January 4 - 10, 2021 by StreetWise_CHI

January 4 - 10, 2021 Vol. 29 No. 01

$1.10 goes to vendor

Arts & (Home) Entertainment

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SportsWise

We are replacing our usual calendar with virtual events and recommendations from StreetWise vendors, readers and staff to keep you entertained at home! The SportsWise Team makes New Year's wishes!

Cover Story: Dolly Parton

Even after over 50 years of performing, Dolly Parton has a new book, album, and Netflix movie all released during the holiday season, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become clear that Parton is much more than a country music star. Parton continues to make headlines as she was named one of the major donors behind Modernaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 vaccine.

From the Streets

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Inside StreetWise

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, First Lady Amy Eshleman and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announce the Rising Star Honor Roll: 50 young artists recognized for creative leadership and exceptional artistic talents. Also, Three aldermen accept a petition with 1,300 signatures from the Chicago Union for the Homeless that calls for immediate housing - and revives the Real Estate Transfer Tax as the mechanism.

Customer Frank Malone writes a thank you letter to StreetWise Vendor Tammy Kohnke.

The Playground ON THE COVER & THIS PAGE: Dolly Parton photos courtesy of CTK Management.

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher

dhamilton@streetwise.org

StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief

suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Amanda Jones, Director of programs

ajones@streetwise.org

Julie Youngquist, Executive director

jyoungquist@streetwise.org

Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616

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ARTS & (HOME) ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Since being stuck inside, which shows have you been watching? Which movies? Have you read any good books lately? Any new music releases have you dancing in your living room? StreetWise vendors, readers and staff are sharing what is occupying their attention during this unprecedented time. To be featured in a future edition, send your recommendations of what to do at home and why you love them to: Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org

Festive Laughs!

(HOME) ENTERTAINMENT

The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special Hell in a Handbag Productions celebrates the holidays with the return of America’s favorite funnyman, Rip Nelson (Ed Jones), in the star-studded world premiere of The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, streaming via Vimeo. It’s 2020 and Rip is in the hospital after an ill-advised gig on a Pride cruise. Rip’s devoted make-up woman and confidante Gladys (Lori Lee), is worried sick, but Rip is more upset that Ryan Seacrest is taking over as host of his annual television holiday special! Rip’s not going to let anything, including the overbearing Nurse Ursula (Terry McCarthy), stop him from being on that show! A determined Rip makes it to the studio with a little help from trippy magician, Doug Henning (David Lipschutz) and soon finds himself in his weirdest television special ever. Coming along for the strange ride is Rip’s stage manager Tony (Michael S. Miller) and his line-up of celebrity guests: Bing Crosby (Grant Drager), David Cassidy (Nicky Mendelsohn), Shari Lewis and Lambchop (Caitlin Jackson), Ella Fitzgerald (Robert Williams), Charlton Heston (Michael Rashid), Bernadette Peters (Tyler Anthony Smith), Vampira (Sydney Genco), Quentin Crisp (Danne W. Taylor), Lucie Arnaz (Alexa Castelvecchi), and her mother, Lucille Ball (David Cerda) – or at least that’s who Rip thinks they are. Tickets start at $25. Shows run through January 8. For a full listing of shows and more information, visit handbagproductions.org

Awe-inspiring Visuals!

Immersive Van Gogh From the creators of the blockbuster show at Atelier des Lumières seen by over 2 million visitors in Paris and still wowing crowds in Toronto, the US premiere of the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit will bring the art of Vincent to life in Chicago. Experience art like never before – lose yourself in 500,000 cubic feet of flawless projections animating Vincent van Gogh’s oeuvre. Wander through entrancing, moving images that highlight brushstrokes, detail, and color – truly illuminating the mind of the genius. You will be immersed in Van Gogh’s works – from his sunny landscapes and night scenes to his portraits and still life paintings. The installation includes "Les Mangeurs de pommes de terre" (The Potato Eaters, 1885), "Nuit étoilée" (Starry Night, 1889), "Les Tournesols" (Sunflowers, 1888), and "La Chambre à coucher" (The Bedroom, 1889), and so much more. The exhibition is custom designed to Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago inside of Chicago’s Germania Place, 108 W. Germania Place, transforming the neoclassical into the magical. Astonishing in scale and breathtakingly imaginative, you will experience Van Gogh’s art in a completely new and unforgettable way. The show opens February 11, tickets start at $39.99 at vangoghchicago.com.

