North Town News Magazine Special Print Edition - Aldermanic Election 2011 50th Ward Edition Stone and Silverstein in a No Holds Barred Battle to the Finish

North Town News Magazine 2011 Aldermanic Runoff Story and Analysis by Avy Meyers I had 20 years of journalistic experience. We wanted to feature the neighborhood: The people, non-profit organizations, police, elected officials and worthwhile events and happenings to boost the community and April 5, 2011, 14 of ’s 50 wards in which no candidate received 50% of the highlight it citywide. vote plus one, are having runoff elections for alderman. As all the citywide races were I produced and hosted the show from day one, and in the 2nd year, Sonny Hersh took decided in February, the other 36 wards will be dormant. over the technical duties. Of these 14 races, this publication will strictly focus on my home turf, the 50th ward, After the council dissolved, I wanted to keep the show going as did Sonny Hersh. The where early voting is underway at Warren Park, 6601 N. Western, through Thursday, show changed and evolved over the years. The old council was non-profit, and as such, March 31st, 9 am to 5 pm. we were limited by the framework of being a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. According to the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners, “you may register to The show became more opinionated without these constraints and it is important to vote, update your address or file your name change during a ‘Grace Period’ through note that Sonny and I often disagree politically, and he has absolutely nothing to do with Tuesday, March 29th. During the ‘Grace Period,’ you must register in person -- and then this publication. immediately vote during that same visit. Please bring two forms of identification, at least The show has aired weekly, Thursday at 7:30 pm and Friday at 2:30 pm on CANTV-19 one of which must show your current address.” for the last 19 years. We have won 3 national awards from the Alliance for Community The North Town News Magazine was originally a project of the North Town Media under the categories of Best News Show and Making a Difference in Your Community Council which is now defunct. The idea was to concentrate on the North Community. Town neighborhood which is another name for West Rogers Park whose true name is We were also presented with the Community Outreach Award by the State West Ridge. I was sent to classes at CAN-TV to learn television production. At that time, Crime Commission in 2009. These businesses, organizations and community leaders all back Alderman Berny Stone because of his record of accomplishment and his vision for the 50th Ward. No other candidate has as much broad-based support as Berny. These supporters know that we need Berny’s experienced leadership in these challenging times. They know that he is the only candidate who we can count on to continue economic development, fight crime and oppose tax increases.

ONE HUNDRED 50th WARD Deplux Nails Salon 2238 W. Devon - Alderman, 12th Ward Walter Burnett, Jr. - Alderman, 27th Ward SMALL BUSINESSES Sundarbans Fish Bazar 6409 N Bell Ed Burke - Alderman, 14th Ward; - Alderman, 28th Ward New York Kosher 2900 W. Devon Mutual Real Estate Group 3105 W Devon Democratic Committeeman Ray Suarez - Alderman, 31st Ward Peterson Food Mart 2534 W. Peterson Devon Printing 6347 N Washtenaw Toni Foulkes - Alderman, 15th Ward; Dick Mell - Alderman, 33rd Ward; Basil Food and Liquor 7446 N. Western Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts 3132 W. Democratic Committeeman Democratic Committeeman D'Agostino Auto Service 7130 N. Western Devon Latasha Thomas - Alderman, 17th Ward; - Alderman, 34th Ward; North Star Restaurant 6246 N. Western City Fresh Market Inc. 3201 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Democratic Committeeman A and O Tire Sales 2538 W. Peterson Brown's Auto Inc. 6440 N. Western Lona Lane - Alderman, 18th Ward; John Rice - Alderman, 36th Ward K-D Auto Service 6419 N. California Chandani Exclusive 2419 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman - Alderman, 37th Ward; Devon Pawn Shop 2106 W. Devon Chicago Harley Davidson 6868 N. Western Virginia Rugai - Alderman, 19th Ward Democratic Committeeman Viceroy of India 2520 W. Devon Chicago Star Auto Werks/New Star 228 N. Willie Cochran - Alderman, 20th ward; Tim Cullerton - Alderman, 38th Ward; Morelia Supermarket 7300 N. Western Washtenaw Democratic Committeeman Democratic Committeeman Adelphi Liquors 2351 W. Devon Gulliver's 2727 W. Howard , Jr. - Alderman, 21st Ward; Brian Doherty - Alderman, 41st Ward Wreck and Roll Auto Body 6652 W. Devon Khan BBQ Restaurant 2401 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Brendan Reilly - Alderman, 42nd Ward Royal Studio 2301 W. Devon M & Y Liquor 2252 W. Devon Mike Zalewski - Alderman, 23th Ward; - Alderman, 44th Ward; Sheesh Mahal Dhaba 6355 N. Maplewood Madni Mart 2440 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Democratic Committeeman J.K. Kabab House 6412 N. Rockwell J & K Food and Liquor 6320 N Western Daniel Solis - Alderman, 25th Ward; Pat Levar - Alderman, 45th Ward; Naan on Devon 2241 W. Devon Makkah Tours & Travel Inc. 2517 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Democratic Committeeman Spinzer Restaurant 2331 W. Devon Noor Meat Market 2505 W. Devon - Alderman, 26th Ward; Helen Shiller - Alderman, 46th Ward Quick Stop Food 2751 W. Pratt Regal Jewelers 2652 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Mary Ann Smith - Alderman, 48th Ward 7-11 2741 W. Touhy Sidney's Tire Shop II 2112 W. Devon Nayab Mart 2449 W. Devon Tahoora Sweets & Café 2345 W. Devon Venus Café 7156 N. California Taj Sari Palace 2553 W. Devon Sukhadia's Sweets and Snacks 2559 W. Devon Viceroy of India 2520 W. Devon Saahil Exclusive 2605 W. Devon California Food & Liquors 6343 N. California Anmol Pan Shop 2504 W. Devon Dankha Auto Repair Inc. 2225 W. Devon Vogue Cleaners 2701 W. Touhy J & L Liquors Inc. 6013-15 N. Lincoln Raj Jewelers 2652 W. Devon Los Pinos Restaurant Inc 6239 N. Western Punjabi Dhaba 2525 W. Devon Money Dart 2551 W. Devon ORGANIZATIONS Zeenat Emporium 6328 N. Campbell Chicago Police Sergeants Association Campeche Restaurant 6112 N. Lincoln Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce / Pro- Infusion Lounge 6120 N. Lincoln Chicago Via Veneto 6340 N. Lincoln United Hellenic Voters of America Amar Carpets 2423 W. Devon Chicago Dispatcher 99 Cent Plus 7560 N. Western The Federation of Indian American Associations Hookah Joint 2755 W. Devon The Greater Punjab Cultural Association of Hot Rod Grill 6237 N. Western North America (Chicago Chapter) Usmania Mart 2247 W. Devon Sikh Religious Society of Chicago The Indian Garden 2546 W. Devon Amalgamated Transit Union Villa Palermo 2154 W. Devon Jewish Chicago Northeastern Fruit Market 6000 N. Lincoln North Town News Magazine Sabri Nihari Restaurant 2502 W. Devon King Sweets 2308 W. Devon INDIVIDUALS Cosmos Printing 2235 W. Devon Ahmed Khan - Former Candidate, Italian Express Restaurant Alderman 50th Ward World Fruit Market Tom Morris - Former Candidate, Select Lounge 2542 W. Peterson Alderman 50th Ward Piccolo Café 2610 W Peterson Joe Moreno - Alderman, 01st Ward Polls open 6 AM – 7 PM. For a ride to the polls Foremost Liquors 6015 N. Lincoln Bob Fioretti - Alderman, 02nd Ward; call 773-539-0050 or e-mail Berny at Whats Cooking Restaurant 6181 N. Lincoln Democratic Committeeman Acorn Tire 6200 N. Lincoln - Alderman, 03rd Ward; [email protected] Delhi Darbar Restaurant 3010 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Zabihah Meat Market 2907 W. Devon - Alderman, 05th Ward; Maxwell Street Polish 6339 N. California Democratic Committeeman Hyderabad House Family Dining 2226 W. Freddrenna Lyle - Alderman, 06th Ward; Devon Democratic Committeeman Sign America 2748 W. Devon Sandi Jackson - Alderman, 07th Ward; Style Dry Cleaners 2208 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman EDB Car Wash 6644 N. Western Michelle Harris - Alderman, 08th Ward; American Educare 3107 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Sahara Medical Center 2054 W. Devon - Alderman, 09th Ward; Par Birdie Foods 2234 W Devon Democratic Committeeman First Family Pharmacy 2140 W. Devon John Pope - Alderman, 10th Ward; Rahmat Grocery and Meat 2158 W. Devon Democratic Committeeman Baba Corner 2044 W. Devon James Balcer - Alderman, 11th Ward Ghareeb Nawaz Restaurant 2032 W. Devon Bismillah Restaurant 6301 N. Ridge Lahore Food and Grill 2114 W. Devon Chopal Restaurant 2242 W. Devon Kitab Ghar 6403 N. Oakley New Devon Video 6405 W. Devon Al-Madia Restaurant and Grill 2319 W Devon Daata Darbar Family Restaurant 2306 W. Devon Hyderabad House 2225 W. Devon Usmania Fine Dining 2244 W Devon PAID FOR BY BERNARD L. STONE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE All shows and interviews are aired on YouTube and can be accessed through the show Rich Miller wrote it up in his highly respected and popular state-wide insider website, www.ntnm.org or by going to YouTube and typing in sonnyhtv where close to publication, “Capital Fax.” It is in the subscriber section, so as per Rich Miller’s wishes 200,000 shows have been watched. I won’t print it verbatim. In fact, if you really want to know the inside stuff that is There are interviews with the 50th ward candidates as well as several other wards. happening in Illinois, a subscription to Capital Fax is the best avenue to great knowledge. This publication and the show are not about liberal, conservative, left-wing, right- The gist of the story is that the Silversteins hired a high-powered law firm to threaten to wing—I strongly believe that practical solutions to real-life problems are the best way sue a small publisher (me) in a move that is likely to backfire. to go. Mark Schipper, ace reporter of the neighborhood publication the News Star wrote The 50th Ward Aldermanic Race an in-depth straight news story on the subject that will be available in full by checking the show website at www.ntnm.org. The last paragraph of the story states: “Multiple Initially 6 candidates filed to run for 50th ward alderman. In ballot position order, attempts were made over the course of nearly two weeks to contact Debra Silverstein to incumbent Alderman Berny Stone, Michael Moses, Debra Silverstein, Greg Brewer, comment for this article, but phone messages and emails were not returned.” Ahmed Khan and Tom Morris. Morris withdrew early and pledged his support to Berny I assume this is reflective of the Stone which left five candidates on the ballot. transparency part of your 8-point No candidate received 50% of the vote. The totals were Stone 4,305 votes or 37.3%, program for “Real Change” Debra. Moses 487 votes or 4.2 percent, Silverstein 3,864 votes or 33.6%, Brewer 2,158 or 18.8% Their lawyer letter not only doesn’t and Khan 673 votes or 5.9%. Thus a runoff. Stone and Silverstein are going one-on-one make a single specific charge, but on Tuesday, April 5th. incorrectly says the school discussed Of the other 3 candidates, Michael Moses is staying out of the election. Ahmed Khan in the original article http://avyworld. is strongly backing and working for Berny Stone. Greg Brewer met with both Stone and com is Boone School when in fact Silverstein and is not backing either one. it is the brand new West Ridge Brewer, the 3rd place finisher, actually did a little better this time than he did 4 years Elementary School on Whipple near ago despite having drastically less money. He was the only white Christian in the field North Shore. (though I do not specifically know his church or religious affiliations). Khan is Pakistani So what did