Immigration...

This really seems to be a tough issue. I want to take the side of the illegals but there is always information that will suggest that maybe we can't afford to have them here. Sometimes when we hear argument against illegals we might hear about them committing crimes in the country (or indeed posing a risk to national security) or they might be taking advantages of our social services. Either way we really have to think about this issue.

That being said every now and then you might hear about city policies that seem to protect illegal immigrants from immigration authorities like an ordinance just passed the Chicago city council. There was an executive order from a decade ago with Mayor Harold Washington...

In March 1985, Mayor Harold Washington signed an executive order forbidding city cooperation in random questioning about a person's citizenship at city buildings and barring review of city files without subpoenas or questioning city job applicants about citizenship.

Well recently the city council has made this executive order into law, making Mayor Daley's 1989 executive order into law. This executive order states...

"No agent or agency shall request information about or otherwise investigate or assist in the investigation of citizenship or residency status of any person unless such an inquiry or investigation is required by statute, ordinance, federal regulation or court decision."

Apparently there is a Chicago precedent for violating federal law according to a Chicago Sun-Times article in this case in opposition to the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act...

Led by then-Mayor James Curtis and Ald. Amos Throop, for whom a Chicago street is named, the City Council ordered Chicago Police officers not to enforce the act.

This activity is in response to the bill being debated in the Senate with the idea of tightening border security and at the same time enabling illegal immigrants to become citizens.

Oh yeah they mention a rally for illegal immigrant that took place in Chicago earlier this month. I'm sure there was nothing but mainstream new coverage but I just want to show a citizen's coverage of this event. Courtesy of LimeBlog.

Link
City takes stand against immigration bill from Chicago Sun-Times

I wonder what happened here...

In Matteson a family was found dead, all were shot to death. A husband, a wife and their daughter were found dead in their home as Matteson police were doing a well being check. Then in Oscela, Florida the police there were seeking the next of kin for this young man who killed himself in a motel room. This is about when things started to go into motion.

The family was found yesterday, but apparently this young man shot himself on Monday. Now these folks are all related Laron C. Bowens was 20 then his sister Tyesha was 18, his parents Ronald and Tamara Bowens were 42 and 40. There just has to be an explanation as to what happened here.

Why did the son kill himself and what would he have killed his family? There just has to be answer because the way I see it, this is a waste. Honestly I've heard a lot about Matteson, it is a fairly upscale or affluent community and it does have a large minority population.

Links
Son of slain family found dead in Florida from Chicago Tribune
3 Found Fatally Shot In Suburban Home Identified and check out the video from CBS2Chicago.

I wanted to share this with you...

If you had been checking my photoblog last month I was on a black greek trip. Honestly, I still am at least their traditions. While there is a lot more to the historically black fraternities and sororities than what I will present to you in this post, I wanted to show you something that I missed.

The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. stepteam was on the 2006 NAACP Image Awards. This is not something I expect to see on that program and while it has become an annual occurance I rarely watch it. It's just another awards show to me even if it is dedicated to a mostly black audience featuring black achievements in what ever field they choose to honor.

Either way I'm kind of disappointed that I never saw this part. Not that this is the only reason I'd watch, but I wouldn't have minded seeing the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha hold it down on National TV. And they did a good job, perhaps these brothers are ice cold.

That was lame I know but they did hold it down on national TV for sure. I hope you enjoy this. Courtesy of YouTube.

Rev. Meeks running for governor...

In 2002 Rev. Meeks won a state Senate seat representing the far south side of Chicago and the south suburbs defeating a long time political player Dolton Mayor Bill Shaw. He just won a primary for his state senate seat and now he is talking about circulating petitions to mount an independent challenge for governor. I like how he thinks too, there isn't much to distinguish Topinka (GOP nominee) and Blagojevich (the incumbent), who Meeks says both support gay rights and abortion. Here's a quote...

“You’ll have Judy Baar Topinka, who believes in abortion and gay rights . . . and Rod Blagojevich, who believes in abortion and gay rights,” says Meeks, who opposes both. “Theologically, politically, for the white conservative voter, I’m their guy. I have their philosophy.”

