6th Ward Newsletter- December 2009

Safe Passage & Safe Haven I

DECORATING THE HOME ... The Kinara along with the other symbols of Kwanzaa should dominate the room, which should be given an African motif. This is easily achieved and shouldn't result in too much expense. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. This should be kept in mind when decorating the home. Black, red and green streamers, balloons, cloth, flowers, and African prints can be hung tastefully around the room. Original art and sculpture may be displayed as well. GIFTS ... Kuumba (creativity) is greatly encouraged. Not only is Kuumba one of the seven principles, it also brings a sense of personal satisfaction and puts one squarely into the spirit of Kwanzaa. Therefore, those symbols that can be made should be made. The giving of gifts during Kwanzaa should be affordable and of an educational or artistic nature. Gifts are usually exchanged between parents and children and traditionally given on January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa. However, gift giving during Kwanzaa may· occur at any time. THE KWANZAA FEAST OR KARAMU ... The Kwanzaa Karamu is traditionally held on December 31st (participants celebrating New Year's Eve, should plan their Karamu early in the evening). It is a very special event as it is the one Kwanzaa event that brings us closer to our African roots. The Karamu is a c6mmunal and cooperative effort. Ceremonies and cultural expressions are highly encouraged. It is important to decorate the place where the Karamu will be held, (e.g., home, community center, church) in an African motif that utilizes black, red, and green color scheme. A large Kwanzaa setting should dominate the room where the karamu will take place. A large Mkeka should be placed in the center of the floor where the food should be placed creatively and made accessible to all for self-service. Prior to and during the feast, an informative and enteliaining program should be presented. Traditionally, the program involved welcoming, remembering, reassessment, recommitment and rejoicing, concluded by a farewell statement and a call for greater unity. Go to http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm

The Safe Passage Program is a combination of opportunities for parents, businesses and residents throughout the City to become involved in the community. It includes the Safe Haven Program, Parent Patrol and the Walking School Bus Program. Safe Havens include municipal properties such as police stations, fire houses, and libraries; but, they also include businesses as well. Many restaurants, convenience stores, barber shops and other retail establishments already participate in the Safe Haven Program. More are welcome. If a child is walking to or from home or school, and for any reason they become alarmed or approached by a stranger, they can find refuge in any "Safe Haven". Safe Haven locations are identified by a sign placed in the location's window. The sign alerts a child that they can find a friendly shelter inside and ask for assistance. With additional parent patrols around school locations, as well as citizens participating in the Walking School Bus Program, which have citizens showing presence throughout neighborhood routes to and from school, we can create a "Safe Passage" for the youth in our City. Anyone interested in one or all of the above opportunities please contact the CAPS Implementation Office at 312-745-5900 or the CAPS Project Office at 312-745-5907, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

for more information.

See you next month! Your monthly message from

Freddrenna M. Lyle, 6th Ward Alderman

REMEMBER ... HOLIDAY SEASON IS PICK POCKET SEASON. BE CAREFUL!!!

and Committeeman

Service Office 406 East 75th Stre~t, Chicago, IL 60619 (773) 846-7006 (773) 846-9104 fax Email Address: [email protected]

Website Address: www.6thwardalderman.com

Watch the 6th Ward Scene CAN-TV Channel 19 Every 1st and 3rd Thursday, 6:00 p.m.

Ear(v Voting for the Feb. 2"d Primm:v ... Early voting is

One Stop Utility Assistance Days Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Daley College 7500 S. Pulaski

available January 11-28,2010 at 50 locations throughout the City. The 6th Ward location is Whitney Young Library, 7901 S. King Dr. You may vote Monday-Saturday between the hours of9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are three Sunday locations: Board of Election Commissioners-69 W. Washington Lower Level Conference Room, Vodak/East th Side Library-3710 E. 106 St. and Welles Park-2333 W. Sunnyside. For more information, call Board of Election Commissioners 312.269.7900.