I write in the issue and the other 3 are Jewish. that so bothered the Silversteins? The One thing I want to say for Brewer, though I often disagree with him, he sincerely answer is the truth, but let’s just list believes in what he is doing and has always been working to create what he feels will be some key points here. a better neighborhood. What really set me off the most As I have interviewed all of the above, some on numerous occasions and known four was seeing an $1,800.00 contribution of the five for years (Khan being the exception, I met him only a few months ago) and from the worst building and/or slum have been very active in community and organizational work over the years, I have at owner in the area, Dr. Tom Klein. the very least, had a much closer and longer look at these people than just about anybody Klein owns Tamid Realty, which else in our neighborhood. owns and poorly maintains a number As this is the only race on the ballot in the 50th ward, a large turnout is not expected. of large buildings in the 50th ward. Three buildings that have been in building court, We’ll start with the challenger, Debra Silverstein. Silverstein has been an accountant some on numerous occasions, and/or been the subject of complaints to the city’s 311 for a firm in Northbrook for many years. They think highly of her. She is the wife of system are at 7420 N. Campbell, 6404 N. Richmond, and 6501 N. Fairfield. State Senator and 50th Ward Committeeman . Many political insiders For the past 17 years, I have chaired the community policing meetings for the 2412 have noted that she is actually the political brains of the couple. She also gets a salary beat that runs from Devon to Pratt, Kedzie to Ridge. Politics is strictly forbidden at the meetings. A few years ago, the problems with the Tamid buildings were getting seriously out of hand including addresses that are not one of the three listed. (Easily obtainable information in the system only goes to a certain point in time.) The drug deals, drug users, thieves, general ne’er-do-wells, not to mention the loud music and more, were becoming a reason people were leaving the neighborhood. Tamid Realty wasn’t even willing to shell out the $35 to find out if the people they were renting to had police records. Anybody with rent money or a government voucher was taken in—no questions asked. Many in the neighborhood stood up and organized. The local bad building officer and the citywide community policing office got involved. Meetings were held in multiple locations. Tamid Realty was repeatedly hauled into housing court. Neighborhood residents, including 4 or 5 members of the clergy, made it a point to participate in court watch to let the States Attorneys and Judges in housing court know that Tamid was a serious offender and that these cases had to be taken seriously. Finally, the housing court judge ruled that if there were new charges filed, anyone who had even the slightest financial interest in the building, would have to appear in court personally, not just the lawyer, but the owner(s). That discouraged Dr. Tom Klein and they started doing at least criminal background checks. But their buildings remain a problem, not just in West Rogers Park, but in other parts of the north side as well. Speaking of lawyers, one of the court watch people, a lawyer in fact, asked me if I from the ward committeeman’s office. knew who represented Tamid Realty in court at the (then) last hearing and when I heard She appeared on the show once and turned down or ignored additional requests to it was State Senator Ira Silverstein, I almost fell over. appear on the show a second time prior to the election and before I put out my Election I called Silverstein, who I have known for at least 30 years, and always had been very Analysis issue for the February election. The one interview I did with her can be viewed friendly with (hour long conversations just when running into each other on the street) on YouTube. All interviews are live to tape and appear whole and uncut on the air as well until I started criticizing him in my publications, though I endorsed him for State Senator as YouTube. every single time he ran. She was also invited to appear at our March taping and failed to answer. In fact the I told him it was unheard of for an elected official to be defending bad landlords and/or only communication I have had from the Silversteins is a letter from their lawyer, kindly slum landlords at all, let alone in the district they were elected and he told me he would offering to sue my brains out if I don’t retract the story and offer them an apology. The guide Dr. Tom Klein and step down. accompanying graphic is the 2 page letter from their high-priced, high-powered law firm. Since that time, Klein has also been a generous donor to Sen. Ira Silverstein. All It is followed by my written response to their lawyer. this information is available by going to the State Board of Elections on the web, find candidate disclosure search, type in the name Silverstein and go through the D-2’s filed To watch our show on Youtube by both Aldermanic candidate Debra Silverstein and State Senator Ira Silverstein and you will find Tamid Realty owner, Dr. Tom Klein. Klein has requested meetings with Ald. Stone for the purpose of creating a relationship and making a donation and Stone www.ntnm.org flatly refused. There is more the Silversteins didn’t care for, but you’ll have to read the original article for the rest. http://avyworld.com I want to concentrate on the upcoming election. Debra has spoken of her program for “Real Change.” The highlights include fill potholes, repave streets and alleys and replace curbs. Real easy to say, much harder to do. Especially when the city is dead broke. During the winter, the city puts only cold patches on potholes that don’t last very