I read Capital Fax blog today and I understand that he is anti-gun though. In a way it makes sense his church is based in the Roseland/West Pullman communities and has worked to make changes down that way. Even going so far as to build a new church (more like a stadium) closer to the Bishop Ford (sorry I still refer to it as the Calumet) Expressway but this is actually in the historic Pullman neighborhood. But the hopes here is that the House of Hope can host conventions and the conventioneers may stay near the House of Hope. We'll see on that.

My response to Meeks anti-gun views would be that do he know people get shot in the ghetto. I say this to say the law abiding folks want protection from those who will violate the gun control laws. Personally I don't think gun control makes anyone safer. It's better to pursue those with guns, who will use them in the commission of a crime.

Either way I'm not sure this is a smart move on his part, but while I may not like his alliances I truly believe Meeks has what's right at his heart. I may not like the fact that he appears to be running upset that Gov. Blagojevich won't raise taxes to fund public education, but I do believe his heart is in the right place on the issue. He wants the kids on the far south side of Chicago to get the best education they can.

Finally Laura Washington column from today's Sun-Times touched upon a Meeks gubernatorial candidacy in the very last paragraph...

Memo to Gov. Blagojevich: Don't fret about an independent challenge from state Sen. James Meeks, who doubles as the pastor of Salem Baptist Church. Black voters don't want a tax increase, and most prefer their preachers in the pulpit.

How this will work, we'll know eventually. There is more good stuff in this column, I'd like to write about that a little bit later. I just had to write about my guy James Meeks.

Latest meet the Aldermen columns.

There were four since spring break. The most interesting I was was about the 10th Ward Alderman John Pope. It's a racially diverse ward with some blacks, hispanics, and maybe a few whites. It was home to Edward Vrdolyak when he was the 10th Ward alderman. This column is titled "The best-kept secret".

This is what Alderman Pope said about his ward earlier in the column...

"I sometimes get mail addressed to Hegewisch, Illinois," says the ward's alderman, John Pope, who was raised in and continues to live in Hegewisch, which is not a town but one of the seven neighborhoods that make up the ward (to see a map and a photo of the alderman go to www.cityofchicago.org and click on the "Your Ward and Alderman" link). "This area really is the best-kept secret in the city.

"There are four lakes here [Michigan, Calumet, Wolf and Powder Horn]. We have the only state park in the city, the only place where you can legally hunt. The only trailer park in the city is here. The only sawmill."

This area of the town looks depressed to me while driving through it. It has Wolf Lake which has hosted many family picnics. The last time I drove down by a shopping center mentioned here in the column, East Side Plaza Mall at 118th Street and Avenue O, it was basically abandoned. Here in the column though I know that there is a Pete's Produce there now.

Anyway here are the rest of the columns...

Smooth sailing-Vi Daley (43rd Ward)
On the right track - Eugene Schulter (47th Ward)
Never too late - Ted Thomas (15th Ward)

You may need to register at the Tribune to see these columns.

Another Bronze age

I ran into this article this morning. This is with regards to the revitalization of the Bronzeville neighborhood which is located east of the Dan Ryan expressway. Center around about 35th Street and King Drive. It is a historic neighborhood which was once know as the black metropolis.

It was the home of black culture and black business. It was Chicago's Harlem. Then as they always seem to things change. Blacks were able to move into other areas around the city. The laws with regards to housing covenants were no longer enforceable. So those with some money moved away into those neighborhoods that were once white. And public housing was being built at least 4,300 units of public housing. The area started to go into decline.

Now there is new housing. The neighborhood is full of architectural jewels. When it comes to gentrification that helps but it helps that the area is not too far away from jobs in downtown too. What is good about this development is that blacks are helping to drive it.

According to this article, they're opening restaurants, comedy clubs, bookstores, etc. This is the kind of thing I'd like to see. Can't complain about whites moving in if blacks aren't doing anything to drive revitalization. The unfortunate thing is people are being squeezed out but if we don't do it then someone else just might.

Read this article it might be somewhere you want to visit if nothing else.

Cook County GOP finds improprieties...

