The Daily Northwestern – May 24, 2017

Page 1

The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, May 24, 2017

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Curtain Call

3 CAMPUS/Dance Marathon

Lumpkin leaves legacy beyond statistics

Cradles to Crayons, a children’s supplies nonprofit, named 2018 DM beneficiary

Find us online @thedailynu 6 OPINION/Letter to the Editor

Faculty: NU should not target protesters

High 55 Low 48

Affording Evanston As cost of living rises, some city

By DAVID FISHMAN

daily senior staffer @davidpkfishman

Charrisse Roberson did “everything right.” She never drank alcohol or used drugs. She did odd jobs around the neighborhood as a child and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree. She even held management positions for most of her life. Then, in 2008, things took a turn for the worse. While

working as a branch manager at TCF Bank, Roberson collapsed. When she reached the hospital, doctors gave her a blood transfusion but no explanation for the sudden affliction. Gradually, the mysterious condition got worse and now Roberson needs a transfusion every week. Because she can no longer work, the government awarded her disability benefits, which she uses to support her two dependents. Roberson also qualifies for Section 8

residents struggle to keep up

— a federal program that helps “very low-income families” afford housing. But Roberson, who started a boutique clothing line to make additional income, said that is not enough. “I pay the heat, cooking gas, water and everything; plus you still have to eat,” she said. “I’m budgeting. I shop at the Dollar Store for heaven’s sake. I’ve never in my life had to shop at a Dollar Store. This is not the life.” Roberson’s is one of more than 5,000 Evanston

households that pay over 50 percent of their income to housing costs. At the same time, the city has lost 40 percent of its affordable housing units — for renters at 60 percent of the area median income and homebuyers at 80 percent — between 2004 and 2013 to high-priced rentals and homes. And after an election cycle where many municipal candidates vowed to improve affordability, voters passed a referendum in April to fund Evanston/Skokie School

District 65 that would increase Elizabeth Tisdahl said. “We’re property taxes by roughly $450 a very attractive community, a year. and so we have to be fightLocal officials and commu- ing gentrification all the time. nity leaders say maintaining That’s why I ran for mayor affordability should be a high eight years ago.” priority, inextricably linked to the city’s diverse population Losing the ‘character and progressive values. Never- of Evanston’ Numerous community theless, the problem is getting worse due in part to an exo- members highlighted what dus of unskilled jobs, lack of they call the “character of affordable housing and federal Evanston,” a longstanding budget cuts. dedication to progressivism, “Evanston’s becoming less affordable,” former Mayor » See AFFORDABILITY, page 4

Katie Pach/Daily Senior Staffer

Allie Goulding/The Daily Northwestern

‘La La Land’ producer comes to NU Senate Dems pass Horowitz gives advice to students, talks career failures, experiences By EMILY CHAIET

the daily northwestern @emilychaiet

“La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz (Communication ’02) during a talk Tuesday advised people who want to pursue a film career in Los Angeles to find the right people to work with and be patient. “LA takes a long time to open up to you,” Horowitz said. “It doesn’t actively open up to you the way that New York does. In LA you kind of have to do the work yourself.” Horowitz spoke to an audience of about 150 people in Owen L. Coon Forum about the process of producing the Oscar-winning film “La La Land,” which won six Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Actress and Best Original Musical Score. The event, hosted by Studio 22, featured a screening of the film, which was followed by a Q&A session. Communication sophomore and co-director of Studio 22 Megan Ballew said Horowitz’s talk was the first time Studio 22 had hosted

budget proposal By NORA SHELLY

daily senior staffer @noracshelly

Noah Frick-Alofs/The Daily Northwestern

“La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz (Communication ’02) speaks during an event hosted by Studio 22 in the Owen L. Coon Forum on Tuesday. Horowitz said getting “La La Land” to be picked up by a studio was the “most difficult” thing he had ever done.

such a large speaking event. Tyler Gould, the other codirector of Studio 22, added that the event was a good way for the student group to gain attention outside of the Radio, Television and Film

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

major. Gould, a Communication sophomore, said the group wanted Horowitz to come speak because he had just recently worked on “La La Land” and is a Northwestern

alumnus. “Part of Studio 22’s purpose is to assist in making student films, but also it’s educational,” Gould said. » See HOROWITZ, page 7

The Illinois Senate passed Tuesday a budget plan, which includes an income tax increase and an appropriation plan. The bills were passed after months of back-and-forth across the Senate aisle over proposals to end the budget impasse, which will start its third year at the end of June. The impasse was briefly relieved last year after the General Assembly passed a stopgap budget that appropriated spending through the end of 2016. The plan ran out without a backup, however, leaving the state again without a spending plan. Th e bills passed Tuesday would raise the state’s income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent. One would require laundry and drycleaning, as well as tattoo and piercing services to be taxed. Despite some higher education cuts, the bills would also fully fund MAP grants, according to Senate Democrats. The bills also include plans

to cut funding for state services across the board by 5 percent, excluding K-12 education, which would receive $330 million in funding. In a news release, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said the budget plan balances Rauner’s proposed $37.3 billion budget, “eliminating its $4.5 billion hole with a mix of cut and revenues.” “ We’re stabilizing the finances and ending the chaos that this impasse has created,” Cullerton said at a news conference after the votes. The bills were passed without any Republican support. Senate minority leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said in a statement she “cannot support the Senate Democrats’ budget and revenue package in its current form.” Radogno and Cullerton had previously worked this year on a “grand bargain” set of bills intended to end the budget impasse. Although roughly half of the bills passed, the plan fell apart after disagreements. Radogno said in the statement the bills “need significant » See BUDGET, page 7

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 6 | Classifieds & Puzzles 7 | Sports 8


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