long. The real thing, hot asphalt gets applied only from April 1 to December 1. Pothole fixes are decided citywide, not by the aldermen who can report all the potholes they like, but downtown and the nearby neighborhoods get first preference As it turns out, Klein is not the only slumlord that Silverstein has represented in court. and the outlying neighborhoods don’t fare well at all. This is a citywide situation. All the Balwinder Singh and Amrit Patel have benefited from the Senator. While their buildings neighborhoods on the far North side of the city and more have serious pothole problems aren’t in the 50th ward, 1766 Estes is only a hop, skip, and a jump away. If you doubt it, that are not being addressed regardless of the local alderman’s ties to the mayor.. you can go to 740 N. Sedgwick and, under the freedom of information act, you can see Point 2, hold landlords and homeowners accountable for deteriorating buildings. Way for yourself the appearance ticket signed by Sen. Silverstein. The reference number is to go Debra, especially when you listed the worst building owner in the neighborhood as 08DN00284A. one of your 5 largest contributors with one of the daily newspapers. Being beholden to While the Senator is not the candidate here, he and his wife are a very tight team and the worst building owner in the neighborhood, buildings that have been hauled to court no one is going to tell me that someone who does business tax work and accounting numerous times surely qualifies for “Real Change.” for a firm in Northbrook would be running for alderman with any real support let alone Debra Silverstein tells people she will promote local businesses—that we have an $100,000 (and still growing) in campaign contributions from special interests, PACs international market place no one knows about that can make us a true focal point in the with undisclosed donors and interests as well as the Labor Unions that represent city city, and she is the person to do it. That explains why since the February election she has employees, if her husband wasn’t the Ward Committeeman and State Senator. received only 2 significant contributions from businesses or individuals outside of special Debra Silverstein was slapped down hard in the Sun-Times for making the Illinois interests, many of whom are out-of-state and labor unions: A shelter care management Campaign for Political Reform’s list of shame for taking large amounts of money from a firm that is not actually in the ward and a kosher restaurant on Devon. Stone has been highly questionable source. endorsed by 100 neighborhood businesses, numerous local individuals and organizations The Silversteins also weren’t very happy about my writing about their efforts to and something like 40 of the 50 members of the . spike the new West Ridge School (across the street from his mom’s house) that has Debra Silverstein joined the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce only a few months greatly relieved serious overcrowding from both Boone School as well as Clinton. Not ago and lists it as one of her qualifications in her brochures and mailers and their members to mention the fact this is a state-of-the-art building, only 680 children attend, all of tell me she doesn’t participate. whom are neighborhood residents living west of California from Lincoln to Touhy, and When you hear her speak of this international market place that is not being marketed, special after school classes are in the works to benefit neighborhood children with special it sounds like she is saying she is coining the phrase—a phrase that has been in use for needs—a building that is available for use by neighborhood institutions and groups a good 20 years. It’s been on banners for ages Debra—an international market place The school was in fact championed by Ald. Berny Stone, who created a TIF that frequently featured and filmed by nationally known James Beard award-winning reporter allowed sufficient funds to accumulate to build a school building that has been so badly Steve Dolinsky on ABC 7 Chicago, as well as his radio show; an international market needed on what was, at the time, the only piece of land in the neighborhood large enough place often featured on Channel 11’s Check Please featuring Rogers Park resident where a school could be built. Alpana Singh; an area frequently written up by just about every publication that features restaurants; an unknown gem that is actually a part of many food tours including one featured by the local chamber. FREE Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling Of course if she had actually been a real participant in the chamber, she would know that. Debra Silverstein is telling people there is a million dollars Sunday, April 10, 2011 9am—noon Rain or Shine!!! available for the neighborhood in Small Business Improvement Funds (SBIF) that go unclaimed that no one knows about. She will Devon Bank This is a chance to safely destroy personal & busi- make sure local businesses find out about it and take advantage. In Parking Lot ness documents and recycle old electronic equip- checking this out, no one is really sure where Debra gets her numbers. ment that is taking up space in your home. Bring SBIF information is publicly posted on the web for the various SBIF us a car 6445 N. Western districts. www.somercor.com. Local businesses regularly make load!! Avenue SHREDDING OF ALL DOCUMENTS WHILE YOU requests for funds in our area and at last look, even with a recent WATCH! addition to the funds, a million dollars is an absurdly high figure that (please remove large clips) has no basis in reality. The West Ridge Chamber does in fact provide local businesses RECYCLE: Computers, laptops, monitors, printers, with the relevant information, and it is something that has been computer peripherals, fax