THE FIRST meeting Ald. Munoz missed was scheduled on
Nov. 5th at the Little Village Community Council office. Ald. Munoz committed himself to attend, but
cancelled at the last minute. He kept twenty-five residents waiting for him. Then
he was given two letters, a text message and a phone call inviting him to a
Community Meeting at Good Shepherd Church, attended by 60 people, on Dec. 10th.
Ald. Munoz, again, was a “no show”. On Dec. 11th, twelve
businesspeople requested to meet with him, and again, Ald. Munoz ignored the
request.
ALD. MUNOZ you are sending the wrong message to your
Little Village constituents by not attending these meetings! Your silence is
loud and getting louder; and your unwillingness to meet with the community gives
the impression of having something to hide from the people you represent.
IF ALD. Munoz believes the public housing project is good
for Little Village, he should be excited to announce it, publicly. It would
only makes sense to be willing to meet with constituents to tell them how the
project, his project, would improve and benefit the neighborhood.
THE LITTLE Village Community Council and the HOPE
Organization are opposing the housing project for many reasons: [1] The housing
project is of no benefit to the community or its’ residents; [2] There are no
housing or rental shortages in Little Village; [3] Residents of Little Village
have not been informed about this public housing project; [4] Little Village is
an immigrant community; and immigrants will not be able to apply for federal
rental assistance under Section 8. Local resident Raul Montes Jr. said,
“Section 8 has been a failure in Chicago”.
AS PRESIDENT of the Little Village
Community Council and a homeowner for 35 years in Little Village, I have not
heard anyone say we need affordable public housing in Little Village. The people who
are saying so are not in touch with the community. Mexicans are homeowners.
MANY Little Village residents and businesspeople have
voiced their opposition to the housing project. Sadly, Enlace Chicago members have
been calling the Mexicans in Little Village who oppose the housing project—racist
[on Face Book of all platforms]. Enlace cannot comprehend that the Mexican
residents of Little Village [the most densely Mexican community of Chicago and the Midwest] do
not consider the housing project a Black issue; they see it as Mexican issue. Valid
concerns expressed by Mexican residents and businesspeople are economic
(devalued property), cultural stability, safety, and increased crime.
LITTLE VILLAGE parents and their children have been
clamoring for a sports and recreational facility. What Little Village needs on
26th St. & Kostner Ave. is a soccer field, a park with
state-of-the-art and modern amenities, a vocational school, senior or youth center, or even a military
historical museum. What it doesn’t need is a public housing project! Ald. Munoz made a
promise years ago that he would build a park in the community. As of today, he
has failed to keep his promise. It is unfortunate Ald. Munoz is not listening
to the parents and children of his community. Remember, Munoz is up for
election next year 2015.
ANOTHER community meeting is scheduled at Piotrowski
Park, 4247 W. 31st St. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23,
2014. Ald. Munoz will, again, be invited to attend this meeting and report on his
housing project. LVCC and HOPE want to remind Alderman Munoz he has an
obligation to inform the community.
Vote 2014: Watch the Hispanic American Labor Council cable TV Live show called “VOTE
2014” every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Cable Channel 21. Viewers are invited to call-in and get to
know various local, state and federal candidates running for office in the 2014
general primary elections.
PRIMARY ELECTION: Endorsed for re-election by the Cook County
Democratic Party for Cook County government is: President of the County Board
Toni Preckwinkle, Sheriff Thomas Dart, Assessor Joseph Barrios, Treasurer Maria
Pappas and County Clerk David Orr. Election is Tuesday, March 18, 2014.
JOB FAIR: Need
a Job? The first Little Village “Job Fair” will be held at St. Agnes Church
gym, 2651 S. Central Park Ave. on Monday,
Jan. 27, 2014 from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. Several companies, with job
opportunities, have been invited to participate in the Job Fair. The Fair is
being sponsored by the Little Village Community Council and co-sponsored by
State Sen. Steve Landek and Rep. Lisa
Hernandez. For more information call 773/522-2552.