Editorial from the Publisher South Street Journal ]une 18-July 1, 1998 ;.^-* The Mid-South Common Ground Land, Money and the Law 1 link's to the readers for their continued confidence that the South Street Journal would overcome its setbacks and get back on the streets. Stability of the newspaper is not at ease. But credit to those that helped and are about to. In the absence of being printed, a lot was learned. And a lot was encouraged to stay the same; to provide the reality with integrity. However, the old saying in the newspaper business is "It's not about telling the truth, it's about getting the truth" and then the Gossip is "The Truth Shall set you Free!" One questionable truth is in the beginning of South Street Journal, money was not the first factor. But money was the first for some Black publishers and one white, that were asked to publish a newspaper for this area. As the circles are being developed politically and financially on who is in who's camp, the cost of freedom of the press (South Street Journal's) has Ron Carter, families (and many drug customers) go Publisher & Editor homeless. I don't think the Mafia would allow that to happen to their families. There should have been more accountability to the families. SSJ did warn them all. But common residents too will get a lesson. Such as those in Washington Park community, as the vacant land between 50th and 63rd on Prairie Avenue for years is just that a prairie, waiting for someone to develop it: admirable and/or indifference for the present residents first. Bronzeville remains the new frontier as it is featured in the Chicago Sun-Times and N'Digo. Credit to Mid-South Planning and community activist Harold Lucas who lead the drive to Restoring Bronzeville. The term or name represents many boundaries. Yet most residents do not see the meaning, as high been raised i.e., what circle it will belong to. One lesson for sure cost housing is the market for most developers, making it hard maintain jobs of the $100 million plus. The government's bottoms up approach to spending the money means those who are homeless and jobless should be at the table deciding where the money goes and to who. If that's not the case, then the glass is bottom's up on the people. When Bobby Rush and Mayor Daley say "Power to the People" then we can be assured that the Bottom's up Process of the money is going to be in effect. Until then, it is hoped that the BOSS Congress will ensure that. The Law was well portrayed in the movie the "Devil's Advocate." As minor as traffic court may be it represents the inhumane unbalance of the law. The racial representation of court punishment remains 75% Black, 20% Hispanic and 5% others. It makes one wonder if African Americans in Chicago are just bad drivers; whites get away with things, have speed scanners, pay their tickets by mail or police just let them go. Robert Lee, a supervisor of public defenders explains, "It does seem that Blacks feed the punishment and jail system but that's not the case." He continued to say, "Crime is a reflection of poverty and it is a product of poverty. The law tends to be against those of lower income. But as it just happens that Black are at the lower income level so the law works better for those that have money. We as public defenders are not about proving one guilty or not, but more of presenting a defendant's options" Supreme Court. The tragedy is the city is fueling the rise of the population of prisons in Illinois from 1,500 in 1993 to more than 2,700 in 1997, according to the corrections department statistics. Rather it is in traffic court or in the prisons, systemically African Americans feed the punishment and jail systems. It is being done by police corruption, prosecutors and judges who have a blindness of justice, such as the man killed by police on 55th and Prairie Ave.; the Rev. and Mrs. Luther of Shine Light Missionary Baptist Church at 50th & Prairie, handcuffed to chairs while in the police station, and told if she moved he (the police) would blow the Rev.'s head off. The Coalition Against Police Brutality reported that just in the Mid-South area, over 3,500 cases of police misconduct were presented to them. When I was arrested for DUI by Officer Shorter, as I was walking out of the police station his partner whispered in my ear, "I know its wrong." So did the other six police officers at 111th and Calumet Freeway. Just like the public at large and public officials know the law is wrong. The cases of Rodney King are hidden openly. The two letters to the editor ask for help. I ask for help too. The right thing to do is to investigate cases of people who are victims and are in jail due to police corruption. Have the police take polygraph tests. The Common Ground. Now more than ever the community must be involved as the community becomes victims of the land, is there should be no question of the Freedom of the Press. But freedom does cost. Money. The Common Ground is that Mid-South has a host of issues with political overtones. As voting is half the answer, what -—happens between elections is the other half. Land, Money and the Law is the groundwork of all interest. The bulk of ----- for the present property owners to keep up with the new taxes and the economic incentives that come with it. As the drive continues to market for middle and upper income instead of making the middle income of the present residents. Land and housing do not produce jobs, business does. The $100 Million Empowerment Zone Funds are supposed We welcome editorial reply. prosperity still goes to those that live outside the community with to have been the seed to do that. Many residents do not have a funds granted for uplifting the less fortunate: the junkie that ciue 0f the financial and economic benefit. As one local Black needs medical assistance; the youth that needs resources with a businessman stated after a 47th Street Business Association mission; social pimps instead of business development. meeting, "Everybody does not need to know what's going on." The common work planned by community groups seven years This keeps him in a higher position to compromise the life styles ago is materializing. But, the hard and often unanticipated fact is 0f uneducated community residents. On the other Jianll many that it is virtually impossible to maintain an alert, intelligent can see the game, as they discuss it among themselves/ community on all resources for