Chicago Sports Fest ... Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and the Mayor's Office of Special Events presents Chicago Sports Fest. Save the date, it's FREE and takes place December 27 & 28, 2009 at McCormick Place in Halls A & B (2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive). This event is presented by the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and McCormick Place. For more information call 312.742.5097 Santa House ... Jolly Old St. Nick will again grace the plaza with his holiday cheer in his Midwest satellite workshop on Daley Plaza! Visit with Santa Claus on December 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 & 20 from 11 am until 8 pm. Visit with Santa on Daley Plaza for FREE. Take you own photo or have your photo taken compliments of Underwriters Laboratory and download it at www.safetvathome.com/photos

Circuit Breaker Grant ..• lfyou are a low income senior (65 and older) and/or a person with disabilities, be sure to come th to the 6 Ward office or any Senior Satellite Center to fill out the 2008 Form IL-1363. You may be eligible for financial assistance with prescriptions, an automobile license plate discount, and Circuit Breaker Grant. For more information, call Vinona Summers, 773.846.7006 or go on-line to www.cbrx.il.gov. The deadline is December 31. Shoveling your Sidewalk ... It's the neighborly thing to do and it's also the law. Chicago Municipal Code, sections 4-4-310 and 10-18-180, specifies that both homes and businesses must clear snow from sidewalks next to their propetiy. Be a good neighbor, help those who are physically unable to clear their own sidewalks. Please help make our community safe for everyone.

Early

Voting (Feb. 2010 Primary) January 11-28, 2010 9:00 a.m. - 5 :00 p.m. Whitney Young Library 7901 S. King Dr. Election Day Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Annual

"Souls of Black Folk" Oratorical

Contest

Saturday, February 27,2010 Noon - 4:00 p.m. Harlan Community Academy 9652 S. Michigan 6th Ward Monthly Meeting Thursday, January 14,2010 6:30 p.m. New Bethlehem #4 M.B. Church 8850 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Thursday, February 11, 2010 6:30 p.m. Wesley United Methodist Church 201 E. 95th St.

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71 ( St. Streetscape Project ... We would like to correctthe information that was given in the October '09 Newsletter about the 71 st St. Streetscape Project. The cost of the entire project was well over 5 million dollars, not the previously reported $900,000.

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because there were environmental issues with one of the properties we had to purchase. This pushed us back at least a year as we are now back to the drawing board to design a 2 story library. The old Kennedy King College is not yet demolished. There was a dispute about the future development that delayed demolition and delayed redevelopment of that site. We recently held a meeting with the City Colleges to announce that demolition will start soon and a TIF study is under way to finance the future development. We made some great progress on our urban agriculture project. Chicago State has committed more than $30,000.00 to begin an aquaponics program. I've identified lots to start our urban farm and we are meeting Friday with zoning and planning to change whatever archaic laws exist to get it done. We got money for a Small Business Improvement Fund in the TIF area and are looking for a service provider in the TIF boundary to do a job training program (ex-offender/at risk youth) that will have them cleaning and maintaining the streets in the TIF area. We got CPS to put a million dollars into Harlan for 2 new labs, upgrades and ADA requirements and we started a magnet Engineering program with our first freshman class. It's working so well that CPS is now looking at putting an IT program into Harlan. Plus, South Central started a new after school program in Ruggles. So we did have some programmatic successes this year also. But we've got so much more left to do, which is why we are going to start the year off running. January 11, 2009 is early voting and we want to get a tremendous turnout, just like we did for Pres. Obama. In addition to the top of the ticket races, Senator, Governor, etc. we have some other races that are really important. For example we have 3 judicial vacancies in the 1st sub-circuit that you need to pay attention to. The last time we had a 1st sub-circuit vacancy, people voted for a candidate because she had a black sounding name and she of course was not black and a black sitting Judge was beaten in a sub-circuit designed for black people. So you can't just voted for the Irish sounding names, the black sounding names and please don't vote for a female just because she's a female. We need intelligent, learned, experienced jurists on the bench deciding the fate of our community. Then of course we have Metropolitan Water Reclamation District seats. You will be asked to vote for 3 candidates and again I'm going to ask that you not just vote for any 3. There are a lot of candidates in this race so you want to know who you are voting for before you step into the polls. More on this later. So let's all have a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to a prosperous and joyous New Year.

