Citizens For Community Action

5719 W Fullerton * Chicago, IL 60639 (773) 889-2963

For Immediate Release 

Contact Person: Wayne A. Strnad
Phone: 773-889-2963

No Kill Date Today's Date August 14, 2000

PRESS RELEASE

City Services Are Not Distributed Equally

After waiting a few years short of a half-century, the residents in the 2100 block of North Marmora Avenue signed a petition requesting the City of Chicago to set new concrete sidewalks, curbs, gutters and sod on both sides of their street. Currently there are no curbs. The sidewalks were built after World War I. Sewers project upward above ground level and gutters don't exist.

Mr. Neville Cartwright, a 27 year resident said, "Fifteen years ago the city provided stones for the residents that we had to distribute on both sides of the street. These stones are the only barrier to ground for parking. In winter, it's not uncommon to see stones flying as residents try to get out of their parking spaces. Windows have been broken by flying stones. The catch basin across the street projects upward out of the street (about six inches) and provides no functional use when it rains unless the water goes above the sewers (see attached photo)."

Mr. Bollas and Mr. Garcia further reiterated the sentiment of all the residents when they said, "We need something done now, not years in the future. We've waited long enough. Pretty soon we're going to be redistricted and then what? Wait longer and be told there is no money available?" This remapping happened when we were part of Banks Ward and then in the '92 remap under Burrell. These aldermen always avoided our concerns and did nothing.

Mr. Strnad, acting director for the Citizens for Community Action, wrote the original petition and had it submitted to City Council via the Office of the City Clerk (see attached petition). The petition went to the Transportation Committee, headed by Alderman Allen. Allen in turn sent it to 29th Ward Carothers, who has been sitting on it for nearly two months! Strnad said, "It's pathetic that a person like Carothers, who ran on a platform of providing service to the community, cannot seem to provide the most fundamental of services - rats run rampant on the north end, alleys are falling apart, streets need repaving and Carothers sits idly by and does nothing except collect a fat check for NO SERVICES RENDERED. However, he is full of excuses amongst other things. What makes matters worse is that Carothers sent in his people during the election campaign and promised with all the sincerity that could be mustered up, that these problems would be taken care of -- but first, you must vote for him. He ran a well orchestrated scam on our community that reeks of deception and lies!"

Strnad, a twenty-five year resident, went on to say, "Carothers should take care of everything the petition addresses for it is the will of the people who live there and who have paid, according to 1997 tax records, over $76,000 in taxes. That's just one year of tax collection! People have been paying taxes since 1910, according to records. That's 90 years of taxes received by this city. The only thing the residents on that block get is garbage pickup. Maybe Carothers should take some of that $10 million earmarked for fancy flower pot boxes in front of his Madison Street office and route it on the North End of the 29th Ward. Oops, is that the transportation department and Allen, again? City officials don't seem to know nor want to know -- anything. Next stop - 5th floor of City Hall."

X X X