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Arlene Jones: Balloon releases are inadequate
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FREE Vol. 37 No. 2
January 11, 2023
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Also serving Garfield Park
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Meet Aisha h Oliver, l page 6
Invited in only to be shut out
The city’s premiere development initiative, Invest South/West, has brought hope and frustration to areas long ignored by developers By RACHEL HINTON & SIDNEE KING Illinois Answers Project
When Joyce Brown was told the Invest South/ West program was coming to her South Shore neighborhood, she and other residents did just what city officials told them to do — they started making their wish lists. Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s highly touted program plans to spend $750 million citywide in neighborhoods starved for investment and development, and Brown hoped some of that money could build up the community where she has lived for nearly 40 years. A grocery store here. A dry cleaner there. A new bakery for residents. Instead, Brown says after numerous backand-forth debates during community meetings with city officials, her South Side community is getting housing it didn’t ask for. “We were told [the city] can’t build those things until people come,” Brown said about her suggestions. “All I’m trying to do is preserve my community.” When the mayor unveiled the program just See INVEST SOUTH/WEST on page 2
SHANEL ROMAIN/Staff
Dannette Salaam, the manager of Housing Forward’s new emergency winter shelter, makes remarks during an open house on Jan. 4, shortly before opening the former St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish rectory to those in need of housing.
Housing Forward opens emergency shelter
The housing nonprofit opened a shelter in former Austin Boulevard rectory, could strengthen bonds between Oak Park and Austin
By LACEY SIKORA
Contributing Reporter
On Jan. 4, Housing Forward, a nonprofit that serves parts of the West Side, opened an emergency shelter in the former rectory of St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish, 38 N.
WS ! NEF H S A L
See HOUSING FORWARD on page 8
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