IC-SS Weekly News: Jan. 16, 2023
Celebrate Dr. King’s Birthday Today, Jan. 16
May Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy inspire us all as we work for justice. Today, January 16, honor Dr. King by attending an event.
- The Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell, will hold a South Side Stories event today from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm in collaboration with South Side Spaces, Arts + Public Life, Court Theater, Lumpen Radio, and more. The event will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and honor the legacy of historical Black leaders, spaces, and stories from the South Side of Chicago. Read more and RSVP here.
- The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E 56th Pl, offers a King Day Schedule from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Get information here.
Join Us Jan. 31: Voting in YOUR Police District
In Chicago’s upcoming municipal elections, you’ll be voting on something new – and you’ll have more say over police accountability. Get informed – attend our January 31 online info session! RSVP here.
Now that the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance is in effect, citizens in each of Chicago’s 22 police districts will be choosing 3 council members to represent the community on their newly established District Council. In short, each of Chicago’s 22 District Councils will have 3 council members representing the community in their police district.
On Tuesday, January 31st, 7:00-9:00 pm, Indivisible Chicago-South Side will hold an online info session on the ECPS ordinance and District Councils. RSVP here.
The info session will open with a teach-in on ECPS by Frank Chapman of CAARPR, including an explanation of the role of the newly established police District Councils. Then we’ll hear from the four candidates running for the District Council in the 2nd police district: Coston Plummer, Julia Kline, Ephraim Lee, Alexander J. Perez.
TO ATTEND: RSVP here to get the Zoom link.
NOTES:
- If you’re in Bronzeville, Douglas, Hyde Park, Kenwood, or Woodlawn, you’re likely in the 2nd police district. Check your police district here – IMPORTANT: be sure to find the DISTRICT number, not “area” number.
- Even if you don’t live in the 2nd police district, our info session will still have important information for you about the ECPS ordinance and the election. NOTE: IC-SS will not be making endorsements in this election.
- You may also wish to attend CAARPR’s citywide in-person event on 1/22: Political Forum and Endorsement Party for ECPS District Council Candidates. See info on CAARPR’s in-person event in the Organizations & Opportunities section at the end of this newsletter.
Read the Guide, Get on the Call, Defeat MAGA
LET’S DEFEAT MAGA. Read national Indivisible’s new guide. Then get on the January 26 national launch call for a deep dive.
Get The 2023 Indivisible Guide
National Indivisible has released its full 2023 guide: A Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA. Indivisible says that the 2023 guide will “break down the stakes, go over our game plan, explain the framing for both Democrats and Republicans, and bring together big-picture tactics for how we want to activate in the new session.” Find the guide here!
Launch Call for 2023 Guide – New Date: Thurs., Jan 26!
Once you’ve looked through the new Indivisible guide, register for the Deep Dive on the New Guide: Our 2023 Indivisible Guide Launch Call on Thursday, January 26th at 7:00 pm CT/8:00 pm ET. Register here.
Note: The launch call was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed due to illness.
Candidate Forums for City Elections
Chicago’s municipal Election Day is February 28, but early voting begins in late January. While IC-SS won’t be making endorsements, we’ll help you get the info you need to cast your ballot.
The League of Women Voters of Chicago lists several mayoral forums and South Side aldermanic forums for the 4th, 5th, and 10th wards here. AND check out the events below.
City Council – 4th, 5th Ward Forums
Ald Sophia King (4th ward) and Ald Leslie Hairston (5th ward) are both stepping down. Who will replace them in the City Council?
5th Ward Aldermanic Forum – Sun Jan 22
On Sunday, January 22, 2:00-5:00 pm, the Obama CBA Coalition and Not Me We will present a 5th Ward Housing and Development Candidates Forum at South Shore United Methodist Church, 7350 S. Jeffery Blvd. Most candidates have confirmed they will attend. Get more info at this Facebook Event page and RSVP here. (For questions, call 312-880-7265.)
Past 5th Ward Forums – Recordings & Reports
Missed recent 5th ward forums? Watch them here:
- 5th ward forum, organized by League of Women Voters of Chicago, Jan. 8: watch recording. And read the Hyde Park Herald summary here.
