Category Archives: Uncategorized

Chicago is corrupt?? Don’t mind me you’re just preaching to the choir

Posted on by Evan
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I really did not need to read a fancy looking report to tell me what most people already know. Anybody that grew up here in the city already knows that. Ask almost anyone who grew up here in the city. It is what we were told by our parents and great-grandparents. Corruption in Chicago is a spectator sport. According to the anti-corruption report done by the political science department at UIC Chicago is the most corrupt city in America. The report is called  Chicago and Illinois, Leading the Pack in Corruption  .

My only critique about the report is that it did not include how corruption in Chicago has affected everyday people. As city inhabitants we know who is “connected” and who is not. Corruption is part of the life of every Chicagoan. Some more than others. For instance, who all know which streets are plowed first and where exactly city services start and where they might end. Also we definitely know which areas the police will come to first when something happens.  If you have a hard time knowing if Chicago is corrupt ask anyone has to park at a meter downtown. They don’t need a report to tell you if this city is corrupt. Don’t even get me started on the 2016 Olympic bid.

Side note: The video I posted is from an up and coming artist named LockNess Monsta called “Preaching to the choir.” The video is about Chicago corruption.  Preaching To The Choir

 

Evan F. Moore is a Freelance journalist who also is a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

Retraction regarding the city sticker controversy

Posted on by Evan
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Yesterday I posted a blog condemning City Clerk Susana Mendoza for pulling the drawing that was created by Lawrence Hall Youth Services freshman Herbert Pulgar was the original winner of City Clerk Susana Mendoza’s 2012 Vehicle Art Sticker Design Contest. Mendoza pulled the drawing from the upcoming city sticker due to the resemblance of hand signals made by the street gang Maniac Latin Disciples. You might remember last year when Chicago Police Superintendent Gerry McCarthy made the Maniac Latin Disciples public enemy number 1 before the gang was targeted in a crackdown by Chicago police this past summer after a shooting at park wounded two young girls.

 

So I did some more research and came across a blog called Detective Shaved Longcock, a police officer blog with salty language I can do without.
“Like it or not Herbert Pulgar is a SELF ADMITTED MEMBER OF THE MANIAC LATIN DISCIPLES. Commonly known as MLD. If you need proof of this please ask his mother to release his juvenile police records on file with the Chicago police department or have little Herbert show you all his tattoos including the gang tattoo on his right shoulder.” According the police officer blog Detective Shaved Longcock. 

 

To make matters worst, Pulgar’s father, Herbert Sr. is a wanted by the international law enforcement agency Interpol for the following: Drug-related crimes and Crimes involving the use of weapons/explosives. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree I guess.

Bottom line Pulgar tried to pull a fast one on all of us. I guess there is a reason why this kid goes to a school that takes in at-risk students. I’m glad that there were people out there who caught this before the city began to print out the city stickers. As a journalist, it is my duty to uncover everything in the dark so it can be brought to light. This story can now be used as a precautionary tale for all.

Evan F. Moore is also a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

The city that works for city clerks who cave into political pressure

Posted on by Evan
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City Clerk Susana Mendoza pulled the drawing from the upcoming city sticker due to the resemblance of hand signals made by the street gang Maniac Latin Disciples. Lawrence Hall Youth Services freshman Herbert Pulgar was the original winner of City Clerk Susana Mendoza’s 2012 Vehicle Art Sticker Design Contest. Now the design of the runner up will now be used on the city sticker. The new city sticker design is a safer version that doesn’t include hands drawn in a way that some gang experts can associate with a street gang.

“For me, as the clerk, it’s not an issue of the individual at all, frankly,” Mendoza said. “It’s an issue of the perception that’s now out in the city of Chicago and, frankly, nationally, that we have a city sticker that some experts believe may provide symbolism related to gangs.”

I get what Mendoza was trying to do here but Pulgar’s drawing was posted online along with the other finalists before a decision was made.  A press release by Pulgar’s school Lawrence Hall Youth Services states that the winner was notified on December 13th of last year. So that means that the City Clerk had at least two months to figure out that the winning drawing could be misconstrued as a drawing that had gang signs in it.

I wonder if Pulgar has to give back $1000 savings bond he got for winning the contest.  I hope not because if that is the case the City Clerk should pay for it out of her own pocket and the family should exempt from paying for the city sticker this upcoming June.