survival without knowledge and The biggest show for major development of the Empowerment how to use it. As stories are submitted of resources, still by design, too many public officials, ministers, and leaders of the community admirable and indifferent are not accountable to the present residents first. John DeVaugh, a community activist keeps saying it's the old Model City Plan of twenty five years ago. Land is the bottom line where the drug dealers on 53rd & State Street received a lesson on whose turf (land) it really is. As Taylor is being demolished, the Commentary The Girl X lease & Beverly Reed: Another Media point of view JMany concerns and issues have surfaced sin*. the Zone funds recently was the Lou Rawls Entertainment and Cultural Center groundbreaking. Once finished it Is to create 100 jobs. But money was also received by Mid South Planning and Development Commission, Centers for New Horizons, the 47th & Lake Park Plaza and St. Edmunds Church and others. Based on the Washington D.C.'s mandate of a five year projection, residents at the bottom should feel the benefit of the funds. That report status of jobs created has not been provided. There are three years left. Equally there should be about $33 million coming to the Mid-South communities that create and (Plea Bargaining). He went on to say, "The law is a result of elected officials who the money and the law that is suppose to benefit them. It is feed off the public that want a strong position of punishment and almost like being a prisoner of its own resources, increase sentencing. As a result the courts have a mandate to . implement. He added that it is fair to say that 30% of the persons in jail are not guilty. Mayor Daley recently praised his Commission on Police Integrity as an excellent blueprint for change. The report acknowledges that corruption exists among police officers. One of the recommendations was aimed at disciplining supervisors "who know of wrong doing, but do nothing to stop it." This commission should include the courts that protect police corruption, only paying close attention RAILROAD OF INNOCENT BLACKS Dear South Street Journal: I am writing to you in order to catch the to those that can afford a good lawyer. Instead, Mayor Daley calls on Chicagoans to sign petitions supporting the City's Anti-Gang Loitering Ordinance, where the police have the power to arrest any "gang" (youth that look like) members, in groups of two or more, those mostly at the lower income level. As the ordinance was rejected by the attention of the people in the community and Illinois Supreme Court, the city now wants to present its position to the media's focus on what happened to the Girl X Funds. Justifiably ,n it wrong doing was done. I ben there \ ■ a degree of wrong doing. Who knows that better than Aid. Ed Burke and company, the professional wrongdoers of public money. And then there is Malcolm X, a once professional wrong- y mM' ;|fiG2|llllli* llilllSiSllllSla^. In the beginning Beverly Reed's action to raise awareness around the issue of sexual violence moved not only the City of Chic; g< ''■:■■ the ..• respond wi'- t -?r hearts to i. nine-year-n'd Cabrini Green res;deo« .'• tik ;o«n bou ;t into the media's crucifixion of the activist, others have expressed outrage at the lack of substance and sensationalism given to the story. But, they haven't voiced their position as of yet. Credit is due so ti;e media m helping to get Beve^gs message out in order for people to give. But the media's insistence on pk \i%%\ ,. e and making it into a story is insulting fo those that gave. There were no charges ' ;ed against Reed to this day. lie bottom line ; he funds ($250,000, plus funds from WGCl approximately another $250,000) are still in place for Girl X. When the Washington Post called SSJ's office last No . mber inq uring about Ms. Reed's association with the licwipaj er. h :\ '. a nerve. With such little money not accounted for, $2; ,i i;0 that went directly to Beverly Reed, is the story for the well-being of Girl X the question or Beverly Reed's ethics or X-ing out her humanitarian efforts?" Sometimes the press will create Continued on page I! Letter from the Superintendent of Police Dear Editor: Five years ago, the Chicago Police Department launched a bold new experiment in policing in our City. CAPS - the Chicago Alternative Policing strategy - and it brings together police officers, community members and other City agencies to work cooperatively on solving crime problems and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods. There were skeptics, of course, who labeled community policing as "soft on crime" and just another passing law enforcement fad. Today, as our City celebrates the 5th-year anniversary of CAPS, I am proud to say we have proven the skeptics wrong. In the last five years, public awareness of community policing has risen sharply. Nearly three out of four Chicagoans have heard of CAPS. More important, direct citizen involvement has reached record levels. Last year, nearly 100,000 concerned residents took part in beat meetings, court advocacy and other organized CAPS activities. CAPS is so successful due to the dedication and total commitment of literally tens of thousands of people: police officers, other City workers and, especially, members of Chicago's diverse communities. You have embraced the CAPS partnership with unique energy and creativity - and made a difference. But now is not the time to rest. Crime and disorder, and the fear they breed, remain serious concerns in many of our communities. But CAPS has created a new sense of purpose and confidence in Chicago. The last five years have shown that by working together, police and community can solve problems and we can reduce crime. The next five years, we can - and we Letters to the Editor will - do more with CAPS to make our City even safer and stronger. Sincerely, Terry G. Hillard, Superintendent (of Police Dear Editor; Dead Beat Fathers Dear Editor: Hooray! After almost two years, the Chicago City Council decided to pass an ordinance to deny "Deadbeat" parents business licenses in the City of Chicago. Keep up the good work City Clerk Jim Laski and Matyor Richard M. Daley. Thank you for realizing this womderful program. I hope to be the first in line. My ex—husband says he "cannot afford" to pay thousands of dollars in back child support, educational and medical expenses for our children. However, he drives