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Stone, Silverstein, Kahn, et al battle it out for 50th ward alderman

del Valle, Braun. Complete Mayoral & Aldermanic Chico & Emanuel head to the wire Election Guide Inside Jewish Chicago 2011 Mayoral and Election Analysis by Avy Meyers Chicago’s Mayoral and Aldermanic Election taking place Tuesday, February Most candidates I approached were amenable and often grateful to being 22nd, is a completely different animal than the usual Federal, State and County interviewed. Some ducked; that says something about their lack of transparency, elections. Israel is rarely a factor though it can be. Many areas in the city have courage and their lack of desire to let the Jewish community know more about little if any Jewish presence or concerns. The largest Jewish community in them. Chicago is West Rogers Park/ Peterson Park, the 50th ward and as such it will As a result, I am only endorsing in a minimum of races and for the most part, get the most coverage. rating candidates I have interviewed and/or studied and am familiar with and There is a significant Jewish presence on the North Lake front and some a bit letting you know if I feel they are up to the job. west, depending on the area. We’ll cover as much as we can that is pertinent to Not all wards are covered, just wards with enough of a Jewish population to the Jewish community. make it worthwhile. Other factors that affect our coverage are the very large number of candidates For those who are unaware, I have been doing a nationally award-winning throughout the city, many of them newcomers to the scene. The short two-month weekly cable TV show for the last 19 years. The awards include Best News Show period of time from when the petitions are filed to the over 400 challenges made and Making a Difference in the Community, from the Alliance for Community against prospective candidates to the hearings on the challenges and the findings Media and the Excellence in Community Outreach from the State Crime of the hearings officers and judicial appeals to when final ballot is then made Commission. The latter came from a nomination made by one of Time Magazine’s known and early voting begins, make it difficult to gather all the information I’d 100 most important people on Earth, Tom Dart. like to have. Approximately 350 candidates filed for alderman and when the dust All of the televised interviews we have done for the past 4 years plus, this settled, about 250 remained on the ballot. election, can be accessed uncut and in full by going to the show website, http:// It’s virtually impossible to properly interview all the many candidates in the ntnm.org/or directly on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/sonnyhtv. wards that matter, not that all of them have a serious chance. Many are first-time Sonny Hersh handles the camera, lighting, audio and more. I produce, host, candidates and new to the political process with no track record. Others have run direct and edit. Sonny and I often disagree politically, so anyone who assigns my unsuccessfully way too often and are hard to take seriously anymore if ever. While political views to Sonny doesn’t know what they are talking or writing about. I interviewed as many people as I could, it was impossible to get everybody. All candidates running are doing so on a non-partisan basis, no Democrats, no Republicans, no primary. Any candidate in any race on February 22nd that garners 50.0 percent plus 1 vote, is the winner. Otherwise, the top 2 vote getters will meet in a run off on Tuesday, April 5th and the top vote getter wins. Early voting is already underway and runs thru Thursday, February 17th except for Lincoln’s Birthday, Friday, Feb. 11. If you missed the Jan. 25 voter-registration deadline, you can still register to vote, update your address or file your name change during a grace period. This can only happen in person at the Chicago Election Board, 69 W. Washington, 6th Floor, 9 am to 5 pm except Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm. You’ll need 2 forms of identification, one of which must include your current address. After that, too bad. Call them at 1.312.269.7900 for further information. Before I get started with the candidate rundown, it is important for everyone to know the criteria we used in making our endorsements. Just being Jewish is not enough, not even close to enough. If a Jewish The best reason to vote for candidate is pitted against a non-Jewish candidate, and all things are equal in Emanuel is that it will keep him terms of their ability to do the job, there won’t necessarily be an endorsement. off the national stage where There are some non-Jews who have done an absolutely superb job of taking he has already caused serious care of both Jewish concerns and the community. They will most certainly be damage to Israel. The second best endorsed, and yes, even against Jewish opposition. If a Jewish candidate is well- reason, he can hopefully get his qualified for the office, but does not take care of real Jewish concerns for his or Obamanible buddy in Washington her constituents, he or she will not be endorsed. to send money flowing Chicago’s If there is no real benefit to the Jewish community in a race, it may not way. Interestingly more than one be touched. There are political experts in regular newspapers and other media left-wing progressive national who can perform that function. Endorsements from the two Chicago daily papers newspaper columnist has in aldermanic elections are virtually meaningless. Not just because of their expressed true joy that Emanuel is dwindling readership, staff and resources, but because they primarily cover