 

Evan F. Moore is also a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

SoxFest 2012 wrap up

Posted on by Evan
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Last weekend, I got the esteemed honor of covering Sox Fest 2012 for. As a lifelong White Sox fan I relished the opportunity to be a part of Sox Fest as a member of the media. Not only did I see some of the players I idolized as a kid, I also got to meet two reporters from my favorite radio station, WSCR 670 The Score. Also I met a gentleman who has been covering the team since the 1950’s. Also this person gave me some sound advice since I am just starting out in the world of journalism.

As the media reception started, current and former players came into the room and most of the media went to get sounds bites from the notable team members like Paul Konerko, Jake Peavy, and A.J. Pierzynski. I interviewed two players who are very important to the team, Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo.  I interviewed the team’s new manager Robin Ventura.  I asked shortstop Alexei Ramirez about  the clubhouse will be a lot quieter now that Ozzie Guillen is no longer the manager. “Things are where they need to be right now.” Ramirez said. Also I asked the team’s new manager Robin Ventura about how he plans to run the team as opposed to his predecessor Ozzie Guillen. “We have alot of things in common. We were teammates and we had the same approach to the game.” Ventura added. Lastly, I spoke with Dayan Vicedo, the starting left fielder about how he plans to contribute to the team this season. ” I want to help the team where ever I can since I’ll be on the field on a full time basis.” Vicedo said.

After the media reception, I went over the opening ceremonies. As I was waiting for the festivities to start, I asked a couple of White Sox fans what were their expectations of the team this season. The responses I got were of the “cautiously” optimistic variety. White Sox fans want the team to do well but they know that the season will be an uphill battle after what happened last season.

The ceremonies began with a procession of current and former members of the team led by the team’s public address announcer (I thought he would be bigger). The most polarizing reaction from the White Sox faithful was for general manager Kenny Williams.  The reaction was a mixture of cheers and jeers. The reaction sounded just about right after how the team under performed last season.

After taking in the atmosphere and gauging the expectations of the season, I think the Chicago White Sox fans will have the type of year that fans will never forget.

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Crane High School Improvement Plan

Posted on by Deysi
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In spite of freezing temperatures and snowfall, many people made their way on Friday, January 20 to meet with Chicago Public Schools to protest the closing/phase out/turnaround of several schools around Chicago. At the last meeting, I expressed my concerns at the way the meeting was being held. Several teachers spoke about their students and the amount of dedication they showed, in spite of test scores. This is a serious issue and while the parents students and educators were all struggling to get their points across as to why Crane High School is a great school, they neglected to point out what they could do to improve it.
This time, they came prepared with a guideline for how they could improve the school and its students.

Why is the Phase-out/co-location a bad idea?
• Sending students to lower performing schools is not giving them access to a quality education.
• All receiving schools are level 3 schools and have been on probation for 10 years.
• For the class of 2012, Crane has outperformed all proposed receiving schools in EPAS Testing gains and has matched Citywide Gains
• There are increases in violence and suspensions following school actions. Ex: Austin closing means a 231% increase in suspensions involving violence at Clemente High School
• Students will travel across neighborhood borders into and through different gang territories
• Co-located buildings have a history of violence and uneven distribution of resources
How do we improve?
• We are looking forward to collaborating with CPS and the Board of Education to improve our school
• Space utilization – addition of desirable programs
• IB (International Baccalaureate)
• 7th and 8th grade Academy
• Increase CTE programs – Cosmetology, Trade programs etc.
• Student services – Mentoring, tutoring, development
• Increase special needs services – Crane is at 26% which is 12% above CPS average
• Parent services – workshops, trainings, GED programs, Resources room
Improve Instruction and increase student gains
• Data driven instruction – Organized Data Team trained and aligned with the district
• Strategic learning initiative – focus instructional program that has proven to increase student achievement in low performing CPS Schools
• Full day plan – focus on reading/writing
• Tiering of students based on individual needs to move toward skill mastery
• Goal: with full CPS support, we can make significant progress in moving Crane high school to a Level 2 school within 2 years

For a complete list visit coreteachers.com

Re-inventing the New Year’s Resolution

Posted on by Sarah
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Photo by Cheerytomato on Flickr Creative Commons

It’s that time of year to start making that list and checking it twice, no not for Santa to read, but for you to decide if you can accomplish any or all of the following in the 365 days to come:

Eat healthier, lose weight, drink less, spend less, manage stress, save money, take a trip, and the list can go on and on…

365 days, that’s plenty of time to accomplish the above, but that’s also a good amount of time to forget and procrastinate until December 31st, 2012 and ponder about what you DID accomplish and what went wrong and re-write the list only to add more.

