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AUSTIN WEEKLY news ■
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Vol. 30 No. 33
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August 24, 2016
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PAGE 9
Also serving Garfield Park
Bob Mariano wants you, page 10
Residents speak against police abuse
The West Side hearing was held ahead of potential policerelated legislation the City Council is cooking up By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
The message from the residents who spoke at the City of Chicago’s only official police accountability hearing held on the West Side was nearly unanimous. Speaker after speaker said that they wanted more civilian control over whatever body handled police oversight. They wanted the police to treat all Chicagoans with respect and for the police department to confront racism within its ranks. And they warned the aldermen in attendance that if there is no progress on police reform they will look to vote other candidates into office. The Aug. 16 meeting, held at Westinghouse College Prep, 3223 W Franklin Blvd, was one of the five neighborhood hearings held by the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Budget and Government Operations. Originally, the joint committee only planned to hold two hearings in July, but that decision was criticized by activists and the Council’s Chicago Progressive Caucus. Those groups argued that most residents who worked wouldn’t be able to attend the meetings since they were scheduled during the day. The West Side hearing was hosted by Aldermen Jason Erving (28th) and Emma See POLICE ABUSE on page 12
Courtesy Greater St. John
A young West Side resident receives a free haircut during Greater St. John Bible Church’s annual Austin Community Fest on Aug. 13. The fest, held on the grounds of Ella Flagg Young School, featured vendors, pony rides, food, music and $20,000 in college scholarships to area young people.
Church serves up free haircuts and college money Greater St. John Bible Church’s annual community fest featured thousands of dollars in scholarships By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
Janaya Sanders, 18, said a psychology class she took one summer changed her life. The course made her realize the importance of mental health and just how unaware most people are when it comes seeking out treatment. “It’s not something that people really pay attention to,” said the Marshal High School graduate who recently enrolled at the Univer-
sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to pursue her dreams of becoming either a practicing psychiatrist or a psychiatry professor. When the West Side native starts classes this week, she’ll have a little less to worry about thanks to the largesse of Greater St. John Bible Church in Austin. This year, the church gave out over $20,000 in scholarship money to 25 college students at its annual Austin Community Fest, held Aug. 13 on the grounds of Ella Flagg Young
School, 1434 N. Parkside. The scholarships were just one aspect of the event, which also featured free haircuts carnival-style games, horse rides and music, among other highlights. The event’s organizers said that around 1,000 people showed up to partake in the festivities. “Some of the kids who came had never ridden on a pony,” said Rev. Ira Acree, Greater
Austin Chamber of Commerce on the move... 773.854.5848 • www.austinchicagochamber.com
See SCHOLARSHIP on page 4