the leaving Washington. loop and the immediate surrounding area. They have little if any real knowledge I have never met a person who or insight into Chicago’s neighborhoods. They can’t even get the name of my knows Emanuel and finds him neighborhood, West Rogers Park or West Ridge right most of the time, so how likeable. At least you know he is are they going to know what is important here. wealthy enough that he doesn’t This is a Jewish newspaper and I focus on Jewish concerns. The bottom need to steal for himself. The line is that Jewish Chicago looks for candidates of quality for the community as trouble, as with the current Daley a whole who will take care of Jewish concerns as they arise. The primary Jewish administration, comes from the concerns are on a national level and concern Israel. heavy campaign contributors Liberal, conservative, left wing, right wing—Jewish Chicago is not a fan of that will be allowed to continue any of these. Practical solutions to real-life problems is the best way to go. The charging robber baron prices for their goods and services. only “ism” I am into is Judaism. Let’s also note Judaism is a religion. There is He is the likely winner. You are going to need to make up your own mind on a G-d, there is a heaven and a hell and G-d gave Moses the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Emanuel. I am hosting a live one-hour election preview show on CANTV-19, Sunday morning, February 13, that will be co-hosted by Rabbi Doug and Chicago’s Miguel del Valle is the second name on the ballot. del Valle served as a highly leading election lawyer, Jim Nally. The program is being produced by Sonny distinguished, blue-ribbon, effective State Senator from 1986 to 2006. His initial Hersh and will most likely air on YouTube within a day as a two-part show. Go victory was against long odds and serious opposition from the powers that be to our website at http://ntnm.org/, or go to YouTube and search sonnyhtv. as was his 1990 reelection when heavyweights like Luis Gutierrez and Joseph Berrios stood strong against his reelection campaign. ● Mayor of the City of Chicago Richard M. Daley made him a surprise appointment to the post of City Clerk in 2006 to replace convicted felon Jim Laski. For once, Daley wanted someone While 20 people originally filed for Mayor, we are down to six with only beyond reproach so the stench of Laski didn’t rub off on him. four being serious candidates. In ballot position order we start with , the Jewish candidate. Emanuel’s father is a pediatrician whose practice was on Lincoln Ave. near Devon. Many members of Chicago’s Jewish community availed themselves of PUNCH 55 his services. Dr. Emanuel is staunchly pro-Israel. Rahm believes that Israel can trade land for a lasting peace with the Arab nations. He played a crucial role in the Clinton administration’s foolhardy Oslo Accords and championed the pressure and disdain Pres. Barack Obama has shown the State of Israel, ignoring the fact AHMED KHAN FOR ALDERMAN OF THE 50TH WARD that Israel is America’s only staunch and reliable ally in the Middle East and we are the only ones who want peace and value peace so highly, we are willing to Ahmed has always been a friend of the Jewish community. He is a lifelong resident of the 50th Ward and his family has served the entire community through a supermarket make ridiculous concessions to achieve true peace. business on Devon Avenue for over 22 years. Our enemies have repeatedly shown they will gladly sacrifice the lives of their women and children if there is a smidgen of a chance they can make the Ahmed has worked with the Jewish/Muslim Coalition Building Initiative sponsored by Jewish people look bad. the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs to build bridges across ethnic, cultural and reli- gious lines. While attending Loyola University he has worked closely with the organi- A wise Rabbi who has followed Emanuel through the years opined that zation of Jewish Students, Hillel on inter-faith projects. In the past Ahmed has been he is not pro-Palestinian, he just really believes that Israel can get real peace in part of initiatives to network the Jewish community with Muslim businesses on Devon exchange for giving up land that is truly ours; to which the so-called Palestinians Ave. have absolutely no legitimate claim. Could this be why his father has stated that Ahmed is familiar with the Jewish community as he has attended services at Temple Rahm is the least of his 3 sons? Sholom off of Lakshore Drive and Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston. Don’t look for any transparency from Emanuel. Don’t look for a participatory Ahmed has always worked as a professional community activist on interfaith and mul- democracy with the city council. Look for the same sort of dictatorial despot that ticultural platforms for the common good of the community and will continue to fight for usually runs Chicago. A wise lifelong West Rogers Park resident stated “you’re better education, healthcare, and city services for ALL residents of the 50th Ward. just trading bagpipes for a yarmulke.” Emanuel does have the full support of the “I have seen firsthand the needs of our Ward growing up here and I want to bring my Daley clan, without whom Obama would never have been president. successful endeavors in uniting communities to the 50th Ward of Chicago. We may As for the court challenge to his residency: Was politics involved at multiple come from different backgrounds, yet we ALL share the same community concerns. levels of the election board and judicial process? This is Chicago; of course it The 50th Ward needs a new UNITED direction.” was. - Ahmed Khan