Since last year the Cook County GOP have been finding things on city democrats. Not sure if the design is to merely point out violations of law or capitolize on the corruption of the Democratic machine. Either way though I suppose the Cook County GOP is attempting to get itself in the news and let everyone in Cook County know that they have some type of heartbeat.

Last year they made an issue out of the fact that most aldermen and their Democratic organizations operate political activities out of their public funded offices. This is state law and they even posted pictures of the various offices in question.

This year they're still on the issue going so far as to hire investigators to seek out these improprieties. They released a new press release today about election day activites going on in the 9th and 15th ward of the city of Chicago. The organizations of Ald. Anthony Beale of the 9th and Ald. Ted Thomas of the 15th who hosted volunteers with signs for Democratic candidates.

The quotes sound like soundbites. The question is whether you'll see this on the news. They did make the news by announcing a bounty of Mayor Daley's head for any information that could lead to Daley's conviction on corruption. That was derided by many as such a joke. I suppose a means to take on stand on corruption.

Either way here's one of the quotes from this press release...

"These Democratic Aldermen have no respect for the law," fumed an outraged Gary Skoien, Cook County Republican Party Chairman. "They are thumbing their nose at the Illinois Election Code even as an appeal is underway for their previous offenses. The Democrats are shameless."

Well I suppose my only challenge to the Cook County GOP is to come into the city and recruit candidates who can be the change they seek. Until that moment can come, I just might see this as grandstanding. I'm not sure anyone is really that worried about using publicly funded offices for public officials for political work are seen as that big of an issue anyway. Even if this was illegal this may not be a problem for a great many people.

I'm listening to an interesting podcast today...

I know that today is primary election day and I'm a little late on this story. Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote an column which is causing black leaders in Chicago to consider a boycott the Sun-Times. They want to boycott the Tribune because of the Tribune's request to get Stroger's medical records.

In response we hear a podcast from Chicago Defender editor Roland Martin's WVON AM radio program "howling mad" at Neil Steinberg. This almost sounds like an episode of The O'Reilly Factor. Listening to it, it was very nasty Martin was very upset. I've yet to read the column unfortunately so I can't really comment. However Steinberg makes a claim that he didn't make light of Stroger's illness he made light of the fact that Stroger is a terrible politician.

That is one thing I can comment on, I don't think Stroger is a terrible politician. One can say that it's time for him to hang it up, indeed a lot of people are saying that. His time may have passed with or without the stroke but that doesn't make him a bad politician. If you can define a bad politician it may be that he doesn't know when he should hang it up.

Well Steinberg definitely looks at the state of Stroger's health and obviously makes a very unobjective column. That's not to say columnists aren't supposed to take sides and expose their bias, especially if it seems Steinberg wants to help defeat Stroger. Listen to it, because this is quite nasty.

Steinberg's columns on Stroger from the Sun-Times...
Stroger may be ill, but save sympathy for taxpayers
Insensitivity to ailing Stroger was a mistake

Ken Blackwell Seeks Support From Black Ministers

Since we are on the subject. I got this article in an email from Newsmax.com Insider Report. I will post the entire article in its entirety...

Ken Blackwell Seeks Support From Black Ministers

Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell treated more than 70 black pastors to lunch in Cleveland - and to a speech explaining why he should be Ohio's first black nominee for governor.

The conservative Republican vowed to improve job creation in the black community and limit spending by state and local governments.

His appeal was generally well received - which is significant because the black ministers' flocks are overwhelmingly Democratic.

Blackwell has predicted that he will win as much as half the state's black vote if he is the Republican nominee, which would sharply cut into the African-American support that his likely Democratic opponent, Rep. Ted Strickland, would need to be elected governor, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

After the private, 90-minute luncheon at the Antioch Baptist Church on March 14, Rev. Marvin McMickle, pastor of the host church and a former Democratic candidate for Congress, said Blackwell's vote projection is credible.

"Strickland has a formidable challenge when it comes to the African-American vote," McMickle told the Dispatch. "He cannot presume it.

"Strickland must answer one question for black voters: 'Tell me why I shouldn't vote for Ken Blackwell.'"