machines, TV’s, VCR;s, mentioned on my TV show by both the chamber and the alderman on more than just a couple of occasions. DVD & MP3 players, video gaming consoles, cell Debra Silverstein discusses working with the police department to phones & video equipment. increase patrols so that our streets are safe. Her literature also states that she will redeploy police to the higher crime areas in the 50th Sponsored by Sorry, no appliances, hazardous waste, typewriters, auto stereos, or satellites ward. Besides chairing my CAPS beat, I have the added edge of actually having covered various police stations and courthouses as a working Questions? Contact the West Ridge Chamber of journalist over the years and have seen things from numerous sides. Commerce 773-743-6022 or WestRidgeChamber.org It’s very nice that from her desk as an accountant in Northbrook, she knows much better than our local police, what exactly is needed and how things should work. Monetary donations will be gratefully accepted on behalf of the Chamber Education Committee The 50th ward is served by two different police districts. The smaller Peterson Park portion is patrolled by the 17th district. The West Rogers Park portion is patrolled by the 24th district. The 24th District has been indeed very fortunate to have had a number of really terrific Commanders since the CAPS program began—Tom Byrne, who now heads CDOT; Dave Boggs, who was truly loved by his officers; Bruce Rottner, who grew up in West Rogers Park, lives nearby, and is presently Deputy Chief of Area 3, which makes him the man in charge of the Northeast section of the city; not to mention the present Commander, Michael Wick. These Commanders, and their officers and patrolmen, take great pride in doing their job well and are very motivated. A number of them live in this neighborhood that they patrol. Police statistics show that crime has actually decreased every single year for at least the last five years. Community policing has brought concerned citizens and the police that patrol their streets face-to-face and, even in its present diminished capacity, the terrific participation in our area and the ongoing communication between the citizens and the police have helped tremendously. While faces have changed in the neighborhood, and landlords such as Tamid Realty don’t help, the 50th ward has one of the lowest crime rates in the City of Chicago. Marty Levinson Silverstein’s idea of redeploying police to the high crime areas of West Rogers Park is not the way it works. It works by district. The 24th district consists of Rogers Park, “The greatest barber in a piece of Edgewater, and West Rogers Park. West Rogers Park is the safest and lowest crime area in the 24th district. Moving police to high crime areas means West Rogers the history of barbers” Park loses officers that go to Howard east of Clark Street, the Morse El, Loyola, and south of Devon near the lake. If it becomes a citywide move, which is actually what is being proposed, kiss lots of Avy Meyers local officers goodbye as they head to the highest crime regions in the city, which exist North Town News Magazine on the South and West sides. Be careful what you wish for Debra. One high ranking officer told me that there are more officers in the 24th district than Marty is located at any of the 25 Chicago police districts and that Ald. Stone is definitely part of the reason. Jon’s Barber Shop, 5309 W Devon Ave He reported that Stone has had excellent relationship and communications with the local Commanders and has had a long-term good working relationship with the 24th and 17th 773-610-9268 district police departments. Silverstein makes it sound like we live in the wild, wild west. She talks about prostitution. There are 2 or 3 who frequent Devon. I am a walker and I’ve seen them.   They do get arrested—that is a matter of public record. The problem is that the penalties  handed down by the courts are so light, they can be bailed out and back on the streets   before the arresting officer’s shift is over.  She’ll deploy police gang units throughout the ward. They are already there. It’s hard  to spot them when they wear plain clothes and drive unmarked vehicles. The local police and the citywide gang unit have been extremely aggressive in keeping these gangs from growing. If you go to your local community policing meeting, you can hear about it firsthand. Speaking of crime, gambling has historically helped contribute to neighborhood crime. The bill that was passed in the Senate and House in Springfield and has been signed by the governor would allow video poker machines in any establishment that has a liquor license. There are 40 such establishments in the 50th ward alone—40! Ald. Stone opposes video gambling in our city and in our neighborhood. Debra Silverstein told the newspaper editorial boards that she favors video gaming in our city and in our neighborhood. What about taxes? The reason why Berny Stone had a falling out with the Mayor and the Machine is that he opposed raising taxes and voted “no” on a city budget that proposed raising taxes. Mayor Richie Daley never forgave him. Stone has pledged never to vote for a tax increase. Silverstein has publicly backed the legislation enacted in Springfield that in 2015 would add $550 million in property taxes each year to Chicago residents to help solve the pension crisis. That means 4 years from now everybody’s property tax goes up 60%! The newspapers were very vocal when it was happening. Stone opposes the legislation. Part of the problem with Silverstein becomes apparent when you look at who is contributing tens of thousands of dollars to her campaign. That would be the labor unions that represent city workers. She talks about reducing the budget. If elected, she is going to have to dance to the tune of the people who bought and paid for