Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel, Youth Center, Insight, Free Haircuts & Manicures, May Day Celebration

Mayor Rahn Emanuel
OPEN LETTER: The following letter was sent to Mayor Rahm Emanuel on April 8, 2014, to inform him about the opposition the residents and business people have against the public housing project that Ald. Ricardo Munoz wants in the 22nd Ward. It reads as follows:
                                                         April 8, 2014
            Mayor Rahm Emanuel
            City of Chicago - 5th Floor
             121 N. LaSalle Street
             Chicago, IL 60602
   Re: 26th St. & Kostner Ave./
                                                   Marcy Housing Project

          Dear Mayor Emanuel:
          My name is August Sallas and I am the President of the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th St., Chicago, IL 60623. My cell is 312/286-3405.
          The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the resident and business people of Little Village do NOT want a public housing project in our neighborhood. Our main concern is crime.
          As you may know, gang violence and crime is the number one problem in Little Village. And, as you know, former Mayor Richard M. Daley closed down public housing in Chicago because of crime.
          The Little Village Community Council and HOPE hosted six [6] community meetings to give Alderman Ricardo Munoz [22nd ] an opportunity to hear our concerns and opinions about what should be built at 26th St. & Kostner Ave.
          Ald. Munoz has ignored our invitations and he has refused to attend any one of the meetings. He has failed to inform the community about the public housing project. On March 27, 2014 at Epiphany Church hall, 100 residents waited for him; and Ald. Munoz was a "no-show."
          In Little Village our No. 1 concern is how to save our youth from gang violence and public safety. Here is what the Little Village community needs:
               [1] Youth Center
               [2] Senior Citizens Social Club
               [3] Soccer Field.
               [4] Park
               [5] Vocational Trade School
           Public Housing is of no benefit to the residents of Little Village.
           In conclusion, we are asking you to stop this project.
          Your support on this matter will be greatly appreciated by the business people and residents of Little Village.
           With kindest regards, I am,
                                                                         Sincerely,
                                                    /s/August Sallas, President – LVCC
cc: Ald. George Cardenas, Ald. Danny Solis, Ald. Edward Burke, State Sen. Tony Munoz, State Sen. Steve Landek, State Sen. Martin Sandoval, State Rep. Edward Acevedo, State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, State Rep. Silvana Tabares, Police Commander Maria Pena, 10th District, Baltazar Enriquez, HOPE.
           INSIGHT: Ricardo Munoz has been the representative [Alderman] of the 22nd Ward since 1993; appointed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley. In those 21 years that Ald. Ricardo Munoz has been the alderman, gang violence has gotten worse in the Little Village neighborhood. Many of our youths have lost their young lives to gang violence.
          THE YOUTH of Little Village need the following: a Youth/Recreational Center, a soccer field and/or park, or a Vocational Trade School. Young people in our neighborhood desperately need a safe place to play or facility to learn a trade and the necessary skills to earn a living. We need to help our youth with an alternative to gang affiliation.
           THE LOTS at 26th St. & Kostner Avenue is an ideal location for the development of a center similar to the Odeum Sports & Expo Center in Villa Park, IL, which would benefit the youths and residents who live in Little Village. Saving our youth should be uppermost in all of our minds.
          CHANGE OF DATE: Students from America's Career Institute will be giving FREE haircuts and manicures at the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th on Saturday, May 3, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment necessary.
Hair stylists giving free haircuts.
          CORTES DE PELO y manicures gratis, 03 de Mayo 2014 a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No se necesita cita. Doors will be open at 9 a.m. FOR MORE information call 312/286-3405.

           MAY DAY: Larry Slvack, President, of the Illinois Labor History Society [ILHS] has announced that this year is the 125th Anniversary of May Day, the International workers' holiday. The celebration of May Day will be held Thursday, May 1, 2014 with a ceremony at the Haymarket memorial at Randolph and Des Plaines at 3:00 p.m.
            HOSTING THE May Day event will be Chicago Federation of Labor, Illinois Labor History Society and Chicago Jobs with Justice. The French General Confederation of Labor [CGT] will be represented and will add a plaque to the growing international tributes on the memorial. For more information call 312/663-4107.