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* Sun-Times editorial…
Kennedy is playing a dangerous game. He is playing the race card unfairly, knowing that’s the quickest way to get a headline in Chicago. But playing the race card — in this case without the goods — also is the quickest way to destroy a reputation, divide us against each other, and set back whatever progress in racial fairness our city has made. […]
As Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell wrote last week, there is no doubt that Chicago has seen an exodus of working-class and poor black people. The city’s African-American population has dropped by more than 250,000 people since 2000, which is to say since 11 years before Emanuel first was elected mayor.
But, as Mitchell also wrote, to blame Emanuel for the exodus is to feed “age-old conspiracy theories” instead of “coming up with fresh ideas that would benefit the black community.”
* WTTW…
WBEZ’s South Side reporter Natalie Moore said Kennedy wasn’t wrong in describing disinvestment in African-American neighborhoods, but said the candidate misused the term.
“We see many challenges in black South and West Side neighborhoods,” Moore said. “I don’t dispute his evidence is there about the challenges that those neighborhoods are facing but we are not seeing a replacement of people in those neighborhoods. We’re seeing population decline.”
Merriam-Webster defines “gentrification” as the “process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.”
As the root of the word suggests, gentrification is linked to socioeconomic class rather than race, although those factors can coincide.
* Meanwhile, one of Kennedy’s favorite targets is in more trouble…
Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios is facing $41,000 in fines for failing to return campaign contributions from property tax appeals lawyers whose donations exceeded legal limits, according to a pair of new rulings by the county ethics board.
The rulings raise the level of scrutiny on campaign contributions given by appeals lawyers to Berrios, who doubles as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and depends heavily on their donations in raising political funds. The action also ignites another high-profile showdown with the county Board of Ethics, with which he previously clashed over nepotism issues. […]
In rulings released late Monday, the ethics board listed 30 examples of property tax attorneys or firms whose donations to Berrios’ main political fund in late 2016 or early 2017 exceeded the $750 limit. It fined Berrios and the Committee to Elect Joseph Berrios Cook County Assessor $1,000 for each violation, for a total of $30,000. The $1,000 fine per violation is the maximum allowed.
An additional $11,000 in fines were imposed on Berrios and his 31st Ward Democratic Organization, the source of his main power base.
…Adding… Berrios campaign…
Every contribution received by the Assessor’s campaign complies with State Law. Attempts by the county ordinance to limit the rights of contributors are invalid. Assessor Berrios is not personally wealthy so he must rely on campaign contributions from supporters. Wall Street Republican Fritz Kaegi broke the contribution caps in late September in an attempt to buy the Assessor’s office.
According to Illinois State Law, the maximum an individual can contribute to a candidate is $5,600. No contribution to Assessor Berrios’ campaign exceeded that amount. In addition, Fritz Kaegi broke the contribution caps so all campaigns for the Assessor’s office are considered exempt from any campaign caps.
We intend to supply further evidence that there was no violation of the election law by accepting any contributions. We believe we will prevail in the upcoming motion for reconsideration. The Assessor believes the fines are improper and expects the order will be ultimately vacated by the ethics board or the court.
Assessor Berrios believes in a fair playing field for all candidates, who are seeking office, not just the wealthy 1%.
* Related…
* Kaegi overcomes challenge to his bid to run against Berrios
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 10:56 am
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I’d really like some data on what Chicago African American communities think of his comments. Those comments are absolutely something that City Hall, editorial boards, and northside white enclaves won’t like. And that’s not nothing. But if he really gets on fire with African Americans, it could still net out to a positive for him.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:01 am
As long as we are talking about this Kennedy is winning on this issue. Whatever ed boards and WTTW (Winnetka talking to Wilmette) will have little impact. The feeling in the neighborhoods is what matters.
Comment by Come on man! Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:09 am
First, there are a lot of conspiracy theories that have been proven true. Best to suspend belief. Duck it. (like duckduckgo)
Kennedy’s playing of that particular race card is so fascinating in this current dynamic of politics. There’s a lot of that going on in some circles, different cards for different folks.
I still applaud all wise folks, of any color/class, that got up and outta that area. There is nothing to gain, in pursuit of a pleasant life, by staying in a segregated, violent, and depressed area. Bravo.
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:19 am
==He is playing the race card unfairly,==
What a truly bizarre statement. I’d like to see the official rulebook on “playing the race card” to which the Sun Times apparently relied in their editorializing on how and when it can be played fairly versus unfairly.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:23 am
I’m no Camelot nostalgist, and I’ve always thought of Chris Kennedy as a diletante goof.
But he sure has stung some professional blabbermouths for pointing out an obvious truth.
How is “strategic gentrification” a “conspiracy theory?” It’s been policy since Richard M.
I didn’t think it was a secret. Why are some acting all guilty about it now?
When they tore down those miles of CHA towers across from old Cominsky, for example, were you sad or happy? Where did you think those folks went, the Four Seasons?
That was policy and strategery, in action, not a “conspiracy theory.”