On the day of the luncheon, Blackwell also had dinner with the predominately black Baptist Ministers Conference.

In an interview before the dinner, Blackwell said: "It would be a fundamental mistake for any person to vote for me on the basis of skin color, just as it would be a fundamental mistake for anybody to vote against me on the basis of skin color."

Instead, he said, voters should support him because of his track record and accomplishments in public office.

Blackwell's contacts with ministers have created controversy this year in Ohio.

A group of Columbus pastors filed a complaint with the IRS alleging that pastors Russell Johnson and Rod Parsley and their churches have improperly promoted Blackwell's campaign by featuring him at large rallies.

The complaint asks that the agency probe whether the two pastors violated federal law barring churches from endorsing candidates for political office, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Blackwell has said his involvement with the pastors was in his capacity as secretary of state or as an elected leader backing a cause - in many cases a 2004 ban on gay marriage.

Are churches the key to black vote?

I was up early this morning and I couldn't get back to sleep. I just so happen to check out the feed digest over at Capitol Fax Blog and I find this jewel of an article about the black church and the black vote. I figured hey this is worth posting here.

I'm somewhat biased here because I really don't support the role the church has played in black politics or at least the ministers. The fact remains that they do play a role in politics and many candidates if they want to get elected and to have the black vote may very well have to stump there. If they don't go to an actual church service they may go to a church event.

For example, a few years ago I was at a church anniversary banquet where a lady running for judge, and excuse me for bringing up race here, she was a white lady. She was stumping not just making an appearance for the sake of it. Another time I went to a Sunday church service where Congressman Jesse Jackson spoke to the congregation. As faithful church goers black Americans are it turns out that the church is something of a reliable forum than anywhere else.

So let's get to the article here. At Trinity United Church of Christ there were hundreds of empty seats but what was key apparently that out of 10 Republican candidates invited to attend only one showed up. He was Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica running unopposed for the GOP nomination for County Board President. There is apparently a good reason for that...

Tom Swiss, executive director of the Cook County Republican Party, said numbers like that keep GOP candidates away from blacks.

"They've seen no vote change in the black community," he said. "They say 'Don't waste your time.'"

In a primary, Swiss said, the emphasis is getting a party's base to the polls. Republican candidates spend time with Republican voters; Democrats, with voters who conventionally vote Democratic.

This is what a retired prominent church pastor, Rev. Clay Evans said about the black church...

"Politicians know that the church is the hub of the black community," said the Rev. Clay Evans, retired pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. "There are votes there. They know if they get the minister to support them, that's thousands of votes they can get."

Rainbow/Push Chief Operating Officer Bonita Parker had this to say...

...politicians have what can be an easy road to victory: "You get a Meeks, you get a Brazier, you get a Johnnie Colemon (pastor at Christ Universal Temple) and Jeremiah Wright, and you've basically got the whole city covered."

Finally let's talk about Bishop Arthur M. Brazier who has said that...

"The greatest strides black people have made in this country since Franklin Delano Roosevelt have been under Democratic administrations."

He has called such notable local Democratic politicians such as Chicago's Mayor Daley, and both Senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin as friends of his church. An issue that hs come up is that if a church goes a little too far in the political process that might jeopordize their tax exempt status. In fact Bishop Brazier attempts to make this distinction...

Brazier said he doesn't make formal endorsements for any candidate because Apostolic is a registered nonprofit organization and must remain politically nonpartisan.

"I will not tell anyone whom to vote for," Brazier said. "I will not say you should support so-and-so. That's not what I'm supposed to do."

Poll watcher accused of coaching voters

I suppose at some point this was bound to happen. The poll watcher Betty Hancock Perry was "trying to help voters" at the Lydia Healthcare Center in suburban Robbins, Illinois. However, it was observed that she was trying to help them cast votes for her boss John Stroger and discouraging votes for Stroger's opponent Forrest Claypool. She claimed that she was an elections judge and failed to provide the necessary credentials. When officials from the county clerk and the state's attorney's office arrived to investigate, Hancock Perry was out for lunch and never returned.

