information contained within are not.

What are you thoughts?

Mysterious Survey Mokey Survey

Saw this posted by a friend on Facebook.

1. If you were in the election poll, who would you vote for?

• Roderick T. Sawyer
• Freddrenna M. Lyle
• Brian E. Sleet
• Sekum Walker
• Cassandra Goodrum-Burton
• Richard A. Wooten

 *2. What do you think is the most important issue that concerns the 6th ward citizens?

(open text)

*3. What do you think the next 6th ward Alderman should address the most?

• Crime
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Lack of city services
• Education
• All of the above

4. What's wrong with the current 6th Ward Aldernman?

• not assessible
• not visible
• not a coalition builder
• not responsive

 *5. What would be the best way for the 6th Ward Alderman to better serve the people? 

• Be responsive
• Be assessible
• Be visible
• Build Coalitions
• All of the above

*This question requires an answer.

So who published this survey? Why can't we see the results?

One thing that disturbed me was Question 4 -- it's phrased to be anti-incombent, rather than saying "what area needs the most improvement". Some people may feel there's something wrong, however, others may legitimately feel otherwise.  And you can't submit the survey without answering it (and no way to add another option).

6th Ward Aldermanic forum on Saturday, January 22, 2011

For those of you looking for for a chance to see all the aldermanic candidates, and live, mark you calendars

What: Candidate Forum for 6th Ward Alderman Office
When: Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Kennedy King College, 740 W. 63rd Street (parking available on street and in lot)

SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR – WVON 1690 AM radio personality, Cliff Kelly

The 6th Ward communities of Park Manor, West Chesterfield, Chatham Avalon, Greater Grand Crossing, Roseland Heights and Englewood would like all residents of these communities to come out and listen to the platforms of each nominee running for office of the 6th Ward Alderman in the February 22, 2011 election.

Please plan to attend to hear about the candidates’ qualifications, vision and specific plans for leading the ward during these very difficult financial and social times.

All 6th Ward residents are invited to attend.Please invite your family, friends and 6th ward neighbors!

Come out and hear from the candidates, all were invited to participate:

• RODERICK T. SAWYER
• FREDDRENNA M. LYLE
• BRIAN E. SLEET
• SEKUM WALKER
• CASSANDRA GOODRUM-BURTON
• RICHARD A. WOOTEN

Please join us!

It is important to participate in our own community’s future.

For more information, contact: Ava Martin at 773-412-4025 or Avamart22@yahoo.com

The event is organized by Greater Chatham Alliance, with presidents of leading 6th Ward Community Organizations as panelists (such as Park Manor Neighbors Community Council , Chesterfield Community Council , Chatham Avalon Park Community Council).

The style will be similar to the League of Women Voters format for debates.

Filing begins for Aldermnaic & Mayoral candidates

The website Early and often is tracking the filing for candiates of Aldermanic & Mayoral offices.

So far, only Fredrenna Lyle has filed. Her campiagn was 66th in line, and claimed 4800 signatures.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections pamphlet (page 13), 261 valid signatures are required.

As of 1pm, no one else has filed. (As of 2pm, there were 139 who had filed for city Alderman, Mayor, Clerk and Treasurer).


Other potential candidates listed (with no other data)

1. Burton, Cassandra
2. Davis, Burundi
3. Wooten, Richard
4. Walker, Sekum
5. Sleet, Brian
6. Washington, Sean
7. Sawyer, Roderick  
8. Cunningham, Sidney
9. Sistrunk Sr., Ronald

 If you have any information, please post a comment.

It will be interesting to see how many signatures were obtained, and how many are valid.

Thanks!