Does Emanuel have what it takes to be a good Mayor? Absolutely, positively Visit my website to read my 12 Point Plan for Progress and more on our community yes. He is extremely sharp and has true killer instinct. He is highly qualified. The grassroots campaign. question is: Where will that killer instinct be pointed? Will he be a good mayor? I have my doubts, but it is possible. www.ElectAhmedKhan.com INDEPENDENT—SERVICE ORIENTED—SOLUTIONS DRIVEN

Paid for by the Friends of Ahmed Khan Candidate Political Committee. A copy of our report is (or will be) filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, is (or will be) available for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL. Contributions or gifts to the Friends of Ahmed Khan Candidate Political Committee are NOT deductible for federal or state income tax purposes. del Valle was planning to step A former West Rogers Park resident whose first wife is Jewish, he was highly down as City Clerk when Daley instrumental in keeping the Hanna Sachs Bais Yaakov Girls School building on surprised the political world by Devon--a development that added strength to the Jewish side of Devon at a time announcing his retirement. The it was badly needed. challenge of being elected Mayor It earned Gery Chico Jewish Chicago’s endorsement for U.S. Senate in the attracted del Valle and he chose to 2004 Democratic primary. A primary won by Barrack Obama. accept the challenge. Chico fully understands the city’s urgent need to replenish the police force. del Valle is the most open and Adding the 2,000 to 3,000 police officers needed will require 2% - 3% of the honest candidate of the bunch. city’s 6 plus billion dollar budget. He He has placed serious restrictions also understands the importance of on who can donate money to his community policing and wants to fully campaign. Restrictions strong and restore the CAPS (Chicago Alternative honest enough to severely limit how Policing Strategy) program to full much money he will be taking in and strength. the amount of money he’ll be able to A North side community policing spend on the campaign. officer who made a remarkable 200 del Valle is running an open and arrests in 2009, says he made a greater honest campaign that matches his difference for public safety in 2010 25-year record in office. If elected, while dealing with the public in the you can be sure his tenure in office community policing office than the 200 will be transparent and open. He arrests the prior year. welcomes an open and honest debate Strong relationships and ties that of issues and opinions in city council. never before existed were forged by the I doubt people outside of city government begin to understand the fear city community policing program between employees continually experience during the Daley reign. Miguel del Valle Chicago residents and the officers that would make a terrific mayor. I do worry about his poll numbers. He still has time patrol our city streets. Regular citizens to build them up, but it needs to start happening. became extra sets of eyes and ears for the police. They came to the 200 plus Gery Chico is thought by some with extensive knowledge of city government regular community policing meetings located in every neighborhood in every to be the brainiest of the lot. Once upon a time he was a janitor and worked his corner of the city where they met with the officers from all 3 shifts that patrolled way through college and law school. He has a knack for being able to work their specific streets morning, noon and night. Crime went down year after year constructively with a wide diversity of people. He has served in a variety of roles and even with the recently gelded program now in place, crime continues to in City government. He ran the Chicago Board of Education, the City Colleges decline, but for how long? We need CAPS back full strength and none of the and was Daley’s chief of staff. He has also built a very successful and prosperous candidates understands that better than Gery Chico. law firm. Chico is worth some serious thought and would be a huge improvement over the present administration.

In ballot order position, the fourth major candidate is former Cook County Kindhearted Jews Recorder of Deeds, former United States Senator and former U.S. Ambassador This is an urgent appeal for a family struggling to put bread on to New Zealand Carol Mosley Braun. the table who are trying to pay for their daughter’s wedding. How the black coalition chose her over the other candidates who are far Tax deductible checks can be written out to: superior to her is beyond my imagination. Even Senator James Meeks who has Ein Od Milvado (EOM) receipts will be sent on request. done nothing to show he is friendly to the Jewish community, though he did Please send your much needed donation to: attend the Agudah banquet, would have been a better choice. Rabbi Doni Deutsch Braun displayed dishonesty, incompetence, lack of attendance and sheer 6635 N. Richmond Ave., Chicago, IL 60645 laziness throughout her career in public life. She is very charming and has a great smile. The black community has done themselves a serious disservice. Carol Mosley Braun would be a horrid Mayor.

● City Clerk and Treasurers Races

In the City Clerks race, State Representative Susana Mendoza is running against Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Trustee Patricia Horton. Art Andros who was knocked off the ballot for being 600 signatures short (12,500 needed) would have been my strong choice. I have no preference in this race.

Current City Treasurer Stephanie D. Neely is running unopposed.

● Aldermanic Races

We will only be writing about wards with a Jewish population where there is pertinent information to provide. 2nd ward: While I am impressed with community activist Enrique Perez, Jewish Chicago endorses Michelle Smith for alderman of the 43rd ward. our nod goes to incumbent Ald. Bob Fioretti. He has shown independence, original thought and ingenuity during his first term and deserves reelection. He 45th ward: Far Northwest side, Cicero to Nagle and Irving to approximately was planning a run for Mayor before illness struck and would have made an Devon. Not a huge Jewish population, but there is a presence. There are two interesting candidate. candidates I like here. In ballot position order, Don Blair has a financial Jewish Chicago endorses Ald. Bob Fioretti. background, an MBA from the University of Chicago and was the head of economic development for 6 corners before he stepped down to run for 7th ward: Just about anybody but incumbent Sandi Jackson wife of Israeli alderman. foe, disgraced Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and an excellent reason as to why Lt. John Garrido of the Chicago Police Department is extremely Chicago daily newspaper endorsements should be ignored. intelligent and personable and would make an excellent alderman. He 39th ward: Ald. Marge Laurino has faithfully served her community for continued his education after joining the force and earned a law degree many years. Her ward includes parts of Peterson Park, Albany Park as well as the from John Marshall Law School and has a small law practice in the 45th Telshe Yeshiva community. She has done an outstanding job for her constituents ward. and the sizeable Jewish community in her ward. She has been a true friend to Whether you choose Garrido or Blair, you’ll get a good alderman. the Telshe community and Jewish Chicago strongly endorses Ald. Marge Laurino.