Hancock Perry lives near Stroger's 8th ward and is the county's director of contracts compliance. She was also a licensed poll watcher for the Stroger campaign. Stroger campaign spokesman Steve Mayberry (on leave from his job at the Cook County Forest Preserve District) said that Hancock Perry will no longer "be active or affiliated with the campaign".

In addition to posing as an elections judge Hancock Perry allegedly guided elderly voters in the Robbins healthcare center through their ballots. Here is a note on this...

But those credentials specifically state it is illegal for poll-watchers to touch election materials, including ballots, or to "interfere in any way with the election process or polling place operations."

Here's another note...

Hancock Perry has worked for Cook County since 1990 and, making more than
$103,000, is responsible for overseeing minority contracting on county projects.

Last year, she was subpoenaed as part of a federal investigation into questionable contracts doled out by the county and the minority certifications given to some firms.

Poll watcher accused of coaching voters from Chicago Sun-Times

Stroger's stroke more serious than thought...

I found this article in the Tribune, this was also linked in the Capital Fax Blog. So the question now is not whether County Board President John Stroger will lose, the question is now will he be able to perform his duties. Like I said I won't feel bad about it mainly because he's had a good run, but I would sincerely like to wish him a speedy recovery.

Doctors said there was likely to be some permanent damage from the stroke, but it was too soon to say how much. The stroke, which occurred early Tuesday, left Stroger weak on his left side and unable to walk.

“We feel this is a serious stroke, one that is going to have some effect on him,” said Dr. Michael Kelly, the neurologist treating Stroger at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, where Stroger remains in the intensive care unit.

Doctors this afternoon said they remained optimistic about Stroger’s recovery. But when asked whether he would be able to return to the demanding job of running county government, Kelly said it was too soon to say.

The county board president has a blockage in his brain, and swelling is affecting a large area of his brain, doctors said. The result, they say, could be long-term mental or physical impairment.

But the physicians emphasized Stroger was still being evaluated, and it was too soon to determine what the long-term effects would be. They said he was breathing on his own but was being fed through a tube.

Throughout his illness, Stroger has been able to speak with doctors and his family.

Black leaders rip plans for N.O. election

The US Department of Justice has approved a plan for elections in the City of New Orleans over the bitter objections of many civil rights leaders. The first elections since hurricane Katrina are to be held on April 22nd. The issue here is that there are concerns about the fact that because fewer than half of the city's 465,000 inhabitants have come back to the city.

Another concern is that Louisiana officials have yet to ensure that those voters scattered from New Orleans due to the storm will be able to vote. Satellite polling places were to be established around the state for those New Orleans residents displaced by the storm. In addition to that information has been sent to those displaced residents with the use of newspaper ads printed in newspapers around the county to inform displaced New Orleans residents about the election.

Here is a quote...

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said he'll organize marches and sue to block the election. ''Two-thirds of the eligible population has been disenfranchised,'' he said after the Justice Department decision. ''This is more onerous than the poll tax laws of 1965.''

Black leaders rip plans for N.O. election from Chicago Sun-Times

Stroger suffered a stroke as you all know...

It's been in the news that he was taken to a hospital when he wasn't feeling well. Then we find out later that he had a stroke. So whatever medical problem he had yesterday morning it has gotten pretty serious.

Either way I have found an interesting blog entry from The "Broken Heart" of Rogers Park. Check out this blognote from that entry...

Blognotes: Dr. Simon makes $391,550 a year with the county government at John H. Stroger Hospital as Mr. Stroger's personal doctor. Why didn't Mr. Stroger go there to be treated?

Imagine if Stroger could have realized that going to Stroger Hospital or Provident Hospital on 43rd Street would have proven to be a good idea. I guess it would be a citizen's dream for the powerful to see what they have been serving us. Or at least recieve a dose of reality that they wouldn't have had otherwise.

Anyway of course the questions have now come up as to whether Stroger can continue to serve as Cook County board president. This in addition to actually campaigning to win the election. Also how and who would they replace Stroger on the ballot?

I get the feeling Stroger was going to lose anyway, and I'm talking about the primary. The thing is there are those out there no doubt who believe that even if Stroger is able to remain county board President that he may not survive his next term. Either way for those with a stake in this, Stroger's health and what's next in the aftermath, should be a major concern.