Realizing this, I took on a different approach this year and realized I did accomplish some of my goals from the beginning of the year but took December as the final push and pressure to get things done and attempt the “impossible” and cross off a few more items.

When you know you have less than a month to get something accomplished, you can take either of two approaches, you can either resign and figure next year you can muster enough energy, time,  and will power to get things done OR you can take those last few days and squeeze every minute out of them.

I took the latter approach and made a quick “pre new years resolution list”. One that included some simple tasks that only really required a few days or even hours of my time: read at least 3 new books in less than 3 weeks, catch up with old friends (and I don’t mean via Twitter or Facebook), but actually set a date and time to meet and have dinner and exchange stories, pay off any pending debts that might leave you a little short by the end of the year, but debt-free by 2012.

I went as far as to recommend to someone they take the plunge and ask that special someone out and whether that special someone said yes or no, it didn’t matter, the new year was coming and it would wipe away any old or unpleasant memories or regrets.

I saw these resolutions, small as they may be, as a great start to get me into good positive habits leading into 2012. Even if these small goals don’t grow to become fully completed accomplishments, at least I could end the year on a positive note.

So as you can see, there are many ways to act as the New Year approaches, all which require some motivation that may be acquired with a little extra pressure in the last few days of the year. Even if you attempt to wake up with a smile these last few days, this can get you into the habit of smiling for the next 365 days.

La Guadalupana

Posted on by Arianna
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Mi reina, virgencita, virgen morenita y madrecita. I’ve heard all of these endearing terms and more used in reference to mystical religious figure, cultural icon and popular commercial commodity, La Virgen de Guadalupe.

In the past, naming your son or daughter was a common and appropriate way to venerate her (my youngest sister has three names because my parents added María Guadalupe, a nod to La Virgen Morena and my grandfather, whose name was José Guadalupe).

However, newer generations of Guadalupe devotees have many more interesting ways to pay homage to this apparition of the Virgin Mary.

La Virgen de Guadalupe is cool enough to tattoo on your back or paint into your mural (albeit some controversy). You can rock her fashionably on a rosary or a t-shirt. I’ve seen her image everywhere and on everything: key chains, notebooks, chain texts and emails, and most Mexican households I’ve visited.

This apparition of the Virgen María has also been incorporated into social movements. The image was used on banners during the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and carried in United Farm Workers marches in the 60s and 70s. Today, the image is present in protests for immigrant rights.

So regardless of if you believe in a miraculous apparition of Mary to Juan D. or not, there’s no denying the worldwide impact of La Virgen de Guadalupe.

Here’s El TRI, one of Mexico’s most famous rock acts, performing “Virgen Morena.”

My American Thanksgiving (or so I hope)

Posted on by Vanessa
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It’s that time of the year again. With a few days left before Thanksgiving I start dropping hints.

“So how are we preparing the turkey this year?”

My mom pauses and I begin to worry that the picture of a turkey I had my sister draw and hang on the refrigerator was overlooked. Or that the tips I shared about how my friends prepare their turkeys were ignored. My dad is the first one to speak.

“I’ve been thinking…”

Oh no.

So begins the usual debate. I want a turkey for Thanksgiving. My argument?

It’s an American holiday and we can have a Latino menu for Christmas. They don’t buy it. So I try again. I love turkey and although my mom is more confident about her tamales and mole, I think the turkey she prepares is the most delicious I’ve ever had.

I can tell my mom is starting to change her mind, the compliment hit home. My dad on the other hand says he was really looking forward to Guatemalan tamales. His argument?

“Esa comida no sabe igual,” he looks at my mom, reassuring her that it’s not her cooking skills that lack but Latino food is just so much better.

I decide to ask for a compromise.

“Let’s do both.”

Don’t get me wrong. I love Guatemalan tamales. My mother’s mole and my uncle’s barbacoa are my all time favorite dishes. But having come from a Latino household, where the more traditional American dishes are a rarely served, I look forward to turkey and mashed potatoes and most importantly, pumpkin pie.

Every year we fight over the menu. Sadly I’ve won only twice. Once, my parents agreed to chicken instead of turkey. This year the compromise idea worked. I have to admit, I am really looking forward to trying turkey tacos and drinking ponche with my pumpkin pie.  Perhaps we are onto something here.

I spotted the small turkey my mom bought a few days ago. She tells me there’s no point in making a big one since there will be plenty of other dishes prepared by my aunt and uncle. I agree.

“Do you need help preparing it?”

I figure I should learn how to cook turkey now. In case next year I lose the battle for my American Thanksgiving.