SECRET MEETINGS: As President of the Little
Village Community Council, I have been asked by many residents, homeowners and local
business people in Little Village about a rumor. The rumor is that a public
housing project is proposed on the northwest corner at 26th St.
& Kostner Ave. in Little Village. The question is why hasn’t Alderman, Ricardo Munoz [22nd], informed
the community?
MY INITIAL RESPONSE was I have not been contacted by
Ald. Munoz or anyone involved with this project. I am unaware of it and, more
importantly, there have not been any public announcements about the project.

WHAT I’ve heard is that meetings are
being held in Little Village with a select group of people; and the owners of
the property are Mercy Housing Inc., based in Denver, Colorado. Also, Linda Brace, Mercy Housing VP of Real
Estate Development, has been meeting with members of Enlace, Erie House
organizations and others. They are non-residents, non-homeowners and non-business
people who are meeting with Brace to gain support for Mercy’s housing project.
AGAIN, I emphasize, there has not been any public
announcements about these meetings by Ald. Munoz, Mercy Housing, Enlace or Erie
House; nothing in the Latino newspapers or media. The Little Village Community Council, LV 26TH St. Chamber of
Commerce, Manuel Perez Jr. American Legion Post 1017, the Universidad Popular organizations have
not been invited to
participate in any of these discussions. The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization has expressed
some concerns regarding asbestos in the old buildings located on 26th
St. & Kostner Ave. property and contamination of the grounds. This location
is considered a Brown field site and the correct clean-up is required.
LIVING in Little Village are predominantly
Mexicans. This is a fact, and it cannot be disputed. Little Village is the
largest Mexican neighborhood in Chicago and in the Midwest. It is also a fact
that Little Village has a viable commercial business strip down 26th
Street. Thriving Mexican businesses stretch from Sacramento Ave. west to
Kostner Ave. on 26th St. and overflowing onto surrounding streets. Mexicans
have an entrepreneurial spirit. The concern of the residents and businesses is
the preservation of our Mexican culture.
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Historic Mexican Arch in Little Village |
THE 25 people who anxiously waited for
Ald. Munoz at Wednesday’s evening meeting were Little Village residents,
business owners, homeowners and others. They all wanted to hear about the
Little Village housing project. Even without Munoz’s presence, people expressed
their concerns about safety, property value, residency and crime. At the
meeting, I read a letter I sent to Linda Brace informing her the position of LVCC;
LVCC advocates home ownership.
PRESENTLY, Little Village residents continue
to be in the dark. I heard Ald. Munoz is saying that this issue is “political?!”
In reality, this issue is about
information and the lack of it. Every homeowner and every business owner in
Little Village must always protect their property and investment POLITICALLY. As the Alderman, Munoz has
an obligation to inform his constituency about this huge project. A project he proposed
for the ward. He must not keep this project a secret, but be honest and tell
Little Village residents everything he knows about it.
THE LITTLE Village Community Council wants
to host a Public Forum in order for Ald. Munoz to report on the housing project
to all of the residents of Little Village. We await Munoz’s reply.
TO contact Ald. Ricardo Munoz call 773/762-1771.