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AUSTIN WEEKLY news ■ Keeping America great, ARLENE JONES, PAGE 6
Vol. 31 No. 14
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March 29, 2017
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austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyChi
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Also serving Garfield Park
West Siders open food truck, page 9
Businessman puts up $150K for struggling homeowners
Willie Wilson is offering up to $1K loans for Cook County homeowners to pay down delinquent taxes before April 3 deadline By WENDELL HUTSON Contributing reporter
The latest project by a nonprofit foundation to help economically challenged individuals and families came too late for one homeowner who said he lost his home due to back taxes. “No one wanted to loan me any money because I had bad credit. My friends and family wouldn’t even loan me a few bucks,” recalled Bruce Brown, 49. “Just because you are a homeowner does not mean you are financially solid. You’d be surprised how many people lose their homes because of taxes.” Businessman Willie Wilson said he wants to help as many people WILLIE WILSON keep their homes as God allows him title to during an announcement last week of and his latest initiative. Through his “Dr. Willie Wilson Foundation,” the businessman and former Chicago mayoral and U.S. presidential candidate donated $150,000 to help Cook County homeowners pay their (2015) delinquent property taxes by the April 3 deadline. Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (1st) said that in the past homeowners had a 12-month grace period to pay their back taxes, but state lawmakers changed it to eight months. “This change affects 50,000 homeowners with delinquent tax bills for 2015,” added Boykin. “It would be good if banks See WILLIE WILSON on page 8
Reading a winner
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
Malachi Jefferson, one of five winners of a Black History Month essay contest sponsored by the 15th District Police, reads his award-winning piece during a March 23 ceremony.
Austin 14-year-old, shot for second time in two years, dies Laquan Allen was a student-athlete at McNair Elementary who aspired to play pro basketball By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
A 14-year-old Austin resident was fatally shot last Saturday for the second time in less than two years, the Chicago Tribune reported. Last year, Laquan Allen, of the 4200
block of West Augusta Boulevard, was shot in the thigh, but he ultimately recovered from that gunshot wound. Last Saturday, Allen was standing near a playground in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street when someone opened fire from a vehicle, hitting the teenager in the buttocks. The incident
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happened just after 3 p.m. The McNair Elementary student was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in North Lawndale, where law enforcement officials said “his condition had been stabilized” before he was later See LAQUAN ALLEN on page 4