I PEOPLE South Street Journal News\bhim servinge 2 Numbe and for.r l bGran d Boulevard (Bronzeviile), Douglas, Oakland, Kenwood, Woodlawn, Washington Park, Hyde Park, Near South, Gap, Fuller Park, ArmouMay r1 1Squar 24,199e 5 Tillman Back Mayor Alleged Vote on Empowerment Fraud Zone Funding Suspected in By Michael Conners 20th ward Staff Writer Michael Conner Angelo Rose, representing and Convener of Staff Writer the South Side Cluster Empowerment Zone In a story on vote fraud in the 20th ward (A (SSCEZ) which includes the 3rd Ward re­ story first reported by Michael Sneed of the ceived remarks from Alderman Dorothy Till­ Chicago Sun Times May 5, 1995) in which man (3) stating, he should go back to Balti­ the F.B.I, sent a subpoena to the Chicago more, Maryland." an apparent reference to Board Of Elections concerning absentee his hometown as taking a more aggressive ballots. South Street Journal, contacted the role in the Empowerment Zone funding for Angelo Rose, South Side office of Aid. Arenda Troutman. Her Press the South Side, backing Mayor Richard Aid. Dorothy Tillman (3) Cluster Empowerment Secretary, Mr. Lex Anderson, said, "She Daley on his city council control over the Zone, Convenor (Troutman) has no idea of what they are funding process of the Empowerment Zone. of the funds and that she will be fighting to investigating and no knowledge of any wrong This is just part of an escalating battle to doing. We in the 20th ward Democratic control the funds that are being distributed by ensure more of the funds be targeted to the area. Last report of the $100 million tenta­ Organization will fully cooperate in any Washington D.C. of $100 million in three investigation. However, at this point we have Chicago communities including Mid-South . tively targeted to communities in the zones, about $3 million was identified for the Mid- not been contacted by anyone including the As many residents make comments on the F.B.I. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)" process they choice not to be identified for South area. However, Tillman stands firm that the funds will be control by the city F.B.I. Spokesperson Mr. Bob Long, who print. One source who is a member of the said "The 6(e) rule is a law that states that the SSCEZ said "It's a lot of back-stabling going council, in line with Mayor Daley's ordinance F.B.I, cannot discuss the matters concerning a on all across the board," Adding that. "How approved on April 5, 1995.which many feels Federal Grand Jury Investigation" and he is it that the SSCEZ members have went that is not the bottom up process Rose want offered no comment one way or the other. though the tiresome process of sitting up the to ensure that business will not be as usually Mr. Gerald Ross, a resident of the 20th program to how the funds are to be divided with government programs of the Empower­ among various community groups." He ment Zone nature. ward who contacted SSJ with alleged docu­ continued, "The alderman want to take The SSCEZ called for the immediate with­ ment relating to fraud in the 20th Ward. That control of the money from the various drawal of the proposed ordinance because it absentee ballots were being sold, re-contacted community groups and seme community did not represent ihe "bottoms up" process of our office and backed out of any further com­ groups are fighting over which group gets the planning with community and • government ments stating that, he had been contacted by most. "Its like dogs fighting over one bone." acting as equal partners. the Chicago Office of the F.B.I, and was told that it would not be in the best interest of the Reports indicated that Tillman acknowl­ SSJ repeated efforts to contact Rose of the investigation to continue to comment and edged that the Mid-South (South Side Em­ SSCEZ and Aid. Dorothy Tillman either re­ withdraw his comment until the end of the powerment Zone) is not getting its fair share turned calls for additional comments. Continue on page 17 Black Groups Address Report 3% of Schoosl Contract work to Black Contractors A Press Conference and Demonstration was protests at Harper ^High School (65th and tion with the Unions. Several other contrac­ tors and Workers. held at Harper High School (65th & Wood) on Wood) against the Public Building Commis­ tors and community agencies are being af­ The 150 page Emergency Economic Devel­ Monday, May 8th, by group of Black Contrac­ sion (PBC) locking out the Black community, fected by similar unfair Union practices. opment Program was submitted to the Execu­ tors and a Coalition of Concerned Community according to Omar Shareef of AACA. from Last week AACA released it's findings that tive Director of the PBC, Mr. Thomas Walker Groups and politicians including; African business opportunities due to unfair union less than 2% of PBC contracts (approx. $2.4 last week to be placed on the PBC's Board American Contractors Association-Omar Sha- pressure