Soothing Classical Music!

Virtual Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert The International Music Foundation presents the Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert from the comfort of your own home, broadcast live from the Chicago Cultural Center. Join in on January 6 at 12:15 p.m. for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet with music by Anton Webern and Florence Price. Concerts can be viewed on imfchicago.org as well as on 98.7 WFMT.

History & Poetry

Lunch & Learn: Poetry of Psychological Resistance at Auschwitz: The Words of Krystyna Żywulska While imprisoned in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Polish political prisoner Krystyna Żywulska wrote dozens of poems and songs, which were shared among camp prisoners. Her writings utilize a multi-layered approach including satire, stark realism, and optimism, painting a vivid picture of life in Auschwitz. Not only did Żywulska’s artistic creations provide solace for her fellow prisoners, they played a role in her survival. Żywulska’s poetry continues to shine a light on the complicated world of oppressors and the oppressed, as well as poetry and music as artistic instruments of resistance and witnessing. The Illinois Holocaust Museum will host a Lunch & Learn session on her poetry with Dr. Barbara Milewski, associate professor of music at Swarthmore College, at noon January 8. The virtual event is free to the public, with an optional $10 donation, but registration is required at www. ilholocaustmuseum.org/pages/programs/events/. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to access the program.

Girls Build!

Girls Build! Day 2021: Sustainable Futures Join the Chicago Architecture Center on January 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a virtual STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) festival designed just for girls ages 10-16! Hear from female professionals who work on environmentally-friendly design projects and take part in fun activities led by leading cultural institutions. The day kicks off with an all-female panel discussion about STEM careers. Plan for participation in the full event, as this is programmed with specific start times. Free with RSVP at architecture.org

Socially-Distant Art!

Get It Together The way we operate in physical space is a manifestation of the political climate. Get it Together aims to pose questions of ownership and power in the built environment. Nia Easley and Tulika Ladsariya each create work that calls attention to the ways our surroundings are influenced by various ideologies. Through these works, the artists challenge expectations and reveal biases in an effort to put the pieces back together.  On view for FREE at the Ralph Arnold Fine Arts Gallery (1131 W. Sheridan Road) from the windows on West Sheridan and online at luc.edu/ralpharnoldgallery

-Compiled by Dave Hamilton & Suzanne Hanney

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Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

SPORTSWISE

New Year's Wishes

Patrick: SportsWise here for our New Year’s wishes pertaining to the sportsworld. I know I’m excited to see what the fellas have for us. I got a lil’ something for you guys as well. But I want to kick it off with our lead and SportsWise creator, Russ Adams. Russ: With the NBA season returning, I want to kick it off with our Chicago Bulls. My first wish for the new year is for the Bulls to make the playoffs with our new GM and coach. And you know what? Even if we don’t win a championship, I’d be happy with a respectful record. We’ll get there eventually. Patrick: Progress, baby. John: I agree. Our new head coach, Billy Donovan, who’s won two championships leading Florida in college basketball, and led the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder to several playoff runs, is very competent and could help get the Bulls over this recent hump. And not to leave out, I’m eager to see Coby White’s, our exciting secondyear player, development this

for

coming year. That’s my NBA wish. Donald: You know what, fellas? Although I’m ready for the Bulls to do their thing this upcoming year, my New Year’s wish in regard to basketball is to see the lady Blue Demons, as well as the Chicago Sky, continue to work it out. They’re both on the cusp of good things. Patrick: You’re right, Don. They are. I’ll jump on the bandwagon with you. As for the Bulls, they hold my first wish: that they compete each and every game…and believe. Like y’all have said, we have a new GM, head coach, and a few good players we picked up; not to mention, we still have Lauri Markkanen. I sometimes forget that. Russ: Good call. Well, my second wish is that the Bears fire everybody. We can’t win, we can’t draft, can’t call plays, and, for the most part, don’t have any good players, so I’m

