What the Village Did to Maintain Control of Its Most Precious Asset
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Spring 2016 DISCOVERMagazine The Story of Park Forest's Housing Stock What the Village did to maintain control of its most precious asset. Discover Magazine | Spring 2016 1 ideas on matters that need to be analyzed and discussed. American family moved to our community in December Mayor's As I write this, I am preparing to leave for Washington, 1958 at the invitation of other Park Forest residents. D.C., for the NLC Congressional City Conference, at As such, while many other suburban communities were which two days of meetings of the REAL Council will fighting racial integration, our community embraced it. Contents Message delve more deeply into the various approaches that need Yet, it is a sad reality that not everyone who has lived in It’s a hard reality to acknowledge, but issues of racial to be undertaken in addressing this enormous problem that our Village always has had such a positive attitude on tarnishes the image of the USA as a nation that shows – in racial matters. Some, in fact, opposed those 1958 efforts; 4 Taking Control hatred and discrimination the words of Abraham Lincoln – “malice toward none.” others over the years have moved away because they felt How Park Forest adjusted to housing changes. continue to gnaw at the fabric of equality in uncomfortable living in a community where the majority 8 I Just Love My Village America. A component of the pending meeting will be to develop an population moved from predominately Caucasian to Gene Finley and his wife made Park Forest a action model that cities can use in addressing issues of race. predominantly African-American. As such, I am not naive better place for kids. Incidents in Ferguson, The NLC is providing materials and speakers who will regarding the potential for racial unrest that exists in Park Charleston, and right in explain the steps needed to create and sustain inclusive, Forest, just as it does in other U.S. villages and cities. I 10 Storm Sewer Pollution our own backyard on thriving, and healthy communities. The NLC describes view programs such as REAL as important steps to help us What you can do to help reduce the odds of water the streets of Chicago, those communities as “Safe places where equitable keep that potential from becoming a reality. contamination in the Village. illustrate the divide that treatment helps people from different racial, ethnic, continues to plague our and cultural backgrounds thrive socially, economically, As I learn more from the study and discussions that will 12 Growth in Gutters nation. Meanwhile, leaders of the Ku Klux Klan have come academically, and physically.” take place at REAL Council meetings, I hope to implement Why it happens and the negative impact on out from under their hooded white sheets to openly endorse programs and ideas not only in Park Forest but throughout properties where its occurring. a candidate for President of the United States that they The action model will be designed to accomplish four our region and our state. It is a goal of the REAL Initiative believe espouses many viewpoints favorable to theirs. goals: (1) to strengthen local leaders’ knowledge and that the tools that are developed should be shared with 13 Whose Line Is It Anyway capacity to address issues of race and equity, (2) to change various councils of government and with state municipal A new Village partner can insure water lines on While the predominant target of various hate groups the narrative around race and equity, (3) to showcase best organizations. I already have spoken with the executive your property before a costly break happens. continues to be Black Americans, we also see equal hatred practices and leading solutions, and (4) to prioritize needed director of the Illinois Municipal League in this regard, and systems and policy changes. it is my intention as a member of the Executive Board of 16 Rich Township Senior Fair directed toward Latinos and persons of the Islamic faith. Sadly, many who spew racial hatred also show disdain the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and as incoming president The popular fair returns after a successful first According to NLC Executive Director Clarence Anthony, of the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association year in a new venue. for those of an alternative gender orientation or sexual persuasion, or for women, for foreigners, or for anyone the “REAL Initiative is a very important tool and resource also to make those bodies aware of the program’s for city leaders.” He explained that “It’s designed to help recommendations. 18 Village lands grant to remove blight they consider to be “different” from themselves. The Village plans to bring down more deteriorated, It’s against this backdrop that the National League of Cities them address racial tensions in their communities and vacant homes with the help of a large grant award. (NLC) has embarked on a comprehensive program to help create meaningful conversations around racial diversity and It is unfortunate, but the reality is that evils such as racism local elected municipal officials better understand the equity issues.” don’t disappear on their own. Rather, work must be done 24 Discovering Leadership endemic causes of racism and develop approaches in their to eradicate them from our society. Many of us who were Park Forest's Civic Leadership Academy introduces cities that hopefully will correct them, or at the very least Mr. Anthony announced the creation of the REAL Initiative involved in Civil Rights efforts in earlier years had hoped residents to leaders and leadership. offset them. The title of the program is Race, Equity, and at the NLC’s 2015 Summer Leadership Conference in that our efforts had accomplished that goal, but time has Leadership or REAL. Salt Lake City. At that gathering, those of us who serve told us differently. Indeed, major accomplishments were 26 Business Person of the Year on various NLC committees and councils were invited to made in housing, education, employment, etc., but those 2015's Business Person of the Year Award doesn't To implement the program, the NLC has appointed participate in the REAL program, leading to the selection accomplishments in themselves did not erase completely feel what she does is work. approximately 40 elected officials from across the country of those who have been named to the REAL Council. the negative attitudes of too many in our society. As such, to meet and discuss the problem of racism and what efforts As mayor, I am very proud that Park Forest has been it’s time to renew our commitment and I believe the REAL 28 Gardening Series Schedule can be made to offset it. I am very happy to have been blessed over the years in enjoying an environment of good Initiative is one excellent means for helping us do so. Park Forest's Saturday morning gardening series selected as the REAL Council member who represents the relationships among all our residents. The first African- returns for an eight month run. suburban communities that surround our nation’s major - Mayor John A. Ostenburg cities. Other members of the Council represent a wide 34 Veterans Closet What the Park Forest Veterans Commission did to range of NLC constituency groups. The organization itself make Park Forest popular with vets again. represents more than 19,000 communities in the U.S. 39 Jolly Trolley The REAL Council met for the first time last November as Dial-a-Ride Pace transportation available to part of the NLC’s annual Congress of Cities in Nashville. residents for at least three more years. At that gathering, we basically learned some of the objectives of the program, asked questions, and shared Did you know the Village of Park Forest has a photo and video production studio that residents can use free of charge? High definition camcorders are also available. Call 708-503-7703 for details. Discover Magazine | Spring 2016 2 3 of rental housing assistance to private from Cook County, the county was often tight-lipped landlords on behalf of low-income families, in providing information to confirm which properties the elderly, and the disabled. Subsidized were subsidized and what would be done about those housing options must be "decent, safe, in violation, sighting a right to privacy for Section 8 and sanitary" per the U.S. Department participants. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who manages the program, and That left Park Forest leaders in the dark as to which homes has locations all over the country where were or were not involved in the Section 8 Program. Taking prospective landlords and tenants can be Meanwhile, more homes were falling into a state of imvolved. disarray, more landlords were becoming apathetic, and those who cared were growing more vocal. Residents "Some believe that Park Forest decided began to point fingers, starting a trend of making unsightly one day to welcome countless Section 8 homes synonymous with Section 8. homes in town and that simply isn't the case," said Mayor John A. Ostenburg. Frustrated with the HACC, the Village of Park Forest did Control "If a homeowner decided he wanted to next what leaders felt was the best option to gain more enter into an agreement with the federal control in the tug of war: launch the Park Forest Housing government to rent his house as a Section Authority. 8 home, that was completely his right and the Village couldn't do anything about The Park Forest Housing Authority that." In 1988, Park Forest received certification through HUD to form the Park Forest Housing Authority, a new supervising Other affordable communities like division for HUD programs in the Village.