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CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT AREA HISTORY
HOW POLITICS AND WARD RE MAPPING DESTROYED THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN

That finger of Chicago’s border on its south side extending from 51st to 65th streets 4 miles further beyond Cicero Avenue to Harlem Avenue has a very interesting history. Post WWII during the 1950’s and 60’s the area mushroomed into dozens of single dwelling subdivions where thousands of of five and more room single 1 family units were built. After a struggle by residents including this writer the area managed to get the area remapped into one ward (23rd) and only one alderman needed to respond to their needs. Today the area has four alderman including the 12th, 13th, and 14th who’s wards are spread miles apart and the reason is political because the area was conservative

50 year Alderman Burke who is under federal charges for corruption ward is an example. Burke’s ward ,14th, needed remapping . The 14th was originally known as “Back of The Yards” Once the home of the famous Chicago Stock Yards where most food processors along with employee demographics have since relocated. It was a compact area almost 15 plus city blocks square area composed mostly of single and 2 story frame and brick family dwellings mixed with scattered brick apartment units. Because of the construction, insurance rates varied and became known as the condemned as “redlining”. When the democrats also warily supported by the Bush 2 administration came up with the no 20% down mortgage removed. Areas in the ward dramatically changed in demographics. Many of those dwellings sold under those conditions went into disrepair or default.

Originally his ward headquarters and palace was on 51st street just west of Damen Avenue. Today’s palace is just off of Pulaski Road near the Madam Curie high school just off of Archer Avenue miles away.

His ward now consists of areas carved from parts of the 12th (known as Mc Kinley Park and Brighton Park) and parts of the 23rd (known as Archer Heights Garfield Ridge and Clearing) wards Miles from the original 14th That In a former section of the 23rd ward now the 14th ward in the Midway airport area, 2 patrons in a local bar along Archer avenue were heard complaining about rats in their garbage. They felt it was because of the delay in garbage collection. Also heard the same beef about street snow removal. It has also played hell on zoning and because of the disruption of jurisdictions with the administration of city services such as streets and sanitation which the alderman (salary $120.000 plus allocations on local projects) do oversee and have input over.

By.employing this concept of remapping are residents are being denied the representation they should have ?