40th ward: The 40th ward contains portions of Rogers Park, Edgewater, West Rogers Park, Hollywood Park and more. While the daily papers have taken an occasional shot at him, Ald. Pat O’Connor is running … ! unopposed. The people in his ward like him a lot and he does good by them. O’Connor has consistently If you want to understand the helped and stood by the Jewish educational true depth and beauty of the institutions and synagogues Mishkan, you must read this in his ward. He is a strong supporter of the Chicago new book. Police. Opposition or no This groundbreaking work opposition, Jewish Chicago features: is pleased to endorse Ald. Pat O’Connor for • In-depth, yet easy-to-read, reelection. explanations of all aspects of 41st ward: Chicago the Mishkan and its vessels, Police Department Sgt. proceeding through each and Richard Gonzalez is a very every verse in Parashas Terumah capable individual. Despite excellent recommendations, • Extensive notes that provide Mary O’Connor came highly recommended but immense detail we never connected on an interview. I am familiar with • Full-color, precise illustrations former officer Jim Millen, that reflect the author’s but we never spoke. This painstaking research far Northwest side ward has some Jewish population, • Scholarship based on numerous but I don’t have enough information to make an consultations with Maran endorsement here. HaRav HaGaon Rav Chaim

43rd ward: Along the Kanievsky, shlit”a, and other Based on Lakefront, up to Diversey. Gedolei Yisrael 15 years of Bita Buenerostro is a native research! Persian (now Iran) and has something going for her. Ward Committeewoman Michelle Smith is a Jewish lawyer with an impressive background in Available at your local Judaica store or at judaicapress.com / 800-972-6201 the public and private sector. 46th ward: From just south of Addison to approximately Lawrence or 48th ward: Along the Lake, just Foster along the Lake front. There are 11 candidates running for retiring north of the 46th ward and going Ald. Helen Schiller’s post. Most people don’t know Schiller is Jewish as far north as Granville, Rosemont and her Mom is a survivor. She doesn’t exactly advertise it. and Devon depending where. Long Among the more impressive candidates are lawyer Molly Phelan who time Ald. Mary Ann Smith is stepping down and State Rep. Harry came highly regarded from two different sides of the political world. Osterman looks like a lock. A long- Also impressive is police officer Michael Carroll. Long-time ward time community and Jewish activist has superintendent Don Nowotny has his points. praised Osterman’s involvement with Diane Shapiro ran for Clerk of the Circuit Court in 2008 against incumbent the Jewish community and noted that Dorothy Brown and was widely endorsed county wide. She wants a 10% across the Jewish candidate has shied from the board budget cut, a ban on red light cameras, prohibiting the privatization of the Jewish community. Osterman never municipal assets and pledges to work closely with the Chicago Police Department answered our request for an interview to reduce crime. so in all good conscience, there will be She is a staunch supporter of Israel and very active in the Jewish community. no endorsement here. If she had such wide spread support for a county-wide post, alderman should be 49th ward: Along the Lake, a little a cinch. Shapiro has an interesting mind and is quite vocal. The idea of having a bit of Edgewater, Rogers Park and some true smorgasbord of ideas in city council would make for a better city. of the east end of West Rogers Park, Jewish Chicago endorses Diane Shapiro for Alderman of the 46th ward. all the way up to the Chicago’s city limits. 4 years ago Ald. Joe Moore survived a very serious challenge by fewer than a hundred votes and it seemed a foregone conclusion that he was dead meat this time around. Moore gathered a lot of attention with his stance on national subjects and I will never forget seeing Miguel del Valle his picture flashed on the McLaughlin Group and hearing arch conservative Pat Buchanan agree with his stance on foie gras. Much has changed since then. Moore has focused long and hard on his home turf. His new wife Barbara has been a major asset for both Moore A Mayor for all Chicago and the neighborhood. The most impressive part in the eyes of many has been his participatory for every neighborhood budgeting. Each alderman is given $1.2 million in discretionary funds to make the improvements they feel were most needed in their wards. Moore opened it up to the public, had ward residents make suggestions and vote where the money should be used. Even though it is not a princely sum by government spending, it was the talk of the town and far beyond--a true participatory democracy. Moore has great communications with his residents and his ward superintendent Greg Wagner gets 4 stars in my book.

The new and popular Farmer’s market between Morse and Lunt is a major hit. Moore has been a huge supporter of community policing since day one and is actively trying to build it back up. His opponent Brian White is a nice guy and runs a non-profit that helps people get mortgages and keep their homes when trouble hits. He doesn’t have a chance. Jewish Chicago strongly endorses Joe Moore for reelection as Alderman of the 49th ward.