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:03 pm
===That was policy and strategery, in action, not a “conspiracy theory.”===
Yes, the facts can be used to support that narrative. I think motive and intent, however, aren’t as clear cut.
Yes, whole swathes of public housing have been leveled, replaced in some cases by gentrified neighborhoods. But even in the former Cabrini Green neighborhood, there is subsidized housing. In fact, almost all new residential developments in Chicago have to address or include low-income, subsidized housing.
So the counter narrative Mayors Emanuel and Daley would offer is the de-ghettoization of Chicago. They dispersed the concentration of low income people from public housing high rises to Section 8 vouchers. Yes, that forced a lot of folks out of Chicago. No, Section 8 and other housing policies haven’t come close to replacing the number of housing units lost by tearing down the large blocks of public housing.
But is anyone calling for large scale public housing to re-concentrate low income residents? I’m not hearing those calls. I don’t mourn the loss of Robert Taylor or LeClaire Courts, or Cabrini Green.
I think the problem with Kennedy and others is they are attributing a nefarious motive to a plan (The Plan for Transformation) which was widely publicized and widely viewed as progress at the time.
There was a strategy in place to transform public housing in Chicago. And Chicago did experience a large decline in the number of low-income folks in Chicago. Given Chicago’s history of segregation, it’s no surprise many people believe the conspiracy angle.
The truth is, those high rises had to be replaced. The truth is concentrated poverty was worse than the current situation, where vouchers disperse low income folks. No policy is perfect, and this one has been badly implemented. But Kennedy seems to be pandering and playing to people’s worst fears instead of to their better angels.
What would he do differently? That’s a better topic for him to speak about. Pointing fingers isn’t a skill I’m looking for in a person who could be my next governor. What else does he have?
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:18 pm
Yeah, I don’t get it either. It’s clear even to non-experts like moi that Chicago’s South side is slated for gentrification, which proceeds in a pretty standard fashion exactly like what we see going on in Englewood.
The city’s getting richer; it needs more upper-middle housing and amenities - I mean, is this a secret or something? Is it some form of neo-liberal PC thing peculiar to Chicago that nobody’s supposed to talk about?
Someone on an earlier (maybe the first) thread on this subject noted that it’s not African Americans who are being explicitly targeted, it’s the poor. In most cases, there’s a significant overlap between the two - in the case of Englewood, it’s approximately 100%.
In one of the quotes to this post, WBEZ’s Natalie Moore states: “I don’t dispute his evidence is there about the challenges that those neighborhoods are facing but we are not seeing a replacement of people in those neighborhoods. We’re seeing population decline.”
Come again? That’s strategic, too: middle- and upper-middle-class housing density is a lot lower than lower-class housing density. That’s normal with strategic gentrification.
Anybody who’s interested in what Englewood residents themselves think about the closures of their public high schools (there will be exactly zero public high schools operating next year) might like to tune in to the public hearing tonight on the plan for the new high school.
To be live-streamed at http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/10/new-englewood-high-school-public-meeting/#.WlY2mOhJlAo.twitter
Comment by dbk Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:31 pm
===(there will be exactly zero public high schools operating next year)===
But then a big, sparkling brand-new modern high school coming the next. Closing old, out-dated, under-populated schools and investing in a brand new neighborhood high school is progress.
They really should have found a way to do this without forcing kids into a temporary situation for a year, but as badly as they’ve handled it, this still represents a significant facility investment in Englewood, an area that desperately needs it.
Of course, CTU would rather have four high schools than one. I get it. But they aren’t in charge of CPS yet.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:57 pm
The anti-Kennedy remarks on this topic sound more like obsessive hysteria. Interesting how many African-American public officials are pretty quiet over his charges.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:14 pm
The loss in population of African Americans in Chicago has mostly been a transfer of population to some of the South Suburbs. To some extent this is choice - those neighborhoods are a bit safer and the housing units are larger. There is no conspiracy here.
A couple of Chicago neighborhoods have been in freefall - they are losing population and they are blighted. Engelwood is one of these neighborhoods.
I am a landlord by the way. Crime and blighted areas are avoided by modest income renters.
Overall, Chicago’s housing stock is still affordable compared to what working class people have to face in California and NYC.
Rents have been creeping up in the gentrified areas on the northside. But plenty of solid rentals on the southside.
Comment by Sputnik Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:43 pm
47, that’s an honest take. Like I said, I didn’t think it was a secret.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:48 pm
Agree with Wordslinger about everything about the clarity of the plan, including his opinion of Kennedy. It’s not a conspiracy if they’re out to get you.
The Sun-Times editorial is…well … I guess some folks still want to act like “playing the race card” actually wins the hand? It’s a lazy phrase that says more about its speaker than its target.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:38 pm
–But then a big, sparkling brand-new modern high school coming the next. Closing old, out-dated, under-populated schools and investing in a brand new neighborhood high school is progress.–
Or not. Lauren FitzPatrick is live-tweeting the hearing: “But a big sore spot of this plan is that the kids whose schools are closing can’t attend the new school.”
Comment by dbk Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 6:33 pm