The possibilities are laid out in the article I linked to from the Chicago Sun-Times:

WHAT COULD HAPPEN
If Cook County Board President John Stroger quits:

1) Before Tuesday's primary: Challenger Forrest Claypool would be the Democratic nominee.

2) After winning the Democratic primary but before the November general election: The 80 Democratic ward and township committeemen would appoint whomever they wish to replace him on the ballot.

3) After winning the general election but before newly elected commissioners take office in December: The other 16 members of the County Board elect a new president among themselves.

4) After any new commissioners take office in December: The new board of commissioners vote a new president from among their ranks.

Abdon M. Pallasch

Two Englewood columns this morning...

In as little as nine days two young girls one a freshman in high school and the other no more than 7 years of age were gunned down in their homes for nothing more than being too close to a window. We're talking about the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago which has claimed so many victims over the years. Remember Ryan Harris who was murdered? What about those boys police were going to charge with her murder? All in Englewood.

It seems that progress that should come to Englewood enventually can't move fast enough. There are plans for job training, new housing, and finally getting these people to work so that they can go from being renters to becoming property owners. Still there is a long way to go to get a handle on crime.

This morning Mary Mitchell has a column about the situation in Englewood. She closes her column by saying...

It is the cowardice of the young black men who sought cover in a crowd of children; it is the cruelty of the other young black men who were determined to kill them anyway.

That's who we must hold accountable for this wave of destruction.

The more interesting column is from the Sun-Times' Mark Brown. He printed excerpts of letters from Englewood teenagers griping about the problems they see in that area. I just couldn't help but notice this and Brown did place this disclaimer before I read the excerpts...

I've chosen to leave the spelling, grammar and punctuation uncorrected, because there's an implicit message in that, too. For that reason, though, I've omitted the writers' last names.

Now I wonder what they're teaching those kids in Englewood. They don't seem to know how to spell and their vernacular seems to be pulled directly from the Roots miniseries. These letters are from 2003 and they write as if they were the slaves from Roots. That's the best comparison I have and this seems unfortunate. I also wonder if it is possible that the quality of life in Englewood just doesn't leave a lot of time for learing how to communicate in writing.

Either way, the messages in what these individuals write are very understandable despite the spelling and grammar mistakes. And it's truly sad to see this. The point of Brown's column is that apparently not much has changed although we know what goes on Englewood. I want to show you a very libertarian idea to solving the problems in Englewood...

Anthony: "I think if you want to make Englewood a good community I think you
should legalize all drug use and all drug parafanelia."

I wonder if this kid has been watching C-Span or heard some libertarians speak. Other than that this kid is thinking. I don't agree with the legalization of drugs however. Here's another good quote that may very well explain the reason for this senseless violence...

Ciera: "Every day I see people "gangs", getting into it for no reason at all. Sometimes they will get into it because the "STONES" will come over in "Central City" over on the Southside and shoot at the GD's because one will come over and start something, and go back and tell it's crew a lot of lies that didn't happen and they will come over and start shooting and will miss. Then they will shoot the wrong person or a child that had nothing to do with what they have going on between the two of them. People kill people every day, sometimes because they are mad at one of there family members or they are depress or someone killed their child and they wanted to get back at that person."

I put my emphasis in italics. This may not be the whole story but at least there is an idea about what is going on in Englewood or any other community plagued by gun violence like this. Somehow we need to work on putting a stop to this.

Lethargic campaign effort may seal Stroger's fate

Read Laura Washington's latest column on the county board president's race. Reading this column and some other materials out there I'm starting to get the feeling that Stroger is going to lose. I can't feel bad he's had a good run, but I am looking at the strikes against him especially during his current term. Gripes about mismanagement at Stroger Hospital, problems with patronage and corruption.

What critics may have on Stroger is that he is an old school politico out of step with the current era. According to Washington...

Stroger has been a loyal machine pol since the dinosaur age. He is riding on the tattered coattails of the Regular Democratic Organization. That's a monumental mistake.

