Power
to the people, blogspot readers!
This evening, SouthSide’s taking a
break from covering the local scene to focus more on the
socio-political side of things happening around town. She alongwith
hundreds of others walked the line in front of the 46 aldermanic
office in the Uptown neighborhood. This grassroots public display of
peaceful protesting crossed many dividing lines such as gender, race,
income background, neighborhood, ages and non-profit organizations
...all united together for a common cause – to say “NO!” to
Alderman James Cappleman’s war on the 99%. Those who attended this
gathering aren’t against seeing this neighborhood redevelop
economically but it’s the way this particular politician is doing
it by eliminating social programs and aide which serve the homeless
as well as the poor to working poor in the area.
And
that, blogspot readers, is wrong.
“...we’re
Uptown ...we won’t back down...”
Though
this protest against Alderman Cappleman may have started after
allowing an IN farmer to trap and use pigeons as shooting targets
according to recent news reports, but it goes way deeper than that.
SouthSide was given a flyer during the protest rally that
demonstrates the length this politician has gone (and would go) to
keep Uptown rapidly moving forward to regentrification. And to make
this very clear – what’s about to be said next is public record,
blogspot readers, even though he wasn’t available for comments.
Alderman Cappleman opposed a senor bulding (the Ruth Shriman Senor
Building located at 4040 N. Sheridan) because HE claimed it would
[not only] add to crime in the neighborhood but [also] block their
sunlight. Another example – HE tried to have Cornerstone Shelter
shut down by claiming the building was unsafe as well as fought the
proposal for affordable housing at the Wilson Yards by circulating
literature and spreading fear and hate falsely claiming that the
Wilson Yard was a plan to build another “Cabrini Green” (one of
Chicago’s infamous CHA housing projects) in Uptown.
“...that
man [Alderman Cappleman] is crazy...”
However,
there were two major issues of recent date that has many who came out
tonight hot under the collar ...or let’s just say, hot under the
soup ladle. Recently, the Salvation Army, a Christian-based non
profit organization, was targeted by Alderman Cappleman because of
its service feeding the homeless (as well as low income and moderate
residents) from a food truck. Captain Nancy Powers, Salvation Army
Corp Officer, stated that “We’ve asked Alderman Cappleman for a
follow-up meeting concerning the truck situation but we’ve yet to
hear back from him. We hope that he’s sincere in his latest
statements that he welcomes our services in the Uptown area.” Yet
on the other hand, a spokesperson for the alderman, Chief of Staff
Tressa Feher, had this to say: “We haven’t heard from Capt.
Powers about furthering our meetings. The Alderman will be in his
office during the protest but we’re uncertain it he’ll address
the rally.” However, to put this demonstration in a different
light, co-organizer and volunteer for Rogers Park Food Not Bombs,
Peter Hoy, said the organization is an international movement
“...that believes food is a fundamental human right...” citing
that local chapters of Food Not Bombs would stand in solidarity with
the people of Uptown and also promising to “...share meals in the
ward to protest the Alderman’s war on the poor...” He also added,
“...if they kick out the Salvation Army, we will be there to make
sure the meals don’t stop.”
And
it doesn’t stop there, blogspot readers, the alderman also wants to
close down two of the last transitional living quarters. the Chateau
and the Wilson Men’s Club, in this neighborhood. Even though
promising not to, he’s in favor of supporting a development plan at
the Maryville property that would give a subsidy of up to $32 million
in TIF funds to a developer who, according the flyer printed by
Northside Action for Justice, is proposing to build an 800 unit, high
rent building. Meanwhile, this far northside community is losing
hundreds of housing units like the Norman (located 1325 W. Wilson)
that could be affordable to low income residents. See, blogspot
readers, this fight in saying “NO” to Alderman Cappleman was
merely more than just saving needed services for one select group(s)
of people. They were trying to save an entire community by fighting
this politician and his supporters bent on wiping them away. Yet, you
don’t have to take SouthSide’s word on this ...no, you might get
a better understanding if you hear it from the people she interviewed
during the protest.
“...No
soup for you!”
After
the peaceful demonstation was “officially” over, SouthSide could
see seeds of networking and where to take this fight next sprouting
amongst the mini gatherings large and small as people shared,
discussed and planned with each other. This, blogspot readers, was
socio-political activism at work and in action ...even some right in
front of the Alderman Cappleman’s windows where a few jeered and
taunted those sitting inside. “It’s sad that he [Alderman
Cappleman] wants to target the poor and this protest will represent
only the beginning of many protests to come.” says Lair Scott in a
press release dated Monday. There will be another meeting in which
the public is invited to attend the Northside P.O.W.E.R. on Sunday
March 10 from 6:30p to 8p at Willye White Field House (located 1610
W. Howard St., in Chicago). The topic of the night will be “...It’s
just Common Sense to invest in the Common Good... – 2/3 of
corporations in Illinois PAY NO INCOME TAX! If they’d pay their
fair share, Illinois would not have to make devastating budget
cuts...”
Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide
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