FOX News - Chicago city council meeting EXPLODES: 'We're turning red'

 

[VIDEO] I think turning Chicago "red" isn't realistic if we primarily judge by the last mayoral election.

I haven't read into too many of these clips I've seen on YouTube in recent months leading up to this month's presidential election. There are clips out there of Chicago residents going to City Hall declaring their going to turn Chicago red and they often wear red baseball caps - though not necessarily MAGA hats.

Whether or not Chicago will turn red in the future remains to be seen. We know that the presidential race in this state was remarkably close. The margin of victory for Vice President Kamala Harris in this state was not millions of votes but at least 600K votes. An opportunity statewide for Republicans in the future but it remains to be seen if they could capitalize.

I'm sure many of you who are on X/Twitter have seen maps of which precincts in Chicago voted for President-elect Trump and some of those areas are no surprise. Especially if those areas primarily contain first responders (police & fire).

Of course one thing we can glean from comments of "turning Chicago red" is that people aren't very happy with what's going on with the city right now.

Three Sisters on Michigan Avenue #tbt

 Another photo found through the Roseland History Facebook group. This photo is undated though I do remember the Three Sisters chain which had locations throughout the city.

This photo I really like because these days the shopping area on Michigan Avenue seems depressed boarded up and those business that are open are often locked up with burglar bars when they're closed for the evening. And you see wide open windows with displays and this would be a nice thing to find in the neighborhood at least for those businesses which would be benefit from this.

#fbf Gately's People's Store

 The above photo is undated probably 1960s or 1970s. As you may know this building was lost after a fire back in the summer of 2019. The fire created a vacant lot.

I found this photo in the Roseland History FB group. Some recall donuts in the basement of this store. Another commented that they want to bring back "The Ave" which is what they called the shopping strip along South Michigan Avenue.

I'm curious what happened to the Gately's sign as it was an easily recognizable landmark that perhaps many took for granted even if the store itself had long ago closed.

DO NOT SKIP school board races

 I found this on the FB page for Ward 15 Ald. Ray Lopez sharing this graphic of preferred candidates for the Chicago Board of Education. One of those names was highlighted yesterday Miquel Lewis, and this graphic is basically against the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

It may explain the anti-Lewis mailer I shared with you yesterday.

Anti-Miquel Lewis flyer - candidate for Chicago School Board Dist. 9

The below flyers are from the Chicago Teachers Union that are urging voters to reject Miquel Lewis who is running in the 9th District for the Board of Education along with Lanetta Thomas. 

As you will see Lewis is being tied with former President Donald Trump and this so-called Project 2025 agenda. Also note that the School Board races are non-partisan and there is nothing that shows Lewis' political affiliation.

 I'm sure there is a way to verify any campaign funds that Lewis is receiving for his bid for a seat on Chicago's school board. As we even saw with Paul Vallas who ran for Mayor of Chicago in 2023 to tie anyone to Trump or any Republican is something that voters in Chicago may well respond to.

Below are flyers from Lewis' campaign. We need a counterpoint here and hopefully you might decide for yourself what his inclinations are before you hit the ballot box.

You can visit his campaign website here: https://www.miquellewisforeducation.com/

Candidate for CPS School Board Dist. 9

 We're less than one month away from Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. We'll be voting especially for President (I have to add that early voting had started on October 3, 2024). Also this year we'll be voting for members of the Chicago Board of Education.

This mailer arrived in my mailbox recently for a candidate for the Board of Education a woman, a veteran of the U.S. Army - Lanetta Thomas -  is seeking a seat on the new school board representing District 9.

You can check her out at the website friendsforlanetta.org or check her "socials" X/Twitter & Facebook @friendsforlanetta.

Anyone else seeking a Chicago school board seat?

Again Election Day is Nov 5, 2024 and early voting is going on in downtown Chicago starting on Oct. 3, 2024. Have you registered to vote, yet?

Last townhall for the year #Ward09

•  9th Ward Community Meeting
  This WILL be the last townhall for the year
  Tuesday, September 24, 2024
  6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
  Pullman Presbyterian Church
  550 E. 103rd Street
  773.785.1100
  

Oh wait don't forget about the Alderman's Residential Night posted on his website ward09.com.

Alderman Beale will host Residential Night every Monday between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM. Residents are welcome to walk in and meet with the Alderman, one on one on a "first come, first served basis".

**Please call BEFORE arrival**

Attendees must have a government-issued ID with a 9th Ward address.

Residential night is for residential concerns.

All business inquiries must go through the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce.

There will NOT be an December Community Meeting

 Ald. Beale's ward office is located at

• 34 E. 112th Place
  Chicago, IL 60628
  773.785.1100
  773.785.5849
  

Roseland Plaza 115th & Michigan #tbt #Ward09

Via VanishedChicagoland FB

This is what you would've found on the vacant lot at 115th & Michigan perhaps before the mid-2000s at least. 

Of course as you can see by the cars here, this is a vintage photograph. Coffee Pot is likely in the foreground. And then the National grocery store you see in the background here.

Once the Red Line is built in this area, here's hoping we can have this block brought back to life again in the future. Retail, restaurants, hopefully some other services.

Is the Red Line extension worth it?

 

[VIDEO] Just found this video this morning and discusses some thing I knew was going to happen.

For example we know that bus service through the affected areas of the Red Line extention will change. Bus routings will either be combined, extended or even eliminated. So the proposed routings we see here such as extending buses into Indiana aren't very likely.

I would like to see more utilization of Metra Electric service especially within those areas that won't be directly served by CTA extension. Especially in the South Chicago/South Shore area and certainly going into West Pullman and Blue Island - further west.

And transit oriented development. I don't know about developing high density projects. High rises for example or even developing say a new neighborhood. Roseland and Altgeld Gardens aren't very desirable areas anyway.

I would say the lot at 115th/Michigan - where a stop will be located would be a great possibility for a multi-use development. I'm thinking certainly housing and retail - perhaps another grocery store and certainly businesses with the commuter in mind. So I think in that area that's a possibility of developing something that might work for the area.

Also I'd be curious how the YouTuber - BurjTransit - gets these numbers 38,000 riders are expected to use this extension once it's online. However, it's more likely that 6,000 rides would utilize the services. I'm sure the 38K comes from CTA's projection itself.

However, let's note as he had that the Red Line ridership hasn't been great post-pandemic. CTA as a whole has issues as far as rail service and certainly if you've had to take a bus anywhere in recent years.

What are your thoughts on the CTA extension? What do you think it would bring to this part of Chicago's south side?