This winter, we turned up the heat!
On November 12, the Community Benefits Agreement coalition marched with over 100 people to stop displacement and demand a CBA Ordinance. Two people were arrested after they engaged in civil disobedience, shutting down a University of Chicago construction site. We got great news coverage: Chicago.SunTimes.com...
Also, during the City budget fight, the Mental Health Movement, along with the Collaborative for Community Wellness, held a powerful rally at City Hall demanding investment in mental health, and demanding that closed public clinics be re-opened.
And, STOP recently joined with the Chicago Housing Initiative, the Shriver Center, and others to sue the City of Chicago for intentionally segregating the city in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Read more about the lawsuit here: ChicagoTribune.com...
Back at the CBA action, Kyana Butler, a displaced Woodlawn resident and youth organizer -- along with Alex Goldenberg, STOP director -- locked themselves to the construction site of a University of Chicago dorm and conference center. They were drawing attention to how the University of Chicago is building a luxury hotel, dorm, and conference center -- contributing to the rise in property values and rents -- but is doing nothing to ensure that working families don't get pushed out of the community.
We are demanding a CBA ordinance to stop displacement. It would require: 30% of new housing being set aside as affordable, property tax relief for long time residents, and investment in workforce development and affordable housing. STOP's youth program turned out, led chants, gave testimonies, and brought great energy to the action. We got great news coverage: chicago.CBSlocal.com... HPherald.com...
Plus, on Wednesday we rallied for more money for mental-health services and public clinics. This rally marked a new push for public mental health. Three aldermen attended the rally: Sue Garza, John Arena, and George Cardenas.
The Collaborative for Community Wellness, of which STOP is a member, is growing its power, and with it, we are gaining momentum. We are pushing to take advantage of the coming election to ensure that re-opening the public mental-health clinics is a mayoral and aldermanic election issue. Check out the press coverage at univision.com... and stay tuned!
Finally, on Thursday we made history in joining a lawsuit to sue the City of Chicago for upholding racist and white supremacist policies which have resulted in segregating Chicago and are in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit is unprecedented in that it lays out how aldermanic prerogative has resulted in upholding racially motivated segregation in Chicago. Read more about the lawsuit at ChicagoTribune.com....
Next, save the date: On December 11 at 5:30 PM, STOP is mobilizing for the mayoral candidates' housing forum. More info coming soon.