Our Favorite Teams

looking for a change. And I remind you, I am a true Bears fan, so I want to win. John: All right, so my second wish is for Governor Pritzker to ease the restrictions that aren’t necessary when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, since most folks are unable to visit their favorite bar—whether they “can’t afford it” or, simply, are “prohibited” from doing so—the league should reduce the cost of the NFL Sunday Football Ticket Package so that we aren’t stuck watching undesirable football games, i.e., the NFC North, and it allows us to see better action, e.g., Pat Mahomes (Chiefs), Kyle Murray (Cardinals), or Russell Wilson (Seahawks). Donald: I’ll stick with the NFL for my second wish. I want the Bears to find a quarterback that is capable of taking us somewhere. Shoot, anywhere. We need a pro quarterback who isn’t afraid

to play in Chicago. That’s all. Patrick: I’m with you, brudda. We’ve always had these quarterbacks who did just enough to get us into the playoffs and, sometimes, win a game or two there, but we can do better. Shoot, our current wide receiver corps is on-point, and they deserve to have someone throwing to them who doesn’t want to just win games, but to win championships. Russ: So, real quick, let me say “Go, Cubs! and “Go, White Sox!” This is our year. John: Basically, I just wish that the restrictions are eased so that we can, again, enjoy our sports. Donald: My last thought: Everyone—sports and non—be safe. Patrick: Well said, all. With that— ALL: Happy New Year! Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org

WHERE THE PROTESTS END, OUR WORK BEGINS. For nearly a century, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working to promote racial justice. Help us achieve it once and for all. UntilJusticeJustIs.org

DOL PART

HE WOR

LLY TON "HELP EAL THE RLD" by Jane Graham / The Big Issue UK / courtesy of INSP.ngo

ven after over 50 years of performing, Dolly Parton has a new book, album, and Netflix movie all released during the holiday season, but it’s become clear that Parton is much more than a country music star. Parton continues to make headlines as she was named one of the major donors behind Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

REFLECTING ON HER CHILDHOOD I actually was a pretty good girl at 16. I was in high school at the time but I had been taking my music very seriously for several years before that, taking trips back and forth to Nashville with my Uncle Bill Owens, from my home in east Tennessee 200 miles away. We’d take some old car, and sleep in the car, trying to go into different offices in Nashville. We’d stay a few days to try to get a few things going. I didn’t have time to run around and mess with boys. And my dad was pretty strict anyway, so I pretty much spent my teenage years just working on my music and hanging out with friends when I had an opportunity. I was about 13 when I first met Johnny Cash and that’s when Johnny was all strung out on drugs and everything, but he was so magnetic, so sexy. He was my first male grown-up crush, he just really moved me. That’s when I realized what hormones do and what sex appeal really means. He just kind of stirred me somehow. And so I guess that’s when I realized I was becoming a little woman. Oh, we laughed about it through the years. I told him, you know you were my very first crush, my first sexy grown-up crush. He always got a kick out of that. Dolly Parton photographed by Irving Penn.

I knew I wanted to always stay true to my roots. I knew I loved my family – I would never shame them, I was proud of my family. But I just had a feeling inside my gut that I was supposed to do something more. I felt it in my bones early on, it was just like a calling. I wanted to go beyond the Smoky Mountains. My family knew that as well, even though it was a little different for a low mountain girl.