- 5th ward forum, organized by Save Jackson Park, Jan. 15: watch recording.
4th Ward – Aldermanic Forum, Thurs., Feb. 9th
On Thursday, Feb. 9th, 6:00-8:30 pm, attend the 4th Ward Aldermanic Forum in person at Grace Place in the South Loop (637 S. Dearborn). The event will also be livestreamed on Facebook. All 7 candidates have agreed to speak. (Scroll to full list of 4th ward candidates here.) Tickets to the forum are free, but you must RSVPat this registration page.
Forum organizers include Grace Episcopal Church, Indivisible Downtown Chicago, League of Women Voters, and South Loop Neighbors.
Mayoral Forums – Livestreams, Recordings
Here are opportunities to see the mayoral candidates from the comfort of your home.
Broadcast/Streaming Mayoral Forum: Jan 19 & 22
From the League of Women Voters of Chicago: The League is teaming up with ABC7 and Univision for a mayoral candidate debate. All nine candidates are confirmed to attend. Moderated by ABC7 Eyewitness news anchor Judy Hsu, along with ABC7 political reporter Craig Wall and Univision anchor Enrique Rodriguez.
Streaming live [Thursday] January 19 from 7:00-8:30 PM at abc7chicago.com, ABC7 News App, Connected TV app, YouTube, and Facebook. The debate will also air Sunday, January 22, at 10:30 pm on ABC7’s main channel, 7. Univision will simultaneously translate and air the debate live on their digital platforms and will broadcast it at on Sunday, January 22, at 4:00 pm on UNIMAS (WXFT-TV).
View Recent Mayoral Forums
Missed the mayoral forums this past weekend? Watch the recordings!
- The Women’s Mayoral Forum, organized by Chicago Women Take Action and co-sponsored by Indivisible Chicago Alliance and other groups, took place Jan. 14. Watch the recording from CAN-TV.
- The mayoral forum on Dr. King’s birthday, organized by the People’s Response Network, took place on Jan 15. Watch the recorded livestream here.
Resources for You, the Voter
As a Chicagoan, you’ll be voting for multiple races in the February 28 municipal election.
Here are resources we’ve compiled for you:
- See who’ll be on your Feb 28 ballot: Ballotpedia – municipal elections
- See who’s running for mayor: Ballotpedia – Chicago mayor’s race
- Find out which ward or police district you’re in: The Triibe
- Read about aldermanic races:
- Read about the police District Council races:
Organizations and Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and action announcements from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
CAARPR: Forum/Endorsement Party for District Council – Jan 22
From CAARPR: Join CAARPR for a Political Forum and Endorsement Party for ECPS District Council Candidates. The District Councils were created by the ECPS ordinance, fought for by the movement for police accountability. We are calling all candidates in municipal elections and all those involved in the movement to stop police crimes to come out and hear from the candidates running for District Council across the city, and solidify their support for these candidates in the coming election.
This event is co-sponsored by Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana. It takes place Sunday, January 22, 5:00 pm at CTU Center, 1901 W. Carroll. Get info at CAARPR’s Facebook Event page.
Plow the Sidewalks!
Better Streets Chicago writes: Failing to clear sidewalks of snow and ice means the City fails its residents who rely on them to get around – often some of our most vulnerable neighbors. It traps people who use wheelchairs, walkers or canes. It impedes parents with strollers. It makes accessing public transit difficult to impossible. And it leaves everyone at risk of slipping and falling. Learn more.
It is time for the City of Chicago to stop shirking responsibility and begin clearing public sidewalks.
LEARN AND ACT: Read more on this page of the Better Streets Chicago website – and then use an easy online form to send a letter to your alder!
Susan Avila: Cook County Health turns people over to collection agencies
In a letter to the Sun-Times, Susan Avila, RN MPH, member, steering committee, Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County, writes: “As [Cook County Board President Toni] Preckwinkle publicly talks of abolishing medical debt and universal access, the public health system she controls continues to create barriers and force people to choose between health care and paying bills.” Read the full letter here.
NOTE: Sue is also a member of Indivisible Chicago-South Side.
