Yes, we ARE making a difference

Written by: Sandra Verthein on Apr 24, 2007 2:35 PM EDT

In January of 2005 Shannon Fisk and I called to order the first meeting of the Edgewater DFA Group (later to become the Edgewater/Rogers Park DFA Group).  Our goal was, as it still is, to use grassroots activism to help elect socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates at all levels of government.  Over the past two years, our group has adopted or endorsed 17 candidates running for local, state and federal races; and put in countless hours of volunteer work as well as $$$ to support those candidates. 

Now, as I catch up on my reading in the aftermath of the runoff elections, what strikes me is how many times I am seeing the names of the candidates that WE HAVE SUPPORTED in the news.  Every time I see one of "our" candidates highlighted, it makes me feel proud of what we have done, and hopeful that yes, we HAVE made a difference. 

For example, in today's Sun Times there is an editorial praising Mike Quigley's recent TIF report; Dan Kotowski has emerged as one of the leaders of a renewed effort to limit assault weapons;  Forrest Claypool took a courageous stand for City Hall reform by backing Michele Smith -- both in the primary and the runoff; Ricardo Munoz was featured in yesterday's Sun Times detailing "The Progressive Agenda" of the new city council; the media continues to hail "longtime maverick"  Joe Moore for his leadership of the living wage ordinance; Debra Shore was a featured speaker at Green Festival and, among other things, has started a working group to deal with the effects of pharmaceutical contamination of our rivers and streams; Christine Cegelis is currently running for the board of True Majority Action (click to vote for her), and her new group, Greater Chicago Caucus, provided valuable assistance to several of our aldermanic candidates; Martha Mills has at last been sworn in as a judge; Dan Seals was just profiled in the New York Times, of all places, as a prominent 2008 House contender; and Alexi Gianoulias made the news for his reforms of the Bright Start education savings program, and was of the many people who campaigned for Shelia Simon (who lost, unfortunately). 

And though my heart, and my sincere thanks for the hard work of running, goes out to all of our candidates who ran and lost in this most recent series of elections -- Greg Brewer, Naisy Dolar, Leroy Jones, Jr., and Michele Smith -- I know that the work that they did to raise issues and to create a climate of change in this city helped to contribute to the very good news from April 17th -- that there will be nine new aldermen joining the Chicago City Council, many of them with solid progressive credentials.  Between this and wins by our reformer incumbents, it is enough to radically change the balance of power in our city government.

To give some idea of what this might mean, consider this statement from Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., whose wife Sandi Jackson will be one of our new Aldermen:

"Jackson called the City Council turnover a 'clarion call' for the 10-point package of ethics reforms he and Sandi have championed.

It includes: Giving the inspector general power to investigate aldermen; reducing the number of City Council committees from 27 to 10; limiting campaign contributions to $1,000 per individual and $5,000 per political action committee for each election cycle; making it illegal for developers and city contractors to contribute to city campaigns within one year of receiving a contract, zoning change or building permit, and stripping the mayor of the power of appointment to fill aldermanic vacancies.

'People like the general direction of the city. But they want an end to the culture of corruption and sordid scandals that defraud them out of tens of millions of dollars each year,' the congressman said. "

'The bullies have left the Council'
Chicago Tribune, April 19, 2007
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/348873,CST-NWS-elect19.article

And if that quote isn't provocative enough, click through to Carol Marin's satiric take on the situation, "Will City Council sing new tune?"

So, are we making a difference?  Yes!  Is there still work to be done? Yes!  And we will be talking about just that subject at our next meeting, next Thursday, May 3, 7:00 pm (6:00 pm dinner optional) upstairs at the Wing Hoe Chinese Restaurant at 5356 N. Sheridan Road.  RSVP today, and lets plan our next round of progressive victories!

RSVP at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17417

Finally, thank you to everyone who volunteered for or donated to one of our candidates -- YOU helped make a difference!  And a special thank you to all of our candidates for running.  It is a difficult, difficult thing to do, but you are the ones who are paving the way for change.

Peace,
Sandra Verthein
Co-Host of the Edgewater/Roger Park DFA Group

P.S.  One of our activities in May will be a screening of the video “Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America” on Thursday, May 10, 7 PM, at the home of Sally and Randall Doubet-King, 901 W Ainslie, Chicago 60640.  They are three blocks north of Lawrence at Marine Drive.  Street parking is limited (though there is usually room in the lot behind Margate Park Field House.)  They are a block from the 136, 144, 146 (on Marine) and 151 (on Sheridan) and five blocks from the Argyle Red Line Stop.  They can handle a max of 20 people, so please RSVP to Randall at doubetking@rcn.com.

P.P.S. Michi asked me to pass on a notice about a health care forum being offered at the Edgewater Library.  Here are the details:

*Health care for all!*
A community forum with health care and disability activist
Tom Wilson

Saturday, April 28, 1-3 p.m.
Edgewater Public Library
1210 W. Elmdale, corner Broadway
parking lot next to library on Elmdale, or on street

* light refreshments *

§ Everybody's talking about the health care crisis in our state and
country, but what are they doing about it?

§ What can we do to get universal, affordable health care?

Tom Wilson works with Health Care for All-Illinois and is a board
member of the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. He is personal
assistant and health care team leader at Access Living, and a member of
the grassroots disability rights organization ADAPT.

Sponsored by Rogers Park/Edgewater People's Weekly World readers.

For more info: 773-989-7825

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Location: Chicago, IL 60640