STAYING TRUE TO HER ROOTS I’m very proud of the fact that I’m so much both of my parents. I can see it so plain in myself. I got my spiritual side and my musical side from my mom’s people. Most of them played musical instruments and sang, and we all grew up in the church. We were the family that played at funerals and weddings and all kinds of shindigs. My dad’s people were mainly hard-working people; I got his work ethic and willingness to stick to it until I get the job done. I know what part of me is Daddy and I know which part is Mama and I think it’s a good combination. It’s why I’ve lasted so long. Usually creative musicians are basically kind of physically lazy. They want to stay up all night and write and sing and sleep all day. But like my dad, I get up really early, I work hard and I go to bed fairly early. And I love the fact that I’m not a lazy head, I’m not sluggish. I think that’s been a big part of my success – I’m up and at it before most people can get out of bed. My mom and dad were both very proud of me. My mom was more lenient in the early days, she used to have to cover for me. My dad didn’t want me traveling – traipsing around as he called it – he didn’t like me going away to Nashville. He and my mom used to have words about that. So I’d go before he got home from work and mama had to defend me on that one. She’d say, she’s all right, and she’s gonna leave whether you like it or not. Mama understood it because she was a dreamer also. But he was pretty strict, I thought sometimes in the early days he was too strict. It’s not that he didn’t trust me, he just didn’t trust the world. But after I moved to Nashville he saw that I was serious about it and it was real work, and a dream that was actually possible. And he became my biggest fan and biggest supporter. I always knew my ambition was going to happen, they couldn’t preach it out of me. I was going to be a star, I was going to go to Nashville, I was going to sing my songs no matter what. I was never a rebel without a cause, I was not a rebellious child. I did it with grace and style. I wasn’t out to cause any grief at all for my mom or dad. But I was willing to take whatever punishment I might have got for going against somebody’s ruling. I am strong in my beliefs. There is an old saying, "to thine own self be true." That has followed me all the days of my life. I know who I am. I know what I’m not. I know what I can and cannot do. I don’t get myself involved in things that I know are out of my realm. But if there’s something I can do and I want to do, hell or high water ain’t gonna stop me. I’m an easy person to work with, but I will not bend to your ways if they go against mine. I have my standards and my principles and if you push me to a point that does not agree with my soul, I will call you on it, and I will not compromise. I don’t feel like I have to answer to anyone but myself and to God. That’s my rule. www.streetwise.org

DOLLY PARTON AND ELVIS PRESLEY It’s true I would not compromise with Colonel Tom [Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager]. Elvis wanted to record "I Will Always Love You." They planned the session, and told me they were recording the song. I’d been invited down to the studio to meet Elvis and be there when he sang my song. That was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me. Who doesn’t love Elvis? But then Colonel called me the afternoon before the session and said, you do know we have to have at least half the publishing on any song that Elvis records? And I said no, I did not know that. He said, well, it’s just a rule. So I said, well, it’s not my rule. I said, I hate this more than you could even imagine but I cannot give you half the publishing. I just can’t do it and I won’t do it. "I Will Always Love You" had been a number one song with me already, it was the most important song in my catalogue. And I cried all night long, ’cause I was so disappointed. It wasn’t Elvis, I loved Elvis. And I’m sure he was as disappointed as I was because he had it all worked up and ready to go. I know he loved the song. Priscilla told me later that he sang that song to her when they were coming down the steps of the courthouse after they divorced. That really touched me and I thought, oh well, I can only imagine. But it wasn’t his fault. I found out later that Colonel Tom had an even bigger demand for any brand new song Elvis recorded; in those cases 100 per cent of the publishing went to them. Yeah, Tom was a strict manager, he was a good manager and I don’t blame him for asking, but I don’t blame me for saying no. When you write songs you don’t know what’s going to be a hit. As a songwriter you know when some songs are better than others, and I knew that "I Will Always Love You" was probably one of the best things that I’d written, because it came from so much heart and soul. But you never know what’s going to be a hit or everybody would be rich. I knew it was a good song but I had no idea that it could ever become what it did, after Whitney recorded it and it went into such a big hit movie [The Bodyguard]. I’ll always be grateful to Kevin Costner and obviously I’ll always be grateful to and always love Whitney Houston.

