If Chicago’s Tribune John Kass really wants to do something he can start going back in the records and look up the old ward maps and compare them with the new ones. And see how the neighborhoods identity he has written about have been ripped to shreds
What’s not being looked at is how Chicago wards have been redistricted. Chicago has had neighborhoods divided to create “Hispanic”residential sections going to Hispanic aldermanic and congressional (Gutierez) candidates and blacks going to black candidates.Which apparently is the result of the turnover in the Freddie and Fanny mortgage collapse.
Burke’s ward ,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 10 plus mile 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 in the 80s and later in that era were going for $20 and 30Gs But when sold under those conditions went into disrepair or default.
Originally Burke’s 14th 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 new ward now consists of areas carved from the 12th and 23rd wards miles from the original 14th That has had the effect of breaking up a contiguous geographic continuity and community identity.
Because the wards affected which are really like small towns have had sections broken up into areas where if a problem arises in a given section of street which has one way traffic only. It may be two way a block down because it’s in a different ward.
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. Where that alleged zoning shakedown occurred was one of those areas.
Great post! You are obviously a solid Soutsider. The neighborhood around Archer and Cicero is really changing and not for the better. If you remember there were many Polish places on Pulaski between 63rd and 55th - not no more. Even Gil Mart left.
In the 13th Ward - Drive down 65th and 63rd from Cicero to Central - Marty Quinn signs popping up everywhere. Is he in trouble?
Correction that’s not 10 miles it’s around 10 city blocks.