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AUSTIN WEEKLY news Arlene Jones on progress,
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Vol. 32 No. 23 ■ June 6, 2018
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield Park
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Faithh in Action, page 10
City approves funding for training academy Opponents of the proposed facility say they will keep fighting By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
If there is one thing the supporters and opponents of the proposed West Garfield Park emergency services training center can agree on, it’s that the fight is far from over. During the special May 25 meeting, the Chicago City Council voted 39-2 to approve using $20 million of proceeds from the sale of the Elston Corridor public works facility to help finance the West Side training facility’s construction. West Side Aldermen Michael Scott (24th), Jason Ervin (28th), Chris Taliaferro (29th) and Emma Mitts (37th) — whose ward encompasses the proposed project — all voted for the measure. The vote came amidst vocal protests, as activists from Black Lives Matter, the #NoCopAcademy coalition and other organizations continued to argue that the estimated $95 million the city expects to spend training center would be better spent on education, mental health treatment and improving access to job opportunities. During the meeting, West Side aldermen Michael Scott (24th), Walter Burnett (27th), See TRAINING ACADEMY on page 4
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
A book of their own
Students at Ella Flagg Young Elementary in Austin read a book, called “The Magnificent Classroom, which they inspired author Mari Barnes to write. More on page 8.
Lori Lightfoot runs on equity, inclusion The attorney and former Police Board head says she’s a stark contrast to Mayor Emanuel By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
In an extensive phone interview last week, Lori Lightfoot, the attorney and former head of the Police Board, said that the first day of her formal campaign for Mayor of Chicago started on the West Side for a reason. She took a train from the Austin neighborhood and rode it downtown, where she
made her official announcement at the Hyatt Regency. According to recent government data that has generated headlines in publications like Chicago Magazine, the average resident of the Loop lives to be 85 years old while the average resident of West Garfield Park lives to be just 69. “I wanted to emphasize that traumatic statistic and talk about the lack of invest-
ment on the West Side and all over the city on a range of different issues,” Lightfoot said. Lightfoot launched into a litany of those issues contributing to that remarkable disparity — including the high unemployment rate, the high number of people on public assistance and the lack of viable
Austin Chamber of Commerce on the move... 773.854.5848 • www.austinchicagochamber.com
See LORI LIGHTFOOT on page 10