Posted inUncategorized

D’Amato On Development: “Reknitting the Urban Fabric”

by Sonya Jongsma Knauss / photos by Tess Reiss

D’Amato, a supporter of New Urbanism-style city planning, notes that problems can result if developers build without neighborhood or city input. On a driving tour of his district, he points out buildings, both good and bad, that have gone up under his tenure as alderman. Looking at a house on Warren Street with huge garage doors facing the street on the first floor, he says, “Buildings like this detract from the value of the neighborhood.”

Posted inUncategorized

Mayoral Candidates on Most Important Neighborhood Issues

Eight mayoral candidates were asked the following question: “What do you think is the most important issue facing our city neighborhoods, and how would you address that concern as mayor?” Here are the answers from Tom Barrett, Pedro Colon, Frank Cumberbatch, Sandy Folaron, Martin Matson, Tom Nardelli, and Marvin Pratt.

Posted inCommentary & Opinion

Is Segregation the Best Option?

by Priest Delon Butler / photo by Tess Reiss

I also suffer from the fifty-fifty syndrome, and the only way to cure this illness is by segregation. So let’s segregate all neighborhoods by race. Let’s put the white people on the east side, the Latino people on the south side, the Black people on the north side and put all other races way out west.

Posted inUncategorized

Unemployment Hits Home for Many in Riverwest

by Jeremy Berg / photograph by Vince Bushell

Unemployment is often discussed this way, in numbers. Any discussion seems bound to incorporate percentages, projections, and directions. Up, down, less, more. Rows and rows of statistics sit in front of anyone who decides to research the matter. Take a step away from the black and white of facts and figures and you’ll find that such abstract concepts melt into another day with nowhere to go in the morning, and another week without a paycheck.

Posted inCommentary & Opinion

RAM “Riverwest Anti-Nigger Movement”

by Tanya Cromartie-Twaddle / photo by Tess Reiss

Even the ugliest things in this world serve a purpose. RAM’s pathetic attempt to incite unrest, fear, and racial division served a higher good. The race war didn’t happen. There are too many good souls in Riverwest. We know better. This ugly episode has brought many diverse members of our community closer together. Several of us are having the much-needed sensitive conversations, taking action, and committing ourselves to improving the quality of life in our neighborhood for ALL.