50th ward: Most of West Rogers Park and part of Peterson Park. Ald. Berny Stone is a 37 year incumbent who faces 4 challengers in the February 22nd election. This is by far the largest Jewish community in the Midwest and has been Punch 2 for over 40 years. February 22, 2011 Read Jewish Chicago Paid for by Friends of Del Valle on the web www.avyworld.com 4 years ago, 3 opponents challenged Stone. Naisy Dolar led the pack who And let’s not forget where our shining idealistic knight Naisy Dolar regularly together, garnered enough votes in the February election to put Stone’s total at held her campaign meetings with the public, B & B Bagels on Touhy. The just under 50% and forced an April run off. Stone vote total was very light in the Berkowitz boys have since seen the inside of a Federal Penitentiary. They worked northwest corner of the ward, the heavily Jewish area from Touhy to Howard, a scheme concocted by an older relation to claim the $300 and $600 tax rebates California to Kedzie. Normal turnout would have given Stone a clear cut edge the Bush administration offered for convicted felons sitting in Federal prison. and ended matters in his favor in February. The light turnout forced a run off in They collected a seven figure haul. April. The last I heard, Naisy and her husband were running a BBQ joint in Florida Sen. was Stone’s district leader in charge of the only light and no longer reside in our area. voting area in the ward. Even some of Silverstein’s politically savvy, monied On to the present. We have 4 challengers running against Ald. Berny Stone. supporters noted the unexpectedly low vote totals by the Jewish community who I want to note in print that I invited all 5 candidates to appear on my show strongly favored Stone in Silverstein’s area. twice before the election and was willing to make special arrangements to make Dolar and her supporters touted her as the good guy in a mortal struggle against sure each got a fair shake by appearing twice. evil. Outside of a few self destructive MOT’s, the Jewish community ignored Stone and Kahn, each took full advantage and appeared twice. Silverstein their differences and stood united behind Stone in the runoff. Some in Stone’s appeared once. Brewer turned down the first invitation and didn’t respond to the camp did not trust Silverstein and brought in their own crew to get Berny’s plus second. Moses did not respond at all. Here are the candidates. voters to the polls. When Silverstein found out he was livid and tried to stop them Greg Brewer ran last time with strong union support. They kicked $180,000 to no avail. Stone’s total got a healthy boost in the northwest corner and Stone into his campaign and gave him lots of support. In total, Brewer raised $265,000 came out 700 votes ahead and won reelection. and got 1,900 votes finishing a distant third. A very few months later, Ira Silverstein was quietly telling people he was Brewer is an architect and has lived in the ward for 10 years. When I first going to challenge Stone for 50th ward committeeman. Metropolitan Water invited him and he appeared on the show for the 2007 election, I tried speaking Reclamation District President Terry O’Brien worked long and hard to broker with him afterward and he cold shouldered me, keeping his back to me. Shortly a peace and set up an orderly transition of power. Every time O’Brien got Stone after, he ignored me while walking on the opposite side of the street down and Silverstein to agree, Silverstein’s wife Debra said no and that was that. Western Ave. A group of Rabbis together with some of heaviest money people in the Jewish community gathered in the hopes of keeping the Jewish community united. They met with the idea that they would come to a conclusion, unite, present their findings to Stone and Silverstein and get the loser to withdraw. The group chose Stone and met with Ira Silverstein. Debra Silverstein put her foot down and said no. The group convened again, chose Stone and once again it was Debra who said no. The war was on. Sen. Ira Silverstein guided by his wife Debra, ran a campaign that included threats and intimidation against his fellow Jews and won election as the Democratic party’s 50th ward committeeman, a non paid party position. So Naisy Dolar in her first try for political office loses by only 700 votes, unites a large segment of the general community who are licking their chops for her ascension to power in 2011. Their shining Tannenbaum Chabad House-Northwestern Jewish Center knight, Naisy Dolar, the source of all that is good and wonderful. The right person to bring their brand of honesty, integrity and idealism to the ignorant masses. Where is she? Why isn’t she running? Celebrating Years Well..... Naisy’s husband who at the time was a police officer, 25 tested positive for crack cocaine. He hires a lawyer and files an appeal. A lawyer who handles these sort of cases told me you delay the hearing as long as you can, collect your full salary while waiting, then the day before the hearing you announce that you can’t afford Please support us in our annual fundraising reception the to go through the legal process and resign from the Police. That honoring is exactly what occurred. Now that the offending officer is no longer on the force, the Adam Blumenthal & Elana Sinesky Blumenthal hearing isn’t necessary, there is no conviction on his record and he Outstanding Alumni & Chesed Award walks away clean but no longer an officer. featuring Dolar and her husband claimed he saw a dentist the day before the drug test and that is what produced the positive test. Members Comedy Ventriloquist Chuck Field of the police department told me that the level of cocaine needed in your blood stream to test positive is so high, that even a one time recreational use of cocaine wouldn’t result in a positive test. You February 13, 2011 To make a contribution or for more need to ingest serious amounts to test positive. Allen Center information, please call 847-869-8060 It should also be noted that more than one officer told me that Northwestern University or donate at nuchabad.org/dinner Naisy Dolar’s husband showed up visibly and totally intoxicated to police social events and was known to have been tossed out of same. There are lots of eye witnesses. Providing Northwestern students a home-away-from-home. To watch our show on Youtube Ask-the-Rabbi. Home-Cooked Meals. Holocaust Awareness. Purim Masquerades. Holiday Services. Birthright Israel. Happy Hours. Passover Seders. Wing-it in the Sukkah. Shabbat Dinners. Sinai www.ntnm.org Scholars. Speakers. Comedy Improv. Torah Classes. Simchat Torah Party. Any hope he had to get the Jewish community’s Moses has never gotten more than 38% of the vote. That means he lost by a support went up in flames when he sent out a landslide every single election. ward wide mailing comparing Ald. Stone to a Thom Serafin and Skinny Sheehan treated me to a serenade of what a great battered old Volkswagon Mini Bus. guy Michael Moses is at Serafin and Associates annual bash. The word I have most frequently heard to I have strongly supported Moses in 4 of his 5 previous runs, even serving describe Brewer is pompous. Heard it often, as his titular campaign manager. I endorsed him in Jewish Chicago twice for from Jews, Catholics, Protestants and even alderman and once for State Rep. He is very intelligent and very capable. When fellow journalists. I took particular exception to it became obvious to me that he was running again, it resulted in the end of our his desire to see the guy building the structure friendship. at Devon and Rockwell go broke, even though He has never captured the imagination of the voting public. I wish him well. someone else would finish the structure. Ahmed Khan is a relative new comer to the Brewer fought long and hard to get the garage political scene. His family arrived from Pakistan stopped and predictably failed miserably. That just before he was 1. His father has owned and kind of meanness on a personal level in public operated Par Birdie Foods on Devon for over life has no place. 