PARTON ON HER SUCCESS "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" were on the same album [1974’s Jolene]. In fact they came from the same cassette, so it is possible that I wrote those two songs in the same day. "Jolene" is a song about... you know, I’ve got my pride and I’ve got my strength. But when I write a song, I’m vulnerable at those moments. I leave my heart out on my sleeve. I’ve always said I have to leave my heart open in order to receive those kind of songs. I have to feel everything to be a real songwriter. And yes, a lot of Dolly Parton courtesy of CTK Management.

my songs are kind of melancholy. Some of them are sad, and some of them are pitiful. And I mean for them to be pitiful, those really sad songs like "Little Sparrow" or "Jeannie’s Afraid of the Dark." I have a big imagination and I become whoever I’m writing about. It’s like starring in a movie; I am that character in that song. So when I wrote it, I was Jolene. "Jolene" has been recorded more than any other song that I have ever written. It has been recorded worldwide over 400 times in lots of different languages, by lots of different bands. The White Stripes did a wonderful job of it, and many other people. But nobody’s ever had a really big hit record on it. I’ve always hoped somebody might do someday, someone like Beyoncé.

ADVICE TO HER YOUNGER SELF What I would say to my young self is all those dreams, they are going to come true. It’s not going to all be fun and games, you’re going to have to pay the price and do your sacrificing, but it’s going to be worth it. I’d have to tell her about "I Will Always Love You." To me that is really a classic love song. I had a number one on it twice, once in the '70s, then I did it in the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and had another number one in the '80s. And then Whitney did it [in 1992] and it was considered one of the greatest love songs of all time. Still to this day I take a lot of pride in that. So I’d tell my younger self, you’re going to end up being very proud of your little old self one day. So just buckle up and be ready for the ride. If I could have one last conversation with anybody, I’d probably talk to Elvis. And I’d probably talk about "I Will Always Love You" and say hey, I bet you were as disappointed as I was about all that and I still dream about you singing that song. Matter of fact, I even wrote a song called "I Dreamed about Elvis Last Night" and I had an Elvis soundalike sing it with me and we actually sing “I Will Always Love You” in it. And one day, I’m going to put that track out. So I think that I’d talk to Elvis, and just clear that up with him. If I could live one moment of my life again, I think it’s when I became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry back in the late '60s. When I found out it was going to happen I jumped up and down, I was tickled to bits. I had always wanted to be on the Grand Ole Opry. You would listen to it on the radio back home and hear all those singers and that was where you wanted to be if you were a country singer. I remember that night so well. I remember how proud I felt thinking of my people listening back home. That memory stands out the most because that was the very first big moment. But I’ve had many, many special nights since then.

Dolly Parton in 1977. Courtesy of RCA Records.

DOLLY:

AN ICON FOR OUR TIMES Dolly Parton has been a music icon for 50 years – the most revered country singer-songwriter of all time. She’s sold over 100 million records and won 10 Grammy Awards. But in recent years it’s become clear she’s more than just a superstar – she’s a savior. Parton hit the headlines in early November when it was revealed she was one of the major donors behind the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, plowing $1 million into research that led to the breakthrough because she wanted to “help heal the world.” She is also a champion of literacy. Parton founded the Imagination Library 25 years ago to help youngsters who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to read, donating a book to registered children every month from birth to age 5 – completely free. The project is a tribute to Parton’s late father, “the smartest man I have ever known” but who was unable to pursue his dreams because of illiteracy. So far she has donated more than 150 million books, and works with partner organizations to gift a book to 1.6 million kids a month. Her new book, "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics" is available now!

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MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND DCASE ANNOUNCE 2020 RISING STAR HONOR ROLL From left: Peter CottonTale (Katie Levine photo); Honorees Emeire Moreno and Alexandrya Fryson (DCASE photos).

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, First Lady Amy Eshleman and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announce the 2020 Rising Star Honor Roll presented by Allstate. Fifty outstanding young artists were recognized for their creative leadership and exceptional artistic talents with a tribute video at YouTube.com/ChicagoDCASE. The 10-minute video features a “Year of Chicago Music” performance by the Grammy Award-winning producer and artist Peter CottonTale. The full list is also posted at chicago.gov/RisingStarHonorRoll.

FROM THE STREETS

“What makes Chicago’s arts scene so distinctive is the diversity of our people and their stories,” said Mayor Lightfoot and First Lady Amy Eshleman. “As Rising Star artists, these young people are authors of our Chicago story. Their energy, creativity, and hopeful perspective will help to craft our city’s future.”

