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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2004
Publishers' Introduction: Deadly Moves A plan intended to transform the lives of public housing residents has also transformed the city's illegal drug market -- often with deadly results.
Deadly Moves: Moving at Their Own Risk Nicole Wright thought her new home in Englewood would be safer than the Robert Taylor Homes.
Last fall, her family was displaced from the dilapidated high-rise at 4037 S. Federal St., one of
dozens demolished under the Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Transformation.
Deadly Moves: Troubling Development While Mayor Richard M. Daley is touting his plans to remake Chicago Housing
Authority developments into mixed-income neighborhoods, a firm that manages one of his showcase
communities is charging that the city is not doing enough to stop open drug dealing on its site.
Deadly Moves: Lack of Force When Francine Washington noticed hordes of police officers outside U.S.
Cellular Field this spring, she walked toward the ballpark and counted them. The stadium, home
of the Chicago White Sox, sits about three blocks west of the Stateway Gardens public housing
development where she lives with her husband of 23 years.
Deadly Moves: In Too Deep Ulysses "U.S." Floyd was 14 years old when he decided to run with one of
Chicago's most infamous street gangs. It was 1965. "My mother died when I was 11 years old, and
my father was a workaholic. I'd barely ever see him," Floyd said. "I did it for the camaraderie,
friendship, family. And, besides, all of my friends were in a gang already."
No C.H.A.N.C.E. For Change Do the residents of public housing have a C.H.A.N.C.E.? C.H.A.N.C.E, the
Chicago Housing Authority and Commonwealth Edison program, is supposed to address the issue of
high unpaid electric bills. Or was that just something to stop the media from crawling up the
backs of CHA and ComEd?
Bronzville Community Alert On April 30th, several prominent people met at the Renaissance Apartments at
37th Street and Wabash Avenue to alert the public about gentrification and the Chicago Housing
Authority redevelopment in the historic Bronzeville community.
You Have Been Served
Many of the residents in Cabrini-Green public housing development are up
in arms after receiving a 180 day notice from Chicago Housing Authority to vacate their
buildings. Residents in Cabrini feel that the CHA notices have been served out like pieces
of cake, as if it's something good for the low-income residents.
Harold Ickes News With all the buildings that once were the giants of State Street gone so
quickly and completely, it's no wonder residents of Harold Ickes and Dearborn are feeling
insecure, panicky and left out of the loop of knowledge as to when the wrecking balls and
other monster razing equipment will roll up on Ickes and the Dearborn Homes.
Archer Courts: A Model Rehab For hundreds of CHA residents who have been promised better living conditions
as a result of onsite renovations, there have been reoccurring disappointments. Time goes by and
not much upgrading has taken place in Ickes, Dearborn Homes, the Ida B. Wells extension and many
other developments.
Affordable Housing For Humboldt Park On April 26, the Latino community and several legislators came out to
Humboldt Park to hold a press conference in front of Shakespeare Apartments, 2141 N. Humboldt
Blvd., a building where 36 families lost their homes three years ago. Many residents were forced
to move with only three months notice because the Section 8 building was turned into condominiums.
Residents were forced to leave despite the fact that they had lived in the building for years,
some for decades. This type of scenario is happening more and more often, as the loss of
affordable housing causes Latino families to become homeless.
New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
On December 8, President Bush signed the Medicare Modernization Act of
2003. Designed to help seniors pay prescription drug bills, the president hailed his reforms,
but a growing number of critics are finding fault with the new benefit. The basic question
remains: will the Bush Administration drug benefit help seniors pay for their medicine?
2004 Election Focal Points
In the previous issue of Residents' Journal, I wrote about two of the
candidates who were competing to be the next US Senator from Illinois. I asked them specific
questions of interest to our entire readership. However, there are issues which all voters
should become familiar with. To better inform our readers, I have asked a number of local
activists to comment on some of the issues we should know about.
Ex Marks The Spot Like a slave master's bull whip marking up the back of a slave, an invisible
X marks the back of an ex-offender from the inside out, advocates claim, leaving many of them in
pain and without a leg to stand on..
Stop The Violence Led by mothers of incarcerated sons, Enough is Enough seeks the release of
prisoners whose incarcerations are based on confessions signed after allegedly torture and abuse
at the hands of the police.
Violence in CPS In March 2004, at Westinghouse Career Academy, 3301 W. Franklin Boulevard, a
female attendance clerk was beaten by a student during a black-out.
Crystal Clear Views Hey everyone, happy spring time! And a happy Mother's Day to all of you
special ladies out there. Now that I am older and have a family of my own, Mother's Day has a
different meaning for me, especially since my own mother has passed.
Positive People Carlos Estes was a resident of Ida B. Wells from the time that he was a
toddler up until he was 18 years old. He attended Doolittle East and Doolittle West grammar
schools and Wendell Philips High School. After high school, he studied at Olive Harvey Community
College. He also took courses at the National Institute of Real Estate and the National Center
for Housing Management.
Chaos at the Bank of Lawndale On a cold day in early March, more than one hundred clergymen and protestors
descended on the Community Bank of Lawndale, located at 1111 South Homan Avenue, on Chicago's
South West Side. The sale of the bank - which was started, operated and owned by Blacks for years
- sparked the controversy.
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