20 years. I will note that two people in the general community that I respect are staunch Khan is very public service oriented, is very Brewer supporters. His January 20th report showed he raised only $26,000. sincere and a genuinely nice guy. He recently I feel very strongly that given his attitude and actions that Greg Brewer is not wed. When I first interviewed him, the first qualified or capable to be an alderman. words out of his mouth were his involvement in Michael Moses is making his sixth attempt to run for public office. He ran for interfaith councils and his desire to do well for alderman in 87 and 95. State Rep as a Republican in 88. State Rep as a Democrat our areas Jewish Community. Not always what in 06. He lost for ward committeeman 30 years ago. you would hear from a Muslim. He is the best of the 5 at social networking. JEWISH CHICAGO Mayoral/Aldermanic Election ©2011 All rights reserved He has more people liking his aldermanic site Jewish Chicago is a complimentary publication that is Publisher and Editor ...... Avy Meyers than all the others put together. usually published just prior to elections. The opinions Photography ...... Sonny Hersh While still young with a lot to learn, Khan is very likeable and has a sincere of our columnists and writers do not necessarily reflect Proof Reader ...... Gitel Hesselberg the opinions of Jewish Chicago. email - jewishchicago@ interest in making this world a better place. I sincerely hope he continues forward gmail.com Phone 773-290-2677. Our website is at http://avyworld.com/ We invite you Our web site will be switching to: in the public sector because he has a lot to offer and will make an excellent public to visit http://ntnm.org/ for all the latest on the North www.jewishchicagomagazine.com servant. Town News Magazine hosted by publisher, Avy Meyers. shortly Debra Silverstein is the wife of State Senator Ira Silverstein and has been calling the shots for him for quite some time. Silverstein says she decided to run for alderman when people called the ward committeeman’s office for services that the Alderman’s office wasn’t offering the public. No one is going to tell me that she didn’t have this in mind when her husband was tanking his district in 07 and while the whole Jewish community was working like crazy to keep the ward Jewish, that the Silversteins were looking to end Stone’s political career right then and there in favor of Naisy Dolar despite the consequences. She refers to herself as a small business owner providing accounting services to businesses and individuals. Silverstein may be doing that in her spare time, but she is a CPA and a long time, full time employee of Frost, Ruttenberg and Rothblatt where they think very highly of her. She also draws a salary from her husbands 50th ward Committeeman’s office. I’ve known Ira since he was a teenager, he and my brother were friends. Ira and I were always friendly. I supported him every time he ran until he challenged Stone in 08. He bought the back cover of Jewish Chicago for that election and I had a suggestion for his ad. He called his wife, held the phone pointed at me a couple of feet away, I gave my suggestion, she told Ira to go for it and then I started understanding what people were telling me about her making the political decisions. Given Ira’s victory over Stone in the Committeeman’s race, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that whoever Ira picked in the Aldermanic race, figured to be the next alderman. There was a lot of speculation that Silverstein himself was going to run for Alderman. When he picked his wife, those who knew her couldn’t believe it. When I would see her in the supermarket and said hello, at most one or two words would come out of her mouth. If I didn’t say hello, she would ignore me. It puzzled me as Ira always told me how much Debra liked what I wrote about Ira. As it turns out, I am not alone in my experience, not even close. When she was announced as the endorsed candidate to the assembled at the ward office to the 20 to 25 people left in the ward organization, some of the top people couldn’t believe it and quit the organization in disgust right then and there. Long time associates of the Silversteins couldn’t believe the decision. Besides for the nepotism, to be generous, let’s call her socially awkward. To be real, she is not a friendly person and certainly not a people person. There are a lot of jobs you can do well in life without good people skills, being I really don’t think Debra Silverstein is up to a CPA is one of them. Being alderman, you have to be prepared to continually the job of being alderman. No thanks Debra. meet, greet and go face to face with the public. You need to be outgoing and Ald. Berny Stone is the ten-term social. Debra is not. incumbent. I was certain his goose was really She has an 8 point program for what she calls real change. Most of the points cooked this election, but he came out fighting are the same exact things anybody can say when they are on the outside and from the bell, and he has some very serious running for office. She’ll fill potholes, with what money? The city is broke and it support throughout the entire community. He is a problem not just here but city wide. has raised more funds than any other candidate She’ll develop a comprehensive economic plan. She lists her membership in the chamber as one of qualifications, she is a johnny come lately who was never and more importantly, it’s not just the big involved before her candidacy and it would be nice if her husband actually did checks from a select few that Debra’s money is something for the chamber. Stone is the only public official who has consistently coming from. Stone is getting loads of contributions from business owners been there for them. and regular people throughout the community. Even Ahmed Khan’s father She complains about crime and says she’ll work with the police. Despite all (who I had the pleasure of meeting) kicked in $500 in May, before his son the new faces in the neighborhood, crime has continually decreased in West decided to run for alderman. Rogers Park for many years under the present alderman. Former U.S. Senator Gene McCarthy taught me many years ago that as She’ll provide prompt and efficient responses to service requests from nice as getting huge contributions can be, if you are not getting the smaller residents. She is a paid employee of the committeeman’s office and you never contributions from regular people, you are not going to win. A simple see anybody in there. The lights are always off. look at Stone’s contributors, compared to Silverstein’s, shows that sort of Their office was not open the morning of the November general election. I strength. mentioned it to Ira when he accompanied Debra for her interview. His comment: “That election wasn’t that important to us.” Huh? Isn’t that what the ward committeeman gets elected to do. Another problem with the ward committeeman’s office is that in the city’s largest Jewish ward, highly qualified Jewish candidates for judge are not Marty Levinson supported. Last year Judge Yehuda Lebovits and Judge Michael Bender who were appointed to fill open seats by the Illinois Supreme Court ran for full terms and the Silversteins didn’t lift a finger for them. Each was defeated. “The