“We celebrate this year’s Rising Stars as the artists and arts leaders of the future,” said DCASE Commissioner Mark Kelly. DCASE fosters the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector and for-profit arts businesses; it provides a framework to guide the city’s future cultural and economic growth via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan, and it markets the city’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience. This year’s Rising Star honorees and their nominating, mentor organizations are: Lamari Banks (visual arts), Dennis Evans (music), Chicago Public Library YOUmedia; Lilia Benavides Medina (advanced drawing and painting at Theodore Roosevelt High School, Mya Corral (advanced drawing and painting at Gallery 37), Esmeralda Gutierrez (comic book art studio at George Washington High School), Mimi Thran (glass mosaics at Gallery 37), After School Matters; Aaron Bergante (animation and sequential arts), Samantha Franco (drawing and painting) Charlie Voyda (photography), Chicago Public Schools Advanced

Arts Program; Ines Dombele, The People’s Music School; Jawuan Durant, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education; Jaime Flores (visual arts), Territory; Karina Flores, SkyART; Alexandrya Fryson, M.A.D.D. Rhythms; Saint Gates, Lyric Opera of Chicago EmpowerYouth! Program; Shannon Harvey, Musical Arts Institute. Also: Aaliyah Haynes, University of Chicago Arts + Public Life Green Line Performing Arts Center; Mia Herrin, Collaboraction Theatre Company; Kyla Hubbard, True Star Media; Fionn Hui (visual arts), Chicago Architecture Center; Ahmad Hunter, Jonah Weber, The Chicago High School for the Arts; Terry Jones (visual arts), Marwen; Dorcas Keme (theatre), CircEsteem; Londyn LaGon-Green (dance), Daina Wilson (theatre), Lyric Opera of Chicago; Daniela Lopez (music), Little Kids Rock; Diego Lucero (music) Urban Gateways; Javier Martinez, Merit School of Music; Hugh Maxey, Chicago Public Schools All-City Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble. And: Laila May, Hyde Park School of Dance; Isamary Medina (music), Puerto Rican Arts Alliance; Mia Mendoza (music), ArtSmart; Emerie Moreno, The Chicago Cuatro Orchestra Project; Rafael Noriega, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras; Makari Patterson, Joffrey Ballet; Matthew Ramos (theatre), Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education; Janet Rios, Lyric Opera of Chicago High School Choir Residency Program; Maleah Ristau (media arts), The Art Institute of Chicago; Aria Robinson, Guitars Over Guns Organization; And: Isaiah Robinson (visual arts), Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Nikita Sekhar, Chicago Children's Choir; Harmoni Smith (band), Rashad Smith (drumline), BandWith; Francesca Stewart (music), Marillac St. Vincent Family Services; Ash Vasquez (visual arts), Yollocalli Arts Reach of the National Museum of Mexican Art; Litzy Villalobos, Music of the Baroque; Zachary Webster (media arts), Free Spirit Media; Jerry Wilson (dance), Forward Momentum Chicago and After School Matters. -from prepared materials

Aldermen revive real estate transfer tax at chicago union of the homeless rally by Suzanne Hanney

Three Chicago aldermen accepted a Chicago Union of the Homeless petition with more than 1,300 signatures demanding that the City provide immediate housing for homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they revived the Real Estate Transfer Tax as the method for doing so at a December 10 rally.

At a rally in front of the city's Garfield Community Service Center, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th ward) holds petitions gathered by the Chicago Union of the Homeless (CUH) that demand immediate housing and health care for homeless people. Also in photo are Alds. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th ward, at left in blue coat) and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, (33rd ward, in grey coat and hat) and Bonnie Contreras (in front), CUH president. (Suzanne Hanney photo)

Mother and child at Lakeview Towers, 4550 N. Clarendon. Photography by Thom Clark. Graphic design by Christopher Rohrbeck.

