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AUSTIN WEEKLY news ■
Vol. 31 No. 13
Guess what flavor of popcorn Austin is?,
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March 22, 2017
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austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyChi
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PAGE 9
Also serving Garfield Park
Meet Gerlisa Shipman, page 3
Group pushing to open mental health center in Austin The idea, which would require higher taxes, got some pushback from residents By ABBY LEE HOOD AustinTalks
While many of the Austin residents at a recent meeting about mental health in the community agreed there’s a need for expanded services, not everyone was on board with the organization that is trying to build a new clinic. The Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers, in partnership with former Gov. Pat Quinn and Loretto Hospital, held a community meeting on March 13 about possibly building a mental health clinic in Austin. Michael Snedeker, executive director of the coalition, said it was an informational meeting to allow residents to decide if they want to get involved. The coalition builds mental health centers in Chicago neighborhoods, funding the projects through small property tax increases residents approve through a local election referendum. Quinn said he was excited to see the initiative starting in Austin. As governor, Quinn signed legislation in 2014 that made community governing bodies appointed to run the mental health center legally able to levy property tax increases with some limitations. Quinn said he supported the coalition’s effort to build a new center and referenced the need for See MENTAL HEALTH on page 5
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
Tendu, plié, voil`a!
Alvin Ailey instructor and Chicago native Christopher Jackson guides Maywood Fine Arts dancers, many of whom are from the West Side, through a rehearsal of “Sleeping Beauty’s” third act. The dancers will perform the classical ballet (with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky), alongside professional guest artists from Chicago and New York, at Trinity High School in River Forest on March 25. More photos on page 4.
W. Side alderman to skip participatory budgeting Ald. Taliaferro says the city’s new deadline threw a wrench in plans By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), the first West Side alderman to implement participatory budgeting in his ward, isn’t doing it this year. Every year, each alderman gets $1.23 million in so-called aldermanic menu
money, which they can spend on whatever ward infrastructure projects they want. Ald. Joe Moore (49th) was the first alderman to invite his constituents to suggest ideas and vote on how they want the money to be spent. Since then, several aldermen have followed his example, including Taliaferro. Taliaferro said that he isn’t giving up
on participatory budgeting. It’s just that this year the City of Chicago moved up the deadline for submitting projects and Taliaferro said he didn’t think he would be able to go through the process in such a limited time. He will do participatory budgeting again in 2018, and use 2017 to
Austin Chamber of Commerce on the move... 773.854.5848 • www.austinchicagochamber.com
See BUDGETING on page 4