ARCHIVES

Chaos at the Bank of Lawndale

by  Assistant Editor

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.

Outrageous statements were made during the protest from bank supporters, employees and protestors. This reporter could only record what happened and what was said.

The clergymen and protestors were greeted not with a welcome wagon or hearty handshake, but by large blue “Do Not Cross” police barricade that stood in front of the bank. Security guards were stationed out front, some wearing the latest style in bulletproof vests. Alongside them was a line of police and police squad cars and trucks.
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Positive People

by  Editorial Assistant

Carlos Estes

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.

Former Ida B. Wells resident Carlos Estes. Photo by Crystal Medina

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Crystal Clear Views

by  Editorial Assistant

Hey everyone, happy summer time! Even though Mother’s Day has passed, I still thought I’d write about motherhood. Now that I am older and have a family of my own, motherhood has a different meaning for me, especially since my own mother has passed. When I was younger, it was all about showing mom how much she meant to me, how much I loved and appreciated her. I always wanted to let her know that she was the most important person in my life. That’s where the flowers, cards and gifts came in. What am I supposed to do now? She still is so very special to me, but she isn’t here.

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CPS Violence

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In March 2004, at Westinghouse Career Academy, 3301 W. Franklin Boulevard, a female attendance clerk was beaten by a student during a black-out.

At Wells Community Academy, 936 N. Ashland, two male students were shot. A week later, one of the victims was shot by a student again.

At Phillips Academy, 244 E. Pershing Road, the very school in which the Bureau of Safety and Security for the Chicago Public School System is located, a male student was beaten.
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Stop The Violence

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Enough is Enough

On Friday March 5, I was on my way to my son’s house. I arrived at the 95th St. El station and was handed a flyer asking people to come to a forum sponsored by the Enough is Enough Campaign at the Christian Hope Church at 8849 S. Greenwood on March 11. 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.

A participant a the Enough is Enough rally displays the group's flyers.

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Ex Marks The Spot

by  Assistant Editor

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.

Ex-offenders expressed to me that once they are released from the controlled environment of prison into an uncontrolled society that doesn’t embrace them as human beings, they feel left out and lost. They feel as if they don’t exist.
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2004 Election Focal Points

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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.

On November 2, 2004, citizens of the United States of America will go to the polls to vote. Due to the war in Iraq, economic concerns regarding the national budget, jobs, out-sourcing (sending work to foreign countries) and the threat of rising interest rates, many of us will certainly be aware of the importance and significance of the coming election. Locally and nationally, activists, officials and others are sounding the alarm far and wide to make sure we understand what is at stake.
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Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

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In March 2003, President George W. Bush proposed a new framework to modernize and improve Medicare to Congress. Eight months later, 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?

Medicare is a federal government program that provides health insurance for seniors aged 65 and above, as well as people with disabilities and those with permanent kidney failure. The original Medicare plan only covers prescription drugs in a few cases, like certain cancer medicines. Read more »

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Affordable Housing for Humboldt Park

by  Editorial Assistant

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.

Local Latino tenants joined state Sen. Iris Martinez (D-20), Ald. Rey Colon (35th), Ald. Manny Flores (1st), the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Humboldt Park Social Services and other groups to talk about two bills in Springfield currently under consideration.
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Archer Courts: A Model Rehab

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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.

On the other hand, Archer Courts, located at Cermak Road and Archer Avenue, has been renovated from A to Z and presents a stunning picture of just what can be done to change poor housing conditions into tip-top, safe, comfortable dwellings. My initial visit had me in awe from the moment I arrived on the grounds.
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