Chicago Whole Foods workers call for Thanksgiving off. (Photo/Emily Brosious)
Dozens of workers and organizers protested outside Whole Foods Market in Boystown on Wednesday evening as part of a day-long strike calling for fair labor practices including fair scheduling with a day off for Thanksgiving.
Striking Whole Foods workers were joined by members of the Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago, OUR Walmart and other citizens concerned about what they see as an increasing number of retail shops choosing to stay open during Thanksgiving.
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— Emily Brosious
After launching its campaign in July, the nonpartisan campaign Yes for Independent Maps has been gaining momentum to get an initiative for reforming the redistricting process in Illinois on the ballot next November.
Among the supporters Yes to Independent Maps has gained are State Senator Heather Steans, Chicago Board of Education chair David Vitale, David Axelrod and former Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
"We welcome any elected official that talks about reform and wants reform in Springfield," said Michael Kolenc, campaign manager for Yes to Independent Maps.
Kolenc said the petition has been easy to get signatures for.
"We have had volunteers tell [our 23 regional teams] time and time again this is the easiest petition they have had people sign," he said.
The campaign is collecting signatures until May 4, 2014 and Kolenc said Yes to Independent Maps is currently focusing all of its energy on collecting signatures for the petition. All thought about the summer and fall campaigns will be done in the next year, Kolenc said.
"We're working on focusing on building a strong political coalition and collecting the signatures," he said.
— Monica Reida
Poverty Mon Nov 25 2013
Food Not Bombs grocery distribution and mural at United Church of Rogers Park (Photo/Emily Brosious)
As millions of low-income Americans face reduced federal food assistance this winter, the necessary role of grassroots groups working to stem the tide of hunger in Chicago is clearer than ever.
One such organization providing food to Chicagoans-in-need is Food Not Bombs. The group started in Boston in 1980 and has since spread to hundreds of cities across the world. Food Not Bombs has three Chicago-area chapters in Pilsen, Humboldt Park and Rogers Park.
Community activists come together each week with their respective chapters to prepare and serve free meals in public spaces while promoting a platform of non-violent resistance to war and militarism, Dante, an organizer with Pilsen Food Not Bombs, explained in an interview.
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— Emily Brosious /
Mayor Fri Nov 22 2013
Over the past week, a list of travel warnings about several U.S. cities on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website made its way through newsrooms across the country.
The page gave detailed crime warnings about entire streets, neighborhoods, and even suburbs for French tourists to avoid in places like New York City, New Orelans, Boston, L.A., Baltimore and Miami. In Chicago, travellers were simply advised to "Avoid the West Side and the south of the city after 59th Street." After numerous complaints from angered residents and politicians of the listed cities, the French Embassy issued apologetic statements, and revised their web advisory.
When asked about the offending entry during a press conference, Mayor Rahm Emanuel quipped, "Don't get me started on what I think of the French." He then smiled, and added, "No, no, I don't think that'd be good," before launching into a speech on why people were coming to Chicago, the "Most American of American cities."
While the quote made for an amusing headline, there are at least four good reasons why Rahm Emanuel will never say a single negative word about the French in public for the rest of his time in office.
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— Jason Prechtel
By David Stieber
A little over a year ago I was on the bus headed downtown from the South Side, a lady next to me on the bus struck up a conversation. Eventually she found out that I was a teacher and where I worked. As soon as I finished the last syllable of Englewood, her face showed complete disgust and she promptly said, "Englewood! Those people are animals, you should never go there." I responded, "I've worked there five years. I have good kids and parents. Have a nice night." Thankfully it happened to be my stop.
Sadly, many of the other teachers that I work with have had similar experiences to the one I described. If you've never spent time with kids from Englewood and believe the stereotypes about everyone in the neighborhood, I can understand why this lady said what she did.
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— Mechanics /
In the wake of the seemingly endless problems with Ventra, some aldermen have called for an official hearing on the glitch-prone transit fare collection system created by Cubic Transportation Systems.
As reported last week in the Chicago Sun-Times, Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) questioned why the state even required the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace, and Metra transit systems to go under one payment system.
As it turns out, the law was pushed by the very same governmental organization currently overseeing the Ventra transition -- the Regional Transportation Authority.
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— Jason Prechtel /
Event Mon Nov 18 2013
Haymarket Books will host a celebration launch and discussion Tuesday evening for Chicago journalist Kari Lydersen's new book, Mayor 1%: Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Rise of Chicago's 99%.
Chicago Reader columnist Ben Joravsky, Grassroots Collaborative executive director Amisha Patel and Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson will join Lynderson for a panel to discuss her latest work.
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— Emily Brosious
Since I last wrote about Ventra back in February, a lot has happened...mostly at the local commuter's expense.
During the past several months, CTA riders have dealt with a botched transition from city-issued magnetic strip passes and Chicago Cards (and ticket packs and cards for Pace riders), to an outsourced fare collection system based around a hybrid transit/prepaid debit card. This has been overseen by Cubic Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of a defense contractor and wireless data technology firm.
While Mayor Rahm Emanuel has both downplayed the problems and acknowledged the complaints, several alderman have called for an official hearing to demand explanations. Meanwhile, the CTA has announced a delay in the deadlines for fully transitioning to Ventra and proclaimed their refusal to pay Cubic until the issues are addressed.
In the face of public scrutiny, Cubic has ensured that these problems will be solved (though its boss "can't guess" when). However, what Cubic isn't telling Chicagoans is that the company has experienced all of Ventra's problems before... in the other smart card systems it has built for cities across the world.
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— Jason Prechtel /
KCBX petcoke pile in southeast Chicago (Photo by Emily Brosious)
Residents in Chicago's Southeast Side and South Deering neighborhood complain that black dust from petcoke piles along the Calumet River is polluting their communities.
"I have black soot in my windows and my curtains are completely black," Cathy Hibbard, a Southeast Side Chicago resident said in an interview. "If I open up my windows, I get that stuff all on my kitchen counters. It's horrible."
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— Emily Brosious /
Op-Ed Mon Nov 04 2013
I am not a bicyclist.
I'm one of those people who always thinks, "Maybe I should trek out to Working Bikes and buy a bike because I'd love to commute along Lake Michigan," but never actually goes and buys a bike. It's partially due to the worry of someone stealing my bicycle even if I used four different u-locks, as well as deciding to buy more books with the money I could use to buy a bike.
I love bicyclists in Chicago.
These are people who have found another way to commute, one that is possibly better than how we often think of commuting in Chicago. The CTA--which I will say more about later--is not always the most reliable to commute and no one wants to be stuck in a car in traffic. Bicyclists are the people who can easily speed past the throngs of people crushed together on the bus, who never have to hear an announcement regarding a delay for the CTA.
So why should they have to pay a ludicrous bike registration fee?
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— Monica Reida /