Preddrenna £yfe

The City Hall Holiday Concert Series

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The City Hall Holiday Concert Series began December 1 and runs until December 18 with concerts every weekday from Noon to 1 pm. The concerts take place in the west end of the City Hall lobby (121 N. LaSalle) near the LaSalle Street entrance. The concert series truly exhibits the talents of children from all over Chicago and warms the hearts of the audience.

Alderman Lyle smiles proudly while the McDade Classical School Choir performs at the Annual City Hall Holiday Concert Series on Decemher 1st

Recently, Mayor Daley and the City Council passed the Property Tax Relief Program. It is meant to provide relief between $25 and $200 to City homeowners hit hardest by increases to their 2008 property tax bill for their primary residence. This program is needed largely because of the phase-out of the state law that put a 7 percent cap on the annual increase in the taxable value of home property, and because the drop of this year's exemption under that law went to $20,000 from $26,000. The amount of tax relief you might receive is based on a combination of income level and the amount of your property tax increase. For example, the lower your income and the higher your property tax increase, the more relief you'll be eligible for. When you go to the City's website, cityofchicago.org, you will find an application, instructions and helpful tools to guide you through the application process. Applications are being accepted by mail or at City drop-off locations. Send or bring applications to Property Tax Relief Program, c/o Chicago Tax Assistance Center, City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. Chicago, IL 60602. You can also drop-off your application at a Revenue Site (2006 E. 95th St., 8 AM - 4:30 PM (M-F). For more information, call the Chicago Tax Assistance Center 312.744.1000.

Your monthly message from Alderman Freddrenna M Lyle

Volume XI, Issue 11

December 2009

Merry Christmas ... Happy Kwanzaa ... Happy New Year! ALDERMANIC

MESSAGE

Well here we go again. We're ending not only another year, but another decade. It seems like just yesterday, okay maybe it seems like just last month that we were making futile resolutions, to eat healthier, save more, exercise regularly, etc., etc. And in just 21 days we'll be making some more. As is the custom this time of year, we reflect on those things we completed and those left undone. Here is our list. In spite of the furlough days and mandatory shut down days that our office has been burdened with, we held an Oratory Contest; a Graduates' Reception; a Parade; a Picnic; a Bike Ride; a Basketball tournament; sent children to the Circus; hosted 8 student interns this Summer; held 2 City Sticker sales dates; delivered a menu to the City for infrastructure repairs; handled 200-300 service requests per week, and delivered hot meals on Thanksgiving morning. Despite the fact that we were working with fewer resources and it took longer to get any and everything done, we still worked diligently to be responsive and professional in the provision of services to the residents of the 6th Ward. During the worst economic downturn that most of us have ever seen, we attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy, by responding to your concerns, assisting you with your problems and interceding with departments on your behalf. Some of our best laid plans did however go astray. The Whitney Young Library is not yet under construction,

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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• Pg. 1 Aldermanic Message : Aldernlan Lyle Partying at the White House : The Seven Principals of Kwanzaa : Pg. 2 Aldermanic Message Continued : City Hall Concert Series • City of Chicago Property Tax Relief Program : Pg. 3 FYI and Save the Date : Pg.4 Everything about Kwanzaa : Safe Passage & Safe Haven

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Partying at the White House

With her invitation in hand, Alderman Lyle attended the White House Holiday Reception on December 3. She received a warm welcome from President Obama.

Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) SelfDeterminati on Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith Go to http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm for more info. See page 4 for more information about Kwanzaa.