preventing Black Contractors and of $136 million total over the last seven agenda. To date Shareef reported that "there reef-President; United Services-Eddie Read; Workers from working in this school and months) were awarded to African American has been no confirmation." Crusaders of Justice, Rev. M. Earl SardonOp- other publicity funded projects on the South Contractors. "The concerned groups plan to be present, in eration Push, Rev. Jirnmie L. Daniels-National an4 Westsides of Chicago. Mayor Daley is the AACA along with the groups presented numbers, at PBC Board meeting to see the President and Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow-Na­ Chairman of the PBC. these figures and its African American Emer­ program passed and implemented" said Sha­ tional Executive Director of PUSH, Alderman Recently, Shareef reported one of the black gency Economic Development Program at the reef. Virgil Jones-15th Ward; Alderman Shaw-9th contractors, along with eight (8) black work­ press conference. The 150 page Program is For further information call Omar Shareef at Ward; and African American Plumbers Asso­ ers was illegally fired from the Harper High designed to prevent the abuses of power wit­ the African American Contractors Association ciation president, Bill Taylor. School project, due to the unfair practices of nessed at Harper High School and provide at (312) 915-5960 or (312) 760-1011 (pager). During the last 2 weeks there have been the Public Building Commission in collabora­ more contracts to African American Contrac­ Mother*s Day with a Mission Everyday in Robert Taylor By Mamie Robinson ^ Ethel ing upon the rights of public housing residents. Staff Writer Washington, Circuit Court Judge Wayne R. Anderson Mothering seven children and having five President of the presided the case and ruled the sweeps uncon­ grandchildren is a difficult job all by itself. south end (47th stitutional. Despite the ruling, CHA continues However, try raising seven children, being St. to 54th St.) sweeping apartments. However, Washington of Robert Taylor proceeds with her fight. grandma and being the mother of Robert Taylor Homes leading a Homes, a title courageous visionary Ethel protest in the "I was called a gang mother and a gang Washington inherited for fighting against the development last banger, "Washington said. "If you want to clear 1990 drug and gun sweeps in the CHA public fall is protrayed the community of drugs and guns, then do it housing community. as the fighting legally. Go after those people who are involved. The sweeps, known as the Emergency House mother. Pictured People were being mistreated and they didn't passing the Keeping Sweeps, began in the early 1990s as an care about the people. They came in when they bullhorn is Rev. wanted to and would lock you out of your own attempt by Vince Lane, Chairman of the Ronald Schapp Chicago Housing Authority, to rid public to Wallace apartment. I pay my rent. This is America and housing of drugs and guns. The sweeps were 'Gator* Bradley, I have rights, "Washington said. first administered at the Rockwell Gardens and right. A mother of seven children (including four later attempted at other public housing devel­ SSJ Photo by daughters and three sons), Washington was opments, including Robert Taylor Homes, 39th Hilbert Sandifer often challenged with other leadership roles. State & Federal to 53rd State & Federal. From 1971-1976, she served as president for the Police Officers would, without search war­ upset about the abuse to public housing tenants, about their civil and human rights. After learn­ Local Advisory Council (LAC) at Robert Taylor rants, barge into apartments and began search­ Washington contacted the Amercia Civil Liberi- ing that the program was unlawful without Homes. In 1976 she relinquished her responsi­ ing for drugs and unregistered guns. Feeling ties Union (ACLU) and the Department of search warrants, she lead the community in a bilities as LAC president and began working for Housing Urban Development (HUD) to inquire class action lawsuit against CHA for transpress- Continue on page 13 Pag© 2 May 11 - 24.1995 South Street Journal C oiniiiiiiiUv Brfef By Jabar 20th Ward Residents Takes Part in "Clean and Green" program lake Meadows residents will not be getting South Street Journal in their lobbies as before (at least not this issue or the last one) after SSJ reported a story on the ensured loan the development is trying to get from HUD. Management directed the staff to remove all of the papers. So much for freedom of the press. Aid. Dorothy Tillman was seen shopping at Mytels having trouble getting her check approved for about $300, is it another fund raising time for the right direction? Tillman's run off partner Wallace "Gator" Bradley was reported doing fine financially, his position as a youth counselor with the Boys and Girls Club has expanded on the Westside doing gang intervention work.