People should not be subject to violence when they are asleep at night, said Ald. Carlos RamirezRosa (35th ward), who noted that the encampment at Belmont and Kedzie avenues in his ward was twice targeted by arsonists. “I am proud to stand with you today because you are getting organized. Nothing has ever changed in this country without people coming together, little people, individual people standing together and saying ‘give us housing,’ do what is right. We are going to fight to make sure housing is a human right.” Ramirez-Rosa said afterward that raising the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) by 2 percent for properties that sell for over $1 million – less than 5 percent of annual transactions -- would raise $100 million annually. The RETT is now $5.25 per $500 of the transfer price and would rise by $6 per $500 for buyers. The proposal came from the Bring Chicago Home coalition, headed by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH). “Homelessness is a public safety concern because nobody that is homeless can be safe,” said Ald. Rossana RodriguezSanchez (33rd ward). “It’s a public health concern because nobody who is homeless can remain healthy. Homelessness is also a racial justice issue that affects so many Black and Brown people. We are not willing to lose any more of them because they are unable to afford a home in Chicago.” A 73-year-old Vietnam veteran froze to death at the encampment in his ward, at Roosevelt Road and Desplaines Street, but his death was preventable, said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th ward). The encampment, with roughly 30 tents, sits alongside the entrance ramp to the Dan Ryan Expressway, which was slated for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) work in October. However, an IDOT spokeswoman told StreetWise that given the pandemic and shelter capacity, the agency would coordinate its work with the City and CCH. “I will make sure nobody touches that encampment until we provide decent housing,” Sigcho-Lopez said. Increasing the RETT was a promise Mayor Lori Lightfoot made, he said. Lightfoot initially supported the RETT increase as funding against homelessness, but then targeted the money to-

ward a deficit city budget, which angered advocates. The Chicago Association of Realtors also opposed the increase because it raised the overall cost of a transaction. The ordinance did not pass by the end of 2019, in time to be placed on the March 17, 2020 primary ballot as a referendum, which is required for a RETT increase. The proposed ordinance has the support of 27 aldermen, a majority on the 50-member council. It would fund supportive services, rental subsidies, operating and capital expenditures for supportive housing, and housing expansion itself, possibly by nonprofit developers, Ramirez-Rosa said. Funds would go to the Department of Housing. The December 10 rally was at the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Garfield Community Service Center, where people receive referrals to shelters, food pantries, substance abuse treatment programs and workforce development. It was on the anniversary of the 1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which says that housing is a human right. Joe Peery of the Chicago Union of the Homeless opened the rally by noting that Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a shelter in place order because of the COVID-19 pandemic, “but how the hell are the homeless supposed to shelter in place when they are living on the street?” The Chicago Union of the Homeless organized as a chapter of the National Union of the Homeless on October 24. It represents the Roosevelt-Desplaines encampment and others at Lawrence Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, 51st Street and Wentworth Avenue, 43rd Street and Western Avenue. www.streetwise.org

A Thank you letter to StreetWise Vendor Tammy kohnke

When I want to find a StreetWise vendor, I usually walk up to the buzzing North Side nexus of Clark, Diversey and Broadway. If I don't see a vendor on the Clark side, I usually find one a few steps up Broadway, outside of Walmart. If not, a few blocks further up, outside Mariano's.

INSIDE STREETWISE

On a cold, windy day after Thanksgiving, however, I found no vendors at any of these locations. I kept walking up Broadway, beyond Belmont, still nobody. Finally at Roscoe, I saw a short masked female in a yellow windbreaker with a StreetWise badge. She was waving – vigorously – copies of three different editions.

She said she didn't mind the cold: "It clears my mind." She apologized profusely for not having the latest edition, since it had sold out. Perhaps sensing my senior age despite my mask, she suggested the November 9 - 15 edition with the "Return to Sender" article about lost letters from World War II soldiers. She had sensed correctly. I bought one. She also said that if I returned in a few days, she would have a copy of the current edition – reserved just for me. On my way home, my mind was clear about two things. First, that woman obviously had absorbed customer service skills in her StreetWise orientation. Second, she was a credit to StreetWise just for being out on the blustery Broadway corner. - Frank Malone

Streetwise 12/21/20 Crossword To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Sudoku