her. These unions approached Stone first and he turned them down. 80% of the city budget is personnel. If you give everybody raises, and don’t make adjustments on pension contributions and benefits, we will just be building ourselves a deeper hole. Greg Brewer noted in February that 79% of her contributions came from these types of special interests. That number has actually gotten higher and continues to grow. The vast majority of Stone’s contributors are the people and the businesses who work and live in this neighborhood. Those are the people that he owes and it’s hard to claim he is out of touch when that is where his support is coming from, and not the mysterious PACs and out of state lobbyists that fund the Silverstein campaign. Silverstein’s campaign literature of late The fact that has grown increasingly mean and vile and is Stone is so unbelievably misleading. One recent piece experienced, and claims Stone is driven by a chauffeur and knows which shows a white gloved hand opening a car department does door. She says he greedily voted to raise his what and who own salary 8 times. is effective in Stone has been alderman for 37 years and I each department, would hope that if you have been working effectively gets a somewhere for 37 years, you were able to lot more done by get more than 8 raises. his office than just The chauffeur? No way. Each alderman is about any other in given about $70,000 in discretionary funds the city. and each and almost every single alderman Silverstein spends every last nickel of it. A mere 10% also states in her goes to a leased vehicle. Chauffeur? Give literature: “And me a break. Here is the deal. One of his here’s the kicker: aides, Joe, who is Assyrian, lives in the Stone has voted neighborhood and picks up Alderman Stone several times to who, due to his bad knees, is no longer raise property, sales able to drive. They get to city hall at 7 am almost every single day. Stone’s attendance and other taxes.” record at City Council meetings and Committee meetings is higher than that of any other Check the fine print, she cites 3 dates, 1992, 1993 and 2004. Let’s see, Stone has been in alderman. (Debra says he doesn’t have the energy to do the job.) office 37 years and on 3 occasions he voted to raise taxes. That is totally shocking. Who When they get to city hall, Joe works in the downtown aldermanic office. He performs knows what the circumstances were back then as to the city’s financial condition, but let’s numerous tasks on behalf of the citizens of the 50th ward. When Stone comes here for face it, if he voted 3 times in 37 years to raise taxes, the last time being 7 years ago, he his interviews, Joe is busy fielding calls, dealing with various city agencies and helping must be a total spendthrift. 50th ward constituents. He doesn’t spend that much time in the car other than cruising the What are Stone’s other sins? He was one of 45 aldermen to vote for Mayor Daley’s neighborhood streets with the alderman looking for problems and things that need repair. parking meter lease. A lease all the papers celebrated and praised when it happened and Stone’s office, both in Lincoln Village as well in City Hall, put in numerous requests to are now using their 20-20 hindsight to trash everyone but themselves. Without getting get things fixed and repaired. Unfortunately the city is too broke to deal with it. Still it into the financial logistics about how little the city was getting a year from operating the pays to call the aldermanic office and let them know if you even hope to get on a waiting meters and the fact that as elected officials they never would have had the guts to raise list, and additional calls to 311 can add extra urgency and occasionally get something meter prices to present day levels, it was still a bad deal. Bad because throughout the accomplished. city regular people don’t want to pay the ridiculously high meter prices and it is hurting None of the 50 Chicago Aldermen outside of Berny Stone, makes themselves available businesses in the city. 45 of 50 aldermen voted for the deal including shining knights like to their constituents twice a week. Every Monday and Thursday night Alderman Stone Joe Moore, among other intelligent, thoughtful independents. meets with any and all neighborhood residents and groups at his office, 6199 N. Lincoln. So Debra Silverstein claims she never would have voted that way. Give me a break It’s first come, first served, no one gets to skip ahead of anyone because of clout, and the here. She is running her campaign with huge wads of money from unions, special interests office does not close until the last person gets to speak with Alderman Stone. and . She is also the beneficiary of the people that made the meter deal. Debra Silverstein says she will hire people for her office that are representative of our Do you really think she won’t be voting as the people who finance her dictate? diverse community. For those of us who have visited the ward office and the downtown These people are not lining up to give her tens of thousands of dollars because of her office, Stone’s staff includes Indians, Pakistanis, Assyrians, Catholics, Christians and great independent thinking and moral fiber. Jews; men and women; senior citizens and those in their early 20’s. I’m probably leaving In the meantime, Berny Stone admitted he was wrong and he made a mistake. Give someone out. They are pretty devoted, and just about every one works hard to take care him credit for admitting his faults. of 50th ward residents. Three years ago his ward superintendent was charged with vote fraud for mailing absentee ballots. That law has actually been changed and that action is no longer illegal. Still no excuses, he and one other worker were convicted. I’ve seen Stone in action with his troops over a number of years, sometimes