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24th Ward candidates debate
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FREE Vol. 37 No. 6
February 8, 2023
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Also serving Garfield Park
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austinweeklynews.com
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Parent advocate, d Catherine Jones, page 2
Police Council candidates make case to have impact Seven candidates for 3 spots in 15th District By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Austin Talks
Police misconduct, random stops and improved response times are among the top issues candidates for the 15th District Police Council promise to address on the West Side. Across the board, candidates speaking at a nonpartisan community forum Sat., Feb. 4, pushed for accountability, trust and better relationships with the community. “What’s happening oftentimes is that we don’t get the service that some folks in other communities may have,” Arewa Karen Winters told several dozens of West Side residents who attended the forum held at Hope Community Church. Five of the seven candidates running for the 15th District Council participated. Carmelita P. Earls, Constance Melton, Deondre Rutues, Elena X. Thompson and Winters, shared their background and experience with police. Thompson, a mom of seven, is an advocate for families impacted by the child welfare system and a criminal justice activist, working to assist residents of Humboldt Park and Austin. Winters became a police reform activist after the See POLICE DISTRICTS on page 8
SHANEL ROMAIN/Staff
Mayor Lori Lightfoot joins the Zayas family (left) and Sam Acho (right) in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the The North Austin Community Center at 841 North Laramie Ave. on Thursday, Feb. 2.
Vacant 40 years, youth sports campus blooms in North Austin
$31 million sports campus opens this spring. Replaces derelict paint factory By TREY ARLINE Block Club Chicago
Local leaders welcomed a state-of-theart community center and youth athletic facility to North Austin last Thursday
after two years of planning. The North Austin Center, 1841 N. Laramie Ave., is a nonprofit, 10-acre campus for sports, education and wellness, with a strong focus on baseball, basketball, and soccer development. The $31 mil-
WS ! NEF H S A L
lion facility has basketball courts, classrooms, an esports lab, a weight room and other amenities. The centerpieces are the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, which offers an See SPORTS CAMPUS on page 6
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