greatest barber in Both Howie Carroll and Berny Stone who preceded Silverstein supported and the history of barbers” helped many Jewish judges. You wouldn’t have seen either one of them knocking on Jewish doors to work for candidates who are anti-Israel, Let alone travel out of state to do so. As much as I don’t like Howie Carroll, his Jewish identity was Avy Meyers important enough that he quietly supported some Republicans like Gov. James North Town News Magazine Thompson if they were running against an anti Israel/anti Jewish opponent. What good is a Jewish committeeman if he refuses to help out Jewish causes Marty is located at and candidates because his strings are being pulled by those who are not our friends. Let’s remember, Debra calls the shots, so there is no distancing herself Jon’s Barber Shop, 5309 W Devon Ave from Ira. 773-610-9268 The part of Debra’s 8 point program that disturbs me the most: “Hold landlords and homeowners accountable for deteriorating buildings.” Besides physical deterioration, there is the vital issue of the quality of the tenants within the buildings. One of the biggest problems for years in this neighborhood has been bad landlords. The worst of whom has been one of the very largest, Tamid Realty. For so long, they made no background checks, leasing to anyone who can come up with the rent money, no matter how seedy. Their buildings were notorious for drugs, bad tenants, loud music and so much more. Many of you may have at one Complete Graphic Service time rented from them or lived near one of their buildings and • suffered as a result. • Quality Offset Printing They were filling up neighborhood Community Policing meetings with residents telling tales of woe caused by Tamid • Digital Color Printing tenants. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Unger even hosted meetings in their shul with police assistance to try to straighten out Tamid. • Bindery & Finishing Local residents were appearing regularly in Housing Court to let the States Attorney and Judge know the intolerable problems Tamid was causing in their part of the neighborhood. Then at next local CAPS meeting, one of the court watch people asked me if I knew who Tamid Realty’s lawyer was. I 5746 N. WESTERN AVENUE didn’t have a clue, she told me it was Ira Silverstein. I almost CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60659 fell over. I called Ira the next day. The idea of a State Senator defending TEL.: 773.561.9815 the worst land lord in his district is appalling. I explained why FAX: 773.561.0714 he had no business doing it on many levels and he said he would guide him and step out of the situation. [email protected] When I checked Debra Silverstein’s D-2 forms, I couldn’t believe that Tamid’s own Tom Klein gave Debra $1,800. I visited his campaign office once during the campaign and I was blown He built a badly needed away by how many people he had working for him from the multiple public school with TIFF funds races, creeds, colors, and religions that typify the 50th ward. Each and to help solve a serious school every listed phone in this ward has already been called three times by overcrowding problem throughout Stone’s workers. the ward. We need to be cognizant Think Stone is slowing down? He knows how to get things done. He that we do not represent even half knows the lay of the land in City Hall and what path to take to get things of the population of the ward. No accomplished. He is the Vice-Mayor of the City of Chicago and has students are being bused in. All represented the Mayor’s office in foreign lands. He is also the Chairman students live west of California of the Buildings Committee. Talk to his aldermanic colleagues and you’ll and there are only about 680 find that whether or not they agree with him, he has their respect. students in that school. I’ve always said, you never have to worry about Stone stabbing you in A new road is being built that will allow people to enter and exit from the back, you’ll always see the punch to your face coming. You always Kedzie that will greatly relieve the twice a day traffic jam from parents know where you stand with Berny. picking up and dropping off their children. So what he has done for us lately? You don’t get to sit back and rest I live two doors down from Boone School and it just isn’t that bad being on your past laurels in my book. As a public servant, you need to keep near a public school in this neighborhood, not at all. The new school not producing. So let’s take a look at what he did over the last term. only eased serious overcrowding problems at Boone and Clinton, but also Four years ago, we didn’t have a single major supermarket in the area. greatly eased traffic jams at both locations. Stone refused to let Dominick’s change the zoning of their property on More importantly, special ed classes and programs are being made Ridge to allow them to sell to a health club, and sure enough, Dominick’s available to neighborhood Jewish children at the new school. There is buckled and built a brand-new, ultra-modern supermarket on the site increased police presence and the area is now a safe school zone that A brand spanking new supermarket at California and Granville. You yields serious jail time for gun and drug offenses. have all kinds of new construction at Devon and Rockwell and there is Ira Silverstein, who talks of the importance of education, whose father lots more. was a public school teacher, tried his hardest to quash this badly needed There are three new police cameras installed on Devon that have helped public school, misled Rabbis and members of the community in the move criminal elements away. Stone has always worked closely with the mistaken belief that he could stop it, gave people the false impression that police, and crime has decreased every single year during his last term. he was in a position to do things in the city of Chicago that were beyond New two-level street lights are being installed throughout the ward. his power and control, kept members of the religious community from Having a well-lit street is a proven crime deterrent. having a meaningful and real dialogue with Ald. Stone who showed Ira that he was more than up to his challenge and tactics. Silverstein also tried to arrange the sale of property for a road from   Kedzie to his largest campaign contributor for robber baron prices: 3   million dollars. Barren land that no one wants. Peoples Gas, who are no   angels, was much more reasonable in selling the city of Chicago land for  a Kedzie access road. That school could have easily been built on the Kedzie side if the Silversteins hadn’t misled the community that he could handle the situation and the community had woken up to reality before the infrastructure had already been built. Let’s not forget all the good Stone has done for the Jewish community over the years. There are extra police patrols every Shabbos and holiday. There is a special garbage pickup every erev Pesach. The successful battle to keep the Hanna Sachs Girls School on Devon. The needed government cooperation for the West Rogers Park Eruv. The new Khal Chasidim on Pratt and Richmond. The fact that despite any problems, the 50th ward has far and away consistently been the largest Jewish community of any neighborhood for hundreds of miles. It is also important to remember that Berny Stone is in his office every morning at 7:00 am and all you have to do to reach him is pick up the phone. Even better, you can meet with him in person every Monday and Thursday night in his Lincoln Village office from 6:30 to 8:30 and he never leaves until every last person gets to see him. I could go on, but I am running out of room.