I'm willing to bet Stroger is either depending on people like my mother who's going to vote for him because they want him to have one more term under the sun. Or perhaps the reasoning is that they know him so well while they don't know much about Forrest Claypool, who strikes me as being a lakefront liberal.

Either way it seems that in a bare couple of weeks before the primary election commences Stroger hasn't been working hard to get re-elected. If he hasn't been I'm also willing to bet that he is just tired and apparently so is his team. Stroger is in his 70s and like I said Stroger has definitely had a very good run.

She also contends that blacks aren't going to vote for him in droves. He hasn't really been campaigning in the community. Laura Washington mentions there isn't even a sign in an eating establishment in Stroger's 8th Ward...

There isn't even a "Stroger for President" sign in the window of the Soul Queen Restaurant, the iconic spa at 90th Street and Stony Island Avenue.

Washington closes out her column on this note...

Regardless of the outcome, the Stroger malaise is telling. Black progressives dropped the ball on this one. They should have fielded a young, energetic fresh face and eased Stroger aside. Instead, they allowed Daley to define the race.

Before I cease posting for spring break...

Honestly I haven't been able to watch any Tyler Perry films especially his first one released last year. They're not heavily promoted. I'm not exactly a fan of Tyler Perry I've yet to see any of the gospel plays that he's put out over the years. In fact there have only been passing references to him over the years and he's coming out to the forefront. So recently he's made his way into the movie business. Not bad for a man who was struggling not too long ago.

So I look in my email and NewsMax of all places talk about Tyler Perry and why the Hollywood establishment is trying to ignore him. Even if they do ignore him a Tyler Perry film still can make money. Of course most of the people who watch his movies are black churchgoers, still his films aren't doing too bad for themselves. I have to see this new movie he has out.

I have no link to the article but it was from an email Hollywood Confidential...

Tyler Perry Scores Big

Tyler Perry appears to be becoming the rarest of success stories: An indie filmmaker with a red state sensibility and a penchant for walloping studio films at the box office. His new "Madea's Family Reunion" took top prize at the box office this past weekend, following on the heels of his earlier breakout success "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."

Clearly this is the guy Hollywood does not want you to hear about. We basically read nothing about this guy in the Hollywood press - he gets no buzz whatsoever (we read more about "Lords of Dogtown" than about "Madea's Family Reunion") - but just rolls his little indie films out and trounces the competition. Beautiful.

And the critics don't like his films, which immediately tells us he must be doing something worthwhile. We read this, from WENN:

"In an interview with Bloomberg News, Walt Borchers of MovieTickets.com credited Tyler Perry's strong appeal among black churchgoers with the success of 'Madea's Family Reunion.' 'Everything that's being rolled out now that's targeted to the
religious sector is doing well,' Borchers said.

"Daily Variety observed that African-American women 35 and over comprised 52 percent of the film's audience. The film was not screened for critics, who had few complimentary things to say about Perry's earlier 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and even fewer nice things to say about the current one. Typical is Geoff Pevere's comment in the Toronto Star, who describes the movie as 'an exercise in Christian inspirational healing' and 'an entertainment engineered for a pretty specific audience.'

"Pevere suggests that he, as a 'middle-aged Canadian white guy,' is certainly not a part of that target audience. But Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe, one of the country's few black critics, says that 'Family' marks a significant improvement over 'Diary,' writing: 'Rather than push for sitcom nonsense, Perry spins a mean, satisfying soap opera.'"

Spring break is here...

I know this is going to seem like an eternity for some one out there but I think I'm going to take a break for a week here. I'm just going to go back home and relax and get caught up on my schoolwork. I'm sure there will be storied to follow over the break so at least I will still know what's going on in the world. In any case I'll be back soon to post here.

I found this website...

I found this site called Internet Block Club 34th ward where residents of that Chicago ward located on the far south side of Chicago can connect and be informed about what's going on in their community. This is something I'd like to see more of though. Community groups or individual citizens connecting whether it's personally or through the internet or at least through a variety of tools to solve whatever problems they may have or even address. This is one reason why I belive in blogging.

Check out this site and I sincerely hope this encourages you to start one up for the same reasons.