Thursday, March 22, 2012

Latino Democratic Winners, Chavez Proclamation, CAPS Meetings, Clean & Green Campaign, Aliyah Shell, Calendar of Events


Silvana Tabares
          WINNERS: Our congratulations to all the Democratic Latino winners in the 2012 Primary Election held Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The winners are as follows: Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, Representative in Congress [4th District] Luis V. Gutierrez, State Senator [1st District] Antonio "Tony" Munoz, State Senator [2nd District] William "Willie" Delgado, State Senator [11th District] Martin A. Sandoval, State Senator [12th District/Little Village] Steven Landek. State Representative [3rd District] Luis Arroyo, State Representative [21st District] Silvana Tabares, State Representative [24th District] Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, State Representative [2rd District] Edward Acevedo, Judge, Illinois Appellate Court [1st District] Jesse G. Reyes, and Judge, Cook County Judicial Circuit Cynthia Ramirez.     
          EARLY VOTING: Unfortunately, many Chicago voters did not take advantage of Early Voting. Early voter numbers in the Latino wards were extremely low. In the eight Latino wards early voter tallies are: 1st Ward: 391; 12th Ward: 197; 22nd Ward: 289; 25th Ward: 355; 26th Ward: 316; 30th Ward: 230; 31st Ward: 286; 35th Ward: 551. The early voting system in Chicago is very costly and the low response may persuade the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to make some cost-saving changes.
Cesar E. Chavez
          CHAVEZ DAY: A Proclamation has been signed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel designating Saturday, March 31, 2012 as "CESAR E. CHAVEZ DAY IN CHICAGO". From the Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago: A Proclamation reads as follows:
          WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez [1927-1993] was the founder and president of the United Farm Workers of American [AFL-CIO]; and
          WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez, a union organizer, civil rights leader and non-violent social activist,  worked to improve the standard of living, wages and working conditions of farm workers; and
          WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez was a tireless advocate for justice and equality of all people; and 
          WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez dedicated his life to the service of others and strove for justice, individual advancement, community prosperity and cultural diversity; and
          WHEREAS, the work of Cesar E. Chavez called national attention to the plight of workers and
          WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize during his lifetime and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest  civilian honor; and
Rahm Emanuel
          NOW, THEREFORE, I, RAHM EMANUEL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2012 to be CESAR E. CHAVEZ DAY IN CHICAGO,  in celebration of his life and legacy, and I encourage all Chicagoans to recognize his important contributions to workers’ rights.                      
          DATED this 9th day of March, 2012
                                                 /s/ Rahm Emanuel, Mayor 
          MEXICAN HERO: Cesar E. Chavez dedicated his life to the labor movement. He struggled and fought to organize farm workers into a Union to better their working life. He was a great union organizer. He used his organizing skills effectively to form the United Farm Workers of America. Cesar built his Union with the weapons of boycotts, picketing, strikes and non-violent. He visited Chicago several times seeking support in boycotting grapes and lettuce. I admired Chavez's tenacity, perseverance and leadership. His message was loud   and clear: migrant farm workers are treated unfairly.
Cesar E. Chavez
          CESAR ESTRADE CHAVEZ was born in San Luis, Arizona, near Yuma on March 31, 1927. He was a Mexican-American who worked full-time in the fields after graduating the 8th grade to help support his family. Cesar  parents, Librado and Juana, had lost their farm during the Depression. 
          AT THE AGE of 17, Cesar joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. When he returned home he labored as a farm worker in California and became farm worker labor leader. He married Helen Fabela in 1948 and raised 8 children. Both Cesar and Helen taught Mexican immigrants how to read and  organized voter registration drives for new U.S. citizens.
          INFLUENCED: Cesar was greatly influenced by the peaceful philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi and Mohandas Gandhi. Chavez's motto was "Si, se puede," [Yes, it can be done] and used his lifetime quest for social justice as "Viva La Causa" [Long Live the Cause]. Cesar Chavez died on April 23, 1993.  
          CAPS MEETINGS: Two important CAPS meetings are scheduled in the 10th Police District, 3315 W. Ogden Ave. next month. On Thursday, April 12th at 6 p.m. Beat: 21-22-23-24; on Wednesday, April 18th at 6 p.m. Spanish speaking: Beats 31-32-33-34. New District 10th Commander Maria C. Pena will be present at both meetings. Residents are strongly encouraged to attend the beat meetings. Mark your calendar now. 
          CLEAN-UP: The annual Chicago's citywide "Clean & Green" volunteer clean-up campaign will kick-off on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Residents and community organizations are urged to help in the Clean-Up campaign of their neighborhood. "Help beautify your communities by cleaning up and recycling accumulated litter and trash," said Thomas G. Byrne, Commissioner, Streets and Sanitation. 
          STREETS & SANITATION DEPT. will provide community organization with brooms, rakes, shovels and bags needed to get the job done. To register or for more information call 311. Registration deadline is April 13, 2012. "Keep Chicago Beautiful!"
          CONDOLENCES: Our deepest condolences to the family of Aliyah Shell, 6, who was shot and killed, in broad daylight, in front of her parents in Little Village Saturday, March 17, 2012. This tragedy was unfortunate and senseless. Young Aliyah was a “happy child”, said her uncle Roy Aguilar. She was a beautiful girl with her life ahead of her.  May justice prevail.  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
          Sat., April 7--For Little Village residents Free haircuts and manicures at the Little Village 
          Community Council, 3610 W. 26th Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment necessary.
          Thurs., April 12--CAPS meeting, 6 p.m. Beat 21-22-13-14 at 10th District Police, 3315 
           W. Ogden Ave.
          Wed., April 18--CAPS meeting, 6 p.m. Spanish speaking, Beats 31-32-33-34 at 10th  
           District Police, 3315 W. Ogden Ave.
          Sat., April 21--"Clean & Green" campaign in Chicago. Register by calling 311 for clean
          -up equipment.