Jewish Chicago strongly endorses Berny Stone for reelection as alderman of the 50th ward. None of his challengers come the least bit close. To watch our show on Youtube www.ntnm.org Re-Elect the Jewish community’s most reliable asset. Our beloved Alderman Berny Stone.

50th Ward Alderman Berny Stone Alderman Berny Stone has always been there for you and now it’s time for you to be there for him.

On Election Day, February 22, 2011 Cast your vote and Punch #51 Re-Elect Bernard L. Stone

Early voting from January 31 through February 17, 2011 Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.: Mon. thru Sat., 9 am - 5 pm More Information visit Berny on the web: www.goodforthe50th.com Or Call 773-539-0050

Paid for by the Bernard L. Stone Campaign Committee Re-Elect an Old Friend 50th Ward Alderman Berny Stone

For over three decades, the Jewish communities of West Rogers Park and Peterson Park have thrived with the help of Alderman Berny Stone. There are Synagogues, Kollels, Eruvin, Mikvas and other Jewish Institutions and assets to the community that have been created and assisted with the hard work and dedication of Alderman Stone.

The Jewish Communities Best Friend Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov Elementary School Hannah Sachs Girls School Touhy Avenue Mikva West Rogers Park Eruv Congregation Khal Chasidim Congregation Sha’arei Tzedek Mishkan Yair Special Pesach Chometz Garbage Pick Up Extra Police Patrols during Shabbat and Jewish Holidays Largest Jewish Community in Midwest These Institutions would not exist without the support and selfless efforts of Alderman Berny Stone.

Alderman Stone has been there for us for over thirty-five years. Now is the time for the Jewish community to be there for him.

On Election Day, February 22, 2011, Cast your vote and Punch #51. Re-Elect Bernard L. Stone Early voting from January 31 through February 17, 2011 Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.: Mon. thru Sat., 9 am - 5 pm

For more Information visit Berny on the web: www.goodforthe50th.com Or Call 773-539-0050 Paid for by Bernard L. Stone Campaign Committee