8 Name 1 Facts and figures 2 Gaelic language 3 Fort Knox unit 4 Spotted 5 Ship part 6 Auto pioneer Citroën

9 10 11 12

Highway hauler 38 It’s next to Center nothing Skirt 39 Gawk at Hawaiian 41 Deadly poison veranda 43 Canal site 13 Ludicrous 44 Distraught 18 Depot woman 22 Astronomical 46 Line to the sighting audience 24 Have on 47 Digress 25 Priest’s robe 48 Boiling mad own 27 Dazzles 49 Inhumane 1 Baby’s first 28 Church section 51 Hike word, maybe 29 Metric unit of 52 Waxy covering 2 At a distance volume of a bird’s beak 3 Chicken dish 30 Clouded 53 Basilica part 32 It keeps an eye 55 Engine sound 4 Charged particle on TV 56 ___ meridiem 33 Restaurant 5 Pack animal 59 Letters before promotion 6 ElectricalCopyright unit an alias ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com 7 Former spouses 34 Moon of Saturn 60 Beachgoer’s 35 Dead-end jobs 8 Bed support goal

Solution lastSudoku week's Puzzle Answers

Solution

Sudoku Solution

Find your nearest StreetWise Vendor at

PuzzleJu

Crossword Across 1 High-hatter 6 Sticking point? 10 Office fill-in 14 Diacritical mark 15 Angry display 16 Brain wave 17 Finished 18 Makeup 20 Is no longer 21 Rascals 23 Rhode Island university 24 Hit the bottle 25 Greek portico 27 Hotel pest 30 Hard working union member 34 Rich tapestry 35 Bush 36 Big fuss 37 Fly like an eagle 38 Water conduit 39 Kind of bust or kingpin 40 Belief system 41 Domain 42 Time being 43 Aquarium denizen 45 Inferior 46 Bookkeeping entry 47 Shoestring 48 It’s a snap 51 Wharf 52 Spending limit 55 Southwestern Asian river 58 Gown fabric 60 Plexus

61 Mustard family member 62 Furious 63 Cold war initials 64 Impersonator 65 ___ a high note

10 11 12 13 19

Down 1 One-dish meal 2 Semitic deity 3 Auto pioneer 4 Ben Jonson wrote one to himself 5 Wearisome 6 Brunch serving 7 Some stingers 8 Add years to one’s life 9 “Scream” director Craven

24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35

Crowns Taro root Cat call Hock Nuclear weapon Automobile sticker fig. Skier’s aid Red Cross supply Stretched Foundation Jagged Kind of queen Oar pin Mountain lakes Draw forth Radio message Involuntary twitch

38 Desertlike 39 Medicinal amount 41 Chopper part 42 Business wear 44 Come-___ 45 Fond du ___ 47 Failure 48 Lima’s land 49 Shades 50 Chooses 51 Expunge 52 Dressed 53 Choir voice 54 Hammer part 56 Wanted letters 57 Kind of dance 59 Big coffee maker

www.streetwise.org

How StreetWise Works

Our Mission

Orientation Participants complete a monthlong orientation, focusing on customer service skills, financial literacy and time management to become a badged vendor.

Financial Literacy Vendors buy StreetWise for $0.90, and sell it for $2. The profit of $1.10 goes directly to the licensed vendor for them to earn a living.

Supportive Services StreetWise provides referrals, advocacy and other support to assist participants in meeting their basic needs and getting out of crisis.

S.T.E.P. Program StreetWise’s S.T.E.P. Program provides job readiness training and ongoing direct service support to ensure participants’ success in entering the traditional workforce.

THE PLAYGROUND

To empower the entrepreneurial spirit through the dignity of self-employment by providing Chicagoans facing homelessness with a combination of supportive social services, workforce development resources and immediate access to gainful employment.

Solution

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WISE

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE

THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF

MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON James Ijames Directed by Whitney White By

The recently widowed “Mother of America”—attended to by the very enslaved people who will be free the moment she dies—takes us deep into the ugly and thorny ramifications of America’s original sin.

RADICALLY VULNERABLE, OUTRAGEOUSLY HILARIOUS

APRIL 2 – MAY 17 | steppenwolf.org | 312-335-1650 MAJOR PRODUCTION SPONSOR

2019/20 GRAND BENEFACTORS

2019/20 BENEFACTORS