as a supporter, sometimes as an opponent. In 1995 I was officially listed as a top official in Michael Moses’s campaign against Berny Stone. Politics is a cutthroat game; it is in fact a blood sport. Stone keeps his cool under pressure and he isn’t stupid enough to tell anybody to cheat for a handful of votes, even indirectly. Some people do things on their own in the heat of the action and Complete Graphic Service cross a line and in this case get caught. Two people were convicted of • a misdemeanor and went to jail. No one is going to tell me they were Quality Offset Printing acting under Stone’s orders or that it is the modus operandi of a Stone • campaign. Digital Color Printing I have talked to many of Stone’s staffers and they are trying extra hard • to do things as cleanly as they can in the face of the vicious, malicious Bindery & Finishing and false attacks by Debra Silverstein and her mignons, and while they • find it frustrating, they feel like they are the good guys and have right on their side and want to do things above board. During this winter’s huge snowstorm, Stone showed this neighborhood some remarkable action. He spent a huge wad of cash from his own personal campaign funds to buy and rent bobcats, snow 5746 N. WESTERN AVENUE blowers, shovels, etc. His whole campaign staff stopped what they were CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60659 doing and either went out on the streets and cleared people’s sidewalks, alleys, driveways and streets or were on the phone handling requests TEL.: 773.561.9815 from neighborhood residents. Even people that had Silverstein signs up were afforded the full services of Stone’s crew. While most of the city FAX: 773.561.0714 was floundering, Stone’s efforts got this neighborhood moving better [email protected] than just about any in Chicago. Stone not only showed he’s still got it, but like fine wine, he has improved with age. Silverstein may have raised more money, but she used her cash and her paid mercenaries to trash Stone while he was using his funds to do something constructive for the 2010 Republican 9th Congressional District Candidate Joel Pollak has his own story neighborhood. and is not afraid to have it heard. This concerned Pollak’s revealing that Silverstein The last 4 years may have been Stone’s most productive. He built a brand new public represented slumlord Amrit Patel. school; attracted 2 brand-spanking new supermarkets, a Dominick’s and an Aldi; and He said, “The threat was made verbally and to one of my staffers, not to me personally a brand new, huge Walgreens on Western near Granville. While most of this city is at or in writing, as far as I can recall, but we did have our lawyer send him a letter asking a standstill, there has been quite a bit of new construction on Devon including the new for clarification as to whether he was, as he claimed, no longer Patel’s lawyer. I was told parking garage at Devon and Rockwell and the new cafe across the street. Though there that Silverstein did personally yell at my staffer -- who happened to be his constituent. are more vacancies on commercial streets, it is better here than through much of the city Silverstein and I were polite to each other after that, but he campaigned against me door- and suburbs. Directly west of us, the far end of the city is experiencing 40% to 45% to-door.” vacancy rates. Stretches of Dempster in Skokie are virtually abandoned. Things could be Once upon a time Ira Silverstein was a really nice guy who cared about the a lot worse in our neighborhood. neighborhood. Those days seem long gone. Let’s look at one of Silverstein’s So what is the bottom line? I fully understand that Stone is getting older, and if a main supporters, Salman Aftab. really good alternative would have come along 4 years ago, I might have gone that route. Aftab may well have been lucky This time around I was sure early on that Debra Silverstein was going to sweep this not to be charged with a hate election first time out. Six months ago, I gave serious thought to the idea of backing her. crime, as newspaper accounts Then I saw her in action, and how people who knew her, and members of her own ward from the Yale Herald spoke of organization were reacting. his attempt to stick a knife into For those of you who know Greg Brewer, it might seem surprising that he isn’t going an openly gay Pakistani at a against Stone. Now I certainly can’t speak for him and he really doesn’t like me, but restaurant due to his gayness, and I do know he and his wife joined the 50th ward organization after Silverstein became the resulting arrest. Silverstein Committeeman, and were stars—diligent, hard workers who got out the vote. She proudly lists Aftab, an avowed covered two whole Winston Tower buildings on her own. The Nadig papers interviewed enemy of the State of Israel, as a Brewer who made it clear his experience with the Silversteins was less than satisfactory, major supporter on her web site and he and his wife are long gone from the Silversteins’ political organization. and in her literature. I think it’s great that Stone offered Brewer a slot on the Devon Avenue SSA. One of On Friday, March 18th, the things I have learned to like about Stone is that a good chunk of his supporters at one Salman Aftab was at the mosque time opposed him. He is very good at working with people with different points of view on Campbell south of Devon. and politics and over the course of time, wins them over. Eyewitness accounts say the No matter what anybody says, no way is Stone a crook. Maybe there are times he staunch Silverstein supporter doesn’t always cross his t’s and dot his i’s. He was furious at the way the Concerned screamed loudly and clearly Citizens of the 50th ward fumbled the ball. What he did was perfectly legal if they had through his bullhorn of Stone, filled out their paper work. Anybody in their right mind knows there had to be some “We need to topple this tyrant sort of connection. When he found out two days after the first election what they did, he dictator. He is the Hosni Mubarak publicly rid his campaign of them. Observers told me he was furious. of the 50th ward.” Still, knowledgeable observers say the violation was so minor, there probably won’t The Silversteins were present, and by all accounts, enjoyed the action. even be a fine, just a verbal reprimand. Expect Debra Silverstein to paint it as a bigger sin Stone has worked hard to keep all of the varying faiths in the 50th ward living than Watergate and Columbine combined. harmoniously. Hosni Mubarak oppressed Jewish people in Egypt, allowed Christians to If Silverstein should win, we could be stuck with her and her husband running things be massacred and had their churches bombed. He banned the free speech of Muslims in here for the next 20 or 30 years. This election is it for Stone, the last time he will run. Egypt and stole tens of billions of dollars from the Egyptian people. Don’t believe the lies that his daughter will succeed him. This isn’t a monarchy. If G-d Way to go Salman. Way to pick ‘em Debra. forbid he is unable to fulfill his next term, the mayor appoints the next alderman. Let’s go back to the lawsuit that the Silversteins have threatened me with. I had my There are some young, bright and talented people who have yet to be corrupted who first paying journalism job at the age of 17 on a radio station in Morris, Illinois. Over are looking down the road to the next election. I know of one progressive person, another the years, I have been an editor and chief or publisher of numerous publications, written who is practical. Both are good people and involved in our community. There will likely and broke some very hard-hitting news, and at times, scandalous stories. Only twice in be others showing an interest. Change for change’s sake, especially when the person my life has anything in my papers, broadcasts and telecasts been the subject of a lawyer preaching change is not qualified for public office and a bully as well, is not the way to letter, and both times were from my February election analysis issue. go. The lawyer letter from the Silversteins threatening to sue me is published in these I have always said the thing I like best about Berny Stone is that you never have to pages. Also in that February issue, there was an ad I donated for free to help a poor family worry about being stabbed in the back, you will see the punch to the face coming. You in Israel raise money for their daughter’s wedding. The family is my niece’s husband’s will always know where you stand with Berny Stone, whether you like him or not. cousins. They are having trouble putting food on their table and just wanted their daughter There is no way I want any part of Debra Silverstein as my Alderman. I am certain to start life on the right foot. there will a much better option 4 years from now. They had a 501(c)(3) charity in New Jersey handling things. We just needed someone I proudly, heartily and enthusiastically endorse Berny Stone for reelection as who was respected and well-known in Chicago people could feel safe sending their alderman of the 50th ward. money to. I knew people don’t pick up my paper to see ads like that, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to try to help. A highly respected, mild-mannered Rabbi and teacher, who was also a cousin of my Read The North Town News Magazine niece’s husband, was happy to have people mail their checks to him. The response was on the web not particularly good, but the ad somehow caught the attention of an extremely well- known Chicagoan who wrote the Rabbi. It was from Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s www.avyworld.com office and it informed the Rabbi that he wasn’t a registered Illinois agent of the New Jersey charity and was in violation of the law. The charge is technically true, but there was no attempt to defraud or abuse or even take one nickel from what was collected, just To watch our show on Youtube to help a human being in need. How did Lisa Madigan find out? She is one of my Facebook friends, and while I would like to flatter myself that she clicked on my Facebook link to the February election issue, the fact is that most elected public officials that high up on the food chain have their PR www.ntnm.org people handling their social media and may have never even glanced at their own page. So how did this occur? Your guess is as good as mine. North Town News Magazine 50th ward Aldermanic Runoff Election Issue©2011 All rights reserved The Friday after my February Election Paper came out, I received reports that someone The North Town News Magazine is a complimentary Publisher and Editor ...... Avy Meyers went into stores and threw papers onto Devon. Hundreds of papers were on the street political neighborhood publication. Proof Reader ...... Gitel Hesselberg within one block of Silverstein’s headquarters. The cleaning crew that scrubs down Our website is at http://avyworld.com/ We invite you to email - [email protected] Phone 773-290-2677 Devon in the morning wasted a lot of time chasing loose papers in the wind. visit http://ntnm.org/ for all the latest on the North Town Thankfully, I always print extra copies as you never know what could happen, so I was News Magazine Television show hosted by publisher, able to restock the stores. Avy Meyers. COUNCIL AD 10.125X12.5_COUNCIL AD 10-125X12-5 3/22/11 4:38 PM Page 1

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"Berny knows how to get things done in City Hall"

Alderman Brian Doherty, 41st Ward VOTE April 5, 2011

phone 773-539-0050 • web site www.goodforthe50th.com Paid for by Bernard L. Stone Campaign Committee